West Marine News

Communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal has announced the appointment of Rich Galasso as its new US Sales Manager. Galasso will assist with the company’s sales growth strategy in the US as demand continues to increase for Ocean Signal’s communication and safety products for the recreational and commercial markets, including 406MHz beacons, AIS man overboard devices and flares. Bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the marine industry to the role, Galasso joins…

The Lake Pilots Association, District 2, in Port Huron, Mich., has accepted delivery of Huron Spirit, a new Chesapeake Class pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. With a length overall of 52.5’, a beam of 16.7’, and a draft of 4.8’, the all-aluminum pilot boat features the C. Raymond Hunt-designed Deep V hull. It is powered by twin Cummins QSM11 diesel engines, each delivering 602 Bhp at 2300 rpm and a top speed of 25 knots. A Humphree interceptor, with automatic trim optimization, is installed at the transom.

So far in 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO) aircrews have detected six rustics (homemade boats) on the Florida Straits transporting 56 undocumented migrants from Cuba. On New Year’s Day, an Air and Marine Operations aircrew aboard a DHC-8 aircraft spotted the first two in a series of homemade boats. The aircrew alerted interagency partners to the vessels transporting four and two undocumented migrants, respectively, off the Florida coastline. On January 2, the DHC-8 crew detected and reported three additional rustic vessels, which prompted the subsequent interdiction by the U.S. Coast Guard. The three groups had 19, 12, and 8 migrants aboard each vessel, respectively, sailing in tandem a few nautical miles south of the Florida Keys.

ESY In-water cleanup area Everett, Wash. – Last month, the Port of Everett began soliciting bids for the final phase of its Everett Shipyard Cleanup project, located along West Marine View Drive between 15th and 14th Street. The mostly in-water cleanup project has a price tag of between $5.2 million and $6 million. The cleanup, which is being done in partnership with the state’s Department of Ecology, will be a catalyst establishing the environmental health and economic prosperity to this highly visible section of the marina. The project represents the final phase of the Everett Shipyard Cleanup and the first phase of the Central Docks Improvement project.

New England Ropes, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the TEUFELBERGER Group, said that the company’s original co- founder, Herb Repass, passed away recently in Vero Beach Florida. Repass co-founded New England Ropes, Inc. in New Bedford, Mass., with his friend and associate David Aigler in 1967. Repass served as President and chief designer of specialty ropes that were manufactured by the company for yachting, safety and rescue, arborist, mountaineering, lariats for cowboys, and Navy and Coast Guard operations. Herb, Dave and his son Randy also collaborated to sell rope for boating on the west coast, spawning West Marine. Many of the rope designs developed by Repass are still in use today, combining superior design with the use of today’s fiber advancements.

LEHR, Inc., win the "Green Product of the Year" award from West Marine for the world's first OEM propane powered boat motors. Lehr is the first vendor to win both West Marine's Green Product Contest, awarded at the Miami Boat Show, and their merchandising VIV (Very Important Vendor) award for Green Product of the Year. The application of LEHR's technology to a marine solution is both timely and critical for the plant and its water supply. Propane has long been recognized as a "green" energy source that reduces emissions, protects the environment and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The highly anticipated LEHR propane outboards have an overall lower cost of operation than current gasoline powered models - not only saving the environment but also saving boaters money.

A&P Falmouth, is positioned on the south coast of the UK in one of the world’s largest natural deep-water harbours. Falmouth is the largest ship-repair complex in the UK, with three large graving docks and extensive alongside berthing, providing facilities for a wide range of marine business. The company’s reputation in the marine renewable energy sector is continuing to grow, due to its work maintaining and converting vessels and partnering device developers. The last…

West Marine, a retailer of boating supplies and accessories, has released its BlueFuture® 2011 Sustainability Report. BlueFuture® encompasses West Marine's company-wide efforts focusing on sustainability, including improving and protecting the marine environments, reducing the company's carbon footprint and supporting the communities where West Marine Associates live and work. From "green" boating products to giving millions of dollars in grants over the years to marine based non-profits — West Marine continues to demonstrate its commitment to preserving our waters and ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy our marine resources.

ValvTect BioGuard Plus 6 prevents bacteria and solves all other diesel fuel related problems - eliminates need for multiple products. Jerry Nessenson, president of ValvTect Petroleum, announced today that ValvTect has received formal approval for the registration and sale of ValvTect BioGuard Plus 6 multifunctional biocide diesel additive from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in all 50 states. “Prior to the EPA’s approval of ValvTect BioGuard Plus 6, all biocides…

SI-TEX Marine Electronics has announced the addition of industry veteran Rich Galasso to its team of top sales professionals. The addition of Galasso to the SI-TEX sales team will ensure strong representation for the rapidly growing company in the all-important Southern Florida market. As part of his duties with leading rep group Pilot Marine, Galasso will be responsible for both of SI-TEX’S extensive product lines serving two distinct markets. The SI-TEX brand provides the Recreational boating and light Commercial markets with a full line of sounders…

Navico, parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G brands, announced the hiring of two new Regional Sales Managers, Chris Melena and Russ Stevens. Melena and  Stevens will drive sales and support dealers, distributors and retail customers in the Great Lakes and New England regions, respectively. Each Sales Manager has over a decade of experience in the marine industry and brings a wealth of talent to the Navico sales team. Prior to joining Navico, Melena was a Regional Sales Manager with Raymarine in their Great Lakes territory. He entered the marine industry in 1993 and has held positions at Captain’s Marine Supply and West Marine. Mr. Melena grew up boating on Lake Erie and is an experienced sailor. He is a graduate of Miami University and resides in Catawba Island, Ohio.

ACR Electronics Inc., has promoted Chris Wahler to Director of Marketing. A 16-year veteran in marine industry merchandise management, Wahler had served as the company’s Product Line Manager for the last year. Wahler came to ACR from West Marine Products, where he served as regional merchandise manager for the Southeastern U.S. At West Marine Products, whaler coordinated and mangaed major merchandising initiative resulting in the highest regional sales percentage increase throughout the chain. In his new position, Wahler’s responsibilities will include the planning and coordination of promotions, advertising, public relations and sales literature and collateral materials as well as the development of new market opportunities.

Prisma Composite Preforms, manufactured by Compsys, Inc. and widely used by production boat builders, are now going to be made available to the boat repair and retail market through West Marine, Watsonville, Calif. Prisma preforms are used for stringers and bulkheads and replace conventional wood or fiberglass stringer and bulkhead grid systems. The custom Prisma products consist of dry knitted fiberglass preformed around a flotation grade polyurethane foam core. The company estimates that stringer and bulkhead installation time can be reduced by 70 percent and hull weight savings of 50 percent have been achieved. West Marine will initially carry the product line in its 2001 catalog and will expand the Prisma line into its retail locations this Spring.

Algae-X International has announced its agreement with Nordic Tugs, to integrate the Algae-X Fuel Decontamination Technology into the fuel systems of the company's diesel-powered vessels. Mr. Shelton is incorporating Algae-X technology with traditional filtration to fulfill his goal of providing owners of Nordic Tugs with maximum reliability systems. Algae-X provides Optimal Fuel Quality and Peak Engine Performance and prevents fuel filter clogging and engine failure. Algae-X has also been made available to current owners of Nordic Tugs through meetings at their annual rendevous which was held this year at Sanibel Island, Fla., and at the West Marine-sponsored TrawlerFest in Melbourne…

In an effort to continue its ever widening expansion program within the marine electronics market in both North and South America, Japan Radio Company has added key personnel to its U.S. headquarters offices, JRC North America, Seattle, Wash. Ray Carter has joined the company as national sales manager, with experience in the commercial fishing electronics industry. Carter had previously served as general manager for Yaquina Bay Marine Supply in Newport, Ore. Matthew Wood was elected as the new Western Regional Manager, responsible for sales administration on the U.S. West Coast, in Central and South America, as well as coordination of JRC projects in the Russian Federation.