Full disclosure I do get paid to sell marine accessories to boat builders and distributors, but when luck will have it, I also get to use these products in real the real world.  What I’m sharing here are some items in the company quiver that I absolutely loved onboard our own boat SV Magic Bus. 

So, I’ll start with the Stream from Shakespeare Marine. Funny that one of the first products I’m sharing is a cell booster from a well known VHF Antenna company.  And for those of you who are thinking this makes sense as mobile phones are replacing VHF’s, I’ll challenge you with this image.  A tug is towing a barge and looking to make a 90 degree turn in five minuets.  The barge pilot does not have you on his mobile speed dial, so he is calling you on CH16 to advise you to alter course to help you maintain a safe distance from his pending inescapable turn towards you.  Your cell phone is streaming Spotify and your VHF does not work… yeah a VHF radio is a safety tool no one should leave the dock without knowing how to use properly.

So you’ve got that good VHF, great… yet in this new world of work-aboard/school-aboard/live-aboard times where your boat can be your Covid safe bubble… what we also need is reliable data! That’s where the Stream from Shakespeare fits in making the boat an effective office/classroom with the same connected comfort of your home. My real-world example follows, but the short of it is… you can be in an area with almost NO access to cellular service, and with the Steam installed, you get bars of workably fast LTE, 4G, 5G, etc and your family is rocking Netflix while you’re Zooming with clients. 

How do I know? Well the location was Wardwick Wells… also known as heaven on earth, in the middle of (nowhere) the Exumas National Parks in the Bahamas. This was the type of place you could just sit and watch the tide flow in and out for days, but the agita of knowing your mobile phone was useless would eventually drive you to cut your stay short.  Wardwick Wells is infamous among boaters as being so remote there is no way to connect without a slow and expensive satellite, and we were told stories of people hiking up hills and hoisting up phones as hotspots to get even a hint of 3G data to send a text or call.. always failing more then connecting.

Knowing the kids were getting close to finals and the Buffalo Bills were making a run to the AFC championship game, it was either stay connected or skip the dream destination.  I got to work on the install and one hour later I can say that was easy.  All the cords, connectors, and even the fasteners needed were in the box.  We ran the antenna about 10’ off the deck with the supplied cable, connected the power cords up to the same 12v circuit our VHF was connected to, and plugged in the black “helm” antenna (we led this down below near the nav station).  Flipped on the switch and the lights started blinking…

I’m not from the “show me state”, but sometimes seeing is believing, and when I set our cellular router on top of the helm antenna pad… it was like magic.  We went from two bars of H+ (aka inconsistent Bahamas 3G) to five full bars of high-speed LTE. In the place known to be so remote all the guides warn you to not expect any communications to work – we were streaming the NFL, hosting Monday MS Teams meetings, and Zoom was full on for the kid’s school.

We even invited other cruisers around us to tap into our hotspot to get a few messages out.  It was so easy, our friends did not have a mobile routers (or Mifi’s) so they just put their cell phones on top of the antenna pad and boom – LTE service from their carrier. They then turned on the phone hotspot and it worked just as well as our dedicated router for anyone nearby who connected.  Next time out we will probably just use an older mobile phone as a hotspot and dedicate it to the antenna pad, as most sim card style plans included free calling minuets we could not use if the sim was in the router vs a phone.

So at $600 I was a little leery of the value of this device before I saw the magic happen, but now this is my top tool for assuring were always connected (when we want to be 😊). I’ll be asking my customers to take another look at what this little package can do, and suggest they promote it to all the boaters who are trying to float away… while also wanting to stay in touch with home and work.

P.S. if you’re looking for the best options for data plans in the Bahamas check out this page.

photo by Atlantic Marketing Company

amoffice@amconet.com

860.535.8292

STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT (USA) – Henri-Lloyd, one of the oldest and most respected marine clothing brands in the world, has chosen Atlantic Marketing Company to represent the company’s technical marine products in the United States and Canada.

“Henri-Lloyd is widely recognized as one of the most trusted and strongest brands in the world, it’s a unique opportunity to be part of such an iconic company at a time when they are redefining technical outerwear in our market,” said Atlantic Marketing President, Brandon Flack. “We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to add Henri-Lloyd’s unique assortments in time for the 2020 boating season,” he added.

“We are excited to have Atlantic Marketing represent Henri-Lloyd in the States and Canada,” said Jonas Andersson, the company’s CEO in a statement.  “Brandon and his team bring a wealth of knowledge and impeccable credentials from the marine technical clothing space. They have a proven track record of success in creating winning relationships with their retail partners. As a heritage brand, now entering a second phase of the comeback, we are genuine in our belief in building strong customer relationships. A strong relationship is based on an honest dialog about what has worked well and not so well in the past.  By enlisting Atlantic Marketing, we will create something really special here for many years to come.”

Founded in 1963, Henri-Lloyd became famous through its relentless pursuit of innovation and quality, making products for yachtsmen and women around the world. The original innovative designs remain the template for all modern waterproof performance clothing. Then in the 1980s, the highly influential youth movement of the Milanese Paninari adopted the Original Consort Jacket as its uniform and Henri Lloyd became a credible lifestyle brand across Europe overnight.

Headquartered in Stonington, Connecticut, Atlantic Marketing Company is one of the oldest and largest marine manufacturer representative firms in the US and Canada.  Marine distributors and dealers interested in Henri-Lloyd products should call +1.860.535.8292 or email amoffice@amconet.com

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Product distribution news release prepared by Social Navigator

SocialNavigator.net

STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT (USA) – Atlantic Marketing Company, one of the oldest and largest marine manufacturer representative firms in the US, has appointed Bryn Bachman as a graphic designer and marketing coordinator to complement manufacturers sales and advertising programs.

Brandon Flack, Atlantic Marketing president and managing partner, commented “In today’s fast paced world often times factories cannot fulfill the market demands for specific sales support media. Whether it’s print, web, video or email Bryn adds a marine flavor and focus that is consistent with the brands we represent and the market we are selling into.  With Bryn’s intrinsic knowledge and passion for boating she is a great addition to the Atlantic Marketing team and a great resource for our factories.”

While acting in a support role for Atlantic Marketing’s in house needs, Bryn is available for contract work with factories looking for a more complete marine centric solution.  Below is a portfolio of her current work and current software, skills and educational background.

 

Press Release – Balmar Awarded Patent Protection on AltMount Design 5-Jan-16.pdf

EXHAUST SYSTEMS NEWS
December 18, 2015

Frequently Asked Questions About Marine Exhaust Systems

A salt deposit on a muffler indicates a “weeping” spot where water is escaping.
How to fix a leaking muffler is a question frequently asked
of the exhaust systems experts at Centek Industries.

THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA (USA) – Since 1962, Centek Industries has designed, engineered and built more than 15,000 custom marine exhaust systems for yachts, workboats, military and law enforcement vessels and many of these designs are used continuously to build exhaust systems for thousands of new boats and refits annually.

At Centek headquarters in Thomasville, Georgia (USA), company experts frequently answer questions about the design, engineering and manufacturing of custom marine exhaust systems. Centek’s engineering staff has more than 80 years of marine wet exhaust system design and innovation experience. Centek is the only registered engineering firm to offer fiberglass exhaust components that are Lloyd’s Register Type approved and meet or exceed ABYC-P1 standards. Centek has also earned a Certificate of Conformance for ISO 9001:2008, for the excellence of its quality management system.

Here are three of the most frequently asked questions.

1. How do I make my boat quieter?
This one is right in our wheel house. There are several options available when it comes to sound attenuation for both propulsion and generator engines. Centek assigns a rating to their standard exhaust products with the range going from Good to Better to Best. Generally speaking, and compared to straight exhaust, the Good rated muffler provides 15-18 dB of attenuation, a Better rated muffler gives a 22-28 dB improvement and a Best provides an improvement of 25-30 dB. These are ball park estimates and should be used as a rule of thumb. Also available are custom systems which can provide even better results depending on your specific engine and space available. For generator exhaust, these same standard mufflers and ratings are used but at the same time there are other considerations to take into account. Is the noise you are hearing actually the engine running or is it the irritating splash you hear as the exhaust cooling water is discharged overboard? If the overboard discharge is the culprit, consider adding a Gen-Sep and separate the cooling water from the exhaust gasses. The exhaust gas is then discharged to the atmosphere and the cooling water is discharged below the water line thus elimination the splash you hear when the gen-set is running.

2. I am doing a re-power – can I use the same exhaust?
This is usually one of the first questions asked when it comes to a re-power for both propulsion engines and for generator upgrades / changes. The short answer is maybe. To get the most from your new engine or gen-set, it is important to make sure that the exhaust system is properly sized. A properly sized exhaust system provides the best sound attenuation and stays within the backpressure limits set by the engine manufacturer. When Centek engineers recommend a specific size, they take into account a number of variables which include, but are not limited to, horsepower, raw water flow, exhaust flow and temperatures, the position of components relative to the waterline and the backpressure limits. If you have a question whether or not your current system will work, call and talk with a Centek engineer and let them help guide you through the process. Also, keep in mind that Centek can supply an almost endless variety of elbows and fittings for your new project.

3. I have a leaking muffler. How can I fix it?
Often customers call in with questions about mufflers or other exhaust components that have developed a leak. In addition to looking for dripping water on the muffler body or water in the area of the muffler, another sign to look for is salt deposits on the muffler. These salt deposits appear as a white chalky substance and indicate a “weeping” spot where water is escaping. Before any consideration of a repair or replacement, first determine why the leak occurred. Almost 100% of the time, this type of leak indicates that the muffler experienced overheating due to a loss of cooling water in the exhaust stream. If the cause of overheating is not corrected, any repair is going to be short lived. Centek uses high temperature resins in all our products; however, if cooling water is interrupted, exhaust temperatures can sky rocket quickly. When temperatures reach a certain point, the resin is essentially baked out of the resin/glass matrix causing water droplets to seep from the damaged area.

When a muffler or other exhaust component develops a leak, the best course of action is to replace the item. A good fiberglass shop can patch a leak on a temporary basis but replacement is critical. Keep in mind, when cooling water is lost and temperatures spike, damage can occur to the internals of the muffler or component which is often impossible see.

Have a question about marine exhaust systems? Ask the experts at Centek. Email info, fax your question to 1+229.228.1270, or call 1+800.950.7653 (toll free in the US) or 1+229.228.7653. For more information about Centek, visit the Centek web site.
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Centek Industries – 116 Plantation Oak Drive – Thomasville, GA 31799 USA