Sunbeam shines in Europe
A model from the European-built Sunbeam range which will arrive in Australia shortly has been voted Europe's top yacht of the year by experts from 11 leading yachting magazines.
Winning features cited include deck/hull design, the brightness of the interior and positive sailing characteristics.
“Manfred and Gerhard Schochl have used their boatbuilding know-how to create a completely harmonious product with perfect form,” the judges said.
“In comparison to all other competitors the Sunbeam 34 was convincing above all in three areas: its clear-cut design, its functionality and the high-quality construction.”
Westhead Marine is importing Sunbeam Yachts to Australia and the first 34 will arrive in Sydney this month, priced from $298,000.
For more information contact Westhead Marine, ph (02) 9999 6518, email info@westhead.com.au
A dock you can blow up
A new inflatable dock has been launched by Walker Bay Boats.
The Airdock is portable, durable, stable and more versatile than a traditional dock, according to a spokesperson for Walker Bay.
“The AirDock is a new innovative inflatable dock that is designed using their proprietary AirWeb high-pressure construction, making it the most rigid and stable inflatable dock in the world.
“The AirDock is not only fun but is one of the most useful and versatile products for on-water living. The added benefit of being compact and portable makes it ideal for boaters, campers and cabin owners.”
Unlike a traditional wood dock, the AirDock is compact, stowable, and requires no maintenance other than simple cleaning. Weighing only 22kg, and measuring 90 x 50 x 32cm (deflated) in its own custom carry bag, it is easy to pack away and stow.
The AirDock retails for $1999.
For more information email bshore@walkerbay.com
Rigging that's OK
Navtec, the rigging division of Lewmar, has announced the first application of its fully continuous fibre rigging.
The 23m carbonfibre spar for the Andrews 50 It's OK was rigged with Navtec's newest PBO-fibre system.
“In comparison to discontinuous rigging where each span is linked by tip cups, pins or special links, Navtec Z-System Ultra is the only continuous fibre rigging system that offers a number of benefits with no increase in cost,” a spokesperson said.
“It allows all shrouds to pass over the spreader tips without termination. This means fewer parts ð gone are thimbles, end fittings and pins at the spreader tip. The result: 10 percent rigging weight reduction compared to traditional PBO rigging, 20 percent less windage at the spreader tips and faster installation and tuning.”
For more information contact Lewmar, ph (02) 9936 7111, email katie@lewmar.com.au or visit www.lewmar.com
New generation of inverters
Mastervolt has launched AC Master – a new generation of switch-mode sine-wave inverters for 200-350-watt power requirements.
Offering an industry-leading price/performance ratio to recreational and semi-professional users, the AC Master is equally at home in the marine, mobile and solar power markets.
Benefits include a compact and lightweight size, silent operation, pure sine-wave output and impressive 200-percent surge power.
“While the use of standard 230AC appliances continues to grow rapidly, this trend has not been matched by the availability of affordable sine-wave inverters that offer a genuinely smooth operation,” a spokesperson said.
“The new AC Master models are Mastervolt's response. The application of advanced switch-mode technology offers significant savings in weight. Distortion of the pure sine-wave is virtually negligible, resulting in an extremely smooth sine-wave output voltage.”
RRP prices start from $418 with a two-year warranty.
For more information contact Power Protection Solutions on ph (07) 32837800, email office@powersolutions.com.au or visit website www.mastervolt.com.au
Barlow has the ropes
Barlow Distributors has been appointed as distributor for leading UK rope manufacturer Marlow.
Barlow, already the Australian distributors for Lewmar and Navtec Norseman Gibb, has a long and successful history in the marine trade in Australia and is headed by ocean-racing yachtsman Peter Shipway, who recently completed his 30th Sydney-Hobart on line-honours winner Wild Oats.
For more information contact Barlow on ph (02) 9318 2128 or email barlow@hotkey.net.au
Out of the frying pan
Following sizzling hot sales in NZ and Europe, the Boaties Fry Pan has now sailed into Aussie waters.
Conceived by a yacht builder, ocean racer and long-distance sailor with thousands of sea miles under his keel, this rectangular frying pan gives maximum cooking area for minimum stove area.
It measures 25cm x 20cm with deep 4.5cm vertical sides, creating a pan with a cooking area greater than a 25.5cm round pan that still leaves room to put the kettle on.
Made of heavy-gauge aluminium with a stainless-steel induction base, giving good heat transfer and even cooking temperature right into the corners, the pan's ovenproof handle fits over most retaining rails and is especially compact to minimise the overhang from the stove.
The pan retails for $38.
For more information visit www.boatiesfrypan.com or email bulau@bigpond.net.au
New from Panasonic
Panasonic has created two new secure digital memory-card camcorders – the waterproof, dust-proof and shockproof SDR-SW20 (Product manager Tanya Mudge said the capacity and compact size of today's SD Card technology had opened up a new world of small, lightweight and robust camcorders.
“The SDR-SW20 is for the active adventurer. Its waterproof, shockproof and sandproof features stand up to the rigors of the outdoor environment.
“If you want to share your creativity on the go, the tiny SDR-S7 is ideal for capturing high-quality video clips that can be easily converted to smaller files to post on the web or email to your friends.”
The SDR-SW20 retails for $769 and the SDR-S7 $549.
Panasonic has also introduced the new FS series of slim compact cameras ð designed to make it simple to take outstanding photos.
The 10.1 megapixel DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5 feature Intelligent Auto, which makes all the complex decisions for the user so they don't have to change settings every time shooting conditions change.
The cameras both offer large, easy-to-view LCD screens and an easy-zoom button that shifts to full 4x zoom instantly.
The DMC-FS20 retails from $549 and the DMC-FS5 $499.
For more information contact Panasonic on ph 132 600 or visit www.panasonic.com.au
Delphia tops the lot
US magazine Cruising World has voted the Delphia 33 yacht their Import Boat of the Year for 2008.
“When it came time to choose the 2008 Import Boat of the Year, what drew the judges' attention were the smaller sailboats, boats that are relatively affordable, can get a family out onto the water and are fun to sail,” the magazine said.
“It was the Delphia 33 that best fit the bill on all accounts.”
Bob Vinks from Delphia Yachts Australia said since the launch of the Delphia 33 in March of 2007 he had sold several to very satisfied customers.
“We anticipate this model to be very popular in Australia for many years to come,” he said.
The Delphia 33 starts from $199,000. Demonstration yachts are available for test sails and immediate delivery.
For more information contact Bob Vinks from Delphia Yachts Australia on ph (02) 9969 2144 or visit www.delphiayachts.com.au
