Boating Industry Intelligence You Can Profit From
For the first time, Ship Shape TV will be filming at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Through the five days of the show, a portion of the main floor of the Broward County Convention Center will transformed into a fully working studio, equipped with sets, cameras and camera cranes and bleachers for a live studio audience. Tickets to the tapings will be given on a first come, first serve basis to 300 people. Interested attendees can pick up tickets each morning and find out about times for the tapings at the Information Booths located at the Convention Center. Filming of the show will take place twice daily. Host John Greviskis will be showing the audience a behind the scenes look of how his show, Ship Shape TV, gets made. He will be filming episodes on a range of topics from hatches and propellers to die tank racks and sea suckers used as safety tools.
ABYC is offering 2 for 1 pricing on courses taking place in select areas of the country through December. Through the remainder of the year, when an organization or individual signs up for an ABYC course taught in one of those select locations, a second student can attend the course at no additional charge. An additional fee of $225 will be assessed if the second student desires to take the certification examination at the conclusion of the course. Single students will be offered a one time $100 discount for signing up for a course in one of the selected areas. For students already registered to take a course in one of the selected areas, they can invite a work associate to attend the course at no additional charge by contacting ABYC before Friday, Oct. 30. Seats are limited on a first come, first serve basis. To learn more about this the program, visit www.abyinc.org.
Thetford Marine’s Boat Wash has been chosen as a BoatU.S. Staff Pick for Best All-Around Green Product, according to the company. The publication tested 20 cleaners, including green products and a few tried-and-true cleaning staples. The first tests were conducted in a lab to determine each product’s toxicity and biodegradability. Thetford Marine’s Boat Wash was one of the three least toxic, as well as one of the three most biodegradable. To put each cleaner’s performance to the test, the publication lined up three boats with varying levels of dirt ranging from a well-cared for craft with minimal filth to an extremely dirty vessel that had been stored, untouched, for two years. After taping off 20 one-foot sections along each boat’s hull, the testers applied the cleaners per manufacturer’s instructions. Weighing all factors, including cleaning performance, toxicity, biodegradability and cost, Thetford Marine’s Boat Wash came out on top. The judges noted that this cost-effective boat wash cleaned the boats relatively easily and is available nationwide.
Malibu Boats has launched a new, free iPhone app that provides water sports boating videos, photos and news on the water or off, according to a recent statement from the company. This mobile application gives users direct access to the Malibu Boats factories as well as the nearest Malibu dealer with one-click contact links and Google maps. Users can also learn about local water sports boating news and events and share photos that could be featured on Malibu’s family of web sites, as well as download how-to videos on topics like trailering. In addition, boat owners can connect an iPhone or iPod Touch to the MaliView 6.5 color LCD Dash System and watch Malibu Boats videos on the boat with a bigger screen view.
Bridgeport Landing LLC and Miami Beach-based RCI Marine have received final City Council approval for the SteelPointe Harbor redevelopment project in Bridgeport, Conn., according to a statement from Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, which represented the two firms in the negotiations. The approval was for an Amended and Restated Development and Acquisition Agreement with the City of Bridgeport, which owns the land. The $1.2 billion project is to be situated on the 52-acre Steel Pointe peninsula and is expected to take approximately 15 years to complete. The developer, Bridgeport Landing, first plans to start construction of this urban mixed-use development along the waterfront with the creation of a restaurant and marina capable of accommodating pleasure craft and mega-yachts. Ultimately, SteelPointe Harbor will include a 2.8 million square-feet project incorporating 1,200 apartments, including 10 percent designated for workforce housing; 250,000 square-feet of office space; 650,000 – 800,000 square-feet of retail and entertainment; 4,000 parking spaces; a hotel; and possibly a heliport.