August 16, 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Electrolysis and corosion expert

to offer free seminars

Leading marine importer and distributor Lusty and Blundell Ltd will be offering a series of free seminars on electrolysis and corrosion problems and how to best eliminate them.

The seminars, which are scheduled to be held in the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Taruranga and Picton in the week of September 20-24, will feature informarive advice from Brett Maddern, the founder and executive director of Marine Protection Systems.

MPS are an Australian-based company that is generally considered the industry leaders in electrolysis control and prevention devices.

They regularly provide advice to boat owners and marina operators on corrosion and electrolysis protection. They also provide a range of products designed to help marinas, OEMs and boat owners significantly reduce the cost of corrosion. Among these is the award winning Maddox System, including the Electrolysis Blocker, Shaft Grounding Strap and Maddox Anodes.

Brett Maddern is uniquely qualified to help boat owners with their electrolysis and corrosion problems. An experienced metallurgy analyst, he was responsible for developing the patented Maddox anode, He has focused primarily on electrolysis and corrosion issues in the marine environment for the last 13 years and has helped clients as diverse as big marina operators and the Norwegian Navy.

The free seminars are being held in Auckland at the RNZYS Tuesday, September 21st at 7pm, , Tauranga (at the Tauranga Game Fishing Club) on Wednesday the 22^nd and finishing in the Bay of Islands on the 23^rd at the Opua Cruising Club 7pm.

Those interested in finding out more information can contact:

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Caption:

Electrolysis and corrosion expert Brett Maddern (left) with MPS’ Queensland distributor Mick Keogh.

For more information,please contact:

Andy Samways,

Lusty & Blundell Ltd,

Private Bag, Albany.

Phone: (09) 415-8303.

August 9, 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Electronics expert says thermal imaging

could become more important than radar

A marine electronics expert is predicting that thermal imaging could soon become more important to recreational boaties than radar.

Cameron Burch, Raymarine product manager at major marine importer and distributor Lusty and Blundell Ltd, says thermal imaging not only has many advantages over radar, it is also becoming both more compact and more affordable.

“At the moment, Kiwis’ first choice of marine electronics is a VHF radio, followed by a depth sounder or fishfinder,” he says. “Their next choice tends to be a GPS chartplotter, followed by a radar and then ‘extras’ such as autopilots, thermal imaging or underwater cameras.

“We believe that is about to change and thermal imaging units will soon be preferred on a wide range of recreational boats, from mid-sized trailer boats up.”

Burch says thermal imaging offers real benefits for recreational boaties.

“While radar only shows that there is something out there, thermal imaging shows exactly what it is that’s there. It is great for picking up kayakers, jetskis, people in the water, partly submerged logs and even craypots and longline floats.

“Thermal imaging also clearly shows breaking waves and the difference between water and land, making it ideal when crossing a bar late at night or in poor visibility, or when navigating in confined waterways such as rivers, estuaries or marinas.”

Burch says that one of the advantages of thermal imaging units is that they are easy to install and to interface with many of the multi-function devices (such as Raymarine’s C, E, and G Series displays) now found on large and mid-sized trailerboats, yachts and launches.

“All you need is a thermal imaging camera, a video cable, a power source and either a MFD with a composite video input or a separate display screen,” he says.

Objects usually show as “while hot” images on the screen (somewhat like an old black and white negative) with heat signatures showing as white against a grey background. However, owners can also choose from a variety of other colour schemes, depending on the ambient light or their own preferences.

 “It is like having a really powerful set of headlights, without any of the disadvantages,” says Burch. “There, is for example, no effect on the skipper’s night vision, nor on that of any other boats in the vicinity.

“What’s more, even entry level thermal imaging cameras will display objects up to two nautical miles away, while the top of the range models can ‘see’ right to the horizon.”

Burch says thermal imaging cameras are now being installed as standard in several leading automobile brands.

“Because they have a greater range forward than the headlights (even those on full beam) they provide an extra level of safety, especially in areas where deer or other animals wander onto the road at night.

“We expect that something similar will happen in the marine market with leading manufacturers installing a thermal imaging camera as part of a comprehensive electronics package that also includes a GPS chartplotter and a digital depth sounder.”

He says he also expects to see more existing boat owners adding a thermal imaging camera to their on-board arsenal.

“These cameras used to cost more than $15,000. Now they are just $5000-$6000. They are also very easy to retrofit and, if the boat has a display with a composite video input, the thermal images can appear as part of a split screen, alongside the chartplotter or sounder, or as a full screen display.

“Alternatively, owners can simply connect the camera to a separate, relatively inexpensive, stand alone display screen.”

Both fixed thermal cameras and more sophisticated models, able to pan, tilt and zoom on command, are currently available.

“Future models may become even more intelligent,” says Burch. “They may well be able to automatically identify debris, swimmers and other objects and alert the skipper to their presence.”

Burch says modern thermal cameras are like having another pair of eyes on board.

“They are like very powerful, see-in-the-dark eyes that allow us to safely spend more time on the water, staying out later in summer and making the most of the short winter days.”

ends.

For more information, please contact:

Cameron Burch

Lusty and Blundell Ltd

Phone: (09) 415-8303.

July 14, 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lusty and Blundell to distribute

Shakespeare aerial range

Lusty and Blundell Ltd, New Zealand’s leading marine products and systems supplier, is now distributing the world-acclaimed Shakespeare range of marine aerials.

Shakespeare, who have been manufacturing marine products for more than a century, produce a wide range of top quality VHF, AM/FM, SSB, cellular, CB, Loran satellite radio and Wi-Fi aerials as well as all of the accompanying mounts and accessories.

Lusty and Blundell product manager Cameron Burch says that, while the Shakespeare range of aerials will improve the reception of any radio or VHF receiver, there is no doubt that combining a Raymarine VHF radio with a suitable Shakespeare aerial will give the best of both worlds.

“Like Raymarine, Shakespeare are industry leaders, continually pioneering performance and technological advantages and setting new benchmarks in terms of performance, quality and reliability.

“Because the performance and range of marine communication equipment is directly proportional to the quality and efficiency of the connected antenna, by fitting a Shakespeare aerial, boat owners will ensure they always enjoy the best possible reception.”

The comprehensive Shakespeare range is available in both Galaxy and Classic versions. The popular Classic range features either chrome-plated brass or nylon ferrules and carries a 2-year warranty while the top of the line Galaxy range boasts an even higher level of performance as well as stainless steel ferrules and a high-gloss, polyurethane hand-finish for extra UV protection and to prevent chalking or yellowing. The Galaxy range also comes with a longer 5-year warranty.

The Shakespeare range of marine aerials is now available nationwide through Lusty and Blundell’s network of leading marine dealers.

Caption: L&B product manager Cameron Burch with some of the wide selection of Shakespeare aerials now distributed by Lusty and Blundell.

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For more information, please contact:

Cameron Burch

Lusty and Blundell Ltd

Phone: (09) 415-8303.

 July 1, 2010

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kiwi fisher full of praise for “outstanding”

Raymarine digital fishfinder

A New Zealander with around 15 years experience in helping big boat owners catch fish says he is incredibly impressed by the performance of Raymarine’s patented digital depth-sounding technology.

Dean Horgan is the owner’s representative on board the very fishing-foucsed Riviera 48 Offshore Express, Freelance. Freelance, which is mostly based in Fiji, has, for the past two and a half years, been using a Raymarine DSM400 digital fishfinder, complete with its latest 3000w transducer, to target both bottom dwelling and pelagic fish species.

Horgan, whose career spans some “14-15 years” and includes an extended period on the famous charter boat Outer Limits, says the performance of Raymarine’s HD digital fishfinder was “outstanding”.

“It really is an outstanding unit,” he says. “It performed well above our expectations, delivering crystal clear images and superb target definition.”

Horgan says the most impressive thing about the DSM400 was the way it delivered “very high definition images” at high speeds.

“Even though we are in a 50ft boat, we almost always travel fast.

“Most ‘normal quality’ sounders simply don’t cut it at our sorts of speeds yet we were getting crystal clear, steady pictures of the bottom at 600 metres! – at 30 knots! That’s incredible!”

Perhaps just as amazing is that, when Freelance was trolling at a more sedate 8 knots, the DSM400 was delivering consistently high quality images from depths of over 1700 metres!

“When seriously fishing in the extreme depths of the tropics, you need top performing equipment to track the bottom. The DSM 400 does that and does it with superb definition and without grouping things together.”

On Freelane, the DSM400 sounder is matched to Raymarine’s top of the line G Series displays but, according to Cameron Burch, that’s no longer a requirement for great underwater viewing.

Burch, who is the Raymarine product manager at New Zealand distributor Lusty and Blundell, says that, thanks to a newly-available software upgrade, the incredible DSM400 will work just as well on either E Series or even C Series Widescreen displays.

“The DSM400 is now a perfect match for the popular, moderately priced, highly-featured C Series Widescreen displays.

“This is also great news for existing C Series Widescreen owners, for example those with 7 or 8 metre powerboats, who can now enjoy the same amazing digital fishfinding technology as those with far bigger and more expensive vessels.”