BOATUS OFFERS SOLUTION FOR EPA FUEL TANK PROBLEMS
JULY 1, 2015
Owners of outboard boats have lived with portable fuel tanks for years, but recent efforts to stop gas fumes from escaping by eliminating the two-way vent is causing new concerns.
Without a vent — typically a small screw-type fixture on the tank’s cap or top — a portable tank can swell in the sun, with the internal pressure forcing gas into the outboard, where it can spew into the cowling and dribble out, according to BoatUS.
“These new EPA-compliant portable tanks and jerry jugs have special fittings that greatly reduce evaporative emissions from gasoline,” BoatUS magazine executive editor Mike Vatalaro said. “But where traditional tanks simply vent to the atmosphere, the new tanks won’t vent until the internal pressure reaches 5 psi. In the meantime, fuel could be forced up the fuel line into the outboard, many of which have no means to hold it back.
BoatUS is recommending owners install a fuel-demand valve in the fuel line that will prevent gas from reaching the engine unless it’s called for.
“Leaving the tank disconnected just results in the same gush of gas once you do hook it up, either from the tank end or through the engine,” said Vatalaro. “Installing an inexpensive fuel-demand valve in the fuel line will prevent any gas from reaching the motor unless the motor calls for itBoatUS partnered with the American Boat and Yacht Council for a how-to video which is available on YouTube by BoatUS.
CARLYLE GROUP ACQUIRES LAUDERDALE MARINE CENTER
POSTED ON JULY 6, 2015
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group said it acquired the Lauderdale Marine Center, the nation’s largest yacht repair facility in terms of the number of large vessels it can haul and service. Equity for the transaction comes from Carlyle Realty Partners VII, a U.S. real estate investment fund.
“In partnership with the outstanding management team and staff at LMC, we will build upon LMC’s success through growth and continued innovation and superb customer service,” The Carlyle Group managing director Thad Paul said in a statement. “Favorable demand trends in the mega-yacht industry and the high barriers to entry for new supply in southeast Florida attracted us to the investment.”
Located in Fort Lauderdale on the New River, the Lauderdale Marine Center is a 50-acre facility consisting of a boatyard, marina and marine service center. It accommodates boats as large as 200 feet with 19 covered sheds and 156 wet slips. It has three marine travel lifts with haulout capacity of as much as 330 tons, and it features 7,000 linear feet of dockage.
The Lauderdale Marine Center’s business model includes leasing work space and commercial office space to about 60 on-site contractors providing such marine-related services as fiberglass repair, electrical, painting, brokerage and insurance.
Carlyle’s plans for the Lauderdale Marine Center include minor renovations and several expansions in the near term, including:
adding additional paving in the southwest corner of the property to allow for additional mega-yacht repair space; completing the renovations at the adjacent River Bend boatyard and incorporating that property into the Lauderdale Marine Center; and developing a new management and leasing office on the site.
“Carlyle has a track record of value creation in its business and property investments, which makes their ownership a welcome development for LMC,” said Mark Pratt, general manager of the Lauderdale Marine Center since 2000. “With our state-of-the-art facilities and unique operating model that allows captains to choose their own contractors, we are ideally positioned for future growth.”
GIANT SHRIMP
By Samantha Manning
ActionNewsJax
A Florida fisherman caught a foot-long tiger shrimp in the St. Johns River that was delivered to Trout River Fish Co. Inc.
“That’s a huge shrimp,” owner Bruce Nipper said. “Shrimper came in with 600 pounds of shrimp yesterday, and we were dumping them and weighing it on the scale when we happened to spot him in the shrimp.”
Nipper said the shrimp weighs half a pound. Nipper said it’s common to see several of the large shrimp throughout the year but said in the last few years, they have been popping up more often.
He said the problem is that the giant tiger shrimp eat the smaller shrimp, which are big sellers.
“They eat our other shrimp, and the worry is if there’s enough of them getting bred out in the wild, will we have an effect where it eats up our shrimp,” Nipper said.
For now, Nipper said he isn’t too worried about that happening anytime soon and instead said he’s focusing on making the best of the surprise catch.
“I haven’t eaten one yet,” Nipepr said. “I will eat this one. They say they taste like lobster.”
Nipper said he expects to see more of the tiger shrimp after the white shrimp season gets underway in August.
RANGER BOATS ADDS BOATUS MEMBERSHIP ON NEW MODELS
AUGUST 7, 2015
New fiberglass Ranger Boats models bought through authorized dealers will include a one-year membership to BoatUS.
New Ranger owners will have access to on-water towing and other BoatUS services, including discounts at businesses and marinas and a subscription to BoatUS Magazine.
“We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations before, during and after the sale,” Ranger Boats president Randy Hopper said in a statement. “The BoatUS membership is one more tool to ensure the absolute best ownership experience. We’re proud of our partnership and excited to offer so many new benefits to Ranger buyers.”
J&S FISH CAMP UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
At the close of July, J&S Fish Camp located at 9500 SW Conners Hwy (HWY 98 / 441) Okeechobee, has undergone a change in ownership. Located on the northeast shores of Lake Okeechobee, this ‘old Florida’ style fish camp dates back to the 1920’s where it was a series of small cabins on a relaxing canal. Today the site includes cabins, RV pads, boat dockage, and the Gator Hole Tavern.
The new owners are a family affair with Terrie and husband Dave and sister Jo and husband Mike taking over the reins of this landmark location. Their goal is to revitalize the facility without losing its old Florida charm. So if you’re ready to leave the tech-world behind, perhaps catch your dinner, chat-up about the ‘one that got away, or just relax and meet new friends, this will be the place for you.
Come see this great place and join the family affair for a taste of old Florida life.
MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP BRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FISHING WORLD FINALS BACK TO PICKWICK LAKE
PONCA CITY, OKLA.—AUGUST 6, 2015
The prestigious 2016 High School Fishing World Finals will be returning to Alabama’s legendary Pickwick Lake with the event taking place from June 28 through July 2, 2016.
Open to all students participating in the Student Angler Federation’s High School Fishing program, the World Finals is the “granddaddy” of all of high school fishing tournaments and the largest open championship in the nation.
Pickwick has already proven a great venue for the event. The 2015 HSF World Finals, held on Pickwick July 8-11, drew 166 two-person teams from 22 states during the four-day competition, held July 8-11.
South Carolina’s Derek Freeman and Trevor Callaham won the four-day showdown with daily limits weighing 17-12, 15-8, 15-9 and 20-2. They weighed all largemouths, despite Pickwick’s propensity to produce nice- size smallmouths and spotted bass.
They focused on main-lake ledges primarily in 14 to 23 feet of water. Top presentations included deep-diving crankbaits, 1⁄2- to 5/8-ounce hair jigs, drop-shotting 6-inch worms and tipping shaky-head jigs with 101⁄2-inch worms.
Freeman and Callaham earned over $20,000 in college scholarships, prizes and Cabela’s gift cards with their win; $18,000 of that total was in college scholarships, $8,000 to any school of their choice as well as an additional $10,000 if they chose to attend Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee.
The World Finals present one of the most unique and fair formats in competitive fishing today. Competition begins with anglers competing the first two days against teams from their own states. The top two teams from each state then advance on to the semi-final round on day three. Those who did not qualify for the semi-finals are placed in a consolation round, where they have yet another chance to make it to the finals, much like how double-elimination baseball tournaments work.
The SAF’s High School Fishing program is open to all high school- aged students whether public, private, home-schooled or participating in an after-school club. Sponsors include Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, Berkley, Evinrude, Lew’s, Lowrance Electronics, FLW Fishing League Worldwide, Booyah Bait Company, Mud Hole Custom Tackle and Shimano. For more information, visit highschoolfishing.org, email info@highschoolfishing. org, or call: (580) 765-9031.
For those in Florida, the road to Pickwick Lake begins at the 2015 Southeast Conference Championship which will be held at Lake Lanier, Gainesville, GA on September 26, 2015.
