Boat

Recreational Boating: a $121-billion Economic Driver for U.S.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), announced that recreational boating in the U.S. has an annual economic value of $121 billion. The industry’s rising tide supports 964,000 American jobs and 34,833 businesses, generates $40 billion in annual labor income and drives $83 billion in annual spending. The NMMA, on behalf of the U.S. boating industry, released these findings today as part of its annual U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, a collection of data and analysis on the state of the U.S. recreational boating industry. Additional data highlights include: New Boat Sales -Retail sales of new power and sailboats increased 10.7% in 2012 to 163,245, demonstrating a post-recession recovery for the industry. -New powerboat sales increased 10% to 157,300 in 2012. -New sailboat sales increased 29.2% to 5,945 in 2012. Trends -Small fiberglass and aluminum outboard boats 26 feet or less in size, continued their upward climb with an 11.3% increase in the number of new boats sold. Outboard boats are the most popular type of new powerboat sold, making up approximately 82% of the market. -Ski and wakeboard boats are seeing healthy growth with an increase of 13.4% new boats sold in 2012. -Jet boats, which are small fiberglass boats less than 26 feet in length, are a growing category. Of the 157,300 new powerboats sold in 2012, 4,500 were jet boats. New jet boat sales increased 36.4% in 2012. What’s Ahead

Boat Industry 2012 Growth Forecast 'Robust'

The global recreational boat market is expected to witness high growth during 2012 according to a recent Lucintel report According to the Lucintel report the market is expected to witness a CAGR of 8.5% over the next five years and grow to $30.63 billion in 2017. Inboard and sterndrive boats are expected to have the highest market share in 2012 and continue to lead through 2017. In terms of ranking, the US ranks first, followed by Italy, the UK, Germany

Chuan Hup Unit Secures Patrol Boat Contract

Chuan Hup Holdings Ltd.'s joint venture company Asia-Pac Geraldton Pte Ltd. secured a $11.9 million contract to build seven high-speed patrol boats for the Singapore Police Force (Coast Guard). The company had previously secured a $29.7 million contract to build 18 patrol boats and two command boats for the Singapore police in September 1997, with an option to buy up to another 21 boats. The police force has now exercised its option to buy another seven patrol boats

Manitowac to Build Coast Guard Response Boats

The Coast Guard has selected the Manitowoc Group to build one of three Response Boat -- Medium (RB-M) test boats. These boats are the first of a class of vessels that will replace the Coast Guard's aging fleet of 41-foot Utility Boats, which have been the workhorse of coastal stations for the past 25 years. The Coast Guard is pursuing the RB-M project using a two-phase competitive process. Three vendors were selected based on their written proposals to produce a test boat of their design

Autotether Wireless Kill Switch

Unlike traditional lanyards that come standard with boats and require the operator to be tethered to the boat, the patented Autotether kill switch is an easy-to-install, unobtrusive wireless unit. No wiring or tools are required – the system clips to the boat ignition switch and is self-powered with AAA batteries. Operating via transmitter that sends radio waves to a receiver connected to a boat’s engine, Autotether shuts off the engine if the boat operator falls into the water

Repowering a Head Boat With Cummins QSK19s

The years just prior to the early 1980s collapse in the Gulf of Mexico oil industry saw the building of a large number of crew boats in the 110-ft. range. While a number of these boats remain in the Gulf, many have found their way to other coasts and other applications. In Charleston, S.C., Stuart Reeves has converted two of the vintage vessels to "head boats" to take groups of sport fishermen out into the Atlantic Ocean for 11-hour trips

Lack Of Boats Delays Ivorian Plane Crash Search

Lack Of Boats Delays Ivorian Plane Crash Search Ivorian divers searching for wreckage of the Kenya Airways Airbus that crashed on Jan. 30 were forced to use a borrowed boat after an absence of suitable government-owned boats had delayed the search for the wreckage. A spokesman for the Ivorian military emergency services reportedly expressed frustration at the lack of available boats, stating that although there was personnel available to take part in the emergency efforts

Crewboats More Size, Weight And Power

In recent years the demand for large crew boats has continued to grow in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and has increased in some foreign markets, such as West Africa and Mexico. As their size has grown, so has the horsepower employed by these boats as customers demand greater load capacities and greater speed. "The trend in the 170-ft. (51.8 m) class of boats is to more power and faster speeds," affirms Swiftships' A.J. Blanchard, at the Morgan City yard

Hann Launches New 32' Catamaran

Hann Powerboats, Inc., Sarasota, Florida, announces the launch of its new Blue Lightning 32 Catamaran by Hann.   The new addition to the Hann Powerboats line of center console boats continues the tradition of fast, fuel efficient, stable hull designs. The new catamaran has a 10 foot 2 inch beam, with a LOA of 32 feet. It draws 23 inches and comes standard with twin Mercury Optimax 300 HP engines. In its initial sea trails the boat showed a top speed of 73

Counter-Piracy Tugboat & Barge Guide

ReCAAP issue 'Tug Boats & Barge' guide to help owners, operators and crew stay safe from hijacking and piracy. The guide contains inputs and experience of tug boat owners, operators and masters whose vessels had been robbed or hijacked; and modus operandi of the robbers and hijackers.  In planning a passage, the guide highlights the responsibilities of the ship owner, ship master and crew at the various phases: the pre-sailing, sailing and post incident reporting/follow-up phases