I think the approach Zodiac just tried makes a lot of sense for a variety of traditionally marine businesses. The press release below came in today from Soundings, Trade Only, but I'd be interested to hear from non-trade boaters about how they feel on this topic. Would you like to see some marine equipment vendors at RV events and shows? Send an email my way and let me know on this:

"Zodiac Boats of North America, a subsidiary of Zodiac ZMP, recently showcased its product at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association trade show to gain exposure among RV owners.

"The demographics of an RV owner and a boat owner are parallel," said Todd Harris, Zodiac of North America's West Coast regional sales manager, in a statement. "They are both outdoor-oriented, adventurous and rank spending time with their families as a high priority. With the ability to have a Zodiac in the camper or motor home, the owner's excursion no longer has to stop where the paved trail ends."

"After learning more about Zodiac and the numerous possibilities for the RV industry's participants, several RV dealers have expressed tremendous interest in expanding their parts/accessory sales by offering Zodiac products," he added.

I can see this approach working for a number of traditionally marine only companies. Let me know your thoughts. 

Just in today. One of my site sponsors and favorite companies, Mastervolt in Holland, has agreed to be acquired by a US based company, Actuant Corporation. Actuant is a company that over the last few years has acquired other marine electrical companies such as Marinco, Ancor, and BEP to name several. The selling price is $150 million dollars. I can only hope for the best for all of my friends at Mastervolt.

Actuant has done quite a job of gathering under one corporate umbrella some of the best known and respected marine brands from around the globe. My hope here?  That the service level for customers stays at a high level and the inovative products keep on coming.

 I always worry when companies get too big and I start seeing a disconnect with customers. I'll be watching this industry move quite closely and I promise to keep you posted. This is really breaking news in my world.

A report came in the other day from the Connecticut Marine Trades Associatiion that should be a warning to all of us. This report was originally published in the Soundings Trade Only edition but I think its a good idea to pass this important heads up on to all boaters.

"In a sign of the struggling economy, the Connecticut Marine Trades Association reports that waterfront theft continues to be a problem for businesses and boat owners.

"Vessel power cords were the easy touch while the boats were in the water, and now different items are being taken," association president Grant W. Westerson said in a statement. "The scrap value seems to be the motivation."

A Norwich marina reported that more than 20 of its 200-pound cast-iron mushroom moorings were taken in August. More recently, 21 150-pound mushroom moorings were stolen from the marina.

A Rhode Island marina owner said metal parts were removed from a customer's pumpout system.

The CMTA suggests that businesses consider a video surveillance system."

Next week I'll be attending two of my favorite annual events. This year they will be held at a new venue, the Louisville, Kentucky Convention Center.

Many of my readers have probably never heard of the IBEX show. It is actually one of, if not the the biggest boat builder shows in the world. For boaters, this is a tough thing to grasp. There are no boats at this show, just boat parts. It's a vendor show and educational venue. This is where boat insiders gather to learn about the newest and coolest new products available to put boats together with. On the educational side, this is where we learn how to do it better. I've been one of the speakers at IBEX for years now, can't remember how many.... but I always contribute something either in the electrical, corrosion analysis or electronic installation end of things.

The other event I'll be a part of at IBEX is totally on the educational side of things.  MITEC, is the Marine Industry Training and Education Council and I am their professional development commitee chairperson. We have our annual gathering in conjunction with the IBEX event and discuss issues related to workforce development and such so that your boats will get built properly and serviced without a hitch.

Suffice to say its going to be a busy week for me. But the good news is that I'll be back with a lot of new inside info on products you can use on your boat. As for the MITEC side of things, I encourage you to check out our web site to see what we are about and check out the resources we provide if you or someone you know is looking to break in to the marine industry. One of our resources is a list of training providers here in North America as an example. We also have a skills analysis tool to give you an idea of things you need to know and be able to do to get a job. You can get to the MITEC website via this like: www.boatingcareerinfo.org

So, my posts next week might just be a bit sporadic as we really get caught up in meetings presentations and more meetings but you can surely look forward to hearing about the latest and greatest when I get back. 

I found out this morning that an old friend had passed away. Chuck Husick was an engineer, prolific writer, consumer advocate, boater, pilot, business leader, mentor, and in his later years, at least to me, the Andy Rooney of the boating industry. Yes, Chuck would be considered by some as somewhat of a crank because on the surface he could be described as a bit of a curmudgeon. I loved that trait because what I saw in Chuck was a very wise fellow who had lived through many valuable experiences and in his own way shared them with us all.

I first met Chuck at a journalist's gathering in England 15 or so years ago. We were all at the Raytheon plant and were being introduced to a new radar that Raytheon was bringing out. I can remember Chuck asking some questions that clearly told me this guy knew a few things about radar. These weren't typical journalist questions, but a tech guy's questions. As a tech guy, suffice to say I was impressed.

Over the years Chuck and I would run into each other at various boat shows and industry gatherings and I always got a chance to get his take on the latest technology shifts, good and bad in his view. I'd write a technical article and sometimes get an email from him telling me how I might have explained whatever it was I was trying to explain better. At first I though that he hated me, but soon figured out that it was just his way of trying to help me do a better job.

In recent years if Chuck had a gripe about ABYC Standards, or something he thought needed addressing or changing he'd contact me for my opinion and if we agreed, I'd get on the case for him.

I enjoyed Chuck's company and had a high degree of respect for his position on things. I'm going to miss Chuck Husick.