Recreational Boating Industry Showcases Marine Technology and Strategic Maritime Fuels in Atlantic City

The recreational boating industry came together in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this week for New Jersey Boating Technology Day, an industry-led event focused on the technologies and fuels that will help shape the future of boating.

Hosted by Viking Yacht Company and Mack Boring & Parts Co. at the Golden Nugget State Marina, the event brought together marine manufacturers, fuel producers, technical experts, policymakers, and industry leaders for a full day of presentations and on-water demonstrations. The program highlighted the many technologies that will be needed to further reduce emissions from recreational boating while preserving the performance, safety, range, and reliability boaters expect.

The event featured a broad review of marine technology, including ICOMIA's Propelling Our Future research, advanced propulsion systems, marine mammal strike mitigation technology, and Strategic Maritime Fuels. Following the presentations, guests experienced the technologies firsthand through boat demonstrations that included a small electric propulsion system, the WAVS marine mammal strike mitigation system, a center console fishing boat, a sportfishing yacht, and a cabin cruiser/runabout.

Several combustion-powered boats were operated using Strategic Maritime Fuels, including renewable diesel, also known as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, and biobutanol, a partially renewable gasoline. These drop-in fuels can provide an immediate reduction in net carbon emissions without compromising range, reliability, or performance.

For recreational boating, this all-of-the-above approach is essential. Boats are different from cars. They operate in demanding marine environments, require high power over long periods of time, and often travel far from shore. That means the industry cannot rely on a single technology pathway. Instead, continued progress will depend on a mix of solutions, including cleaner liquid fuels, electric propulsion, hybrid systems, hydrogen, advanced engines, improved vessel design, and smart on-water technologies.

Strategic Maritime Fuels are especially promising because they can work with many existing boats and engines. They offer a practical near-term path to reduce carbon emissions across the current fleet while supporting the range and performance boaters need. In many cases, these fuels may also provide benefits for engines by burning cleaner, improving fuel quality, and helping support long-term engine performance without sacrificing power.

The event also underscored the recreational boating industry's long-standing leadership in innovation and self-regulation. Manufacturers are not waiting for one-size-fits-all mandates. They are investing in research, testing new technologies in real-world marine conditions, and working across the supply chain to identify solutions that are better for boaters, better for engines, and better for the environment.

"New Jersey Boating Technology Day demonstrated exactly how our industry is approaching the future: with practical innovation, technical expertise, and a commitment to continuous improvement," said Jeff Wasil, NMMA Vice President of Environmental Compliance and Marine Technology. "Strategic Maritime Fuels and other emerging technologies give us the ability to reduce emissions while maintaining the performance, safety, and access that make boating possible."

The day reflected the strength of the recreational boating sector and its commitment to responsible progress. Ninety-five percent of boats sold in the United States are made in the United States, and 93 percent of boat builders are small businesses. As a uniquely American industry, recreational boating is helping lead the way in developing technologies that support jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, improve sustainability, and keep people on the water.

New Jersey Boating Technology Day was supported by leaders from across the marine and fuel industries, including Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA; Suzuki Marine USA; Mercury Marine; Viking Marine Group; Mack Boring & Parts Co.; Volvo Penta; Ilmor Engineering; Highfield Boats; Southport Boats; Contender Boats; Sea Born; Brunswick Corporation; HYPERFUELS; Terra Mater; LyondellBasell; Fuel1; and Sprague Operating Resources.