Boating Season Goes Full Throttle During Fourth of July Weekend

The July 4th holiday weekend will see 59 million U.S. boaters take to the water to celebrate with family and friends.

Many of the nation’s major metropolitan areas mark their Independence Day celebrations on their waterfront, making watching fireworks from a boat the best seat in the house.

Discover Boating, a national public awareness program dedicated to recreational boating, has listed several popular on-the-water locations for viewing fireworks displays from a boat. Here are a few of the cities Discover Boating has selected:

• New York, N.Y.: With more than 35,000 pyrotechnic shells in a half-hour display, Macy's dazzles viewers each year with a fireworks display of grand proportions in honor of the nation’s birthday. Launched from two East River locations, taking in the spectacular views from aboard a boat cannot be beat. Visitors can also celebrate in style on a cruise beneath the Statue of Liberty, featuring live music and dancing. (July 4, 9 p.m., East River between 23rd & 42nd Streets)
  
  
• Chicago, Ill.: Join that special someone for dinner aboard a chartered cruise or relax with family and friends on your own boat as the skies above Lake Michigan and Chicago’s famous skyline are illuminated with accompaniment from the Grant Park Orchestra and U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants. (July 3, 9:30 p.m., Grant Park)

• Los Angeles, Calif.: Join a variety of power and sailboats out on the water to enjoy live music and big booms over the main channel in Marina Del Ray for free family fun and a patriotic fireworks display. (July 4, 9 p.m., Marina Del Ray)

• Memphis, Tenn.: The Beale Street Fourth of July celebration is a festive time with great food, infamous live music and, of course, a thunderous grand finale of fireworks. Enjoy the lively display as the fireworks burst over the mighty Mississippi River. (July 4, 9 p.m.,

The complete list can be found on the Discover Boating site.

Source: Discover Boating

Latitude Industries Enters Into Talks With Honda Marine

Yahoo Finance features details on negotiation talks between Latitude Industries and Honda Marine.

Latitude Industries, Inc. manufactures offshore high performance sport and center console boats. Honda Marine has been a leader in four-stroke engine technology since 1974.

According to the Yahoo Finance story, the COO of Latitude Industries is delighted to begin talks with Honda and enthusiastic about the chance of blending Latitude with Honda to provide fully-rigged boat and motor packages.

Source: Yahoo Finance

The Torqeedo Travel Electric Outboard Offers Efficiency And Power

The Torqeedo homepage features details on the Torqeedo Travel. According to Torqueedo, the Torqeedo Travel delivers propulsive power comparable to a 2 hp gasoline outboard, and is twice as efficient as conventional electric outboards. Utilizing electrical and propeller technologies, this compact outboard turns a 12" x 10" propeller. It weighs only 25 pounds, including a removable 8 lb. integrated lithium-manganese battery.

Torqeedo also reports that Capt. Don Mull, Jr., a shallow-water tournament champ based in Port Charlotte, Florida, is sold on his ultra-lightweight Torqeedo Travel 801 electric outboard. "I don't go fishing without it," he said.

"The Travel has the power to get in and out of the back bays and creeks where I fish all day," Mull said. "By lightening the load when every ounce counts, my 23' Ranger bay boat doesn't draw as much water, so I can catch more red fish, snook and tarpon in the shallows."

Mull said he appreciates the ability to easily remove and stow the engine so it's not a target for opportunistic thieves. And, the fact that the Torqeedo Travel has no wires or heavy battery "to lug around," frees up room on board for more bait and tackle.

"I'm amazed at how powerful and efficient the Torqeedo is," said Mull. "No power is lost between the head and the prop shaft. For my type of fishing, the small battery lasts all day with power to spare. It's the most efficient outboard around." To top it off, Torqeedo engines are emission-free outboards that are kind to nature.

Source: Torqueedo

Bertram Yachts and VideoRay Offer ROVs For Boaters

If you have seen images of the wreck of the Titanic, then you are already familar with ROVs(remotely operated vehicles). ROVs can take cameras places underwater that are too dangerous or remote for humans.

ROVs have now made the leap from ocean explorers to boaters, thanks to Bertram Yacht and an exclusive partnership with VideoRay LLC.

The VideoRay ROV will be available to all Bertram owners through the Bertram website and will also be offered as a pre-wired option on new Bertram yachts.

VideoRays are the smallest, lightest, fastest, and most easily deployed remotely operated vehicles, capturing high-quality video underwater.

According to VideoRay's website, Bertram identified VideoRay as an essential tool for the overall yachting experience. Weighing only eight pounds, the VideoRay is easily deployed overboard and can be operated by a single person with a simple remote control from either the comfort of their salon, the docks or even from land. Once deployed, the ROV captures live video that is transferred over to the high-definition television screen located on each Bertram yacht.

It is designed to capture any underwater study including an exciting day of diving or a quick overall hull inspection that is extremely useful in checking the condition of a boat’s props, rudders or anchor placement. Various models are available with depth ratings from 500 up to 1000 feet. A grabber arm is available to recover items on the seafloor – dropped sunglasses, keys, tools, or ancient treasures recently uncovered in Caribbean ports.

Source: VideoRay

Nordic 8 Portlight Directs Water Away From The Window

The point of a porthole is to let in light and air, not water. Boaters and sailors sick of traditional portholes collecting water and condensation can turn to ABI/Precision Lighting.

Using an innovative spigot drain, their Nordic Series Portlights help direct water away from the window. With no water sitting in the ring to run into and soak the cabin, there's no need to worry when opening the porthole.

Precision cast, the classic Nordic 8 Portlight is the first in this new series. It features a 8" diameter opening with a black nylon screen to keep insects out. Built to last, it's constructed of electro-polished 316 stainless steel and laminated safety glass. CE certified and simple to install, the flange and finish ring are countersunk for wood screws and measure 11" in diameter.

Source: ABI/Precision Lighting

Will Boat Buyers Face More Difficulty In Finding Financing?

Given today’s tight economy and GE Money’s exit from the marine lending market, some financial experts think the average person will have a harder time borrowing money to buy a boat. And that may mean bad news for boat dealers.

GE Money, a national player with multifaceted operations, was an indirect lender, meaning the company developed relationships with dealerships that sent customers to GE Money for loan approval.

“The dealerships are the ones who are going to be affected the most,” said Karen Trostle of Sterling Acceptance Corp., an Annapolis, Md.,-based marine lender. In the past when companies have pulled out of the marine finance business, another company has stepped up to fill the void," Trostle said. But that may not be the case today because lenders are tightening their credit requirements.

GE Money's sales finance unit discontinued consumer finance programs in the marine and RV markets this spring, saying it was the “right operational adjustment” for this economic environment. "GE Money has been challenged to continue to deliver a strong level of return in the marine space,” the company said in a statement.

"They were a big player," said Don Parkhurst, senior vice president at SunTrust Bank, of GE Money. "I think the reason that the industry may be feeling it as much as they are is GE Money tended to buy the weaker, more marginal type borrower." Plenty of marine loans can be had, and interest rates have risen only moderately, remaining relatively low historically," Parkhurst said. SunTrust's rates are in the mid-to-upper 6 percent range. "To get that kind of rate though, credit must be nearly perfect," said Proteau. Banks, he said, are “a little big gun-shy” right now.

Although the marine industry hasn't faced anything of the magnitude of the housing crisis, banks and lenders will tighten up everywhere to compensate for losses in other areas, Parkhurst said.

"It's not just GE pulling out," Parkhurst said. "I think you've seen creditors tightening their standards, especially since last fall."

Proteau speculates the more marginal borrower has already been priced out of the market. "At the end of a cycle like this, my guess is those lower-credit borrowers weren't in the market anyway — they're trying to hold onto their house," Proteau said. "This isn't something that just snuck up, it's been going on for a while. It went a whole lot farther south than the banks thought it would."

See the July issue of Soundings Trade Only for more on this story.

Dealership Certification Achieves New Milestone

By Thom Dammrich

When Crow’s Nest Yacht Sales of Newport Beach, Calif., received official “Certified” status earlier this month, the Marine Industry Dealership Certification program achieved another major milestone—certification of its 400th dealership. The program was launched less than three years ago (in November 2005), and to date more than 600 dealerships (617, to be exact) are enrolled—407 of which have completed the requirements and earned the official “Marine Industry Certified Dealership” designation.

Wow! This is an impressive accomplishment just a few short years into the Dealership Certification program. To have 400 dealerships all across the country having earned Marine Industry Certification clearly demonstrates the industry’s commitment to excellence and its drive toward continuous improvement.

More than 64 million consumer impressions online and in print have been delivered through Dealership Certification marketing efforts since December 15, 2007. Banner ads featured on the home pages, feature pages and dealer locators of three of the industry’s top boat search websites—boats.com, BoatTrader.com, and BoatTest.com—coupled with public relations have been a driving force in these efforts. In addition to widespread buzz among boat buyers, another benefit of the program is direct access to the Discover Boating Lead System.

At its core, Dealership Certification is designed to help improve the quality of consumers’ sales and service experience and grow the overall industry. While there are many benefits to a dealership for participating in the program, there are also numerous, equally significant benefits to the consumer. Everyone wins when it comes to this industry program!

Don’t forget: A full list of Marine Industry Certified dealerships is available on both GrowBoating.org and DiscoverBoating.com, and the “Find a Certified Dealer” area of DiscoverBoating.com is now one of the sites’ Top 10 most visited pages.

For additional information about the Marine Industry Dealership Certification program or specific details regarding how to enroll, contact Dealer Certification program manager John Warnik at (312) 946-6500; jwarnik@DealerCertification.org.

Glacier Bay's 3065 Canyon Runner Feautures New Hull Design

According to Glacier Bay, the new 3065 Canyon Runner is targeted at the hard-core fisherman who has deep ocean, big fish in mind.

Glacier Bay says that every detail has been refined and tuned to fit his exact needs and expectations.

The hull is an all new groundbreaking, patent pending, design from Glacier Bay that makes significant steps forward in fuel efficiency, roll stability, handling, and spray reflection.

Fuel Efficiency and horsepower requirements have been improved significantly. Owners will see a 6%-8% increase over previous designs through a re-shaping of the aft under bodies to improve the hydrodynamics (smoother flow).

Roll Stability has been stepped up significantly with a reshaping of the hulls outboard power chine. The boat's ability to Bank into Turns has also been enhanced with a re-proportioning of the aft underbody.

Source: Glacier Bay Catamarans

Yanmar Marine USA Endorses The Use Of Biodiesel B5 In Their Diesel Engines

Yanmar Marine USA recently announced, as part of their continuing efforts to create more environmentally-responsible products, the endorsement of the use of B5 Biodiesel in their diesel engines.

The eco-friendly diesel alternative has been approved for use across Yanmar's recreational marine line.

Compared to standard diesel fuel, B5 Biodiesel can help reduce greenhouse gases and particulate matter, also known as soot. Producing less pollution, the blended fuel is 95% standard diesel with a maximum of 5% biodiesel. This innovative B5 base conforms to stringent specifications outlined in ASTM D6751 or ISO EN14214.

A full list of Yanmar Marine Engines Approved for B5 Bio Diesel use can be found on the Yanmar Marine homepage.

Source: Yanmar Marine

The New Mercury Flyway 25 EFI FourStroke Outboard Engine Is Ready To Hide

The new Mercury Flyway 25 EFI fourstroke is low profile...and not just because it has low engine noise.

Mercury Marine has introduced the new Mercury Flyway 25 outboard engine with a standard-from-factory camouflage pattern and matching low-gloss paint.

According to Mercury Marine, there’s no need to hide your engine by covering it with spray paint, stickers or a bag.

Featuring the Advantage MAX-4 HD camouflage pattern, the engine that’s touted as the quietest in its class is now nearly invisible.

The Advantage MAX-4 HD was designed by Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. to meet the need of open terrain camouflage – without geographical limitations. The pattern incorporates cattails, millet, milo, corn stalks, sunflowers, oak and maple leaves, cedar and oak limbs, plus a variety of other plant life.

Not only do these engines utilize one of the most recognized camouflage patterns on the market, but Mercury’s feature-packed design, smart amenities and clean, quiet, fuel-efficient FourStroke performance makes the Flyway 25 EFI the obvious choice of power for smart hunters.

Source: Mercury Marine

Doral Boats International Selects Sea-Fire Suppression Systems and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Sea-Fire Marine, a manufacturer of fire extinguishers and suppression systems for marine applications, has been selected by Doral Boats to supply pre-engineered automatic fire suppression systems and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Doral currently uses Sea-Fire Marine FM-200 FG Series Fire Suppression Systems and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Doral supplies an extensive range of boats from 17' runabouts to 36' flagships. Their models include the high-performance Sport Boats, Sport Yachts, Express Series and Elite Series.

Sea-Fire equipment is available on all of Doral's innovative models. They offer FG-100A, FG-125A and FG-150A Sea-Fire FM-200 FG Series pre-engineered automatic fire suppression systems and 124-856 Carbon Monoxide Detectors. The systems are standard on all boats destined for Europe and optional for craft headed to other countries.

"Sea-Fire products are competitively priced and easy to fit," said Patty Restrup of Doral. "The included brackets mean less prep work before installation."

The FG Series pre-engineered automatic fire suppression systems are perfect for protecting enclosed engine compartments and can cover areas from 25 cu. ft. to 240 cu. ft. The FG extinguishing systems are designed to induce a minimum atmospheric concentration of 8.7% within the protected space. The units deliver EPA-approved FM-200. A clean extinguishing agent, the environmentally-responsible halon alternative is safe for people and equipment.

Source: Sea-Fire Marine

Innovative Lighting Sidemarker Lights For Trailers

When hauling a trailer, a simple way to help prevent collisions on the road is to make sure it is highly visible by other drivers. That's easy to accomplish with Innovative Lighting's new 209 Series 2" Round LED PCP2 Sidemarker. Long-lasting and resilient, this light is ideal for corner mounting on trailers.

Incorporating 2 LEDs and providing 180˚ of visibility, its configuration is unique for a PC light. Shock and vibration-proof, this light has a sonically-sealed polycarbonate lens and waterproof housing. Incredibly long-lasting, these LEDs are rated for 50,000 hours.

Emitting less heat than standard light, LEDs are cool to the touch. Consuming only 130 mA, these lights can reduce the load on a vehicle's electrical system, resulting in money-saving benefits.

Source: Innovative Lighting

Fountain Powerboat With Mercury Verado Outboard Engines Sets World Performance Record

Mercury Marine recently announced that three Verado outboard engines propelled a Fountain powerboat to a new world record.

According to Mercury, A 38-foot Fountain center console sportfishing boat powered by three Mercury Marine 300 hp Verado outboard engines established a world record on June 3, running a 410-mile dash from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina to the Statue of Liberty in New York City in 6 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds.

The Mercury-powered boat averaged just under 65 mph and .9 miles per gallon.

“The motors were so fuel efficient I felt as though we were running off of the air,” said Brian Forehand, Fountain’s plant manager and offshore race team crew chief. Forehand drove the boat the duration of the run. “The Mercury Verados ran flawlessly without any sign of strain and the boat rode as though we were floating in the clouds.”

Also on board the Fountain boat – an almost-exact replica of a boat recently acquired by former President George Bush – were Fountain’s director of fishing, Clayton Kirby, and veteran marine journalist Eric Colby. Colby documented the event and official world record for an article that will appear in an upcoming issue of Boating Magazine.

After leaving the docks at the Breakwater Inn in Hatteras Village, N.C., at 5:40 a.m., the team headed southeast out of the channel following guidance provided by a Garmin GPS. After turning northeast, the boat rounded Cape Hatteras point, starting the official clock at 5:55 a.m.

“For the first hour and a half we ran in three-foot to four-foot seas until the wind changed direction,” said Kirby. “Then the water laid down and the Lord blessed us with calm seas and no wind all the way to New York.”

Source: Mercury Marine

The Sea Ray 270 Sundancer

Brunswick recently announced details on the Sea Ray 270 Sundancer.

According to Sea Ray, this is one of the most multi-talented boats from the company that almost single-handedly reinvented the category with the mid-cabin genre of express cruiser boats.

Featuring an 8-foot, 10-inch beam, the 270 Sundancer boasts a wide, leisure-ready cockpit with an ingeniously designed double helm seat that pivots to face aft when the boat is at rest.

The extended beam also creates a bigger-than-life feel by offering a stairwell-like portside companionway that leads down into the cabin. In the interior of the 270 is a tinted skylight and two oversized hull windows allow a flood of natural light — and an optional cabin entry screen door lets in outside air — giving the 270's cabin an open and breezy feel.

The galley and head feature full appliances and upscale equipment as standards, including a stainless-steel microwave and a VacuFlush head. Optional amenities like a 12-inch, flip-down TV forward, teak-and-holly cabin flooring, and 8,000-BTU air conditioning/heating are examples of Sea Ray's commitment to making the most inviting and sophisticated sport cruisers on the water.

Source: Brusnwick

A Boat Called "Junk" Sets Sail for Hawaii on 15,000 Plastic Bottles

Durable plastic bottles can last for years and float for hundred of miles on ocean currents. A build-up of floating plastic is fouling the world's oceans.

Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal have built a boat called "Junk" to prove this point. Junk is literally made of junk: 15,000 plastic bottles and other debris, including the fuselage of a old plane.

To increase awareness of the problem of plastic ocean debris, Junk is setting sail on a 2,100 mile journey to Hawaii.

YouTube user SustainableDave has uploaded video from a KNBC newscast on Junk .


Junk was assembled by high school students using plastic boats and rope made from plastic strands.

You can read more about Junk at the official Junk Raft Blog.

Source: YouTube and JunkRaft.com

The Sonic Mares Cat Features Fuel-Saving Hull Design

According to Sonic Boats, the new hull design of the Sonic Mares Cat can take some of the sting out of those high fuel costs. "Water is hard, air is soft," says Sonic Boats, "Finally a boat that understands the difference."

Powered with the Volvo 370 Diesels and Volvo sport drive, the Sonic Mares Cat has a top speed close to 80 MPH drop down to 43 MPH, offering better than 3 Miles per gallon and a range of over 800 Miles

The unique design at the hull is what makes the difference. Sonic Boats says the Mares Cat will go further faster and burn less fuel than any mono hull.

The Mares Cat is specifically designed and built for the whole family to enjoy, there is more room in the cockpit, in the engine compartment and in the cabin. Easy access to the water, extremely stable at speed or at anchor this Cat is designed to excel in rough water.

Source: Sonic Boats

Alden Yachts 56 Express Is Designed To Be Strong And Quiet

According to Alden Yachts, the 56 Express "is the definitive statement of what a gentleman’s powerboat should be."

Because the hull of the 56 Express is built entirely of Epoxy resins with vacuum bagged core and E-glass/Kevlar skins, it is incredibly strong but considerably lighter than production boats her size, offering exhilarating performance and excellent fuel economy. Depending upon the engines chosen she can be built with a cruising speed in excess of 30 knots.

The mechanical and electrical systems are engineered to perform under the most demanding conditions and can be easily accessed and serviced. A great deal of care is taken to reduce engine and drive train noise to its absolute minimum. Careful attention has resulted in consistently top scores in decibel level testing.

Source: Alden Yachts