InTheBite

New SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping Available on Garmin GXM 54 Satellite Weather & Audio Receiver

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OLATHE, Kan./July 16, 2019/Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced that its latest satellite weather & audio receiver, the GXM 54, will support SiriusXM Fish Mapping, the most comprehensive SiriusXM Marine service package designed to help saltwater anglers locate fish faster, saving time and fuel.

In addition to essential weather information provided by SiriusXM, like radar, lightning, marine zone forecasts, wind and wave information, the new Fish Mapping service provides regularly updated, science-based data directly to a compatible Garmin multi-function display1, well beyond cellular range. Offering premium marine features like recommended areas to find specific game fish, weed lines, sea surface temperatures and front strength, sub surface sea temperatures, plankton concentration data, and more, the new Fish MappingTM service is ideal for all salt-water anglers who travel offshore – whether they spend a significant amount of time fishing in tournaments, taking clients on charter trips, or just fishing for fun.

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GEMECO Releases New NMEA 2000(R) Temperature Sensors

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SmartSeal® Prevents Shaft Seal Damage or Failure from Over-Temperature Conditions

Lake City, South Carolina, July 9, 2019 –

Gemeco is pleased to introduce a unique and innovative solution for early detection and prevention of shaft seal failures on recreational, commercial, and municipal vessels. New from Tides Marine, their SmartSeal® Temperature Sensors monitor the temperature of a boat’s shaft seals and triggers a series of alarms when the water temperature exceeds the normal operating temperature range. “SmartSeal is an inexpensive and easy solution that works with any brand of shaft seal and operates as a standalone system or communicates over an NMEA2000® network, or both,” stated Peter Braffitt, General Manager of Gemeco Marine Accessories. “The sensor’s ability to communicate early warnings of potentially costly or life-threatening failures provide peace of mind to both family and crew,” Braffitt added.

SmartSeal solid-state temperature sensors detect an increase in water temperature within the shaft seal and will cause a warning alarm to sound, providing the crew with advanced notice of a problem. Further temperature increases trigger a critical alert indicating that a seal failure will occur if not corrected. Designed for quick connection to Tides Marine’s SureSeal® products, this system also works with other manufacturers’ dripless shaft seals by simply changing the existing NPT water injection fittings.

The control unit has a built-in engine room air temperature sensor and includes an output for an optional remote siren or for connection to an onboard warning/alarm system. Available for single or dual-engine installations, the SmartSeal kit includes a bulkhead mount control unit and sensor cable(s). Remote units designed for mounting at helm or flybridge positions as well as various NMEA components are also available. SmartSeal main and remote units are IP66+ rated (waterproof for heavy spray and brief submersion) allowing units to be mounted in damp or wet locations. The panel mounted remote units are additionally O-ring sealed allowing use in locations that are exposed to rain or sea water (e.g. mounting on a flybridge). Installation guidelines and diagrams for NMEA and non-NMEA systems are available at www.gemeco.com/tidesmarine.

About Gemeco Marine Accessories
Gemeco Marine Accessories (GEMECO) is a wholesale distributor to thousands of marine electronics dealers throughout the USA and abroad. In addition to being the largest worldwide distributor of AIRMAR transducers, GEMECO offers products from over 150 manufacturers including NMEA 2000® networking components, radar mounts, antenna and GPS mounts, electrical and wiring accessories, hard-to-find and specialty marine connectors, as well as a broad range of installation and diagnostic tools. Located in Lake City, South Carolina, GEMECO has become a clearinghouse of marine products, technology and service. The company’s extensive inventory reflected in an expansive 700+ page catalog is available via same-day shipping, ensuring that GEMECO customers always have access to the products they need, and that orders arrive on time. www.gemeco.com

 

Johnson & Towers and Western Branch Diesel Join Business

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MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT – Johnson & Towers with Western Branch Diesel

June 28, 2019

We are pleased to announce that Johnson & Towers, Inc. and Western Branch Diesel, Inc. have closed on a transaction merging the respective organizations. Johnson & Towers, LLC and Western Branch Diesel LLC, along with Johnson Truck Center LLC and Dovell & Williams LLC will all fall under the newly created INDEL POWER GROUP LLC.  We will continue to go to market with our existing and well- known brands.

Johnson & Towers and Western Branch Diesel have 165 years of combined experience as Distributors for Detroit & MTU engines and Allison Transmissions. Additionally, both companies are in the standby Power Generation business and are distributors for Volvo Penta marine diesels

Johnson Truck Center in Landover MD and Manassas, VA are Freightliner, Western Star and Autocar truck dealers. Dovell & Williams is an Isuzu truck dealer in Glen Burnie MD and Frederick MD. Both Johnson Truck Center and Dovell and Williams are Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Dealers in Manassas, VA and Glen Burnie MD respectively

This merger brings together two very strong and successful family organizations sharing the same foundation in the diesel engine business. Our companies have known each other for many years and hold similar values and philosophies including honesty and integrity, excellent customer service, and treating our valued employees with care and respect.

This creates a very exciting opportunity for both companies, our employees, and our customers. It gives us an East Coast marine footprint from NY to South Carolina where we represent MTU and/or Volvo Penta and a seven state, 19 location network to leverage and grow our On-Highway brands and a robust Fleet Management business. Additionally, our MTU Power Generation business will enjoy a 9-state network to service stand-by power generation.

We’re truly excited about this merger of long-standing family businesses and we look forward to being able to service our existing and new customers across an expanded geography with increased resources.

Fish Finders Then and Now

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Fish finders – Old school to new.

This column first appeared in our June 2019 Issue Volume 18 Edition 4 of InTheBite The Professionals’ Sportfishing Magazine.

by Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

A lot has changed since I got into the business of fishing. Electronics have become the most important tool you can have on board your boat. When considering all of the abilities of modern electronics, I sometimes think of back “in the day” – if we had a Loran and a Raytheon 735A fathometer, and a booster on our CB radio, we had it going on.

The fathometer was a paper graph machine that scrolled and was marked by a stylus needle. The stylus drawing showed the contour of the bottom and any fish or bait as it scrolled. Actually, it was a pretty amazing machine at the time. Our Loran was operated using microwave towers that transmitted signals from shore, so your range was limited and bad weather decreased its accuracy. When we would take our boat to Mexico or the Bahamas, or other faraway places, you could forget it because our Loran was useless. It was all navigating by charts, parallel rules and dividers.

Today that’s all changed. You can take a boat anywhere now and never be out of touch. You can even see at night! Our satellite systems and technology are pinpoint accurate. That brings me to the latest and greatest game changing fish finder – the new Furuno Omni Scanner.

This is a full color scanner. It scans 360 degrees in 0.54 seconds. Think about that! That is almost two full 360-degree scans per second. This scanner is a game changer when it comes to finding fish, bait, or structure. With this tool fishermen can actually identify the species of fish under the boat. They are able to mark and track a single fish, enabling the anglers to present a bait directly to the targeted fish.

This scanner has become so popular here in the Northern Gulf that I know of at least a dozen boats that had them installed during the off season – previously only a hand full of boats had them. The sonar takes the guess work out of the question, “Is there any fish or bait or structure around the boat?” It reads out several hundred yards from the boat. For instance, you might be heading south but you see something on your sonar screen that is 300 yards to the west. So, you go over there and you get covered up. The point is, you would never have made the turn to the west without the sonar. It is truly a game changer as far as finding and tracking fish.

These scanners are expensive – with a typical price tag of between 100k and 150k depending on the installation. But if you are throwing down 20k, 40k or 60k a weekend in tournaments, it’s a no brainer.  A lot of boats without the scanner are having second thoughts about betting against the sonar boats.  You can’t hardly blame them. Also, there is nothing automatic about this machine. Like anything else, you have to learn how to use it. When using it properly you are constantly panning in and out, up and down – your head is literally in the sonar all the time. It takes a lot of time to get dialed in on this machine. But once you do get it dialed in, you won’t want to go fishing without it.

Technology is an amazing thing. You need it now days to stay in the game.

 – That’s my two-minute warning. Fraz

InTheBite Dock Talk: Northern Lights Announces New Technicold Ice Maker

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON and DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA (USA) – Premier Marine Power Generation, Climate Control & Refrigeration Products Manufacturer Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI) is pleased to announce the development and introduction of our new, industry leading Technicold ice maker:

  • ROBUST DESIGN WITH STEADY ICE PRODUCTION OUTPUT RATED AT 500 POUNDS PER DAY
  • MARINE GRADE STAINLESS STEEL, COMMERCIAL GRADE QUALITY
  • PROFESSIONAL, MEGA-YACHT FINISH
  • PRODUCES HIGHER ICE YIELDS THAN COMPETITIVE MODELS AT DESIGN TEMPERATURES
  • SAFETY PROTECTIONS FOR ALL SYSTEM COMPONENTS
  • ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND OPERATION
  • PRIMARY AND SECONDARY WATER FILTRATION PROVIDED
  • COMPACT, MODULAR DESIGN BUILT FOR EASY HOOK-UP, MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICE
  • DESIGNED FOR EASE OF INSTALLATION

First units are expected to be available the end of Q2, with pricing to be announced in the near future.

A future model which produces 1000 pounds of ice per day is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

Sam Hill, President of Northern Lights, adds: “We are proud to bring this new ice machine to the market in our continued efforts to provide the most reliable, durable, and highest quality products.  As a leader in the Marine industry for over 60 years, we maintain our focus, drive and passion to provide the best marine power generation and climate control/ refrigeration solutions to fulfill our customers’ needs and to enhance their boating experience for generations to come.”

For more information about Northern Lights and Technicold products, visit www.technicold.com.

The Seakeeper 2 Wins 2019 Edison Award in Transportation Technology Category

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Seakeeper 2 Earns Gold Designation in Transportation Technology Category

CALIFORNIA, Md. (April 5, 2019) – Seakeeper, Inc., the leader in marine stabilization, received an Edison Award at last night’s Awards Gala for the Seakeeper 2.

The Edison Awards honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. The Seakeeper 2 was chosen as a finalist in the Transportation Technology category earlier in the year and last night received a gold award, the highest available. Products were judged on their concept, value, delivery and impact and finalists were chosen by a steering committee and small group of industry experts where necessary. The finalists were then submitted to a panel of more than 3,000 judges comprised of senior business executives and academics who then cast ballots for gold, silver and bronze winners.

“We’ve been relentless at working to change a fundamental human experience by making boating more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and the introduction of our smallest product, the Seakeeper 2, is a huge step in realizing that mission,” said Seakeeper President & CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “We’ve been pushing ourselves every day for 11 years to bring our best innovations to market, and we’re honored to be recognized as a leader and proud to stand next to the other incredible Edison Awards winners this year.”

The award was presented at the Edison Awards’ annual black-tie event at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York, NY. Events earlier in the day included a Meet the Innovators Forum and an Innovators’ Showcase where participating companies had the opportunity to connect with other finalists and innovators and share their product.

Mazu Sportfishing App: Access or Download ROFFS Reports When Offshore

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Download the FREE mazu SportFishing app and you can view and download your ROFFS fishing forecast hot spots while offshore. ROFFS data is digitally overlaid directly onto detailed sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll, current and altimetry charts in the mazu SportFishing app for iPad. Captains and crew also have access to ROFFS comprehensive descriptions and information directly through the app. Visit www.mazu-marine.com for details and to download the app!

Gamefisherman Introduces New 50-foot Walk Around

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Launching of the NEXT GEN
50′ WALK AROUND

Designed to Fish & Travel
We are very excited to announce that Gamefisherman will soon be adding another member to its list of family members.  In April, we will be starting the latest in our series of new builds.  As we approach the West Palm Beach Boat show we wanted to give you a brief description of what this new model is all about.

The 50’ walk around will be powered by quad outboards.  Since delivery will be in 2020, the owner has reserved his right to choose motors further into the build.  Early indications say that some of outboard manufacturers will have 500+ HP outboards available by then.  The new 50’ walk around will come with a huge cockpit and full mezzanine seating for up to six people.  It will be outfitted with a Marlin Tower with a four sided enclosure so the bridge deck will have full temperature control.

The Gamefisherman 50’ walk around is designed to fish and travel. It will have two large insulated in deck fish boxes and a 50 gallon livewell built into the transom.  Belowdecks it will have a master stateroom forward with a full walk around queen.  The master will have its own private head and shower.  The interior will feature a large galley with refrigeration, microwave, and stovetop with fridge and freezer combo below.  A separate aft stateroom will feature four separate bunks.  In addition, the boat will have a second head and shower that can accommodate the rear stateroom guests. The quad outboard engines are predicted to push her to a cruise speed of 40 MPH, with a top end approaching 52 MPH.  This model will be equipped with a Gyro to be located in the cockpit.  This new setup will be sure to capture the attention of others in the tournaments circuit in Florida.

50′ Walk Around SPECS
LOA: 50′ | Beam: 15’9″ | Draft: 2’8″
Displacement: 36,000 lb. | Fuel: 800 gal.
Water: 150 gal. | Power: Quad Outboards- HP and model to be determined

InTheBite Dock Talk: Mazu Marine Sportfishing

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InTheBite Dock Talk— The new Mazu Marine Sportfising App: An all in one marine solution for satellite imagery, boat monitoring, staying connected offshore and much more. The Mazu system consists of an App and a hardware system that can be used anywhere– the hardware makes it possible to stay in contact while beyond cellphone coverage.  Learn all about the wide ranging system and their great introductory offer as well as the many reasons Mazu can be a great addition to your boat.

CLICK to DOWNLOAD MAZU SPORTFISHING

 

Broker Listing: Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express “SPARHAWK”

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Meet your next fishing machine! The 2010 Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express, “SPARHAWK”, is a true cold-molded Custom Carolina built sportfish.  She is a proven fish raiser and tournament champion with a ride and fuel efficiency that are unparalleled for a vessel of her size.  “SPARHAWK” is the recipient of meticulous maintenance, continuous custom upgrades, and an electrical refit in 2018 in excess of $300,000.  If you are in the market for a beautiful, head turning, hard core custom express boat, your search should start and end with “SPARHAWK”.

Below please find a summary of highlights onboard The “SPARKHAWK”:

  • Cold molded custom Carolina construction
  •  Unparalleled ride and fuel efficiency
  •  Mezzanine seating
  •  C 9 CAT power
  •  Zeus pod drives with Joystick control
  • Skyhook dynamic positioning system
  • 2018 extensive refit
  • 8000 series GARMIN fully networked electronics package
  • FLIR night vision
  • EPLEX state of the art electrical system with touch screen breaker panel and ship board monitoring system
  • SAT TV and phone system
  • Custom full anodized aluminum tower with clear ceramic coating
  •  Ice chipper
  •  Water maker
  •  Custom faux teak painted transom and toe rail
  •  Miya Epoch US9 super HD electric teaser reels (NEW 2018)
  •  2018 custom SEA DECK on helm deck
  •  Unprecedented rod storage for over 30 rods out of sight in custom storage lockers
  •  Fresh bottom paint and prop speed 6/18 SEE MORE ON THE 2010 Donnie Caison 49’ Custom Carolina Express, “SPARHAWK” HERE