But the sun is shining on John Buck, ex-CEO of SS-L, who is now sales and marketing director for D S Maritime.

The British-owned company, run by David Skellon, is the French distributor for Ferretti and Pershing and co-distributor for Riva with offices in Port Camille Rayon, Golfe Juan.

The industry seems to have settled down and many product lines have, themselves, been distributed around the remaining companies.

With apologies to those companies we have not been able to cover, here's what we found when we asked some distributors how they have fared.

ASAP Supplies Company founder Peter Edwards said ASAP had added a few new lines in 2002, including Perko marine hardware; Centek GRP exhaust systems;

Mycelx environmental marine products;

Deepsea Seals propeller shaft seals and Morse controls and cables.

Edwards told BB : "We are now dealing direct with several manufacturers and have developed the market for products which we had previously purchased through Sowester."

We understand some manufactures are reviewing the way their products are distributed within the UK marine market, he added.

Some products have done well, others have not done as well as they did.

"We believe there are still a number of changes to come, " he said. "We will wait and see."

ASAP Supplies. Tel: 01502 716993. Fax: 01502 711680. Email: info@asap-supplies.com Web: www.asap-supplies.com Aquafax "2002 has been a very good year but with the demise of Sowester it was to be expected although we were very selective in the new lines we took on, " financial director Andrew Mason told us.

In particular, he added, we have done well with the new electrical section containing Blue Sea Products , tinned cable and Studer top of the range inverters and the BCS range of bow thrusters has proven successful.

Mason says next year the increase may not be a great, but Aquafax is confident that with new electric controls and compasses from Ultraflex itwill take part of that market.

"We now have depots in Hamble, Nantwich and Wroxham, " he told us.

Aquafax. Tel: 01582 568700.

Fax: 01582 568720. E-mail:

sales@aquafax.co.uk Web:

www.aquafax.co.uk Aqua-Marine Following the demise of SS-L, Aqua-Marine made the decision to take on product lines that complemented its existing ranges, said sales manager, Alan McMurtry.

"We were conscious of the fact that we could have outstretched ourselves with so much on offer and concentrated in areas where we have particular strengths, such as steering and controls, " he told BB ."With this in mind, we were appointed as the main Morse distributor and are now the largest steering and controls specialist in the UK."

Other product lines picked up include the award winning Aquapac range of waterproof cases and the RYA-approved Clayton first aid kits.

"Walk into any chandlery now and you will still see Sowester branded packaged products, but despite the amount of cheap SS-L stock which flooded the market, business has been good this year, " said McMurtry. "Sales, including underlying sales and not taking into account the new product lines, are very healthy and I think this will only improve next year as the industry finally settles into the post-SS-L world."

Aqua-Marine. Tel: 023 8069 4949. Fax: 023 8060 1381. Email: sales@aqua-marine.co.uk Web: www.aqua-marine.co.uk Cleghorn Waring Jabsco specialists for 49 years, Cleghorn Waring is the sole UK distributor for Jabsco and Rule products, including pumps for engine cooling, bilge, deckwash, fuel and oil transfer, and sink, shower and toilet waste.

The Jabsco and Rule ranges extend to toilets, blowers, lights, compasses and boat care products.

Cleghorn Waring's complete pressurised water systems include Jabsco pumps, C-Warm and Seaward water storage heaters and the Hep20 push-fit plastic pipework system. The company has also recently acquired distribution for LVMAerogen wind generators, solar panels, pumps and inflators.

"By specialising in the products of only a few manufacturers, we avoid ranges that compete with one another, " said Cleghorn Waring director, Bill Cleghorn.

Our customers receive prompt and efficient service from knowledgeable staff, backed up by a commitment to stock which covers the entire Jabsco marine product range, and the spare parts to go with them, he added.

Cleghorn Waring. Tel: 01462 480380. Fax: 01462 482422.

E-mail: mail@cleghorn.co.uk Web: www.Cleghorn.co.uk C-Quip Sales director Ian Cooke says C-Quip aims to offer an increased range of related products from a single source in 2003.

"Our reputation is orientated around stainless steel and marine hardware at which we are very successful, " he said.

"For this reason we are determined to increase our range of products with related equipment only."

The company will also offer certain product ranges to its retail customers that, whilst some ranges may be limited, are all "necessity stock items", says Cooke.

"In this way we hope to give everyone the opportunity to raise their order value with very saleable items to a point where they can benefit from free delivery and increased discounts, " he said.

Among the new products for 2003, C-Quip has added a dedicated marine security section to its catalogue. The section will include Abus high quality range of padlocks, hasps, eye cables and chain.

Stazo products - Smartlock . an outboard motor lock for all engines with screw clamps;

Nutlock - an easy to fit nut locking device for all larger engines;

Bracket Lock -another permanent nut lock available as M8 & M22;

Cabin Lock - an effective solution to locking wash boards on sail boats and Hitch Lock - trailer locks that can be locked on and off a tow bar.

The company has also added interior/exterior teak products from ARC , such as bottle racks and glass holders.

Other new lines include a range of popular anodes ; awide range of electrical fittings and connecters manufactured by Ancor , branded boat care products such as Hammerite paints and the JB Weld range of chemical welding solutions.

The company has also added extinguishers from Anaf .

C-Quip. Tel: 01489 577257.

Fax: 01489 574488. E-mail:

info@cquip.com Euromarine "I would say that we have had an incredibly busy and successful year, " Margaret Campbell told us. "Our customer base has increased steadily and we have maintained our reputation for being able to deliver within a few working days 99% of the 10,000 products we offer for sale."

The company's product list runs to 10,000 products from anchors and winches, through wire ropes and terminals to electronics, paint and Pfeiffer sailing accessories.

"We are adding around 200 products across all sections of our catalogue in addition to our current range, including anchors, chain grippers, ropes, shackles, carbine hooks, knives, torches, lights, cables, switches, pumps, thru-hull fittings, connectors, filters, clips, hatches, horns, safety products, instruments, radios, fenders, handles, hinges, cleats, fairleads, etc, " said Campbell.

Euromarine. Tel: 01472 276649.

Fax: 01472 276697. E-mail:

euromarine.uk@lineone.net International Marine Products IMP is a distributor to the marine and coachbuilding industries and managing director Roger Ralston told BB : "I am pleased to report that sales in the UK of IMP products have been strong over the last year with brands such as Cantalupi, Gebo, Oceanair and Profurl seeing increased growth. Consumer confidence has been high and coupled with low interest rates has created good market conditions."

IMP is the exclusive distributor for Cantalupi Lighting - Italian lighting;

Gebo hatches/portlights and specialist glazing; Eumenia compact washing machines for marine applications;

Oceanair blinds for boats;

Profurl performance reefing - furling systems;

Resolux fluorescent lights and Zwaardvis seat and table supports.

IMP. Tel: 01763 241300.

Fax: 01763 241770. Email:

sales@improducts.co.uk Web:

www.improducts.co.uk Index Marine "Following last year's September 11 disaster I was expecting a slowdown in sales, " said Index Marine's Tim Goodman, "however I am pleased to say that, at Index Marine Equipment, so far this financial year we are 20% up on last year with a good order book and strong sales both at home and abroad."

I am therefore more confident about the future than I was this time last year, he said.

In 2002, the company added galvanic isolators, high amperage relays, LED bulbs and holders, single and double pole battery switches, T-Box connectors, DIN plugs and sockets .

Index Marine Tel: Tel: 01202 430149. Fax: 01202 430150. Email: sales@indexmarine.co.uk Web: www.indexmarine.co.uk Keyto A new company on the scene in the past year is Keyto, pronounced 'key to'.

Set up by two former SS-L employees, Kevin Bartlett and Toby Hague, Keyto specialises in technical products.

"With factory trained technical personnel always on hand to answer questions, we aim to turn wholesaling into an information and support business, " Hague told BB .The company offers Anode Allie , which extends the life of anodes. It's fit and forget technology and can pay for itself in a season.

City Mantias is a range of electrically assisted folding bicycles. Low weight, aluminium construction and easy operation, says Keyto.

Diesel Heating ; air and water heating, industry leading heaters with Keyto's unique, simple and easy to specify, and install, ducting and plumbing components.

Priority Start ; automatic battery isolators that stop batteries going flat by accident, so the owner always has enough power to start the engine.

Mycelx ; removes all oils from water, including bilge filtration, emergency spill kits and oil booms.

As we closed for press, Keyto added Ultra Fin SST and FXHydrofoils ; industry leading hydrofoils for 5hp outboards and upwards. Colours to suit all major brands.

Keto Ltd. Tel: 01202 715171.

Fax: 01202 715172. E-mail:

info@ketogroup.com Mark Dowland Marine "We have seen tremendous growth this year with a 100% increase in our turnover, " said Mark Dowland.

"By investing in the business at the beginning of the season we quickly overcame the initial stock difficulties and introduction of new brands, he said. With the continued support of our old and new customers we have successfully added over 30 key brands to our portfolio in 2002."

The new brands include 3M -boat maintenance;

Adlard Coles Nautical - books;

Altitude clocks, barometers and instruments;

Anchor Marine - fenders, buoys;

Ancor - electrical components and accessories;

Aqua Signal -lights and lanterns;

Boxit -floating mobile phone cases;

Bulgin - Buccaneer connectors;

Burgess Woodcare - chemical and treatments;

Chemitechnics/ Tetrosyl - lubricants;

Coolmatic - refrigeration boxes and units;

Davis - marine accessories;

Deks Olje - wood treatments;

ETA - circuit breakers;

Firdell -radar reflectors;

Geonav - GPS;

Guardian - fire extinguishers;

Index Marine - electrical accessories;

International Paints; Magellan - GPS;

Marlow - rope;

MG Duff -anodes;

Mobitronic - inverters and chargers;

NASA - marine instruments;

Quicksilver - oils;

RWO - rigging equipment;

Sailmar - ovens and stoves;

Sony - waterproof speakers and remote controls;

Soundlinx -waterproof speakers and radio covers;

Squire - locks;

Timberland - luggage;

Tropicool - portable coolboxes;

Vanguard - fire extinguishers;

Vion -marine clocks, barometers and instruments;

Vtronix - aerials;

Waeco - refrigeration;

West System - resin and Whale -pumps, taps and water fittings Of the year ahead, Dowland told us: "We anticipate sales to remain buoyant through 2003, with further growth by doing what we do better, and by adding to our range of complementary brands."

We will continue to drive ecommerce trading in the marine sector and encourage more customers to experience the ease of trading with us, he said. "Our aim is to make Mark Dowland Marine the customer's first choice."

MDM. Tel: 01929 551138.

Fax: 01929 551104. E-mail:

mdm@unipart.co.uk Marathon Leisure Marathon says it grew by 55% last year and is predicting a growth of 33% for this year.

Much of this growth came before the collapse of Sowester Simpson-Lawrence as key product lines, such as Whale, Spinlock and Isotherm, were being distributed by Marathon while SS-L was still in business.

"After investing in new 10,000 sq ft warehouse facilities and taking a pro-active approach to marketing, many manufacturers saw us as a viable alternative to the established players, " says Marathon founder Tim Millinder.

During the fall out from SS-L, the company was careful about what new product lines it took on. "It is important for us to add value to any new product line, where possible we look at products which complement our existing portfolio, " said Millinder.

Some of the new lines include, Treadmaster, English Braids, Eberspacher, Fernhurst and Imray .The company is compiling a new colour catalogue, due for publication in January.

"This 250 page catalogue will demonstrate our commitment and pro-active approach to our customers and suppliers", says sales director Richard Duckworth.

"I believe that next year will see some slow down of the market, " Millinder told BB . "At OEM level, the effect of the American market will see fewer boats built in the UK. However, because of strategic decisions we have taken this year I confidently predict that Marathon will continue to grow at around 30%."

Marathon Leisure. Tel: 02392 637711. Fax: 02392 637722. Email: sales@marathonleisure.co.uk Marine Components International "2002 has been an interesting and challenging year for Marine Components International Ltd, " said general manager David Cain, "compounded by the disappearance of Sowester Simpson-Lawrence, who had been our distributor for Bennett Marine Trim Tabs formany years."

Cain says the SS-L problems have made for a difficult year for many companies in the marine industry, but also provided opportunities for companies to take advantage of in distribution.

Marine Components International Ltd is the European importer for Bennett Marine, which is the company's main business.

We support their European operation by acting as a central distribution point for their European distributors, said Cain, as well as running the UK sales and distribution of their product.

"Following the demise of Sowester, we have established a chain of regional stockists around the UK, who hold a stock of parts and tab sets, " he said. "This has proved very successful, though we still need stockists for the North of England and for Scotland - please call if you are interested!"

Marine Components International is also UK agent for Maxwell winches and windlasses.

"We are now entering the next phase of our development, moving into new larger premises at the beginning of December (see our advert for new address and phone numbers! ). We have also established a website this year (www.marinecomponents.co.uk), offering advice and information about our product range.

"We feel we have had a difficult, but exciting, year and look forward to expanding our business in 2003, " said Cain.

Marine Components Inter - national. Tel: 01202 624244.

Fax: 01202 624255. E-mail:

sales@marinecomponents Web:

www.marinecomponents.co.uk Marine & Industrial The Norwich-based company distributes Treadmaster, Bilgex, Seajet, Deks Olje, ITW Plexus, WEST System, Sika and others. In 2002 the company added Regatta ropes and offers a top quality range of polyester, Dyneema, Vectran and combination ropes at competitive prices.

Marine & Industrial. Tel:

01692 538263. Fax: 01692 538692. E-mail: sales@marineconsumables.co.uk Ocean Safety "This year has seen a marked increase in our sales activity within the leisure market not only from the demise of Sowester Simpson-Lawrence but also from the appointment of SailForce as our leisure market representatives, " said managing director Charlie Mill.

"We have now positioned ourselves into being able to supply the complete range of safety equipment if it be for the discerning or the compliant yachtsman and are looking forward to a marked increase in 2003."

Mill went on to say the company had added a few new lines in the past year, including:

Ocean Standard Liferaft - anon-compliant liferaft that allows the inshore yachtsmen the opportunity of purchasing a very cost effective solution.

Le Tap Light - an emergency light stick range of products currently accepted as a Dame Award nominee product.

Parachute anchors - a range of heavy weather parachute anchors for the long distance yachtsman.

Ocean buoyancy aid - acomprehensive range of high quality buoyancy aids at affordable prices; sizes from toddler to XL.

Ocean Safety. Tel: 023 8072 0800. Fax: 023 8072 0801. Email: mail@oceansafety.com Web: www.oceansafety.com Plastimo Plastimo is keen to emphasis the company is not a classic wholesaler in the mould of Mark Dowland or the old Sowester.

"We are heavily focussed on our proprietary products, over 60 % of which we manufacture in France, " said Paul Callus, managing director of Plastimo UK.

All companies acquired by Plastimo in the last three years have had a strong manufacturing base, he added.

XM Yachting , which still maintains its own autonomous operation in Sussex, has a long history of manufacturing and the company's own-made products represent a major element of its business.

GOIOT , the group's most recent acquisition, is well known for its industrial expertise in cast aluminium and stainless steel, manufacturing high quality hatches, toerails, headsail reefing and windlasses.

Bow thruster manufacturer, Max Power , joined the Plastimo Group in 2001, giving the Plastimo sales organisation, in conjunction with the established Max Power international distributors, a strong channel to market for an "own made" product range.

Following the collapse of SSL, Callus says the UK philosophy was to carefully select new suppliers whose products would complement its existing range.

As the exclusive UK distributor for Pains Wessex pyrotechnics, Plastimo says it uses their range to complement its own safety products, such as life rafts and life jackets. "And, as the main distributor for McMurdo electronics, it made good business sense for us take on the VTronix range of VHF aerials, " said Callus.

The only major new line Plastimo UK launched last season was International Paint , which some industry observers found to be an interesting decision for Plastimo, which has spent the last five years building sales of its own manufactured range of antifouling paint.

Callus explained: "We cannot escape the reality that the International Coatings range is perceived as a premium brand range, and we see no conflict between these two areas of our business."

In fact the increased profile we have gained from having taken on International Paint has enabled us to actually increase sales of Plastimo paint, he said.

"As quoted in the November issue of Boating Business , Plastimo UK still maintains an optimistic outlook for the coming season, " he concluded.

"Even though we are in the quieter period of the year, we have seen a strong start to the season and our projections for the spring of 2003 are already significantly ahead of last year" said Callus.

Plastimo. Tel: 023 8026 2211.

Fax: 023 8026 6328. E-mail:

sales@plastimo.co.uk Pro-Boat The Burnham-based stainless rigging hardware specialists had a good year, says Richard Bavin, and we added Fortress Anchors , which was a SS-L line.

"It's been a good year and we forsee a slightly better year again next year. We are picking up a lot of business from other people on what we are good at - stainless steel rigging hardware, " he told us.

Pro-Boat. Tel: 01621 785455.

Fax: 01621 785467. E-mail:

sales@proboat.co.uk Web:

wwwproboat.co.uk SMG The Plymouth-based electronics specialists already have Garmin, Raymarine and Icom - all of which will launch new products at London, says SMG marketing and business development manager, Kevin Turner.

New brands added in the past year include McMurdo, ICS, Airmar - OEM transducers, Orion - flatvision TV, NASA and Echomax radar reflectors.

Turner told BB the company had seen another very significant increase in turnover in this financial year. "In the last three years we've doubled turnover, " he told us.

We 're always looking to consolidate on our growth by brining in other products, he added, and we will continue to look for good growth.

SMG. Tel: 01752 241010.

Fax: 01752 241040. E-mail:

sales@smgeurope.com Victory Marine Fittings The Swanwick-based rigging equipment supplier handles Tuff Luff, Surecheck tension meters, PolyRopes, Loos gauges, Hood furling systems, HMC wire, Hasselfors and Goliath winches.

This year the company bought the name and rights to the Mastwalker folding mast rung, which it is now manufacturing in England.

Victory Marine Fittings. Tel:

10489 570797. Fax: 01489 574488. E-mail: info@victorymarine.com