Archive for May 2009

• 22 May 2009
  Icom UK now on Facebook and Twitter!
  

  Customers can now keep up to date with the latest news from Radio Communications Specialist Icom UK Ltd on the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter!

  Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers).

  Visit http://www.twitter.com for more information on how Twitter works and to sign up.

  Find Icom UK’s twitter at:

  http://www.twitter.com/icom_uk

  Facebook is a free-access social networking website in which users can join networks organised by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

  Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager of Icom UK Ltd commented, “Our Facebook page will have a lot of extra content on it which won’t necessarily be seen on our other sites. The Facebook page is very much an informal site where we are looking for our customer to add content and post messages.”

  Visit http://www.facebook.com for more information on Facebook and to sign up.

• 22 May 2009
  Icom UK Sponsors Powerboat Team Fox!
  

  This summer Jersey based Fox Marine Services will be competing in the largest off-shore powerboat race in the World; the Honda Formula 4-Stroke powerboat race series. Icom UK have supplied the team with an IC-M421 VHF/DSC and an IC-M31 Handheld Transceiver for use throughout the series. The team are hoping their race bid will raise the profile of powerboat racing in Jersey and hopefully will be the first step in bringing the series to the island.

  Martin Colligan will be at the helm with fellow FMS Engineer Gideon Du Val working as navigator. Both crew members are keen to put their skills to the test against the other drivers; with 35 years joint experience driving boats they feel they are ready to race despite their lack of competitive experience. Thomas and Liam McDermott are the team principles and will be supporting Martin and Gideon over the race weekend.

  The Icom equipment will be installed in the Team Fox custom Cougar powerboat as the core on-board communications during the series and will be used for ship to shore communications throughout the event.

  So what are their hopes for the season? Liam McDermott comments, “We are looking forward to participating in the event. We will be novices racing against some very experienced teams. We’d like to achieve a top five finish in the first few races, then finish higher up the leader board….with hopefully a win in our first year!”

  Icom UK would like to wish Team Fox all the best in this years event!

• 19 May 2009
  National Boat Shows drives down show costs
  

  National Boat Shows (NBS) managing director Andrew Williams has written to PSP Southampton Boat Show (PSP SBS) exhibitors outlining cost cutting measures put in place for the upcoming shows.
   
  Andrew Williams: ‘new technology at affordable costs’ Among the cost reductions is a saving of up to 40% on telephony by using the show’s supplier Venue IT, along with its appointed partner Etherlive.

  ‘We have negotiated up to 40% cost savings on ordering phone, PDQ and internet facilities at the show,’ said Mr Williams. ‘In addition, we’ll be providing new technology at affordable costs, which will enhance your experience of exhibiting.’

  Mr Williams quotes the benefits as ‘secure, robust site wide wireless infrastructure capable of supporting all voice and data services, which many exhibitors have been asking for.’

  There will also be an improved service and some reductions on last year’s lifting rates – NBS has appointed Stanco Exhibition Services as its new lifting contractor to avoid having to increase the price and, where possible, to improve the price.

  ‘We are also implementing a new lifting and traffic regime on site with the aim of delivering a much better, more efficient system,’ said Mr Williams, adding more information will be in the exhibitor manuals, due out soon.

  Hotel booking is another are where savings can be made. Expotel has been appointed as the official hotel provider and can offer exclusive rates for exhibitors to save time and money.

  The SBS title sponsor, PSP, is working with NBS to offer preferential rates for exhibitors on boat transportation to the show.

  While the response for the PSP SBS has been excellent and many areas are already fully subscribed, Mr Williams points out: ‘There are a few stands and berths still available, but I urge you to apply as soon as possible to secure the best positions remaining.’

  The next target dates for those exhibitors wanting the benefit of 2008 space rates at the 2009 show are 40% payment by 18 May 2009 and 50% payment by 13 July 2009.

  If you have not yet applied you can still enjoy the 2008 rates on the remaining payments above by ensuring you apply for space and make the payments by the dates highlighted, said Mr Williams.

• 18 May 2009
  RIBEX 2009 Bucks the Trend of Recession
  

  A total of 5782 people came from all over the world to visit the three day, Suzuki sponsored RIB extravaganza, known as RIBEX 2009. The three day specialist powerboat show is unique in its style and content; mixing the sprit of a festival with that of a serious forum for buyers, both commercial and leisure. The show, offering a sponsored £20,000 5 metre Suzuki powered ASIS RIB as a special show prize, included a bustling tented village full of all manner of products that overlooked a packed event marina of some 80 plus boats.

  With the well publicised challenges facing the London International Boat Show, plus with the demise of the Sail, Power and Watersports Show at Earl’s Court in 2010, all eyes were on RIBEX 2009 to see not only whether the show would signal any economic recovery for the marine trade in general, but also just how the RIB market, which has been experiencing uninterrupted growth now for the last ten years, might now truly be faring during this time of recession. So, with the RIB industry’s first opportunity to make a reply, it was with much satisfaction to learn of the level of quality leads as well as crucial sales that were made over the course of the three day show.

  One boat builder claimed the show was the saving of his business. Others like Sebastian Freeman of Saltern’s Marine Sales, stated with regard to the launch of the Zodiac N-ZO, “the level of serious enquiries across all our products surprised us with 4 demos booked on the new Zodiac N-ZO this week alone following the show”. Will Marrs of Golden Arrow Marine stated, “we are absolutely delighted to have shown the new Caudwell Drive at RIBEX 2009. The show is already in next year’s diary as far as we are concerned.” Patrick Byrnes of Scorpion RIBs stated, “this year’s RIBEX was one of the best and certainly bucked the expectations in the financial atmosphere”.

  Other plaudits included Alan Stewart of Sea PR, who said that, “in 25 years as a seasoned marketing man I’ve covered, exhibited and attended more events than had hot dinners – and I have to say that this was the most enjoyable that I’ve yet experienced”. Like many other exhibitors at this year’s show, market leaders such as UK RIB supplier, MRL, with their Italian RIB brand, ‘Stingher’, reported selling three boats at the show. Simon McLoughlin of C-Fury RIBs confirm his company attracted a grand total of 60 firm leads over the launch of their new prototype at RIBEX 2009. In fact the show was chosen by no less than ten different companies for the purpose of making European or World launch debuts and was at a genuine state of sell-out 3 weeks prior to show time.

  Based upon the success of this international RIB show, and despite the global decline in event sponsorship generally, Suzuki Marine have signed another three year sponsorship deal with show organisers, RIB Exhibitions Ltd. (Further details of this important agreement to follow in forthcoming release.) RIBEX dates for next year at the Cowes Yacht Haven site, are confirmed for the  7th, 8th, 9th of May 2010.  www.ribexhibitions.co.uk

• 15 May 2009
  British Marine Federation confirms job cuts
  

  The British Marine Federation (BMF) today announced that a limited number of redundancies are to take place at its UK headquarters in Egham, Surrey.

  The lay-offs at Marine House are part of a series of cost-saving measures that were implemented following a thorough review of budgets. The trade association is now entering a two-week period of consultation.

  “We have done all we can to avoid these regrettable reductions,” says CEO Rob Stevens. “I know this is a difficult time for colleagues at Marine House but we will ensure that these changes will not compromise our core services or the industry’s two boat shows.

  “The BMF is not immune to the current economic climate but by taking these tough decisions now we are putting ourselves in a sustainable position to continue to serve and champion the leisure marine industry.”

  The BMF is the trade body for the UK marine industry, representing British interests both at home and abroad. It has 1,500 members representing an industry worth around £3.1m in turnover. The association also serves as organiser of the London and Southampton boat shows through its NBS subsidiary.

• 15 May 2009
  Raymarine moves to new headquarters
  

  UK marine electronics firm Raymarine is moving to new premises next month in Harbourgate, Portsmouth after nearly 25 years at its Anchorage Park site.

  “We are staying in Portsmouth and leasing new purpose-built premises on the Western edge of the city,” says Peter Ward, Raymarine’s executive chairman. “The leases on our Anchorage Park and Quay Point premises come to an end this year so it will be great to have all our UK offices, complete with a dedicated R&D building, on the one site.”

  The new headquarters include a 75,000sq ft office building with production engineering, R&D, a test laboratory and the service centre located in an adjoining 35,000sq ft facility. Raymarine’s product service centre was the first department to relocate to the new 110,000sq ft site in March of this year. All departments are expected to be in place by June 15, 2009.

  “Situating all our UK offices, production and service facilities together will enable us to be more streamlined in our working; access for our staff and customers will be vastly improved,” says business development manager Michelle Salter.

  Raymarine’s Anchorage Park and Quay Point sites will close on June 12 and the company re-opens at Marine House, Harbourgate on June 15, 2009.

• 15 May 2009
  Mastervolt Gears up for the Hybrid Revolution
  

  The Dutch-based marine electrical specialist, Mastervolt, is responding to a huge surge of interest in diesel electric hybrid systems for boats, both in the leisure and commercial sectors. The Mastervolt product range, from whisper-quiet generators to high-capacity batteries, is already ideally suited to hybrid applications, but in the coming year the Company will be making it better still.

  ‘Pioneers in the boating industry who work on hybrid electric boats can find it difficult to create reliable green systems,’ commented John de Rijk, Technical Director, Mastervolt International BV. ‘They often have problems sourcing compatible products, or lack the necessary specialist knowledge. The electric propulsion side is complex, but achievable, as the engineers are already familiar with bow thrusters and electric winches. The true challenge starts when looking at the battery power required, and the many ways in which that power can be regenerated. This is where Mastervolt comes in.’

  Hybrids use a powerful electric motor to provide clean and quiet electric propulsion. When powered by the boat’s own diesel engine, the motor becomes an electricity generator, removing the need for a separate genset. On yachts, it can also create charging power from the free-wheeling prop shaft when sailing, a function that particularly appeals to blue-water yachtsmen.

  Some other hybrid systems use a stand-alone diesel generator to power a totally electric drive, a principle used on a grand scale in cruise ships, and which gives designers far greater flexibility with layouts. Power can also come from wind generators and solar cells.

  Fundamental to a successful hybrid is a reliable energy system, with the ability to provide ample energy for extended periods of drive, but still be able to deep-cycle and quickly recharge without shortening battery life. Mastervolt is the only company to offer high-capacity Lithium-Ion battery technology to the marine market, and recently launched a remarkably lightweight and compact 4.3kW 24-volt battery.  Featuring a very long life and an impressive DOD (depth of discharge), a bank of these Li-ion batteries or the more conventional 2-volt cells, make a perfect platform for any hybrid installation. Certainly with the MasterBus system, reliable monitoring of the energy system, safe charging and automatic functions, will help to increase the pleasure of hybrid yachting.
  By placing a strong focus on the complex needs of hybrid systems, Mastervolt will be using its extensive experience and product range to help boat designers and builders realise a whole new generation of green boats. Not only can the company offer a complete solution for the entire electrical installation aboard, it also takes full responsibility for each hybrid system in terms of the performance and reliability of the power management protocols.

  It is a partnership that should ensure the safe and reliable application of highly efficient hybrid installations worldwide, helping to save fuel and make for a quieter and less polluted marine environment.

• 15 May 2009
  The New Digital Yacht WL500: Long Range Wi-Fi For Boats
  

  On board internet is now easier thanks to the Digital Yacht WL500 wi-fi access system.  Digital Yacht, the Bristol based manufacturer of marine PCs, navigation products and communication systems have introduced a long range, wi-fi internet access product for boats.  The new WL500 allows boat owners to connect to wi-fi hot spots so that their onboard PCs or equipment can connect to the internet.  With internet connectivity onboard, you can download the latest weather or chart updates as well as having a mobile office onboard.  Most harbours and ports have either free or subscription based services available.

  The system has a compact, 12v DC powered, below deck mounted 500mW booster/modem and external high gain (8.15dBi) antenna with 10 metre low loss LMR400 coax interconnect cable.  The antenna measures just 0.9m in length and can be supplied with either deck, mast or industry standard 1″ x 14 TPI mountings.  The modem connects to an onboard computer through a regular USB connection with a plug ‘n’ play driver disk supplied for Windows XP and Vista operating systems.  It supports 802.11b/g protocols as well as WEP and WPA encryption.  The software will show a list of hot spots available and indicate if they are security enabled and their signal strength, allowing the user to select the most appropriate choice.  Even if there is already wi-fi access onboard through an existing PC, this could be disabled and you can take advantage of the superior range and speed that the WL500 system will offer.

  Wi-Fi range depends on many local factors but Digital Yacht has seen ranges of up to 4 – 6 miles with this low cost system.  In general, using an internal wi-fi adaptor, typically found in the notebook, you would be lucky to find the signal at the end of the dock – so if you plan to access the internet whilst on board, the WL500 could be the solution for you. 

  The WL500 is priced at £399.95 (inc.VAT), complete with cable and antenna. 
  A lower cost model called the WL200 is also available at £199.00 (inc.VAT) but has a power output of just 100mW. 

  The WL500 with the high gain antenna offers an effective radiated power of up to 1 watt.  Users should check legal requirements for their particular country.  Further details are available at www.digitalyacht.co.uk

• 15 May 2009
  A Versatile Handheld VHF Radio From Standard Horizon
  

  Slim, lightweight and waterproof, with the quality and durability expected from Standard Horizon – the new HX280E is an affordable hand-held VHF radio that is very easy to use. With all the regular features, such as dual watch and user programmable scanning functions you also have the added function of a preset key that allows direct access to no less than 10 channels.

  Battery life is critical for a hand-held, so the HX280E is supplied with a 7.4volt 1650mAh Lithium-Ion battery, which can power the radio for an impressive 13 hours on a single charge (based on a 5-5-90 duty cycle at 5 watts).  There is also an optional battery tray (FBA-40) to enable the use of AA alkaline dry-cells.

  Transmit power is switchable between Low (1W) and High (5W), and there is a time-out facility that limits transmission time to 5 minutes, thus preventing unintentional (prolonged) transmissions. The internal speaker provides a powerful 700mW at full volume, making the HX280E ideal for even the noisiest of environments.

  The sizeable orange LCD display features large digits, and has the added benefit of 5 level squelch and battery indicators. The keypad is backlit, and has been designed to be easy to use even with gloves on.

  As with all Standard Horizon hand-helds, the radio is waterproof to IPX7, so can be submerged to 1 metre for 30 minutes.

  The HX280E is supplied as a complete kit, including the antenna, lithium-ion battery, belt clip, AC charger, and a charging cradle.

• 15 May 2009
  Combined Chart Plotter with Fish Finder From Standard Horizon
  

  Sharp detail, split-screen functionality and user-friendly menus are just a few of the features of two new combined chart plotter/fish finders from Standard Horizon.

  The CPF180i, and the widescreen CPF300i LCD screens provide sharp, full colour images that are viewable in the most trying of conditions – direct sunlight.

  For boats where space is limited, the 5in CPF180i offers a built-in EGNOS/WAAS/MSAS compatible 50-channel receiver with pin-point accuracy to within 3 metres. The memory can store 3,000 waypoints, 50 routes and 10,000 track points, all accessed through an easy-to-follow menu.  Each data window can be fully customized, and the screen can be split to show the chart and fish finder page simultaneously as well as the new Dual Chart Window feature that displays two independent chart scales side by side. Another key new feature is the ability to create and navigate an Olympic Route – this is a circuitous route with the same starting and ending point, rather than having to start a route at your vessel’s current position. Also for the first time, you have the option to run a Route Check, which will ensure that you, and your vessel, will not have any problems whilst navigating. This is done by the plotter, by reviewing the Route and looking for a range of hazards that may affect navigation. Dedicated MARK, ROUTE and FIND keys make using the plotter simplicity itself. It comes already supplied with an internal GPS antenna, although can be used with an optional external antenna if preferred.

  For even greater functionality, the CPF180i has 1 NMEA input and 2 outputs, which allow it to be connected to a wide range of NMEA devices.  It is AIS enabled (when connected to a compatible AIS engine). When connected to a Standard Horizon VHF DSC radio, it can also be used for DSC polling. The memory features a DSC directory, which stores the positions of all the vessels polled, and the position of any vessel that has put out a DSC distress alert.

  The fish finder utilises a 600W dual frequency output of 50kHz and 200kHz. There is also a 2x and 4x zoom, a sensitivity time control and surface noise filter to ensure crisp and accurate returns. A special software package interrogates the transducer (which is sold separately) and then fine tunes the fish finder to ensure optimal performance.

  With all the same, industry-leading features, yet with a larger screen, the 7in CPF300i widescreen version will expand the functionality even further.

  Packed with all of the features of the CPF180i, plus some additions, the CPF300i offers a high resolution display of 800×480 pixels and is supplied with a video input, so you could even watch DVDs whilst underway, or run a live feed from a docking or night vision camera. The video can be played using the whole screen, or in a picture-in-picture window, so you can still follow your favourite programme whilst updating the navigation.

  The CPF300i uses a 50-channel WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS compatible GPS receiver, and also provides no less than 3 NMEA inputs and 4 outputs, which adds a huge amount of versatility. Under the LCD screen are a number of soft keys, which allow the quick selection of functions such as video, chart, waypoint list, navigation and highway. However, these keys can also be customised, so the user can choose between functions they may use more frequently, such as chart/compass, GPS status or NMEA data display.

  Both the CPF180i and CPF300i plotters work with C-MAP MAX and NT+ cartridges, supplying a wide range of up-to-date navigational data in graphic detail.  Both have swivel mounts, which can be rotated to suit, and a unique three-year waterproofing warranty. A flush-mounting kit for dashboards is also available.

  The highly affordable CPF 180i retails at just £499.95 including VAT, with the widescreen CPF300i at £829.95 including VAT.

  The current Standard Horizon range of marine electronics equipment includes the CP180, CP300, CPF180i, CPF300i, CP500, HX280E, HX500-Li, HX750E, HX760E, GX1500E, GX3000E, FF520 Fish Finder and VLH-3000 Loud Hailer.

You are here: News » Archive for May 2009