ABYC's publication, 'Standards and Technical ûInformation Reports for Small Craft,' (that's ûthe new title) is the closest thing we have in the U.S. to an industry-wide safety and con- struction manual.

The acronyms alone are enough to drive you nuts: ABYC, ISO, IMCI, ABS, NMMA. And those with real names, what are they: Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyds Register, Bureau Veritas?

One suspects that these whatever-they-ares have something to do with the way boats are built, or not built, but beyond that, it's vague. Readers wonder, and so do we.

The United States

Let's start on our home turf. The dominant trade group in the U.S. is the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). It has offices in New York and Chicago. The NMMA represents nearly all businesses in the marine sector: boatbuilders, engine makers, and suppliers of accessories. The NMMA has been vigorous in supporting ISO…