Technology
Consumers are demanding increasing sophistication from the boats they buy, reflecting the conveniences and advances they have come to expect in modern automobiles. Marine technology companies are responding, developing smarter and more sophisticated electronics, cleaner, quieter and more powerful engines, and pod drives and joystick systems.
Suzuki Marine Adds 11 Staff
The hires were made across several departments to help meet outboard demand and support boatbuilders, dealers and customers.
Torqeedo Opens Headquarters, Production Facilities
The 89,340-square-foot facility, situated near Munich, Germany, will house all company-related activities, including research and development and production.
Mercury Unwraps V10 Verado Outboards
The 350- and 400-hp outboards weigh 695 pounds, use a 5.7-liter powerhead and are 45% quieter than a comparable outboard.
Suzuki Outboards Power World Record
A towboat with triple Suzuki DF350 outboards towed 48 individuals to a record for the most trio waterskiers pulled behind a single boat.
Yamaha Adds 10 Technical Schools
The new schools, added in the last 12 months, bring Yamaha Marine’s nationwide count of training locations to 117.
ZF Debuts Pod Drive System
The new 4600 POD is designed for boats from 80 to 130 feet in double or triple configurations.
Twin Disc Reports Q1 Results
Net sales of $55.9 million were a 17.1% increase year-over-year, driven by improving demand in its global markets.
Garmin Q3 Revenues Down Slightly
Consolidated revenue was down 4 percent for the quarter, and marine segment revenue was down 5 percent.
Dometic Reports Third Quarter Results
Net sales of $692.4 million were a 37 percent increase, and operating profit was at a 14 percent margin.
Yamaha Names Contest Chairs
Kerry Schroder and Ron Lubic will serve as the Florida technical and co-technical contest chairs for the SkillsUSA Marine Service Technology competition.
Torqeedo Announces New Leadership
Fabian Bez assumes the CEO role while Heiko Veitmeier comes on board as CFO.
Yanmar Announces Sales, Marketing Hires
The company has hired Bas Eerden as global sales manager and Michele Durkin as global marketing manager.
Twin Disc Sells Belgium Facility
The transmission manufacturer is still using the facility in a leaseback transaction as it looks to reduce costs.
Propeller Precision
Yamaha’s new $20 million foundry leverages innovative technologies and processes to produce 100,000 propellers each year.
BRP’s Marine Revenue Up, Volumes Down
The Canadian company said its second-quarter marine sales fell in North America as a result of supply-chain disruptions, but price increases boosted revenue.
ZF Marine Hires Product Line Head
George Lewis comes to the propulsion system manufacturer with engineering and sales experience at Humphree and Sea Ray.
Yanmar Opens Health Clinic
The Yanmar Wellness Center is located at the company’s Adairsville, Ga., headquarters and will provide free healthcare for employees and their families.
Vetus Business Units Add Staff
Affiliates of Yanmar Marine’s Vetus businesses have announced three sales and engineering appointments.
Twin Disc Announces Q4 Results
The company reported a 14.8 percent increase in year-over-year sales and that gross margin increased 410 basis points to 31.8 percent.
Crest Launches Electric Pontoon for 2023
The 20-foot, zero-emissions Current is powered by ePropulsion equipment.
Yamaha Creates Project Management Office
The marine business unit said planning supervisor Megan Bennett has been appointed manager of the department.
Yamaha Expands Technical Training
The company signed an agreement with the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium to bolster training in the state’s remote regions.
Yamaha Posts Higher Sales, Profit
The company’s first half 2022 net sales increased to $1.93 billion, and segment income rose to $330 million.
BRP Launches Multiple New Products
The company debuted Rotax outboards, new Manitou and Alumacraft models and an electric hydrofoil board.