NMMA Certified Boats
Discover the NMMA Certified advantage and find a boat you love backed by the industry’s toughest standards. Look for the NMMA Certified label when you are shopping for a boat.
Why choose NMMA certified?
When you’re shopping for a boat, NMMA Certification lets you know that the boat was designed and built to meet the industry’s most thorough safety, construction and performance standards.
Safety you can count on
Key systems are built to meet trusted marine safety standards.
Independently verified
NMMA Certified boats are not simply declared “certified” by the manufacturer; they must be inspected by NMMA and pass its certification standards.
Tested
by experts
Highly qualified inspectors combine technical expertise with insight on real-world applications to evaluate boats for performance, safety, and build.
Built for
the water
NMMA Certified boats are held to American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards that address the real conditions of the marine environment.
Beyond
the hull
Certified boats meet tough standards—both inside and out—that cover systems and construction details that aren’t always visible on the outside.
Reliable comparison tool
Certification gives you another important factor to consider when judging one boat against another.
Confidence in your purchase
You know the manufacturer is committed to meeting recognized industry standards.
The bottom line: NMMA Certification means you can spend less time worrying about how your boat was built, and more time enjoying it on the water.
NMMA Certified Boats are 7 times less likely to be recalled by the U.S. Coast Guard than uncertified boats. |
How Do NMMA Certified Boats Measure Up?
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) sets minimum safety standards boat manufacturers must meet. NMMA Certified boats are built to American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) standards for safety, electrical, fuel, and other critical systems, many of which go beyond the USCG minimums.
Here’s What You Need to Know
NMMA Certification is a voluntary program of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) that shows a boat has been built to meet marine-specific safety, construction and performance standards.
Manufacturers that build NMMA Certified boats voluntarily choose to go beyond the minimum federal requirements to ensure their boats meet higher industry standards.
The federal government sets basic standards that every boat sold in the U.S. must meet. However, these requirements do not cover how the boat is designed and built or how it performs in the marine environment. NMMA Certification addresses those gaps.
NMMA Certification is a voluntary program. To earn NMMA certification, boat manufacturers must:
- Undergo independent, third-party inspections by experts
- Verify boats are being built to certification standards with annual facility inspections
- Build every model they sell to American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) standards, the gold standard for boat design, construction, systems, and safety
Look for the NMMA Certified logo on the capacity or yacht plate, located near the helm.
Founded in 1954, the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) is a nonprofit organization that develops voluntary safety standards for the design, construction, maintenance and repair of recreational boats.
These standards cover major boat systems and are reviewed and updated annually to reflect new technology, research and safety practices.
ABYC Standards give boatbuilders a trusted set of guidelines for building safer boats and helps reduce the risk of problems cause by a boat’s design or construction.
In 2003, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and ABYC entered into an agreement to encourage the widespread use of ABYC Standards through the NMMA Boat & Yacht Certification Program.
Is this boat NMMA Certified?
What does the certification cover?
How does certification go beyond federal requirements?
What happens if something doesn't meet certification requirements?
How can I verify this boat's certification?
Explore Our Safety Resources
NMMA develops and maintains the Boating Safety Awareness Series, a set of consumer-facing digital brochures covering a variety of boating safety topics. Each brochure includes tips, critical knowledge, important contact information and resources for additional information.
Boating Responsibly
Propeller Safety
Marine Fuel System Safety
Towed Water Sports
Marine Navigation Lights
Marine Batteries
Green Boating
Electrical Shock Hazards
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
More on NMMA Certification
NMMA Certification helps ensure boats and marine products meet nationally recognized safety, construction, and compliance standards. To learn more about what NMMA Certification means and why it matters, visit NMMA.org.
Looking for a deeper dive? Our article, Why Should You Buy a Certified Boat?, explains how NMMA Certification protects consumers and what to look for when shopping for a boat, helping buyers make informed, confident decisions.