NMTA WaterLife - January 2017

Click HERE for the January edition of NMTA WaterLife. 

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WaterLife: Monthly member newsletter from the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA). For the latest news, visit www.NMTA.net.  View this email in your browser January 2017 Balance Industries, Inc. BKS Energy California Coast Yachts Hard Drive Marine John Henry’s Marina & Resort Katanacraft Macmillian-Piper, Inc. Markey Machinery Puget Sound Pilots Seattle Sport Company Worldmark by Wyndham  January 27-February 4: Seattle Boat Show April 21: NMTA Auction May 12-13: Northwest Paddling Festival Share Tweet Forward In This Issue: January 2017 Click to navigate to article:   President's Report: January 2017 Membership Update Boat Sales Data: 2016 Year-End Report Legislative Report Dealer Outlook: A rising tide lifts all ships West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series grand prize boat awarded to Issaquah angler Fish Northwest: How will it all play out? Grow Boating Applications Due January 31 Tony's Tackle Box: January 2017 Come See Clean Boating at the Seattle Boat Show Financial Report: Five Money Tips for Your College-Aged Child A Look at NMTA's 2017 Legislative Agenda Health Care Corner 2017 Northwest Salmon Derby Series Schedule President's Report January 2017 “3-2-1… launch!” That’s what we did earlier this month when we hit the big red launch button for the 2017 Seattle Boat Show, opening Friday, January 27. I think of the show this way because every year we reach a point where the show starts to take on a personality and path of its own, a momentum that carries it to completion on Saturday, February 4. We trust the good work and planning from our staff, volunteers, and numerous business partners as we launch 50,000 boaters into another great year of boating in the Northwest. I’m not suggesting we’ve put the show on autopilot, far from that. I like to say “big show, small staff” and the next month all ten of the full-time NMTA staff will be clearly focused on our mission of putting on the most successful Seattle Boat Show yet. This will be the 70th Anniversary of the Seattle Boat Show. The NMTA celebrates 71 years this month, the difference coming from a one-year hiatus in 1951 for the Korean War. There won’t be any balloon drops or confetti for our 70th, as we will be saving those festivities for our 75th. We’ve added some new rocket fuel to our advertising plan this year, doubling our digital advertising budget to include Facebook, retargeting, video pre-roll, behavioral web advertising, Pandora, and more. This is in addition to our traditional television, radio, print, billboard, transit, email, and direct mail advertising. If you’re a Northwest boater or interested in becoming a boater and you spend time on the internet, you’re going to see our ads and promotions! Once again, SeattleBoatShow.com and all  of our social media channels will promote and share the details of the show. Here’s a rundown of some of our new promotions as well as our tried-and-true attractions. $3 Weekend Parking – Let’s face it, parking and traffic in Seattle can be a challenge. Attendees can purchase $3 weekend parking on SeattleBoatShow.com for the Union Station Garage near CenturyLink Field. For those guests starting their show experience at our South Lake Union location, the PEMCO garage is the designated parking lot for this promotion. This promotion was very successful last year and kept the parking garage at CenturyLink Field from filling up. Parking in the CenturyLink Field garage is $15. Special thanks to our partners at BECU for making this discounted parking option possible. E-tickets = Best Value – Advance tickets purchased at SeattleBoatShow.com include a one-year subscription to Sea Magazine, Boating World, Boating, Cruising World, Sailing World, Salt Water Sportsman or Yachting, as well as clam chowder at FX McRory’s, a $10 gift card to Chandler’s Crabhouse, and a one-hour kayak or SUP rental from Alki Kayak Tours. Instead of offering discounted tickets for certain groups, we encourage visitors to purchase e-tickets as we feel that e-tickets are the absolute best value for everyone. Northwest Harvest Free Admission – For the first time, we are partnering with Northwest Harvest! Attendees can see the show for FREE Monday - Thursday after 5:00 p.m. with a non-perishable food donation. Keep in mind that parking in the Event Center Garage is reduced from $15 to $5 on weeknights after 5:00 p.m. Uncorked/Sails & Ales – We will “uncork” the 2017 Seattle Boat Show on Friday, January 27 with our signature wine tasting event thanks to our returning sponsor, Basta Boatlifts. A week later on Friday, February 3 we will kick off our closing weekend with Sails & Ales, thanks to  long-time sponsor, S3 Maritime. Uncorked and Sails & Ales tickets retail for $29, but exhibitors can order tickets to share with customers and pay only $5 per redeemed ticket. This includes admission to the show, a tasting glass, and 6 tasting tokens. Wedding On a Whim – This is the classic “old school” radio promotion! MOViN 92.5 is the number one radio station in Seattle with the number one morning show, Brooke & Jubal in the Morning. Beginning January 16, couples can enter online for the opportunity to be married by Jubal Flagg on one of the largest boats in the show. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. in West Hall Booth 41. MOViN 92.5 will be selecting the winner on the opening day of the show, Friday, January 27. Thanks to our sponsors, the lucky couple will receive a suite at the Silver Cloud Inn on the night of the ceremony, photography donated by C-Images, flowers donated by Diamond Custom Floral, a cake donated by students at Seattle Central College, and a getaway to Roche Harbor Resort via Kenmore Air. World Records – It’s been a few years since we’ve set Guinness World Records at the Seattle Boat Show. Previous records include the world’s largest Lego boat, indoor sand sculpture, and high dives into a four-foot pool of water. This year we will attempt two Guinness World Records: World’s Largest Display of Origami Fish and World’s Largest Knot-tying Lesson. World’s Largest Display of Origami Fish – We need to build and display 1,500 origami fish to be famous! We’re asking attendees and exhibitors to pitch in. If origami is your secret passion, we hope you’ll make some fish and bring them to the show. If you’re new to the fun of origami, which is the Japanese art of folding paper, we have instructions at SeattleBoatShow.com and in the show program. Special thanks to the Bellevue Children’s Academy and Willows Preparatory School for partnering with us to smash this record. World’s Largest Knot-tying Lesson – On Sunday, January 29, we need 500 people to spend 30 minutes with knot-tying instructor and rigging expert, Lisa Vizzini of Port Townsend Rigging. Attendees that participate will receive free admission to the show and a Seattle Boat Show hat. Lisa will be teaching in the grandstands of CenturyLink Field. We need 500 students, but have room for 67,000! If you know of a boating club or group that would like to see the show for free and have some fun let them know about this world record. Career Fair – Our third annual Seattle Boat Show Career Fair will take place on Monday, January 30 from 9 – 11:00 a.m. Currently, we have 28 members looking to fill over 300 full-time jobs! Yacht Club Challenge – Did you know that there are close to 200 yacht clubs in the Northwest and every year many of these clubs have a club rendezvous at the Seattle Boat Show? This year we want to have some fun with all the clubs that support the show and give some recognition to the club with the most attendees on a particular day. The winning club will take home the massive Yacht Cup Challenge Cup for their trophy case, along with Papa Pilar’s Rum and $500 for a club event. I look forward to seeing you at the show or at another NMTA event this year. Happy New Year and I hope your business makes it to the moon and back in 2017! Sincerely, George Harris NMTA President/CEO Back To Top   Membership Update Kate Anderson, NMTA Membership Director Welcome new members! BKS Energy is located in California and plans on bringing Volzhanka Boats to the Seattle Boat Show. These aluminum ski boats are popular in California and have bow storage, passenger and driver consoles, and a drain system. California Coast Yachts recently opened a new office in Seattle and is exhibiting in the Seattle Boat Show, both indoors and on the lake. Make sure you stop by their booths and make them feel welcome to the Pacific Northwest! Hard Drive Marine is out of Bellingham and specializes in building landing crafts, enforcement boats, and commercial crabbing and fishing vessels. All of their boats eliminate the need for docking and ferrying on rugged, remote coastlines. John Henry’s Marina & Resort exhibited in last year’s Seattle Boat Show and is excited to return this year! Their facilities are located in beautiful Pender Harbor, BC. They have full amenities, including cabins, a general store, and over 2,300 lineal feet of dock space. Sounds like a great place for a cruise this summer! Katanacraft calls Grants Pass, Oregon, home and specializes in Aluminum Mono-hull and Aluminum RIB and HRIB Vessels, from 17 to 60 feet long. These incredibly strong yet light boats are perfect for some of the most strategic government needs. They thrive on making custom builds and welcome new customer-supplied designs while offering exceptional service. Macmillian-Piper, Inc. is the largest container freight station in the Pacific Northwest and has been in business for over forty years. They’re joining the NMTA Health Trust and are excited to be a part of our association. Markey Machinery was founded in 1907 in Seattle and is one of the top deck machinery companies in the country. They are also joining the NMTA Health Trust and look forward to getting to know our other members better. Puget Sound Pilots is an organization of marine pilots dedicated to protecting Puget Sound’s marine environment, economy and security. We’ve worked with the Pilots on different legislation throughout the years and are happy to welcome them aboard. The Seattle Sport Company is based in Seattle and we met them at the Northwest Paddling Festival. They specialize in creating boat carts and kayak and stand-up paddleboard gear. Look for them at member events throughout the year. We are gearing up for the 2017 Seattle Boat Show right now and would love for you to come on down to CenturyLink Field Event Center and visit! We kick off the show on January 27 with our opening night wine tasting event, Uncorked, sponsored by Basta Boatlifts. Stop by throughout the nine days and meet new members and customers. We’ll celebrate our closing weekend with our beer tasting event, Sails & Ales, sponsored by S3 Maritime, on Friday, February 3. To learn more about all of the exciting things happening at this year’s show, please visit www.seattleboatshow.com. We hope to see you there! Back To Top   Boat Sales Data: 2016 Year-End Report According to Washington Sea Grant and the Department of Licensing, new boat sales (new dealer and new import) increased by 15 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 2015 Q4. Total new boat sales for 2016 increased by TWO boats over 2015. The actual numbers for units sold were 5,753 for 2016 and 5,751 for 2015. Used boat sales saw a 3.1 percent drop in new registrations for 2016, with 44,810 boats registered compared to 46,262 in 2015. Washington has led the nation by percentage increase in new boat sales for the last three years with double-digit increases. Reduced saltwater fishing opportunity for hatchery-marked Chinook and coho salmon in 2016 is likely the primary reason new boat sales did not increase in 2016. Recreational fishing opportunity is one of NMTA’s top policy and legislative priorities.  Back To Top   Legislative Report Peter Schrappen, NMTA Director of Government Affairs   Inbound Marketing: Meet Inboard Engine   $180 billion. That amount is the grand total spent by advertisers in the United States in 2015 according to statista.com. If you do the math, $180 billion is $553 spent per United States resident. Whew, that would buy a lot of diesel! Mind-blowing, and to think about how much of that money is wasted should give you pause. When was the last time you watched a live TV show? Flipping on the tube is getting rarer and rarer. Compound that lack of TV watching with the birth of the remote control in 1955, and it’s increasingly bewildering why such large companies would spend so much money with so much uncertainty with regards to their return on investment. Next time, just send me a check for $553 and I’ll give you all the attention you need. Fortunately, a new marketing strategy is taking hold in the United States and around the world that is helping the Pacific Northwest pro-boating community and maritime industry: inbound marketing. It’s an approach that puts the consumer, not the company or salesperson, at the center of the buyer’s journey. By making the consumer the center of the relationship, a transformation occurs that results with buyers seeking out information, and ultimately products, as they leverage their purchasing power. I spent some time in December of 2016 getting certified in the inbound marketing philosophy. Why is a pro-boating nut and lobbyist like me checking out a sales and marketing course? If you’ve read my previous columns, then you know that sales and marketing are the cornerstones of any lobbying effort. Just look at the components of the “inbound marketing buyer’s journey” as it relates to boating issues, and hopefully these truths become self evident. When it comes to the political arena, it is the lawmakers who are the customers and everything flows around them in a manner that respects how they like to receive information. If you don’t like getting cold-called during dinner or spammed about a new product or talked over or down to at a doctor’s office, you are no different than your state senator or two state representatives. Like them, we, their constituents/salespeople, need to provide appropriate context and content to make the pitch. As for some more background on Inbound Marketing, the first step is to “attract strangers” with blogs and social media posts. At this stage, the future customer has no idea that a solution like Product X exists. To “close” the deal would be inappropriate in this infant “education phase.” As inbound marketing relates to boating and “attracting strangers”, you wouldn’t need to look any further than the Meet Your Candidate forum that brought the two prospective candidates for the head of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) together in October 2016, organized by (NMTA) and the Recreational Boating Association of Washington. The attendees at this event educated the candidates on key boating facts (like the $4 billion economic impact recreational boating had in 2016) with open-ended questions and they offered the public a framework as to their respective points of view. You could say we are customers in that situation, too, shopping around for the right DNR leader. Keep in mind that the head of the DNR is the landlord for the 2.4 million aquatic acres in our state. The DNR is the real owner of the “land” upon which our marinas and boatyards sit. There are some differences between  Inbound Marketing and campaigns. For example, campaigns are more people centered than web focused. Given that, I set up a lunch with Hilary Franz and a prominent member of NMTA. The message was simple: Marinas and boatyards are lynchpins of the working waterfronts. Non-boaters see white fiberglass. Boat owners see gems that rely on small business for upkeep and repair. These marine trades are a critical aspect of many economies around the state. That pro-business message resonates and hopefully provides a chance for some “I never thought of your issues that way” moments. As things go, Hilary won the vital race for the head of the DNR and was be sworn in on January 11, 2017. In Inbound Marketing terms, she’s transitioned from stranger to visitor to a lead to a customer and now the time has arrived for boaters to “delight” her (Commissioner Franz) so she can turn from a “customer” to a “promoter.” How great would that be? Promotion is the ultimate goal. Any interest group (defined as having lobbying representation in Olympia in this case) needs a handful of champions to promote said interest group’s legislative agenda. Time will tell what type of leader Hilary will be for the Pacific Northwest boating community. What I can tell you is that she is pulling together the right team and asking the right questions. Just this month, she met with key principals from  NMTA, the Washington Public Ports Association, the Recreational Boating Association of Washington, and real-life marina leaseholders to ensure that she gets off on the right foot. The brutally honest conversation focused on the previous (and disappointing) regime and then the conversation segued to areas we can collaborate and rely on each other to ultimately make her succeed as the steward of so many aspects of the recreational boating industry. I’m not sure if we “delighted” her, but she now knows where we are coming from and we will be with her all along this journey, looking for the right times to make the NMTA “sale.” If you want to look into the Inbound Marketing strategy for yourself, free courses are offered on Hubspot: https://academy.hubspot.com/certification Back To Top   Dealer Outlook: A rising tide lifts all ships   A rising tide lifts all ships and the economic news surrounding the opening of the industry’s winter boat shows is the best in a decade. The first big test comes from the Houston Boat Show’s 10-day run. According to Ken Lovell, show president and recent recipient of the prestigious Bill Ferguson Memorial Award, “We’re expecting a real winner for our dealers. We have over 1,000 boats and RVs, hundreds of fishing, sport, travel and outdoor exhibits, new hands-on family activities and daily shows by the Xpogo Extreme Stunt Team from TV’s ‘America’s Got Talent.’ We believe it will all help draw very good crowds.” But the best news going for Houston, and every other January show like Denver, Cleveland, Chicago and Atlanta, is the economic climate. Enjoy these highlights: Consumer confidence scored a new post-recession high in December. The Conference Board’s index increased to 113.7 from the upward revision of 109.4 in November (I recall it in the 50s not long ago). The boost came from expectations that short-term economic conditions will continue to improve. Also, the Expectations Index that measures consumers’ outlook for the next six months also shot up from 94.4 in November to 105.5, a 13-year high. In that same vein, confidence among U.S. homebuilders also surged in December to an 11-year high. The builder sentiment gauge rose to 70 (the expectation was 63), the highest mark since July 2005. In addition, the index of prospective buyer traffic rose from 47 to 53, also an 11-year high. Indeed, home buying activity increased in November to the strongest sales pace since February 2007. And it’s no surprise that the six-month sales outlook jumped to 78, the best reading since June 2005, while the measure of current sales also shot up to an 11-year high of 76 from 69. This evidence of continued healing in the housing market is viewed as great news for boat sales. More good news on spending attitudes comes from reports that holiday shoppers boosted their spending and pushed U.S. sales to the biggest increase in more than 10 years, according to research by Customer Growth Partners. Specifically, estimated holiday sales rose to $637 billion, a 4.9 percent gain over last year. Originally, Customer Growth Partners predicted a 4.1 percent increase. The jobs picture continues to look good, too. The unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent from 4.9 percent. That beat economists’ expectations that it would remain unchanged. It also matches the lowest unemployment level since August 2007 and it’s another welcome sign the U.S. economy continues to gain momentum. The National Marine Manufacturers Association published its New Powerboat Registrations Report, now with updated figures through October. Most segments are up year over year. More specifically, the data shows new powerboat registrations have increased 6.4 percent year-over-year for the 12 months through October. PWC, pontoon and saltwater fishing boat segments continue to lead: PWC were up 7.1 percent; pontoons up 9.7 percent; and saltwater fishing craft were up 7.8 percent on a rolling 12-month basis. In addition, boats 27 feet and up enjoyed an 11.4 percent increase year-over-year; outboard boats were up 6.5 percent; and inboard boats were up 12.4 percent. The only downer in the report is sterndrive boats that dropped 1.5 percent. Finally, the best word for the near-term outlook of the U.S. economy is healthy. The Gross Domestic Product for 2017 is predicted to be between 2 and 3 percent, which is considered the ideal range. Inflation, even with increased oil prices (that many predict won’t hold as some OPEC nations will cheat), is projected to be at a comfortable 1.9 percent. Unemployment will continue at the low rate this year and, even with the Federal Reserve expected to continue to hike interest rates in 2017, money will still be readily available to consumers at low rates. So throttle up for success at the winter boat show near you. Norm Schultz writes the “Dealer Outlook” blog that appears in Soundings’ www.TradeOnlyToday.com every Tuesday and Thursday. He served as president of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association for 34 years during which he directed production for over 130 boat shows in the Great Lakes region.  Back To Top   West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series grand prize boat awarded to Issaquah angler Matt Griffin was trimming his kiwi plant during a coveted moment of November sunshine when he got a call that would change his life. That call was from Tony Floor, Director of Fishing Affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA). Floor had good news: Griffin’s name had been randomly drawn from 4,500 anglers following the conclusion of the 2016 West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series to win the grand prize, a fully-equipped 22-foot Hewescraft aluminum boat with trailer valued at over $85,000. Griffin’s name was entered into the drawing after fishing in the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby in February. Griffin, who doesn’t own a boat, stuttered, dropped to one knee, and smiled at his wife standing next to him. She was elated. Griffin, who co-founded Combat Flip Flops in Kabul, Afghanistan and now lives in Issaquah, Wash., could hardly believe it. His fishing team, “Game Changer”, fished a number of derbies without a podium finish. This finish ends the streak - winning weight: 3,200 pounds. “It’s the perfect Northwest adventure boat,” said Griffin. The boat is the 13th grand prize boat, motor, and trailer package that has been given away since the Series was created in 2004. This year’s Hewescraft 220 OceanPro boat is powered by a 225-horsepower Mercury Verado and a 9.9-horsepower Mercury trolling motor, on an EZ Loader tandem axle trailer. The boat came fully-equipped with top-of-the-line extras including Lowrance electronics, Scotty Downriggers, and a Dual Electronics stereo. “I can’t wait to see Matt out on the water in this boat,” said Floor, who coordinates the Series. “There is nothing I like more than giving away top-of-the-line fishing packages like this.” The West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series is a fishing promotion program directed by the NMTA that encourages boating and fishing in the Northwest. In 2016, the Series included 14 derbies throughout the region. For each derby an angler competes in, they get one entry into the drawing for the grand prize boat held at the final derby in the Series. “The West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series continues to be one of our best promotions for getting people out on the water,” said NMTA President George Harris. “Even in a year with limited fishing opportunities, the excitement and passion for boating and fishing continues to grow.” Griffin plans to fish the boat throughout the Northwest. When not in fishing tournaments, he plans to use it to explore and fish Lake Chelan, chase salmon throughout the Puget Sound, and possibly commute to Vancouver Island for a black bear hunt. “This boat can do anything,” he said. For more information on the West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series, visit www.NorthwestSalmonDerbySeries.com. Back To Top   Fish Northwest: How will it all play out? Carl Burke, Fish Northwest Lobbyist  The 2017 legislative session is entering its second week in Olympia and it appears that it will be long and controversial. In the House of Representatives, Democrats maintain a slight two-vote majority and in the Senate the Republicans are the majority party by one vote. There are still deep divides over how to fully fund education as demanded by the Washington State Supreme Court’s McCleary Decision. The governor’s proposal of increased taxing measures is being strongly opposed by the Republican majority in the senate.   This divide over taxing issues inside the legislative process is having a direct impact on natural resource issues that have a very real impact on our businesses and sport fishing opportunities in the coming year. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is proposing the largest fee increase in history to help it out of budget deficit. If passed by the legislature, the fee increase would be a 70% hike for the average angler who fishes for salmon, steelhead, bottomfish and shellfish. As of this writing, the agency has been unable to find a single sponsor in the House of Representative or Washington State Senate that is willing to sponsor their bill in either the House or Senate. Fish Northwest and our coalition partners have been working with agency senior staff the last six months to identify how the agency can create more meaningful opportunity for sportfishers around the state in 2017 and beyond. We are focusing our efforts on improvements in the North of Falcon process to provide more angling opportunities in Puget Sound after conservation goals have been met and implementation of the Columbia River Joint State Plan. We have also focused on increasing hatchery production in state hatcheries that provide the most opportunity for sports fisheries simply because sports anglers provide the largest single source of revenue to the agency. Over the next four or five months, all of these important policy decisions will play out while the legislature is in session and will have a direct impact on whether or not the legislature is willing to propose any increases in fees for WDFW. Hopefully by the time of my next writing, decisions will be made and policies determined by the legislature so Fish Northwest can provide an outlook for fishery opportunities in 2017. Back To Top   Grow Boating Grant Applications Due January 31 Do you have or know of a group or organization that helps serve NMTA’s core purpose of increasing the number of boaters in the Northwest and encouraging boaters to boat more often? Apply for an NMTA Grant! Applications must fall into one of the following categories: Youth Boating Grant Awarded to a group or organization seeking funding support for an event or program aimed specifically atgetting or increasing youth participation in boating activities. Discover Boating Grant Awarded to a group or organization seeking funding support for an event or program aimed specifically at introducing new people to boating.  Boater Education / Safety Grant  Awarded to a group or organization seeking funding support for an event or program aimed specifically at educating  new or current boaters on how to be safe on the water. Applications for 2017 must be received by January 31, 2017. Grants will be awarded by April 14, 2017. For more information and to download an application, visit www.NMTA.net/Grow-Boating Back To Top   January 2017   It was back near the end of 1977, as a much younger rookie working at the Washington Department of Fisheries, when Deputy Director Frank Haw invited me to go winter blackmouth fishing on January 2, 1978. I was shocked that he could consider going salmon fishing on that date 40 years ago as the UW Huskies were in the Rose Bowl, playing against their dreaded rival, University of Michigan. To make a decision to not watch the most important college football game of the year bordered on blasphemy! But, when my lordship and mentor said, “Let’s go Floor,” I reluctantly said, “I’m in.” We launched at the Narrows Marina on a cold clear morning and navigated our way underneath the Narrows Bridge and began drift mooching with plug-cut herring on an ebb tide near Point Evans. Wham! The winter Chinook were there and we easily boated our four fish up to 10 pounds in a few hours. I didn’t care if I ever watched another football game in my life as I became a blackmouth fishing convert. Frank said, “Hey, let’s run over to the Tides Tavern (Gig Harbor) and have something warm to eat and drink.” Now you’re talking my language! We had a hot bowl of chili chased by a booze burger and watched the Huskies (7-4) beat Michigan (10-1) 27-20, which was the icing on the cake. Yahoo! Little did I know, 40 years later, that my experience with Frank Haw would imprint my professional life forever, as I remain on spin cycle over the opportunity to go salmon fishing at this time of year. The beginning of a new year offers prime time for winter blackmouth salmon fishing. The San Juan Islands (Area 7) and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (Area 6) have been open for a month. Area 9 will reopen soon, after a short December closure following a wonderful November fishery. While the majority of our Pacific Northwest society might think winter salmon anglers are significantly disturbed, I beg to differ. As Frank Haw opened the door for me to get outside and off the couch so many years ago, I say the same to you: “Let’s go fishing!” And if you like winter blackmouth fishing as much as this old cat, then you know about the table quality of these winter Chinook salmon. Bite for bite, it’s delicate, extremely mild and moist. Excuse me as I’m tipping over in my chair! It was just over a year ago when most of northern Puget Sound, the San Juans and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca were shut down as the result of zillions of undersized (22-inch) blackmouth everywhere. There was no escaping the phenomena, as written in this space several times in the last 12 months. The state ordered anglers to stop their pursuit of hatchery-produced Chinook salmon and to go find other forms of recreation. Businesses that rely on this important fall, winter and spring sport fishery went into a tail spin. Today, those small undersized Chinook salmon have another year under their belt which has resulted in stellar winter salmon fishing beginning last October in the San Juan Islands and carrying through to November in north Puget Sound and back to the Islands last month. The message cannot be any clearer. Go fishing, dude, as this opportunity will not last all winter. From Port Angeles (Winter Hole, Freshwater Bay and Protection Island), go man go! Same play for the San Juans, go man go!   Here comes the Seattle Boat Show!   January also offers the annual Seattle Boat Show, January 27 through February 4. As reported in this space for years, I totally dig the Seattle Boat Show. From fiberglass and aluminum saltwater fishing boats, state-of-the-art marine electronics, fishing gear, destination fishing lodges including the best saltwater fishing seminars in the universe, it’s an annual meltdown for this saltwater fishing junkie. The show runs for nine days with the opportunity to inhale the aroma of fiberglass and check it all out. I love it! I’m getting outside in January. It’s prime time for winter blackmouth fishing in northern Puget Sound waters and tire kicking at the big Seattle Boat Show. See you on the water and at the biggest boat show on the west coast, the Seattle Boat Show! Back To Top   Come See Clean Boating at the Seattle Boat Show Clean Boating Foundation is back again at the Show. Stop by and say hi (East Hall Booth 304). If you don’t see me (Peter) in the booth, chances are you will visit with one of our partners, including representatives from Northwest Green Chemistry and Washington state’s Recreation and Conservation Office. Why such a crowded booth? Northwest Green Chemistry is front and center when it comes to looking at alternatives to copper-bottom paint. RCO’s interest is the aquatic invasive species concern and the damaging zebra and quagga mussels. Both of these issues are priorities important to CBF and I encourage you to stop by, say hi, and learn more about their work plan. When it comes to Clean Boating Foundation’s plan, I was both disappointed and excited to hear that Frank Gonzales, CBF’s program manager, is moving onto his next venture: becoming a marina manager. Frank’s passion for the overall industry and for boating in his “free time” is unmatched and it’s always a delight to find someone like Frank who can continue to turn his love into a career. I heard a new term the other day: “Busman’s holiday”. It’s an expression that means spending your vacation time doing something you get paid to do. That’s Frank. Best of luck to you, Frank. As for me, your trusty executive director, I enjoyed a recent visit with Kelly Larkin of Skyline Marina (and Boatyard). He invited me to tag along with a site visit from Department of Ecology. Kelly’s passion to do the right thing definitely came out during this meeting. Ecology offered real-world solutions to some of Kelly’s struggles. If you would like Ecology to visit your facility but would like a “character witness”, email me (Peter@nmta.net) and I’ll make it a priority. Thinking about other CBF opportunities, if you want to pull your customers together for an “industry event” and you are looking for a speaker, I would certainly welcome that chance. In recent months, I’ve visited Port of Anacortes and Bremerton Yacht Club. In the near future, I’ll be at Seattle Yacht Club and Queen City Yacht Club. What I’ve found is that these evenings are a fun way to “give back and say thank you” to your customers. Plus, it’s an informative event around a subject your guests want to hear more about, that is boating. If this idea piques your interest, give me a call and I can help you build out this event. I hope you can attend the upcoming NMTA Auction on April 21 at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott. It’s our only benefit of the year for Clean Boating. Even if you can’t attend, you can certainly still participate. As so many NMTA members have in the past, donating something of value to this auction will only increase CBF’s impact. Thank you for reading. See you at the show. Peter Schrappen Executive Director Back To Top   Financial Report: Five Money Tips for Your College-Aged Child David B. Fitch, Wells Fargo Advisors When his daughter was looking at colleges, Dan Prebish, Director of Life Event Services at Wells Fargo Advisors, approached things a little differently than many parents. He raised the issue of college finances while on college tours, asking tour guides questions such as, “How much do you budget for meals outside of the dorm?” and “Where is the nearest ATM?” Prebish found that sprinkling in financial questions provided an opportunity to get his daughter thinking about more than just the school’s curriculum, sporting events, and Greek life. Dinner conversations about schools she was applying to often featured discussions of scholarships. It was a strategy designed to help sensitize his daughter, Lydia, now 19 and a college freshman, to managing money. Tracy Green, Tax and Financial Planning specialist at Wells Fargo Advisors, says money management is the most important lesson you can teach your children, because “they’ll need that in their college years and beyond.” Green, along with Prebish and his wife, Anne, share some tips for parents to help prepare their children for the challenges that lie ahead when they’re living independently as college students. Tip 1: Discuss tuition and responsibility Green says that before even applying to college, parents need to talk with their child about what type of school is within the parents’ budget and what portion, if any, the child will be responsible for covering. “Everyone needs to know up front what they’re going to be responsible for by the spring or summer before college,” she says. Lydia Prebish, for example, pays for her own entertainment expenses, such as movies or meals at a restaurant with friends. She saved money from a summer job and also works on campus. “I think it’s always valuable for kids to have work skills, whether you need the money or not,” Dan says. The independent source of income helps provide students a sense of satisfaction and self worth, he adds. Because Lydia works two four-hour shifts a week, it’s manageable for her. But Dan says working, especially during the first semester as a student adjusts to college, may not be ideal for every student. Those who want to participate in many extracurricular activities or have a demanding curriculum may find it more difficult. Tip 2: Focus on budget fundamentals Anne Prebish says your children should learn the core concept of money: understand how much money they have and know not to spend more than that. “We have to be careful not to assume our kids know these things,” she says. Both she and her husband say it makes sense for kids to have a job the summer before college so they can accumulate savings. But managing that money during the course of a six-month semester can be a challenge. They suggest sitting down with your child and dividing the total amount of money available by the months at school to determine a monthly budget. “The first semester is about learning and keeping track of how you’re spending your money,” Anne says. Tip 3: Think about debit and credit cards The Prebishes and Green agree that a debit card is a key way to help students manage money. Dan says it’s an easy way to pay for items such as books, while Green adds it has oversight value — parents can limit spending on the card to the checking account balance. She also suggests that parents get their child a secured credit card, where the parent fronts the cash deposit but the child is financially responsible for making on-time payments, as this is a way of helping the child establish a credit history without giving him or her free rein over a traditional credit card. Tip 4: Don’t forget their health Dan recommends verifying in advance what your insurance covers while your children are at college, specifically whether they’ll be covered for visits to a clinic on campus or whether the school requires that you purchase their health insurance. Make sure to schedule routine medical or dental appointments during summer or school breaks so that they don’t go by the wayside. And he says it’s essential for a child to have his or her own durable power of attorney authorizing a parent to make financial or legal decisions if the child is incapacitated. A durable power of attorney for health care is also recommended, since professionals aren’t authorized to share medical information with parents without explicit permission if the child is 18 or over. He suggests scanning those documents onto the child’s phone and keeping a copy for yourself, so the documents are readily accessible. Green adds that doctor’s phone numbers and medical and insurance information should also be kept on the child’s phone. Tip 5: Empower your children to ask for help One suggestion Anne considers critical is to send the message to your college-aged children that just because they are adults living on their own, asking for a parent’s advice isn’t a sign of weakness. “Part of being an adult is realizing other people are there to help you,” she says. And parents shouldn’t think they’re hovering if they assist. “We have consistently been there giving our daughter our two cents and also letting her make choices,” Anne says. Those discussions on college survival skills have helped their daughter transition well to her new environment. “She was prepared for anything we could prepare her for,” she adds.     This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of David Fitch, Associate Vice President in Bellevue at 425-450-2245. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2016 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.  Back To Top   A Look at NMTA's 2017 Legislative Agenda Supporting Career & Technical Education: Call To Action: Please support the Sen. Rolfes/Rep. Tarleton bill that funds “materials, supplies & operating costs (MSOC)” at a 1.58 multiplier, equaling $67.6 M for this biennium. Bumping up Pilotage exemptions: Make it easier for boats to visit Washington state Call to Action: Help us bump up the exemptions   available to recreational boats from 750 gross tons to 1,300 gross tons. Secure General Fund dollars to ward off aquatic invasive species. Adopt the Marine Jobs Bill. Protect the Boating Facilities Program in the budget. Support the Big Tent Coalition’s legislative agenda. Support increased recreational fishing opportunities. Oppose any changes to the trade-in allowance. By the numbers Recreational boating= $4 billion economic impact 238,000 registered boats in Washington state Over 60% of boats are used for recreational fishing.  725 member businesses and Public Ports comprise NMTA Back To Top   Health Care Corner: January 2017 Taking Ownership in your own healthcare is more important than ever. We all know the famous saying, “the only thing constant is change.” Now that we are settling into 2017, it seems change is all around us. This certainly holds true in the health insurance and healthcare world. The political hot potato that is the Affordable Care Act continues to get reshaped, debated and altered and with that brings about unknowns and questions moving forward. Let’s face it, health insurance is expensive. Every dollar you spend on health insurance premiums and the costs of seeking care is just as important as any other expense you incur. However, many people still attempt to tackle the maze of the healthcare environment with little or no help. Start by taking basic steps. Educate your employees and yourself on how your insurance plan works. Understand the copay, the deductible, what’s covered 100% as preventive and what’s not and how to best use your prescription plan. Be willing to ask questions of your doctor to ensure the right treatment plan is in place at the right cost. Own your data, historical records, and lab results. Lastly, shop around. More and more data is available on the costs procedures, customer reviews, and quality metrics in your area than ever before. As the healthcare world changes around you it is important that you keep up. If you need help navigating the healthcare world, the NMTA Health Trust is here to help. Contact us today at 425-641-8093 or visit us at www.capitalbenefitservices.com to speak to our team of knowledgeable consultants. Back To Top   Fishin' for some fun? Join us at the 2017 Northwest Salmon Derby Series Back To Top   Copyright © 2017 Northwest Marine Trade Association, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1900 N. Northlake Way, Ste. #233 Seattle, WA 98103 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list WaterLife Banner Photo Credit: Neil Rabinowitz