NO MORE OVERBOARD DISCHARGE OF OIL AND FUEL
Centek Industries, a manufacturer that's been providing marine exhaust solutions for the boating industry worldwide for nearly 50 years, recently introduced a new filter system that will help prevent overboard fuel and lube discharges.
Designed to fit a wide range of vessels, the BilgeKleen filter system removes oil, gas, diesel fuel, and other hydrocarbon pollutants from bilgewater before it is sent overboard. The patented system uses a filtering medium that binds to hydrocarbons and allows water to pass through freely. More than 99.9 percent of the hydrocarbon pollutants passing through the system are captured, with no increase in pressure to your boat's bilge pump.
The BilgeKleen System installs easily at the bilge pump discharge line. It includes an absorbent pad that helps capture harmful contaminants in the bilge sump area before they become suspended in bilgewater.
To learn more about BilgeKleen and other Centek marine products, visit www.centekindustries.com.-J.W.
SD MODELWORKS: A MODEL BUILDER
Maybe you spend your weekdays dreaming of cruising on your trawler, only to find yourself chained to your desk. Or perhaps you simply miss the sight of your yacht's lovely lines the minute you leave her at the dock.
In either case, here's something that might help ease the pain: SD ModelWorks can build a model that's an exact replica of your boat, right down to the cleats on her deck, the gadgets at her helm, and the upholstery in her saloon. And it will fit perfectly on your bookshelf or display cabinet-no water required.
The folks at SD ModelWorks handcraft mini yachts, working from their library of builders' blueprints and photos that the boat owner provides. (They need anywhere from 40 to 60 photos of each boat to get all the details right.) Hulls are made from kiln-dried solid mahogany, and various metals, woods, putties, and resins are used to replicate other components.
Got a kayak on your bridgedeck? You can add that to your replica. Dinghies, jet skis, other deck toys, and deck furniture do cost extra, but every model comes with a wooden display base and brass plaque showing the owner's name and the boat's name, with brass pedestals supporting the hull.
It takes about four months for a model to be crafted after SD ModelWorks has received the necessary photos, documents, and 50 percent deposit. Order now, and you'll have your pocket trawler in plenty of time for the holidays.
Pricing is based on size, options, and other factors, but the ballpark cost is $100 per inch. If a full model doesn't fit your budget, a half-hull or transom model may interest you. Contact company owner Brad Poulos at 760.525.4341 or sdmodelworks@cox.net for a quote, or visit www.sdmodelworks.com.
Ease back in your desk chair, gaze at your 2-foot trawler, and dream.-S.R.B.
DIVERS FOR HIRE FROM PIER 88
You're cruising miles from home when you hear a bang and a crunch that can mean only one thing: your propeller's been snagged again. Instead of cursing your hard luck with crab pots, you could be picking up your cell and calling Pier 88 Diving Co.
Pier 88 operates a nationwide network of divers who provide underwater repair and maintenance services. The company has corporate locations in Florida and Georgia, plus 40 network affiliates around the United States that serve the East and West Coasts, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, and the major U.S. rivers.
Services offered include hull maintenance and bottom cleaning; prop removal, replacement, and repair; disentanglement; installation of zincs; damage inspections; "dockside item retrieval"; and more. "Our divers combine years of experience in the underwater repair industry, working together and sharing ideas to better serve our customers," the company says.
Pier 88 offers $99 yearly memberships for boats under 65 feet; membership covers many of the services mentioned above, plus discounts at some marinas. The company also operates a diver referral service at no charge.
If you need a diver to free your boat from that steel cable wrapped around your drive gear, or if you simply want to learn more, call 877.348.4644 or visit www.pier88diving.com.-S.R.B.
LOWRANCE OFFERS
AN UNDERWATER LOOK
Coming up from Lowrance: a side-viewing sonar for use with its HDS (High Definition System) multifunction displays. The system, which will be available later this year, "depicts the underwater world of bottom and structure in photo-like presentations," the company says.
The new sonar may be networked via Ethernet connections, allowing the sonar images to be viewed on all HDS displays on a boat.
Although aimed primarily at serious anglers, those at Lowrance (www.lowrance.com) say the new side-view sonar will benefit anyone who has a serious interest in what's underwater, including those involved in search and recovery, marine archeology, and marine sciences.
The date of availability and pricing for the new sonar add-on are expected to be reported in July.-R.M.L.