One announcement that I seemed to miss hearing about at the Miami Boat Show concerns Sea Ray expanding its “strategic alliance” with the Costco Auto Program in select metropolitan areas throughout the U.S.

The program offers Costco members in major boating markets special pricing deals on select Sport Boat and Cruiser models, as well as up to $3,000 in rebates from the company. These models include several targeted at the family and towsports markets, including $500 incentives on the the 175 Sport and 185 Sport; $750 incentives on the 195 Sport and 205 Sport; $1,000 incentives on the 200 Sundeck, 210 Sundeck, 200 Select, 210 Select Fission, and 210 Select; and $2,000 incentives on the 220 Sundeck, 230 Sundeck, 220 Select, 230 Select, and 230 Select Fission.

To take advantage of the deals, interested Costco members can find more information on costcoauto.com, or call 1-800-816-5177 to be put in touch with the nearest participating dealer.

Sea Ray officials point out that the alliance differs from the deals other boat brands have with retailers in that it keeps the dealer actively involved in the entire ownership process.

“In this arrangement, the dealer is an integral part of the process, not a service-only afterthought,” explained Mike Burke, Sea Ray Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “so buyers get the full sales and service treatment of Sea Ray’s industry-leading dealer network.”