October 18, 2021, Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament—In addition to the 2021 Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament record breaking payout of $1,578,100.00, this year’s Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament not only hit the million-dollar mark for the third consecutive time in it’s history, but almost doubled that mark by hitting $1,961,600.00.
Galati Yacht Sales Expands Operations to the West Coast
Galati Yachts Sales expands to West Coast by Assuming the Viking® Yachts and Valhalla Boatworks® Brands from Stan Miller Yachts. Pictured here are a Viking Yachts 80 Skybridge and Valhalla Boatworks v-41 in Cabo, Mexico
Anna Maria, Fla. – Oct. 11, 2021—Galati Yacht Sales (GYS), one of the largest privately held yacht dealerships in the world, will be assuming the Viking® Yachts and Valhalla® Brands from Stan Miller Yachts, the current authorized Viking Yachts and Valhalla dealer on the West Coast.
This acquisition expands Galati Yacht Sales’ current operations to 15 locations serving the entire Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Alabama, Texas), Mexico and Costa Rica to the Western U.S., including California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. With the acquisition, GYS brings their award-winning, customer-centric, Viking Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks and worldwide brokerage programs to the West Coast.
MONGO Offshore Wraps Up with Five Division Winners
Photo MONGO Offshore
MONGO Offshore Challenge, Oct. 6, 2021—The 2021 MONGO Offshore Challenge has concluded, again with an impressive heavy weight leaderboard. The 132 boat fleet represented all 5 Gulf states, with more than 2,000 anglers. The teams competed for 5 months to see who could catch the largest Blue Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi of the season. We took their top official weights from other approved Big game tournaments and weights from our 20 Official MONGO weigh stations throughout the Gulf coast.
Valhalla Boatworks: Complete Fleet at FLIBS
Valhalla Boatworks will have all four V Series center consoles on display at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 27-31, led by this Kingston Grey V-46 with quad Mercury 450Rs. The flagship of the fleet, the Valhalla 46 has quickly established itself as the new premier high-performance luxury center console from 45 to 50 feet.
The deck layout stresses freedom of movement and 360-degree fishability while still providing a high level of seating comfort. The console is home to an expansive lounge (with a soothing leg-elevating design) as well as a two-person seat. Moving forward, you have port and starboard bench seats that can also be used as lounges thanks to their Release Marine teak backrests. The upholstery is top-shelf, featuring custom shades of grey and white along with Diamond/Bentley stitching.
The V-46’s helm is unrivaled in this market segment, especially when it comes to visibility, operator ergonomics and aesthetic design. With its significant size, the Valhalla 46 has ample room for two rows of seating under the custom hardtop. The Release Marine teak helm chairs (with individual armrests and folding bolsters) have been a huge hit with owners.
The cockpit is yet another area where seating versatility and fishing prowess are highly evident, with aft-facing mezzanine seating providing the perfect location to take in the fishing action while staying clear of the anglers. A pair of seats flanking the dual 54-gallon transom live wells can quickly be folded up to maximize deck space.
The comfort continues inside the console, which boasts air conditioning, excellent headroom (6’7”), abundant natural light and a galley with all the conveniences you’ll need to whip up a meal for family or friends. The dinette converts into a queen-size berth, and there’s a 32-inch HD TV on the forward bulkhead.
The V-46’s walk-in machinery room stands out as a ground-breaking engineering and design development in the center console market, keeping mechanical and electrical systems protected in one well-lit, easily accessible location.
An evolution of Viking excellence, Valhalla Boatworks consists of the V-33, V-37, V-41 and V-46. For more on the V Series, please contact your authorized Valhalla Boatworks dealer.
Honda Marine Unveils New Smartphone Application
Tampa, FLA., September 28, 2021—At the International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), a highly focused marine technology trade show dedicated to advancing the business of boating, Honda Marine unveiled HondaLink® Marine, putting smart boating into the hands of boat owners. The new, integrated smartphone application provides owners with complete, remote monitoring capability and ownership information for boats anytime from anywhere.
Honda Marine is the first marine outboard manufacturer to offer its own comprehensive, connected services boat management app, useable, compatible and customizable with any boat size powered by National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 2000® certified engines. This accreditation verifies that a product has been tested to meet specific critical safety criteria and to correctly implement network management and messaging. NMEA developed this open architecture electronic protocol to allow engine data to interface with a wide variety of name brand marine electronics that monitor wind instruments, depth sounders, navigation instruments, engine instruments, and nautical chart plotters, for example.
IBEX Announces Winners of the 2021 Innovation Awards
Fourteen products were recognized during the Industry Breakfast and Awards Ceremony
Tampa, FL, Sept 2, 2021—The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) announced today the winners of the IBEX Innovation Awards for the 30th Anniversary Show. The program was managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI). The judges selected 11 Innovation Award winners and three honorable mentions among dozens of entries submitted by marine trade companies. Awards were presented during the annual Industry Breakfast, Keynote, and Innovation Awards presentation, held Tuesday, September 28, 2021, from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, 4th floor Tampa Bay Ballroom. All products submitted to the IBEX Innovation Awards will be displayed along Innovation Way located on the 2nd floor of the Tampa Convention Center throughout the Show.
The winners of the 2021 IBEX Innovation Awards are:
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Saunders Yachtworks Named Alabama’s First Clean and Resilient Marina
Saunders Yachtworks Clean & Resilient Marina
Gulf Shores, Ala., Sept. 28, 2021—Saunders Yachtworks, a full-service yacht yard in Gulf Shores, is the first facility in Alabama to earn the Clean and Resilient Marina certification. The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium awarded this designation to Saunders for its use of best management practices to protect and promote clean water and reduce water pollution.
For Saunders, a company-wide commitment to keeping a squeaky-clean boatyard was key to landing this achievement.
“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in the Clean Marina Program,” Facilities and Safety Manager Greg Lindell said. “The sustainability of our industry relies on the protection of the resources that feed it. We take great pride in maintaining clean facilities and implementing protocols that reduce water pollution.”
Airmar Announces New SmartBoat System
MILFORD, NH. (September 23, 2021)—AIRMAR®Technology Corporation, a world leader in ultrasonic transducers and Chirp technology, is pleased to introduce their new SmartBoat® system, a groundbreaking vessel-management solution for all marine-sensor protocols and network types. The NMEA 2000® certified SmartBoat system offers a highly configurable sensor interface, supports a wide range of sensors and protocols, and provides remote discovery, management, programming, and wireless features. These unprecedented capabilities significantly reduce the equipment, protocol-conversion devices, cabling, complexity, and labor costs associated with conventional networking products, saving thousands on every install.
Relief Support for Fishing Guides Affected by Hurricane Ida
SANTA ANA, Ca., September 7 – 8, 2021—AFTCO and Marsh Wear partner with the IGFA Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund (WARF) and Costa Sunglasses to support fishing guides affected by Hurricane Ida in coastal Louisiana.
On September 7th, 2021, 100% of profits from all purchases made on marshwearclothing.com will be donated to WARF and on September 8th, 2021, 100% of profits from all purchases made on aftco.com will be donated to WARF.
Garmin Introduces Surround View Camera System
OLATHE, Kan., Sept. 7, 2021/Business Wire—Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), the world’s largest and most innovative marine electronics manufacturer, today announced the Garmin Surround View Camera System, a breakthrough in video guidance for recreational boating and yachting. Utilizing six through-hull mounted cameras that act like multiple sets of eyes, Surround View provides a live 360-degree bird’s-eye view around the vessel to help captains quickly view their vessel’s perimeter during low-speed maneuvers, such as docking, from the helm.
