MASTER BOAT BUILDERS

McElroy/Catchot to Design and Supply for Rigdon PSVs

McElroy/Catchot Winch Company announced that they have been chosen to design and supply the deck machinery for the ten (10) new Rigdon Marine 210 ft. PSVs currently being built at the Bender Shipbuilding & Repair facility in Mobile, Alabama. The equipment for each vessel will include two single electric bow anchor windlasses of an improved design to allow for increased deck accessibility, and a completely self-contained hydraulic tugger winch. Additionally, the company has also been awarded a contract to furnish six (6) electric bow anchor winches to Master Boat Builders of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Harold S. Catchot, president of McElroy/Catchot, says "these recent contract awards will be great additions to our long history of supplying quality deck equipment, since our original founding in 1915."

American Boatbuilders Association Selects Attwood Fuel Systems

Lowell, Mich.  – The American Boatbuilders Association recently selected Attwood Fuel Systems as the preferred supplier of EPA-certified fuel systems. The American Boatbuilders Association joins the United Marine Manufacturers Association (UMMA) and Independent Boat Builders Inc. (IBBI) and the industry’s leading independent boat builders in selecting Attwood to ensure member builders meet the EPA emissions control requirements for marine fuel systems.

This Day in Naval History - June 28

From the Navy News Service 1794 - Joshua Humphreys appointed master builder to build Navy ships at an annual salary of $2,000. 1814 - USS Wasp captures HMS Reindeer. 1865 - CSS Shenandoah captures 11 American whalers in one day. 1970 - USS James Madison (SSBN 627) completes conversion to Poseidon missile capability. Source: NavNews

Marex Announces Significant Growth

Marex.com, Inc., a marine industry B2B e-commerce company, announced that it has achieved rapid and significant growth in the number of builders and suppliers currently online and using the company's two e-commerce products, MarExpress! and MarexPO!, to facilitate electronic procurement. The company reported that 15 builders and 50 suppliers are now "live" and utilizing the Marex system, an increase of 76% over the number of members online at December 31, 2000

Boatbuilders Assoc. Names New Director, Relocates to Florida

American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) appoints executive director, relocates to Fort Lauderdale  American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) names new Association Management Company and Executive Director to lead the national group that represents the business interests of the boat building, marine service and boat repair industry and seeks to strengthen and encourage professionalism.

ABBRA Plan Enhanced 2013 Conference

American Boat Builders & Repairers Association plans new format, seminars & discussions for next annual conference ABBRA, the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association announces its 2013 Annual Conference the “International Boatyard Business Conference”. This boatyard and related services industry event will be held January 19-20, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It will cater to boatyard owners, operators, and managers, boat builders

Triple-Engine Tug From Rodriguez

In mid-January Rodriguez Boat Builders Inc. of Bayou LaBatre Alabama installed three Cummins KTA38 M0 diesels in the finished hull of a new 90 by 32-foot tug for Hughie L. Cheramie, Inc. of Galliano Louisiana. With the engines installed in the new hull the already completed steel work for the deckhouse was lifted into place and the tug showed its final shape. Finishing would take another three months with delivery to the owners scheduled for April.

Southco Opens New Support Center in FL

To provide a level of service to the boat building industry, Southco Marine, Inc. has opened a new customer support center in West Melbourne, Florida. The 4,600 square-foot facility includes a 1,400 square-foot product showroom that will display the wide range of distinctive marine products and services provided by Southco Marine. The new Florida facility will also be used for product and application training, sales support, customer seminars and new product development.

Owner May Limit Liability for Master’s Negligence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that the owner of a tug may limit its liability for damages resulting from negligent navigation of the tug by its master. In the instant case, plaintiff’s new gaming vessel was proceeding up the Mississippi River to its homeport. It was not far behind a large towboat, also headed upstream. Defendant’s towboat was headed downstream pushing concrete barges. The master on defendant’s towboat arranged for a two-whistle passing of the

Contracts Awarded: Response Boat–Small Replacement Project

On February 4, 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded two fixed price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to begin replacement of the current Response Boat-Small (RB-S) fleet, which is nearing the end of its ten-year service life.  The contracts were awarded to Metal Shark Aluminum Boats of Jeanerette, La., and SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash.  Under the terms of the contract, each builder will produce a minimum of one boat