Brunswick Corporation‘s (NYSE: BC) dealer services team, Brunswick Dealer Advantage, is going nationwide with its education program promoting boater education at Brunswick marine dealerships in partnership with the nation’s leading boater education organization, United States Power Squadrons® (USPS), an industry first. The national launch comes after a successful pilot program roll-out with recruitment of local USPS chapters to participate across the country. Brunswick celebrated the national launch by also announcing a new USPS boater education sponsorship and award last Saturday at the 2014 annual USPS meeting in Jacksonville, Fla.

The successful pilot program roll-out now allows Brunswick to offer dealers boater education classes and seminars at 75 percent of Brunswick’s more than 3,200 boat and engine selling dealer locations. Courses range from two-hour seminars on popular topics like power boat handling, navigation and how to handle emergencies to the comprehensive eight-hour America’s Boating Course that covers all major aspects of boating safety and enjoyment, meets state boater certification requirements and may even lower the boater’s insurance premiums.

“Boater education is good for boating and good for the industry,” said Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy. “Offering classes on how to have a fun and safe experience on the water expands participation among new and experienced boaters alike. We are very pleased to partner with the leader in boater education to help us improve boater education on a national level.”

Brunswick also announced a new Platinum level national sponsorship of the USPS, and launched a new Brunswick Boater Education award for the local USPS chapters that taught the most classes at Brunswick dealerships during the year. For the 2013 pilot program year, the Brunswick Boater Education awards have been awarded to the following local USPS chapters:

• Platinum: Sacandaga Power Squadron, Amsterdam, N.Y.
• Gold: Mohawk Hudson Power Squadron, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
• Silver: Everett Sail and Power Squadron, Everett, Wash.

“We are very pleased to be able to partner with USPS to be able to offer superior boater education at our dealerships nationwide,” said Brunswick Boat Group President Andy Graves. “We congratulate our first Brunswick Boater Education award winners and look forward to many more. We believe it is important to invest in the fundamentals like education. USPS helps us get there.”

Brunswick’s leadership in the marine industry offers the Company’s partnership with USPS a unique capacity to significantly influence boater education on a national level. Brunswick reaches more boaters as it sells more recreational boats and more recreational boat engines at more dealership locations than any other marine manufacturer.

“Our new national partnership with Brunswick is truly ground-breaking,” said USPS Chief Commander John Alter. “Joining forces to promote boating education at Brunswick’s leading dealerships across the country offers tremendous potential to get more boaters on the water and to improve the boating experience, which are goals we both share. We look forward to executing our very successful pilot program on a national scale.”

USPS is the leading in-class boater education organization in the United States, celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year. The non-profit institution offers courses on all aspects of boating through an all-volunteer force of expert boaters. There are 401 squadrons serving over 45,000 members, who often attend classes on a regular basis to advance their understanding and enjoyment of their true passion – heading out on the water.

“USPS instructors are great at what they do,” said owner of Brunswick dealer B & E Marine in Michigan City, Ind., Rod Bensz. “Our customers find their boater training very worthwhile. This builds loyalty, sales and referrals for us and makes our buyers more confident on the water.”

Brunswick dealers interested in hosting USPS boater education can learn more by calling Brunswick’s dealer services team, Brunswick Dealer Advantage, at 1-877-462-3884 or by visiting www.brunswickdealeradvantage.com.

Logo courtesy Brunswick