LAKE FOREST, IL, March, 8, 2001 – Today, boats.com, Inc. announced the launch of a new home page for the company’s flagship Web site, http://www.boats.com. After six months of consumer feedback and extensive market research, the new boats.com site has been redesigned to help consumers and dealers quickly and effectively take advantage of a host of online marine purchasing resources.

“Boats.com is an industry-wide resource offering business solutions for our Affiliate manufacturers and dealers as well as purchasing solutions for the boating consumer,” said Paul Rabe, president, chief operating officer and co-founder, boats.com, Inc. “Immediately following our launch in September, we began a program that solicited ongoing feedback from our partners and customers – today the results are unveiled. While we have remained consistent to our roots, the new home page truly showcases the variety of products and services we provide to the boating community.”

The new home page brings the boats.com suite of business products to the front line – making the process of buying or selling a boat simpler and easier. By visiting www.boats.com, dealers and consumers are only a click away from competitive financing, insurance, boat listings, an exclusive marine eBay auction site and valuable industry information. The new site is directly reflective of the functional benefits that have proven successful on the Internet.

“In addition to our consumer and partner feedback, the new boats.com home page reflects what is working on the Internet today,” said Stuart Johnstone, chief marketing officer and co-founder, boats.com, Inc. “Our team of marketers, designers and engineers are constantly innovating, learning from the best examples on the Web and refining our products to better address the boater’s needs. Our customers will enjoy the increased usability and enhanced product line that is now featured right on our front step.”

In addition to the product focus, the new boats.com home page offers more flexibility to leverage and promote partnership programs. From boatsbank, backed by KeyBank USA, and boatsinsurance, a joint venture of INAMAR Recreational Marine Insurance and boats.com, to the co-branded eBay auction site and Discover Boating link, the new layout immediately showcases the relationships and resources that have come together to make boats.com the premier marine Web site.

“If you log onto their new home page, it’s immediately evident how boats.com has created the number one Internet resource for the marine industry,” said Larry Russo, Sr., of Russo Marine, a Boston based marine retailer. “The product line and partners that boats.com have brought to the table make it possible for boat dealers and builders to very easily and efficiently use the Internet to increase our business.”

Consumers are now able to more easily access thousands of boat reviews and pre-owned boat listings as well as articles and advice that make the entire purchasing process easier and simpler. Additionally, specification and detailed information on more than 1600 new boat models that have joined with boats.com are available – complete with links to contact information for local dealerships.

As part of the exclusive relationship with the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Marine Retailers Association of America, the boats.com home page helps the industry link directly to these resources as well as to the Discover Boating page for consumers new to the sport of boating. Through the NMMA and MRAA, marine industry participants are working together to increase cooperation resulting in the growth of the sport of boating.

About boats.com Through boats.com, marine dealers and manufacturers can utilize a new channel of operation and consumer interaction. Boats.com enhances the capabilities of the boating industry by offering a range of unique products, online and offline, that will help sell, finance, insure and market all marine product lines. In addition to boats.com, the company operates other marine-oriented Web sites including YachtWorld, the world’s leading Web marketplace for brokerage-listed boats.

With an established network of industry alliances – including the exclusive endorsements from the industry’s two leading associations, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA) – and an unmatched level of consumer access to information, boat listings, accessories, and financial and insurance products, boats.com plays the unique role of integrating and simplifying the demand side of the marine industry.

Contact: Ken Grimes boats.com 415-947-5015 415-356-5417 fax 678-428-8273 cell [email protected] # # #