New products for boat exteriors

Wilks manufactures and stocks a wide range of aluminium, PVC and rubber boat fendering profiles. Recently added to its range are rigid PVC and stainless steel fendering profiles, woodgrain effect fendering profiles and a recycled PVC range.

As manufacturers and suppliers to the marine industry since 1973, Wilks has a wealth of experience and with inhouse toolmaking facilities can produce bespoke designs to suit trade requirements as well as colours to suit particular craft.

The company recently relaunched some of its standard range in recycled PVC. The process doesn't effect the appearance or performance of the profiles, but does significantly impact the amount of material previously deemed as waste.

Wilks also manufactures Dek-King, a UV stabilised PVC decking system that provides both an aesthetic and practical alternative to teak.

With Dek-King a separate or liquid caulking strip is not required as it's already co-extruded onto the 'planks'. The material can be supplied in profile form for self fitting, in mats formed from templates, or as a complete on-site deck fit.
Wilks

When it comes to leather for exterior upholstery, Boyriven supplier of interior and exterior upholstery and fitting out materials has been appointed as exclusive UK distributor of Xtreme Outdoor leather.

This material is produced by Boxmark Leather at its production facilities in Austria, using only the finest European bull hides.

As opposed to merely having a coating applied to make the surface waterproof, Xtreme Outdoor is different in that the hide is fully impregnated throughout, making it suitable for both interior and exterior marine applications.

This impregnating process also means that the material is waterproof, light-fast, mildew, salt water and flame resistant, and can cope with such things as oil, alcohol and sweat. Further, it's easy to clean, and resists abrasions and breaks - even at very low temperatures.

Xtreme Outdoor leather joins Boyriven’s range of marine upholstery and fitting out materials, which includes Alcantara ultra-microfibre, Sealskin & Denim lining out vinyls, Tradewind & Blueskies exterior upholstery PVC, Ecosued faux suede & Evolve faux leather.
Boyriven

Professional boat cleaning made easy is the Swobbit motto. Swobbit Europe has introduced a range of cleaning kits designed to provide professional results on any size of boat and are suitable for use by individuals on smaller craft or by crew on superyachts.

Swobbit's Watercraft Cleaning Kits include a range of the company's best-selling products, including the Perfect Pole, a telescopic handle made from anodised aluminium with a patented internal tracking system for quick and easy adjustments.

The pole is strong and adaptable and provides a ‘one pole fits all’ solution to connect to all Swobbit Uni-Snap quick release accessories, such as wash brushes, washing tools and drying mops.

The Watercraft Cleaning Kits are available in either standard or deluxe versions, depending on how comprehensive a cleaning system is required. Included in the deluxe Watercraft Cleaning Kit is a durable, lightweight carry and stow bag making it easier to transport and store the cleaning system on board.

The bag can also be personalised or branded with a boat manufacturer’s name, which is ideal for manufacturer’s looking to include a Swobbit Watercraft Cleaning Kit as part of a boat sale or for individuals wishing to personalise the bag with their yacht’s name.
Swobbit Europe - swobbit.eu

Kuranda is giving boat owners the chance to light up for less with a new 5W LED that can replace a 35-50W halogen light while using as little as a tenth of the power.

This low energy replacement light - with a choice of neutral, warm and cold white colours - goes easily into a standard MR16 or MR11 halogen fitting, and requires only 45mm behind the panel. The lights make good use of the latest LED technology - the components come from Phillips.

The most important thing, Brett McLellan of Kuranda points out, is that energy savings are so big it means an end to sail enthusiasts wondering if they have enough fuel left or power in their batteries to put the lights on - the drain on the batteries or generator is 'minimal'.

Or in other, real terms, 'Two hundred lights use about the same energy as it takes to boil a kettle'.

Mr McLellan adds: 'While we were talking to Sunseeker it became clear that the light energy savings on a single cruiser could be equivalent to the output of one of its onboard generators.'

However, boaters don't need much sophistication from their energy source: these lights will run on any DC output between 10 and 30V, so they don't have to worry about fluctuations or what their charging system is doing. And they won't blow.

The products also have inbuilt thermal protection, meaning that they automatically reduce the power should they become too hot. And all products come with a three year warranty.

A large percentage of the LED lights available from Kuranda can be IP67 so are ideal for external use. High power LED IP rated flood lights are also available.

The lights also have a lifetime of 60,000 hours, meaning 'even if you used the boat every day, they would still be lighting up your life long after you have stopped!' says Mr McLellan.
Kuranda

Altus Marine has appointed Marathon Leisure as its UK and Irish distributor to supply and distribute the Altus range of Vessel Radar Beacons and equipment to the UK leisure market.

The Vessel Radar Beacon can be vessel mounted or can be worn using the supplied lanyard for personal watercraft. Once switched on, the VRB transmits a clear directional signal to any X-Band Radars, so they are immediately making a visual contact to radars in the vicinity. That's a minimum of a 2.5 mile range at 2m above sea level, and .5 mile range at sea level.
Marathon Leisure

Paul Rutjes, who owns a Dutch company called Yacht Service Technology says he was hired to supervise a refit and to carry out various maintenance work on a yacht in Turkey.

After replacing many pumps and a few tanks, it turned out that after 10 years the existing teak-look cork deck was also due for replacement. The owner of the displacement yacht chose Esthec, a prefab product made up of composite material. Because of the daytime heat the deck had to be laid at night, which was no problem.

After it was finished, my first impression of this new product was positive: it looked beautiful, cool and just like teak. The deck even had footprints milled into it.

We had a barbecue that night, to celebrate that the yacht was ready. The following morning I discovered all these grease stains on the deck.

So we decided to clean the deck with hot water, Fairy liquid and a hard brush. When everything had dried up, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief: the deck looked spotless!

I was invited on a trial trip from Turkey to Sardinia. Already during the first night, a storm blew up. I was woken up at 03.00 with the announcement that the forecastle anchor bilge alarm had activated. As soon as I stepped onto the foredeck I was surprised to feel as steady as can be on the deck. It seemed as if the water on the deck was sucking down my feet, whereas with other wet decks, I always had to go back to put shoes on.

At the end of the next day, the sea was calm again and the weather fortunately remained sunny over the following days. I tested the deck thoroughly during that time and found out that it retains its non-slip properties in all conditions (also with shoes on). It does not get hot in the sun, when it dries it has a beautiful texture of seawater and salt crystals and the same appearance as a real teak deck. Darker in colour when it is wet and salty, lighter in colour after cleaning with fresh water.

As I spend a lot of time on luxury yachts, I started to think about the pros and cons of the Esthec deck. Do real teak decks still exist? No, of course not. A real teak deck consists of boards that are 12cm wide and 4cm thick. A far cry from a thin layer of teak on a polyester deck.

Most teak decks are in fact largely fake. After my first 100 hours on Esthec, I know that it is not a fake teak deck, but a new revolutionary deck with modern qualities that every boat owner wants.

The deck is superb, very beautiful and easy to clean to boot.
Esthec - esthec.nl

Flow Control (GB) Ltd has launched its new award winning fuel can to the marine industry. The Flo-Control Can is being marketed as the professional fuel can because of its many unique features.

The cans deliver fuel at the touch of a button, without spillage or overfilling, putting the pourer in control as well as reducing pollution. The can's unique patented dispensing method means that it can deliver five litres of fuel in just 15 seconds - or 350ml per second - or just trickle fuel into the tank when necessary.

And with the 'dead mans handle', if you drop the can or knock it over, no fuel will come out until you push the button.

The cans are five litres in capacity and come with an integral spout, so it won’t come off. And colour coded handle tells you what’s in the can.

The spout is also supplied with a dust and safety cap to stop cross contamination. The sunken filler hole means there is room for expansion.

As well as reducing spillage and over filling, the cans also substantially reduce emissions, cutting the user's carbon footprint, and helping to protect the environment.

The cans retail at £24.99, and for trade enquiries call Dawn on 01983 299094.
Flow Control (GB) Ltd - flocontrol.co.uk