There are a lot of exciting decisions to make when you are ready to purchase a new boat: the accessories, electronics and even the color. One of the smartest decisions you can make, however, is to seek out a manufacturer who has achieved the elite designation of NMMA Certified.
When you buy an NMMA Certified boat, yacht or boat trailer, you gain the confidence of knowing your boat and/or trailer meets voluntary industry safety and construction standards because it has been meticulously inspected by a third-party professional. The National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) Certification program helps boat manufacturers comply not only with the U.S. Coast Guard regulations, but also with more than 45 stringent industry standards established by the American Boat and Yacht Council. These standards cover categories such as electrical systems, powering, flotation, ventilation, fuel systems, seat structures, steering systems, visibility from the helm and navigation lights–just to name a very few.
The extensive process of NMMA certification starts with model applications to validate the testing of critical components such as fuel tanks and bilge blowers, and verifies the persons, weight and powering ratings of applicable boat types. The core of the program, however, is the annual physical inspection by a highly trained NMMA inspector to ensure the boats meet the latest safety and construction standards. Only after the manufacturer demonstrates compliance to all the applicable standards are they granted the designation of NMMA Certified for that model year of products.
Similarly, boat trailers are certified by standards and regulations set by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Boat trailers are inspected in areas such as identification plates, capacity ratings, couplings, safety chains, lighting, winches, brakes, registration procedures and conspicuity systems.
The majority of boat manufacturers agree that NMMA certification is essential in ensuring their customers get a boat that goes above and beyond what is required by the U.S Coast Guard. That’s why more than 85 percent of boats sold in the U.S. each year are already NMMA Certified.
As you shop for your new boat or trailer, look for one of the nearly 200 boat brands and over 30 brands of boat trailers that have made the commitment to ensure their products are NMMA Certified. Look for the NMMA Certified logo on the product or see the complete listings on DiscoverBoating.com.
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