Discover Boating Extends Partnership with Increasingly Popular Black Boaters Summit, Promotes Diversity and Community Among Next Gen Boating Enthusiasts

As the nation continues celebrating Black History Month, Discover Boating, powered by MRAA and NMMA, is excited to announce it will be joining forces again with the Black Boaters Summit to unite boating enthusiasts, industry leaders and advocates for a day of celebration on the water leading up to Juneteenth. New this year, thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm and success of the previous Black Boaters Summit, which took place in Chicago, IL in 2023 and Long Island, N.Y. in 2024, the event is expanding to two additional cities this summer including Washington, D.C., and Detroit, MI, with the goal of making history on the water by celebrating with more than 3,000 Black boaters across all four cities, kicking off on June 15, 2025.

The Black Boaters Summit is not just an event, it is a movement aimed at creating a vibrant and inclusive community that embraces the joy of boating while highlighting the contributions and achievements of Black boaters and individuals.

“Discover Boating works year-round to welcome the next generation of boaters and champion the accessibility of boating for all, and there’s no better way to celebrate the culture of Black boaters than bringing this growing community together at the Black Boaters Summit,” said Kevin Williams, NMMA's vice president of North American marketing. “Pop-up events like this allow us to meet our audiences where they are already enjoying boating and provides us the unique opportunity to deeply engage with various communities in an authentic way that they appreciate.”

The Black Boaters Summit is a dynamic event featuring a variety of on-water experiences, educational components and interactive panel discussions with industry experts, networking opportunities, “BoatAppétit” demonstrations by local chefs, music, boating-themed games and more.

The 2025 Black Boaters Summit lineup includes:

• Detroit, MI at Riverside Marina
• Chicago, IL at the Southern Shore Yacht Club
• Washington, D.C. at James Creek Marina
• Long Island, N.Y. at Breezy Point Yacht Club

Members are invited to participate in the upcoming Black Boaters Summit. If you are interested in providing on-water experiences, please contact NMMA's Kevin Williams at [email protected]. Stay tuned for more information over the next few months about Discover Boating’s partnership with the Black Boaters Summit.