Houseboats News

The Australian Commercial Marine Group (ACMG) has merged with the Commercial Vessels Association (CVA).The CVA has been a steadfast advocate for the interests of commercial vessel operators. Specializing in operations on Sydney Harbour and extending its influence throughout regional NSW, the CVA encompasses a diverse range of operators, including ferry services, tour and party boats, houseboats, whale and dolphin watching ventures and fishing charters.The association played a pivotal role in advocating for the Marine Tourism and Charter Vessels Award…

Ahead Sanitation Systems, Inc. is fast becoming a leading manufacturer and distributor of marine sanitation systems, products and supplies after more than two decades serving the industry. Those looking can find an Ahead Tank somewhere across all seven seas and most major rivers and lakes in between.Winton I. Rebouche, Jr., known to friends and customers as Boo Boo, is the founder and sole owner of the Broussard, La.-based company. In the late ’80s, Boo Boo worked selling pipe…

However readers might define “normal”, 2020 was anything but. But the business of rigid inflatable boats (RIB) has been going at full throttle.Matthew Velluto, Director of Business Development and Marketing at RIBCRAFT USA, based in Marblehead, Mass., described a business moving steadily ahead, though it’s had to weave and bob at times during 2020. “We’ve been able to stay open throughout 2020, with no disruptions on our side,” though he acknowledged hiccups further down in the company’s supply chain. He explains that the business was deemed to be “essential”.

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office in Hudson, Wisconsin, earlier this summer took delivery of a Lake Assault Boats rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB). The new boat enhances the office’s patrol capabilities and water-based emergency rescue operations on a 27-mile stretch of the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway.“Our stretch of the St. Croix River is a heavily used recreational area, with many cabin cruisers, houseboats, and all types of pleasure craft while, further north…

Elco Motor Yachts, a company in electric and hybrid marine propulsion for more than 120 years, is applying its expertise to the electric outboard motor category. The company is launching a new line of 5- and 7-horsepower motors, with an additional model offering 9.9-horsepower later this year. The outboards are designed to meet the growing interest in clean, quiet and fuel-efficient propulsion among both recreational and commercial boaters. Elco’s electric outboard motors are suited for a variety of maritime uses…

Wilson Electronics, a U.S.-based manufacturer of cellular signal boosters, is targeting inland and coastal waterway users with a new marine initiative. The development of a signal booster kit that improves cellular coverage for boaters on inland waterways and for near-shore mariners means that dropped connections and no-service zones may be a thing of the past. Cellular booster systems take a weak signal – sometimes too faint for a cellular device to detect – and boost it so that strong, reliable signal coverage is available inside a vehicle, home, office, commercial building, warehouse or other structure. The Marine Signal Booster Kit (SKU# 841246) pairs Wilson’s well established AG SOHO 60 signal booster with the its marine antenna…

Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld-Giessendam recently delivered the Damen Patrol Vessel 1304 Hybrid, designed and constructed for Waternet (the Water Network Foundation). The most striking features of this hybrid patrol vessel are that it is clean, quiet, and can sail under Amsterdam’s bridges along the through routes. The “Waterspreeuw” – meaning “Dipper” in English – was ceremonially named by the Amsterdam Executive Councillor CarolienGehrels on June 17, 2013. Waternet is an innovative water organization that takes the entire water cycle as its basis.

Zach McClendon, Jr. of Monticello, Ark. will celebrate being in the boat building business for 50 consecutive years this September. McClendon, along with his father, Zach McClendon, Sr. and another local businessman, Norris Judkins started MonArk Boat Company in May of 1958 building small aluminum jon boats using a shear and break press provided by Judkins. The company incorporated the next year, in August of 1959. MonArk Boat Company eventually grew to include a large recreational…

As you read this, there are two beautiful new Skipperliner luxury charter vessels "wintering" in New Orleans and will be available for tours during the annual PVA Maritrends meeting in early February. After that they will complete their delivery run down the Mississippi River, into the Gulf of Mexico through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast of the United States to southern California. Their trip began 1500 miles upriver at Skipperliner's factory in Lacrosse, Wisc. in December. Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters of Newport Beach, Calif. owns the two vessels and will put both of them into service this spring. The 128-ft. Ambassador will work out of the homeport of Newport Beach, while the 148-ft. Majestic will dock in San Diego, Calif.

The various segments of the passenger vessel industry have undergone significant transformation in the last 12 months. It looks stronger as we head into the last six months of the year with ferries and charter yachts leading the way. Frankly, a year ago the passenger vessel industry was in some disarray faced with developing a security plan to meet the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 passed in Congress in wake of terrorism threats. Developing such a comprehensive plan by the end of 2003 proved to be an almost impossible task for an industry made up of mostly small boat owners. Coming to the rescue was the industry's trade association the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA). They developed the PVA Industry Standard for Security of Passenger Vessels and Small Passenger Vessels.

In 2004, Jensen Maritime Consultants (JMC) partnered with the City of Seattle’s Fire Department to develop two vessels that will significantly upgrade the City’s marine fire fighting ability, as well as provide a mobile marine command vessel for operations in all manner of catastrophes, including bio-terrorist incidents. Seattle is a city that is almost surrounded by water – built between Elliot Bay, Lake Washington and Lake Union, it has innumerable rivers cutting through it, with more than 190 miles of navigable coastline. However, any vessels going from the salt water side of Puget Sound to the fresh water side of Lake Washington must travel through the Chittenden Locks.

On Saturday night the Coast Guard Command Center in Memphis was notified by the towing vessel A. DEAN HEASLEY that one of the two barges they were towing had struck the Riverside Park Marina. Coast Guard investigators were dispatched to the scene of the accident. The marina sustained significant damage but no injuries were reported. The marina holds many houseboats and is home to approximately 60 people. Many of the boats were affected by the accident with one reported to be taking on water. The two tank barges, which were empty at the time of the accident, were being towed to the refinery in the port for a scheduled loading. West-Northwest winds of 15 mph were reported last night and may have been a factor in the casualty.