The mood among exhibitors was upbeat, though the phrase "guardedly optimistic" was heard almost everywhere across the booths and on-water displays. "A year ago, we were coming out of a summer where oil prices were $150 per barrel and waiting for a presidential election," said Rob McDougal, president of Allied Marine. "But none of us foresaw the financial collapse that would ensue. And while things aren't great now, they've greatly improved over a year ago. Inflation rate is zero, GDP is 3.5 per cent, and we've seen the first positive quarter in the last year. We are cautiously optimistic about what this boat show will bring."
Nonetheless, there were multiple new yacht and product launches that took place on the show's opening day. Allied's parent company, Ferretti Group launched five new yachts to the US market, one of which made a world debut. The Italian builder showed its Mochi Craft Long Range 23, Ferretti 510, Ferretti 830 Hard Top and CRN Maraya, while Bertram launched its 511 at the show.
UK builder Fairline boats also took advantage of the show to announce four new models, including the Targa 58 Gran Turismo, Targa 44 Open and the Squadron 41 for next year.
US builder Sea Ray Boats launched its 450 Sundancer during a special event before the show, attracting a strong crowd of potential buyers.
The equipment manufacturers also used the world's largest consumer show as a springboard for their new products. Seakeeper, which manufactures gyro stabilizers for boats, launched its new Seakeeper M21000. The product is aimed at the superyacht market. Its president and CEO, Shepard McKenney, called the new unit a "game-changer" since only one is needed to stabilize a 90-ft. yacht. The company launched its M7000 unit in 2008.
"We have sold hundreds of Seakeeper 7000 gyros to customers all over the world," said McKenney at a press conference. "including the largest yacht builders in the world and even the US Navy. The largest boatbuilder in France, Couach, maker of superyachts 22m to 50m has made the Seakeeper gyro standard across its entire product line." McKenney announced during the show that it had signed an agreement with Sunseeker to supply the UK builder with its gyros on different models across its product line.
FLIR Systems, which entered the recreational marine industry four years ago from the military market, also launched the First Mate. It will be part of a new line of handheld maritime thermal night vision cameras. "First Mate maritime thermal cameras give users the power to see navigation hazards like channel markers, land, other boats, and people in the water more clearly even in total darkness," said Lou Rota, vice president of Maritime Business Development. "Our new camera combines our industry-leading thermal cameras with our tested military technology to deliver the ultimate hand-held imager for recreational and commercial marine markets."
Rota said the company has seen strong year-over-year growth during its four years in the boating industry. "Thermal imaging has become an indispensable tool for maritime navigation and safety," added Rota.
KVH Industries also announced a new product, the TracVision HD7, in what many yacht owners are seeing as an "indispensable tool" for their boats—DirectTV. "Our new 24" TracVision HD7 is a breakthrough in maritime satellite TV design," Jim Dodez, vice president of marketing told IBI. "It brings high definition programming from DirectTV to your boat the same way you have it at home."
The system, with its "Tri-Rod Antenna" design, simultaneously tracks DirectTV's Ka- and Ku-band satellites. "These sgnals are concentrated by the tuned subreflector before reaching our unique tri-rod dielectric feed, so the reception is as good as a home dish, even if you're cruising offshore."
Dodez also said the dome is smaller than its competitors. It also offers full DVR capability and support. The system can also be updated through an Iphone App as well as ITouch and web interfaces. Dodez says he expects the HD7 to appeal to owners of boats above 50 feet. "We are selling to OEMs like Sea Ray and Meridian, but we expect most of the units to go to the aftermarket," he said.
(30 October 2009)
By IBI Magazine