Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Thanks to NBOA Marine Insurance

When new boaters realize that boats need insurance, they usually turn to the National Boat Owner’s Association (NBOA), Marine Insurance Agency, on the web at NBOAT.com

NBOA gets it, because they do more than just sell boat insurance. First of all, they specialize - they only insure boats, so they probably already know what YOU need and can be trusted to guide you to get the right coverage for your new boat.

Second, they don't just give quotes and play the numbers game. Instead, they provide useful, free information, such as this primer on boat insurance.

Third, it may sound obvious, but believe it or not this is not true of all insurance agencies - NBOA offers low rates AND only provides top-rated insurance to their customers.

Best of all, they understand the value of a good story and had the good sense to publish our list of top ten boat names on their website in their marine industry news page.

For that, and for providing great service to boaters, we say "thank you" to NBOA.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Top boat names picking up steam

Thanks to Alan Sorum for writing about the top boat names on his blog at Suite101, and also to the Hartford Courant and The Des Moines Register for posting the list in their fine publications.

Seems like even though there is too much snow and ice to boat in many parts of the country, boat show season and people's affinity for lists is keeping this story topical.

If you'd like to discuss a strategy to get publicity for your organization, or if you are an editor or blogger and would like to carry a story about the top boat names in your publication, please contact us via our online contact form or email (andrew [at] nauticalsites.com).

Monday, January 19, 2009

Press Release on Top Boat Names

This hit Google News today almost immediately after posting it to PitchEngine, the social media PR builder. After today, I would highly recommend PitchEngine to anybody looking to get their press release into the news stream quickly.

Anyway, here's the release that went out in its entirety:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FirstBoat Announces the Most Popular Boat Names of the Year


Top boat names of 2008 compiled from the leading network of nautical sites

Hartford, CT, January 19, 2009 - FirstBoat.com, the premier online destination for new boaters, today announced its list of the most popular boat names of the past year. The list, compiled by FirstBoat.com in collaboration with CustomBoatNames.com, BoatNameGear.com, and the Boat Name Blog, includes nautical puns, tributes to recent movies and TV shows, and an overall celebration of the boating lifestyle.

Following are the top ten most popular boat names for 2008:

1. Happy Ours
2. Carpe Diem
3. Aqua - Holic
4. State of Mind
5. Anchor Management
6. The Office
7. Feelin' Nauti
8. Yes Dear
9. Sundance
10. Serenity Now

Several of the boat names on the list, such as “Happy Ours”, “State of Mind” and “Carpe Diem”, reflect how much enjoyment people derive from the boating lifestyle. In fact, the popularity of these particular boat names may suggest that boating, for some, offers a temporary respite from the unremitting news about a distressed economy and record-high fuel prices which were experienced during the peak of last year’s boating season.

In general, most of the names on this year’s list of top boat names illustrate that boaters are imaginative and passionate individuals who like to have fun.

About Nautical Sites
Nautical Sites is a new media company comprised of a growing network of websites for boating and yachting enthusiasts. Included among the many sites in the network are:

FirstBoat.com, founded in 1999, is the premier online destination for new boaters and is home of the original Boat Name Machine, featuring over 50,000 possible boat names; online at www.FirstBoat.com.

The Boat Name Blog offers interactive boat naming advice at www.BoatNameBlog.com.

BoatNameGear.com is the ultimate source for personalized boating gear, offering high quality shirts, hats, towels, robes, tote bags and welcome mats, embroidered with your boat name; located online at www.BoatNameGear.com.

CustomBoatNames.com is one of the web’s leading vinyl lettering supplier to recreational boaters, featuring an easy-to-use online design tool and personal service, online at www.CustomBoatNames.com.

###
Media Contact
Andrew Canepari, Andrew@FirstBoat.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Brunswick keeps on cutting

I thought they were done with the hacks and plant closures months or at least weeks ago, but I guess they were waiting until after the holidays.

Earlier in the week, Brunswick unloaded their Albemarle boat brand, and now just yesterday they announced a series of production cuts and layoffs including plans to "idle" a major production plant in Riverview, Tennessee.

Anyone remember a time when it was "safe" to work for a big company?