Boats, marine and boating trends

Honda Display Overview

TOKYO, Japan, February 26, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will display its full lineup of 4-stroke marine outboard engines at the Japan International Boat Show 2008 in Yokohama (Thursday, March 6 ~ Sunday, March 9, 2008 at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan). At this, largest marine exhibition in Japan, Honda will unveil two new mid-sized marine outboard engines that combine outstanding performance with superior fuel economy.

The theme of the Honda exhibit will be “combining boating pleasure with superior fuel economy”. In addition to featuring a lineup of 18 Honda 4-stroke marine outboard engines, from the smallest (2HP) to the largest (225HP), the display will convey the evolution of Honda’s marine outboard performance, backed up by the development history and technologies of the environmentally responsible 4-stroke engine, while presenting a diversity of boating styles featuring Honda marine outboard engines. There will also be an exhibit introducing Honda’s efforts to preserve the global environment through ongoing beach cleaning activities, featuring Honda’s own original towable beach cleaner.

Source:Honda Marine

Exhibition Overview:

The Japan International Boat Show is Japan’s largest marine exhibition, with some 200 corporations and groups participating from Japan and around the world. The exhibition, which includes both indoor displays (inside Pacifico Yokohama) and an adjoining, specially constructed, floating exhibition facility, will present event-goers with a diverse array of marine leisure products and information, including exhibits of everything from marine outboards and other marine products to large boats and yachts.

Venue: Pacifico Yokohama (exhibition halls A, B, C, D); specially constructed pier in the Pacifico Yokohama district

Duration: 4 days, from March 6~9, 2008 (Thursday ~ Sunday)
Open 10:00~18:00
*On March 6, the event will open to the public at 12:00 following an opening ceremony at 11:45

Organizer: Japan Boating Industry Association (JBIA)
Admission: Adult (high school student or older): ¥1,000 (incl. tax) at the door
Children (junior high school and younger) are admitted free

Source: JBIA

Portsmouth, England, 18 February, 2008 -- Norway's Knut Frostad (40) has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race. Frostad, who has taken part in the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race four times, twice as skipper and manager of his own projects, will take up his position at race head quarters in Whiteley, UK, on 3 March.

With background in business management and administration, Frostad has also been a board member and industrial advisor to leading companies as well as a sought after business speaker in Europe.

Gerry Keaney, chairman of the board of Volvo Event Management and Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation, said:

"We are proud to welcome a man of Knut's calibre to our team and look forward to working with him during the build up of the race and throughout the race itself. His sporting and business prowess marks him out as an excellent choice and we are very pleased that Knut has taken up the position of CEO. He is a top sailor and we welcome him onboard."

Knut Frostad said that the Whitbread/Volvo has been a big part of his life for 15 years and that this would be a dream job.    » read more »

Mercury, PCM, Yamaha and Volvo Penta Rank Highest in Marine Engine Customer Satisfaction

MIAMI: 14 February 2008 — Mercury, PCM, Yamaha and Volvo Penta each rank highest among marine engine manufacturers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Marine Engine Competitive Information StudySM released today at the Miami International Boat Show.

Now in its seventh year, the study measures overall customer satisfaction with four marine engine types: EFI inboard; four-stroke EFI outboard; two-stroke DI outboard; and EFI sterndrive. Overall customer satisfaction index scores are based on performance across seven factors: starting ease; quietness at cruise; reliability; fuel economy; shifting smoothness; lack of exhaust fumes; and ability of boat to accelerate rapidly. The study also examines engine quality, where scores are measured as problems per 100 (PP100) engines and a lower score reflects higher quality.

Outboard DI two-stroke segment
Mercury leads in the outboard DI two-stroke segment for a third consecutive year, with slight improvements in engine quality since the 2007 study. Evinrude closely follows Mercury in the segment.    » read more »

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Despite Quality Improvements Across the Industry, Overall Boat Owner Satisfaction Remains Unchanged

MIAMI, 14 February 2008 — Bass Cat, Cobalt, Correct Craft, Grady-White, Manitou, MasterCraft and Regal each rank highest in new-boat owner satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Boat Competitive Information StudySM released today at the Miami International Boat Show.

Now in its seventh year, the study examines the sales, service and product experience of new-boat owners. Owner satisfaction with new boats is measured in seven segments: ski/wakeboard; fiberglass bass boats; small runabouts (16 to 19 feet); large runabouts (20 to 29 feet); coastal fishing (17 to 30 feet); pontoons; and express cruisers (24 to 33 feet). Overall customer satisfaction index scores are based on performance in eight factors: cabin; engine; ride and handling; helm and instrument panel; design and styling; sound system; water sports; and fishing.1

Bass boat segment    » read more »