News & Notes Web Extra
CEA TO REPRESENT RACOR WATERMAKERS
CEA Industrial Supply of San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been selected by the Racor Division of Parker Hannifin Corp. to represent Racor’s Village Marine Tec line of reverse-osmosis watermakers and related parts and accessories.
CEA has been a distributor of Racor products since 1990 and has sold other marine and industrial products in the Caribbean market since 1956.
Ricardo Fernandez of CEA said that because the family-owned business already supplies Racor parts and service to a large customer base in the Caribbean, “watermakers are a natural fit for us and our customers.” For more information on Racor’s products, visit www.parker.com.—R.M.L.
SLICK SEAM CAULK WORKS UNDERWATER
Need to fill some seams on your wood boat but don’t have time for a haulout?
The folks at Davis Instruments suggest you try Slick Seam, a caulking compound that works underwater. Made from waxes, mineral products, and silicate fibers, Slick Seam adheres to wet, dry, and even oil-stained surfaces, according to the manufacturer.
Simply apply the caulking compound to your boat’s below-the-waterline seams with a gloved finger or a putty knife—no mixing or priming is required. Of course, it’s easier to apply Slick Seam when you’re not working on submerged surfaces, but it’s good to know the caulk will do its job underwater.
The compound is designed to stay in place when wood flexes and swells but also will remain flexible and won’t harden or crack, says Davis Instruments’ John Hansen. Slick Seam doesn’t need to cure, per se, which is why it can be applied underwater. When working on the hard, it’s best to wait 30 minutes before painting over the caulking compound.
Slick Seam, which is not meant for use on topsides, is sold in 16-ounce containers that are priced around $14 at www.davisnet.com.—S.R.B.
RANGER TUGS, CUTWATER GO ALL-GARMIN
Garmin has been making a concerted push to capture what the marine industry calls OEMs. “Original equipment manufacturer” is just another term for boatbuilder, and Garmin recently announced that it has added another company to its OEM stable.
Fluid Motion, designers and builders of Ranger Tugs and a new line of trailerable power cruisers called Cutwater Boats, has selected Garmin as the exclusive supplier of electronics for both brands.
Fluid Motion debuted its Cutwater 26 and 28 at the Seattle Boat Show, each with Garmin’s big GPSMAP 5212 multifunction display with touch-screen interface, GMR 18 HD radar, GSD 22 sounder, GXM 51 XM antenna for satellite weather and audio, and Garmin’s VHF 200 marine radio.
Optional equipment selected by Ranger Tugs to outfit its line of 21- to 29-foot trailerable trawlers includes the GPSMAP 5215, GPSMAP 531s, GPSMAP 740s, and AIS 600. Some Ranger Tugs models also will offer the GHP 10, Garmin’s marine autopilot, featuring its patented Shadow Drive technology, which automatically disengages the autopilot if the helm is turned, allowing the helmsman to maneuver the boat.
The GPSMAP 5215 will be an option on the Ranger Tug 29. “This model has a 15-inch screen—that’s a big screen for a 29-foot boat and is one of the ways we offer yacht-size features in a trailerable trawler,” says John Livingston, president of Fluid Motion. “Garmin equipment is versatile and intuitive, and their customer support at both the OEM and consumer level is reliable and top notch.”
Fluid Motion has been installing Garmin equipment on Ranger Tugs since 2006. With the launch of Cutwater Boats, it was a natural progression to work with Garmin as the exclusive OEM partner for both lines. Visit www.rangertugs.com, www.cutwaterboats.com, and www.garmin.com for more info.—P.S.
