Archive for July 2009

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• 12 July 2009
  Latest BMF research shows some parts of industry faring better than six months ago
  

  Latest industry trends from the British Marine Federation (BMF) show small signs of recovery in specific areas of the leisure marine industry. But while some parts of the industry are doing better than six months ago, others are still finding conditions extremely difficult and continue to be hit hard by the recession.

  And while there are glimmers of recovery in some areas, all sectors are still faring worse than 12 months ago.

  These findings are derived from the BMF’s spring trends survey; conducted bi-annually, this edition was completed by a representative sample of 207 BMF members. The research is published as an aid to the industry in forecasting and planning for future months.

  The number of businesses showing an increased workload in the home market has increased from six months ago, as has the value of the home order book. Importantly, future perceptions have improved from six months ago, with 77% of respondents seeing future prospects as OK, good or excellent, compared with 62% who felt the same six months ago.

  On the negative side, there has been a significant decrease in investment over the past six months, while turnover has decreased for 50% of the members compared to a year ago.

  The uplifts in home workload and home value of the order book and future perceptions are most notable for the services sectors. Boat manufacturers and sales, on the whole, are slightly less negative for home workload and value of the order book.

  Rob Stevens, BMF Chief Executive, said: “While it is encouraging that some parts of the industry are showing signs of improvement these statistics make it clear that this remains a very challenging time.

  ”I am convinced, however, that the UK marine industry has the strength and quality to come through this difficult time ready to prosper in the upturn. But this is certainly no time for complacency and that is why the BMF is redoubling its efforts to ensure that it offers members high-quality services and support at excellent value. As part of this, we are continuing to work closely with Government to ensure that the interests of the leisure marine industry, particularly the availability of credit, are articulated, heard and understood at the highest level.”

• 12 July 2009
  Raymarine ambassador Shelley Jory makes history in P1 powerboat racing
  

  Shelley Jory and her co-pilot Audrienne Cianter have thanked Raymarine for its part in helping them win the Turkish Grand Prix in the Powerboat P1 World Championships – by keeping them under the speed limit. 

  Jory said that fitting a Raymarine ST70 as a repeater in her P1 powerboat before the Turkish Grand Prix helped the fast and furious all-female team keep under the Super Sport 85 mph speed limit and not incur penalties that would push them from the podium.

  “The speed limit is rigorously observed by the judges for our safety.  Going over 85 miles per hour in an open canopy boat is madness, but the engines can do it.  It’s not easy to be as fast as possible when racing, yet stay under the speed limit.  For every ten seconds we are over, we incur a one minute penalty” explains Jory.

  The pair had been penalised in their first Grand Prix Super Sport event in Malta, and the five minute detraction pushed them to fourth overall.

  Jory and Cianter knew that having immediate access to highly accurate real time speed was vital.  It was particularly important in Istanbul as the Bosphorus waterway, where the racing took place, has eight knot tides, which would either slow the boat down or risk taking them over the speed limit.

  As Raymarine product ambassador, Shelley knew she could put her faith in the accuracy available from Raymarine’s ST70 instrument.  This would immediately calculate speed over the water and the effects of the tide giving the team vital information at all times. 

  Jory’s chief mechanic contacted Raymarine’s engineering support team in Portsmouth prior to the race in Turkey to ensure the unit was properly calibrated for pinpoint accuracy.  Jory says, “The support we got was amazing.  My mechanic Trevor was on the phone from Turkey to Portsmouth, getting advice and assurance.  Audrienne and I then developed our race strategy.  She would watch the ST70 like a hawk and throttle to keep us to within a hair’s breadth of the top speed.  All I had to do was steer, stay on course and avoid other boats!”

  The pair did, however, get one speed penalty.  “We took our eye off the ST70 to trim the boat and the next second we were over the speed limit.  It cost us one minute, but that was all” admitted Jory.

  Having become part of the first all-female team to compete in P1, and now with her first win under her belt, Jory has her sights firmly set on repeating this success in Italy on July 3.

  For more detail about Raymarine products visit www.raymarine.com

• 12 July 2009
  Katie Miller proves herself again, becoming the youngest female skipper to complete the OSTAR
  

  Katie Miller, the 2006 Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year, has scored another first – as the youngest female skipper to complete the OSTAR.  Katie was the ninth person to finish, as she raced across the line on bluQube at 0729 hours BST on 17 June 2009.

  As an international ambassador for Raymarine, Katie’s Beneteau Figaro II was fully equipped with the latest navigational, communication and safety products to help her on her way.  While her instruments and chartplotter provided vital navigational and positional data, it was her autopilot and AIS transceiver that came in for the most praise from Katie as she crossed the finish line.

  “The best bits of kit on board were definitely my autopilot and the AIS,” she said.  “The pilot was so reliable that I could sleep very easily – even if it was only for forty minutes or so.”  Sailing single-handed across the busy shipping lanes in the Atlantic meant that Katie had to keep a particular eye out for other vessels.  Her boat was equipped with Raymarine’s AIS500.  This Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver enabled her to set up proximity alarms that would alert her to any vessels in the area emitting AIS data.  She said, “Even though I was in the middle of the Atlantic I still saw my fair share of ships and the majority of these were drawn to my attention by the AIS500’s proximity alarm.  Knowing you have another pair of eyes onboard means you can take other tasks in hand without worrying about keeping a constant look out.”

  All the Raymarine equipment on board – from instruments to chartplotter, radar to radio, autopilot to AIS – were fully integrated so Katie could see all vital information at a glance. This system-wide accessibility of vital information enabled her to utilise all available data to help get the best racing result; her award winning achievement in being the youngest female skipper to complete this gruelling race.

  For more detail about Raymarine products visit www.raymarine.com

• 12 July 2009
  The New DC Master from Mastervolt
  

  Mastervolt has proudly introduced the DC Master, a new generation of low-cost DC-DC converters that provide stable and constant output voltages under a wide range of inputs and load conditions.

  Designed to be the smallest and most efficient family of DC-DC converters on the market, the new 11-model line-up is perfect for anyone who needs a rock-steady voltage aboard, especially for powering sensitive communication or navigation equipment.

  The DC Master also allows you to run 12-volt equipment from either a 24-volt or 48-volt ship’s supply, with the peace of mind that the electronics will be fully protected from voltage spikes. This is particularly useful for recent hybrid applications, where a 12-volt engine control draws from the motor’s 48-volt battery bank.

  The unique design means that the converters use almost no power whatsoever (less than 10 mA) when the equipment they are serving is switched off.

  The anodised aluminium units are compact, silent in operation, and very easy to install. Each one is supplied with a mounting bracket, screws, faston-type connections and an operator’s manual. To keep the costs to a minimum, they have been manufactured with just the basic functions that everyone needs.

  ‘The DC Master fills a gap in our portfolio for small size DC-DC converters,’ explained John de Rijk, Mastervolt’s Technical Director. ‘It also extends our range of best value for money products, which currently also includes the AC Master and the ChargeMaster.’

  The DC Master is available in six non-isolated models, and five isolated ones, with amperage ranges from 3A to 12A via a wide voltage input window.

  Typical dimensions, as demonstrated by the DC Master 24/12-3A model would be 67mm x 87mm x 50mm (2.6in x 3.4in x 1.97in) so the units are unobtrusive and easy to hide away.

  They each carry a two-year warranty, and a five-year system warranty is also available.

• 10 July 2009
  Industry Awards to be announced at BMEA Annual Conference
  

  The British Marine Electronics Association is pleased to announce that it is now organising 3 industry awards which will be announced at the annual BMEA Conference that will take place on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton. 

  The three awards, which the BMEA will be promoting, are:

  • BMEA Waterside Dealer of the Year Award sponsored by Garmin UK ltd
  • BMEA Product of the Year Award sponsored by Boating Business
  • BMEA New Technician of the Year Award sponsored by Raymarine plc

  Ian Lockyer (BMEA Marketing) said, ’Our customers will have the opportunity to choose the industry’s dealer and product of the year by simply going to http://www.bmea.org/bmea-dealer-and-product-of-the-year/ and voting.’  The ‘BMEA New technician of the Year Award’ will be chosen from a shortlist of newly certificated engineers across the industry.  A panel of industry experts will choose the winner.

  Ian said, ’when the customer clicks through to this poll they will find two sections.  Firstly there will be a list of BMEA waterside dealers from across the UK.  Secondly there will be a list of products submitted by Manufacturers or national distributors.’ 

  He added, ’it really is up to customers to ask themselves what electronic/electrical product has been really good value for money or innovative from the submitted list? They also need to decide which company/sole trader has given then exceptional service during the 2009 season.’ 

  The winners of all three awards will be announced at this BMEA Conference that will take place on Wednesday, October 21st 2009 at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton.

  Ian Lockyer, BMEA Marketing said, ’the Association is moving forward with a lot of interesting developments including revitalising their training schemes.  Recognising new technicians is very important as they are the future of our industry.

• 6 July 2009
  Raymarine announces host of new products at PSP Southampton Boat Show
  

  Raymarine will be showcasing a range of new products on Stand G088 at the PSP Southampton Boat Show. The ST70 Plus is Raymarine‘s latest generation of instrument and pilot display systems.  With large, high visibility LCD’s, ST70 Plus offers a new way of displaying and managing data, and is the perfect partner for Raymarine’s multifunction display systems.  The ST70 Plus can be configured as an instrument or autopilot display.  Managed via a dedicated remote control keypad, the 6.5 inch (164 mm) screen is fully customisable with multiple options for screen set up, colour palette and offers remarkable quality day and night viewing.

  Also new at the show will be the AIS500.  This transceiver allows users to both transmit to, and receive, AIS data to and from vessels in the area, as well as to shore-based traffic centres.  A dedicated GPS sensor ensures highly accurate position data is broadcast, while proximity alerts are a key safety feature for boaters.  The AIS500 also has a unique ‘Buddy Tracking’ system, allowing users to distinguish known targets from others by using unique on-screen icons and names.

  Raymarine now has a satellite TV antenna aimed at smaller boats with the launch of the new 33STV at the show. 

  Extremely compact, lightweight and easy to install, the 33STV offers maximum performance in a small footprint.  The compact dome automatically tracks and received satellite TV signals in almost any condition, guaranteeing quick, clear, reliable access to hundreds of digital channels.

  Anyone wanting to learn more about the latest on board technology will be pleased to know Raymarine can offer help.  The company will be launching its new series of training courses for electronic navigation at the show.  The radar courses organised by Raymarine and held across the UK this year have proved extrememely popular and led to customer requests for further courses, Raymarine has responded to this demand and developed an electronic navigation course, aimed at those wanting to learn more about using multinfunction displays as an aid to their navigation. Full details of the courses and locations will be available at Southampton Boat Show.

• 4 July 2009
  C A Clase Launch Nauticomp Display Option For High Speed Navigation System
  

  C A Clase is launching a new option for customers purchasing the SeaCross CX100. The high speed navigation system can now be purchased with a broad range of Nauticomp Displays, significantly reducing the overall cost of the package. The new option follows the recent appointment of C A Clase as UK distributor of Nauticomp Display products.

  “When purchasing a SeaCross CX100 customers can choose from a range of packages to combine display screens, GPS and radar, depending on their own individual needs. With the addition of the option of a Nauticomp Display, customers will be able to choose from either of Nauticomp’s Signature II, Glass Bridge Displays® or Centric CB ranges which are available in a variety of sizes from 12.1″ – 21.2″ and provide users with reliable and easy to use display units,” comments Andrew Bush, Managing Director, C A Clase.   

  Complete with unique radar functions, incredible system reaction time and an easy to use interface, the SeaCross CX100 is a high performance system that has been designed to provide users with high speed and accurate navigation data. The system is available with a large colour screen or as a stand alone unit and can be connected to existing onboard monitors to provide users with a technologically advanced yet simple to use system.

  The SeaCross CX100 combines sophisticated radar background underlay (RBU) and non-terrestrial object enhancement (NTE) software to deliver clear, precise navigation, helping to significantly enhance boaters’ awareness and safety at sea. In addition, the CX100 incorporates a market-leading system reaction time (SRT) of 2 seconds for both course and position updates, making SeaCross the obvious choice for boats travelling faster than 30 knots. 

  Prices of the SeaCross CX100 package with Nauticomp Signature II display screen start from £10,937.88 excluding VAT (UK RRP), to include the screen, Seacross Processor, Trackball, and GPS antenna. For further information about the full range of marine electronics from C A Clase, please visit www.caclase.co.uk.

• 4 July 2009
  Raymarine support Cowes Radio with installation of AIS500 onboard commentary RIB
  

  The Cowes Week Radio commentary RIB is once again being sponsored by the Portsmouth-based marine electronics manufacturer, Raymarine.  The RIB is a familiar sight to the hundreds of yachts that compete at the regatta, as well as those out on the water experiencing the atmosphere of Cowes Week.

  Raymarine have supplied a new AIS500 transceiver to Cowes Radio this year, complimenting the existing suite of Raymarine safety and navigation products on board.  Data from the AIS500 will enable the commentators to provide the racing yachts and listeners to Cowes Radio with regular updates on shipping movements in the crowded waters of the Solent.

  Data such as direction, route, speed and even cargo of approaching ships will be displayed on the RIB’s C Series multifunction display.  As an extra safety measure, the approaching vessel’s radio call sign is shown, facilitating quick and easy radio contact with the ship if required.  Yachts and shore based stations with an AIS receiver will also be able to keep track of the infamous RIB via Class B transmissions. 

  Dick Johnson, the on the water commentator for Cowes Radio said “We are delighted that Raymarine has provided us with the AIS500. The impact this has on the quality of information about ship and ferry movements for our listeners is huge.  The AIS500 enables us to receive and transmit information so we can pass this on to both competitors and spectators alike.”

• 4 July 2009
  C A Clase Present Cost Effective Broadband at Sea During PSP Southampton Boat Show
  

  C A Clase will use the PSP Southampton Boat Show to present the new KVH TracPhone FB150 to the UK public for the first time. With a diameter of 10.5″, the TracPhone FB150 is KVH’s most compact TracPhone system to date and has been specifically designed to provide smaller yachts from 40ft with a cost-effective FleetBroadband solution.    

  “The KVH TracPhone FB150 provides high-quality connections and as KVH’s most compact TracPhone system to date it is easier and cheaper for yacht owners to install. The system is also ideally suited for larger boats that require lower bandwidth and a more affordable solution,” comments Andrew Bush, Managing Director, C A Clase.       

  The fully stabilized TracPhone FB150 provides IP data connections of up to 150 Kbps as well as simultaneous voice and SMS services via Inmarsat’s trusted FleetBroadband network. Furthermore, the TracPhone FB150 uses the new Inmarsat I-4 satellite constellation which ensures reliable and high-quality coverage to customers around the world. 

  Based in Hampshire, C A Clase (UK) Ltd is one of the UK’s leading distributors of marine electronics and the sole UK distributor of KVH products. For further information please visit the team on stand G091 at the PSP Southampton Boat Show 2009. Alternatively, visit www.caclase.co.uk.  
  _

• 4 July 2009
  Raymarine extends its Automatic Identification System capabilities
  

  Raymarine’s addition to its AIS (Automatic Identification System) product range, a combined receiver and transmitter, is now available.  The AIS500 allows users to both transmit to, and receive, AIS data to and from vessels in the area, as well as to shore-based traffic centres.  The AIS500’s features include a dedicated GPS sensor to ensure highly accurate position data is broadcast.

  The AIS500 is designed to network with Raymarine’s multifunction systems using Raymarine’s new SeaTalkng technology.  It has dual channel (multiplex) monitoring ability, enabling it to pick up both Class A and Class B transmissions over standard VHF frequencies.  Operating with Raymarine’s A Series, C Series, E Series and G series – as well as being compatible with other manufacturers’ equipment through its NMEA 0183 interface – the AIS500 enables users to see the movements, size, vessel ID details and even the cargo carried onboard.  This data is displayed as an overlay on a chartplotter or radar screen. 

  Designed for recreational boaters, the AIS500 gives added security and situational awareness, enabling them to see details of vessels in their area, as well as transmitting their information to other AIS equipped vessels.  In many instances, understanding the size and movements of other ships and boats in the area can help users avoid dangerous situations or potential collisions.
  More…

  Easy to install and configure, the new AIS500 with receive and transmit capability comes complete with VHF splitter enabling it to share a single antenna with both radio and AIS.   The list price is £895.00 plus VAT and the AIS500 is available worldwide through Raymarine’s network international distributors and retail centres.       

  Key AIS 500 features include;
  • Improved collision avoidance by broadcasting vessel ID and location
  • Easy integration with built in GPS, VHF splitter and NMEA multiplexer
  • A 16 channel dedicated GPS with external antenna included
  • Simple interfacing with Raymarine systems using SeaTalkng or NMEA 0183
  • Dual channel AIS monitoring to monitor Class A and Class B transmissions over standard VHF frequencies.

  Raymarine is also expanding the AIS features available on its equipment by introducing AIS Buddy Tracking; when integrated with Raymarine multifunction displays, AIS Buddy Tracking allows boaters to distinguish known targets from others by using unique on-screen icons and names, as well as a ‘buddy list’ of favourite vessels.  AIS Buddy Tracking is now available on Raymarine G Series and C Series Widescreen and will be available shortly for E Series systems via a software update.

  To learn more about Raymarine’s AIS500 and other AIS products please visit www.raymarine.com

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