| DEALERSHIP NEWS |
| More Successes for the Honda powered Monitoring Control and Surveillance Boats |
Keith Govender, the Deputy Director Fisheries Patrol Vessels, recently sent us an update on the successes that Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) is having since they set up a fleet of Fisheries Patrol Vessels made up of Gemini Semi-rigid inflatables powered by Honda outboard engines.
“To date a total of 7 boats belonging to abalone poachers have been confiscated and a number of arrests have been made. A good example of this occurred in late July where a total of 2 rubber ducks were seized and a total of 17 arrests were made. The poachers’ semi-rigids that were seized were previously the ones that used to outrun and get away from us, but since we have improved the design and speed of our own semi-rigids, we are now able to catch these criminals in the act and place them behind bars.
During the first deployment of the new and improved semi-rigids, namely on the Fisheries Patrol Vessel ‘Sarah Baartman’, we arrested 6 abalone poachers and seized 2 semi-rigids in one go at Dyer Island (see Photos below bottom right of 2 of the Poacher Boats). The second event took place at Robben Island where a rubber duck was seized and 6 arrests were made, with the charges ranging from attempted murder to diving in a prohibited area. The latest event took place at Olifants Bos where a rubber duck was confiscated and 3 arrests were made, with all 3 suspects coming from Hout Bay. Finally in a separate incident our ground teams through good surveillance techniques seized a rubber duck and made 17 arrests in the Overberg.
Certainly the introduction of the Gemini Semi-rigid inflatables fitted with the stealthy Honda BF150HP and BF225HP outboard engines has made a significant impact in helping us to apprehend abalone poachers. The Gemini’s design is able to handle rough sea conditions with ease and the power of the Honda engines allows us to keep up with the Super ducks of the poachers, as well as giving us the capability of creeping up onto the poachers stealthily due to the silent idle of the Honda engines.
At present we are quite happy with the products that we have purchased and will gladly say that they are both of a superior quality.”
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| Honda Marine Knysna and Somerset West Awarded the Tallon Accessory System Agency |
Both Cape-based dealerships have now secured the agency for the multi-award winning Tallon Accessory System, an innovative, easy to use system made up of a one-fitting Receiver Platform on which a full range of accessories can be mounted, from fishing and diving options to entertaining and power options. It allows you to swap-out these accessories effortlessly, whilst winning back valuable space in your boat in a very stylish manner.
(See PRODUCT NEWS for more detailed information) |
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| Stainless Steel Receiving Platform |
Some of the Accessory attachments |
| Spectacular Custom-built Semi-rigid Inflatable arrives in Knysna |
Tibo and his family recently took delivery here at the shop of their custom-built Falcon 7.6m powered by 2 x Honda BF150HP outboard engines. After several months of close cooperation and liaison between us and Falcon Inflatables, the finished article was received with much excitement from its proud new owners and by all here. The boat represented a total redesign and together with the fitment of an abundance of Honda horsepower, it also featured Teak floors, customized helm seat and rear lounge seating with a collapsible teak table, a Garmin radar with an integrated GPS and Fishfinder, a specially designed T-Top with rod holders, an abundance of interior lighting together with forward facing spots and a floodlit lounge seating area, as well as a windlass anchoring system aft and boarding platforms running off the ski bar at the stern. Certainly one of the most spectacular boats to ever pass through the shop, one that will surely bring hours and hours of enjoyment to its new owner…
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| PRODUCT NEWS |
Odyssey 650 Sundeck
The Odyssey 650 Sundeck from Angler Boats certainly turned many heads when she was first tested on the Knysna Lagoon after having been rigged here at the shop with a Honda BF225HP. Certainly all present were not only impressed by her beautiful lines but also by her very impressive performance and handling capabilities. She’s now in residence at the shop, so please pop in and come and have a look at her.
- Boat Make: Angler Boats
- Boat Length: 6.5m/ 21ft
- Beam : 2.58m/ 8.5ft
- Engine : Honda 4-Stroke BF225HP
- Maximum amount of people: 9
- Weight : 920kgs
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Honda Marine Knysna & Somerset West Awarded the Tallon Accessory System Agency
The arrival of the Tallon Accessory System at the two shops presents you the customer with plenty of choice and options when it comes to the fitment of accessories to your boat. Designed and created in New Zealand, this multi-award winning system is made up of one-fitting Receiver Platforms which are available as stainless steel, white and black polycarb faceplates (together with a powered option), on which a great range of fishing and diving, attaching, entertaining and power accessories can be mounted.
The overriding advantages of the Tallon Accessory System are that it’s:
- Quick and easy to mount and remove boat accessories
- Easy to swap-out a wide range of powered or non-powered boat accessories effortlessly
- Stylish and enhances the boat’s lines
- Very strong – in straight pull-out tests, Tallon can withstand tremendous loads (up to 600 kgs!)
Above all it’s easy to install, allowing you to mount and swap-out a wide range of accessories, letting you win back valuable space and preserve the clean lines of your boat.
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VISIT OUR WEBSITE
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| Monthly Tidal Chart |
| Weather Report |
| Photo Gallery |
| Nautical Info |
If you do own a boat, then having a reliable fast-starting Honda outboard on the back makes a lot of sense…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7wXiTvYzc
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Carbon Emissions Threaten Fish Populations
ScienceDaily (July 6, 2010)
Humanity's rising CO2 emissions could have a significant impact on the world's fish populations according to groundbreaking new research carried out in Australia. Baby fish may become easy meat for predators as the world's oceans become more acidic due to CO2 fallout from human activity, an international team of researchers has discovered.
In a series of experiments, the team found that as carbon levels rise and ocean water acidifies, the behaviour of baby fish changes dramatically - in ways that decrease their chances of survival by 50 to 80 per cent. "As CO2 increases in the atmosphere and dissolves into the oceans, the water becomes slightly more acidic. Eventually this reaches a point where it significantly changes the sense of smell and behaviour of larval fish," says team leader Professor Philip Munday of the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) at James Cook University. "Instead of avoiding predators, they become attracted to them. They appear to lose their natural caution and start taking big risks, such as swimming out in the open - with lethal consequences."
Dr Mark Meekan from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, a co-author on the paper, says the change in fish behaviour could have serious implications for the sustainability of fish populations because fewer baby fish will survive to replenish adult populations. "Every time we start a car or turn on the light, part of the resulting CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, turning them slightly more acidic. Ocean pH has already declined by 0.1 of a unit and could fall a further 03.-0.4 of a unit if we continue to emit CO2 at our present increasing rate.
"We already know this will have an adverse effect on corals, shellfish, plankton and other organisms with calcified skeletons. Now we are starting to find it could affect other marine life, such as fish." Earlier research by Professor Munday and colleagues found that baby 'Nemo' clownfish were unable to find their way back to their home reef under more acidic conditions. The latest experiments cover a wider range of fish species and show that acidified sea water produces dangerous changes in fish behaviour.
"If humanity keeps on burning coal and oil at current rates, atmospheric CO2 levels will be 750-1000 parts per million by the end of the century. This will acidify the seas much faster than has happened at any stage in the last 650,000 years. In our experiments we created the kind of sea water we will have in the latter part of this century if we do nothing to reduce emissions. We exposed baby fish to it, in an aquarium and then returned some to the sea to see how they behaved. When we released them on the reef, we found that they swam further away from shelter and their mortality rates were five to eight times higher than those of normal baby fish," Professor Munday says. He adds it should be clearly understood that this impact is likely to happen independent of global warming, and is a direct consequence of human carbon emissions.
The research team concludes, "Our results demonstrate that additional CO2 absorbed into the ocean will reduce recruitment success and have far-reaching consequences for the sustainability of fish populations." Professor Munday adds, "In its 2008 report on the state of the world's fisheries the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said that the maximum wild capture fisheries potential from the world's oceans has probably been reached. If you add the impact of ocean acidification and other climate change impacts to this, it means there are grounds for serious concern about the future state of world fish stocks and the amount of food we will be able to obtain from the sea."
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| AUGUST PRODUCT SPECIALS |
| Genesis 23 |
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This late 2008 Genesis 23 is powered by a Honda 4-stroke V6 BF200HP outboard engine with only 35 hours of running. At 23 ft with a leisure lounge layout, she has lots of open and comfortable deck space giving it a carrying capacity of up to 12 people, making it an absolute entertainer’s dream whether for cruising or watersports. With minimal hours of usage, this particular Genesis represents a highly affordable way of getting hold of a very popular boat at a competitive price
Boat Make: Mallards
Boat Length: 23ft
Engine : Honda 4-Stroke BF200HP
Maximum amount of people: 12
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4 Gang Switch Panel
Bilge Pump
Stern Boarding Platform + Ladder
Bow Boarding Ladder
Boat Cover
Buoyancy Certificate
Leisure Lounge Layout
Swivel Driver’s Seat
Built-in Fuel Tank
Flush Mount Remote Control
Full Gauge Kit
Grab Handles
Hydraulic Steering
Safety Equipment (Category R)
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Navigation Lights
Navman Depth Guage
Cleats (6 of)
Ski Bar
Spare Wheel
Stainless Steel Propeller
Sun Canopy (Denim)
Drinks Table
Cold Water Basin
Trailer (Double Axle)
Trailer Guides and Winch
Radio/mp3/CD Sound system + speakers
Tube (Water toy) |
PRICE : R295 000 (incl.VAT)
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| HONDA WATER WB20XT PUMP |
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If you need to move water quickly from one place to another, then you’ll be needing a Honda Water Pump, the market leaders when it comes down to performance, reliability and environmental responsibility.
WB20XT DRX - Features:
Maximum pumping capacity, 600 litres
Inlet/outlet diameter, 50mm
Engine model, GX120T1
PRICE : R3 256 (incl.VAT)
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| TARPON 120 with Rudder |
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This Tarpon 120 has a BTS Rudder System and possesses tremendous performance capabilities, having been rigged to offer the ultimate in paddling, surfing and fishing. She’s had minimal use and with a new 120 with a rudder system priced at R10 500, she offers a highly affordable way to get hold of a top quality kayak.
Manufacturer : Wilderness Systems
Material : Gen 2 Polyethylene
Length : 373cm
Width : 76cm
Weight : 29kg
Depth : 35cm
Max Capacity : 159kg
PRICE : R8 200 (incl.VAT)
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| PRESS RELEASES |
| Honda to roll out electric car |
Takanobu Ito, President and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (left) and John Mendel, Executive Vice President, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |
Honda says it will roll out an electric car and plug-in hybrids in Japan and the United States in 2012 as it tries to catch up in the race to make clean, battery-powered cars.
Japan’s number-two carmaker had previously been sceptical of plug-in hybrids but now plans to launch a compact electric car and mid and large-sized plug-in hybrids capable of up to 60 kilometres per litre (140 miles per gallon) of petrol.
The plug-ins have been a pet project of Takanobu Ito, who headed Honda’s research and development section before becoming chief executive in June last year. Details of the cars will be released only at the end of the year.
Honda said it planned to start producing a high-output lithium-ion battery this year through a joint
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venture with GS Yuasa and would also harness technology from its prototype fuel-cell car to develop its all-electric car.
The company will also start operation in 2013 of a new plant at Yorii in the Tokyo suburbs that was put on hold due to the global financial crisis. The plant will develop new technologies for low-emission cars, Ito said.
The launch of the green vehicles is timed to meet tough regulations, including a new rule in California that will require three% of a car maker’s sales in the state to be zero-emission vehicles from 2012.
Honda will also expand its line-up of standard hybrid models next year, Ito said. The company will introduce the Fit hybrid in Japan this year and the next-generation Civic hybrid in 2012.
The Japanese government aims by 2020 to raise the share of hybrids in the country from 10% now to 20-30%, and to have plug-in hybrids and electric cars account for up to 20% of sales.
Toyota’s Prius hybrid, helped by government subsidies, has been the best-selling car in Japan for over a year. Toyota sold more than
270 000 Prius vehicles in the fiscal year 2009. Honda sold 100 000 of its petrol-engine Insights.
Nissan, Japan’s third-largest automaker, is set to take the lead in mass-producing fully electric cars with lithium-ion batteries when it releases its Leaf later this year in Japan, the United States and Europe.
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| BOATING TIP OF THE MONTH |
| Navigating Inlets |
 | Arguably, one of the most dangerous locations that a small boat can be located is in the jaws of an ocean inlet with a strong onshore wind and a maximum ebb tidal current. The waves become greater in height and shorter in period, a situation that can often be encountered at the infamous Knysna Heads.
These conditions are very dangerous for all vessels, especially the smaller ones. Many a mariner has underestimated the dangers associated with ocean inlets. Should your boat's propeller be suddenly fouled by debris or your engine experiences fuel/ mechanical problems, you can quickly find yourself getting caught up in the wind and currents.
All mariners should be extra careful when transiting any coastal inlet during the winter months. The ocean tends to get rougher during the winter due to the much stronger winds associated with this season. Our inlets become much more dangerous places for small vessels. Not only is it rougher, but the waters are colder, increasing the threat of hypothermia in the event that a boater is thrown into the water as a result of capsizing.
Before determining whether to transit an inlet and head offshore, mariners should obtain a marine
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weather forecast and know the state of the tidal current. The mariner should also know the limitations of their vessel. Some vessels are more suitably designed to handle the rougher conditions. The mariner must also be careful not to over-estimate their personal abilities to safely handle their vessel during the heavy weather conditions.
If you were already offshore when the weather deteriorated, causing the inlet to become too dangerous to transit, it is often best to wait offshore for the tidal current to begin flooding (eg. to wait for the incoming high tide). The flooding tidal current will significantly improve the conditions, usually reducing the wave height and increasing the wave period. An attempt to transit during the worst conditions can result in broaching, capsizing or even worse, pitchpoling, a situation which can arise when a following sea lifts the stern of your vessel up so high that the vessel tumbles end over end.
It is very difficult to determine the inlet conditions from seaward. While offshore your vision is limited to seeing the smooth backs of the waves as they roll towards the inlet or shore. Whereas from shore or inside the inlet, you can clearly see how bad the conditions actually are as you observe the whitewater spilling off the tops of the waves. The nighttime conditions of darkness worsen the situation 1000-fold. If in any doubt, don’t take any chances, rather re-evaluate your situation and wait for conditions to change if you’re offshore or return to base if you’re inshore.
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| Keep a Kayak in the Garage |
 | You never know when that big storm or in this instance, Hurricane Alex with winds of up to 176mph as recently hit Mexico and Texas, will be coming (see photo), so make sure you’ve got a Kayak, preferably a Widerness Systems Tarpon for which as it happens we’re the local exclusive agents, tucked away in your garage. Renowned for their performance and handling capabilities in both flat water and the surf, they also do a pretty good job on the side of main roads!
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| EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS |
| 2010 Knysna Oyster Festival attendance exceeds expectations |
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Organisers of this year’s Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, which finished recently, say that attendance figures at the festival exceeded expectations with over R1m being raised for local charities and non-profit organizations.
“When we looked at the dates for this year’s festival we were concerned because they fell within the last 10 days of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt. “We were unsure how this would affect attendance at the festival. However, we’re delighted that numbers were higher than expected and the success of the festival does not seem to have been affected by what was going on in the rest of the country.”
Rousseau-Schmidt said that The Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour was 7% up on last year while the Pick n Pay Cape Times Forest Marathon reported the same numbers.
CEO of Knysna Tourism, Shaun van Eck, said the growth in midweek events proved that people were staying longer in Knysna to enjoy more of the festival to the great benefit of all the local businesses. “The festival is all about boosting the economy in the winter months and we are extremely grateful to all our sponsors for making this possible, in particular our naming sponsor Pick n Pay.”
Van Eck said that the new venue for the festival hub on Waterfront Drive had worked exceptionally well. “We’ve had lots of positive feedback from locals and visitors as well as event managers about the new venue and I certainly feel that it made the town a lot more festive and kept activities centralised.
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| BOAT TEST |
 | The review of the World Cat 270TE is brought to you by SKI-BOAT, the No.1 magazine for the South African Deep Sea Angler.
SMOOTH…..very SMOOTH - World Cat 270 TE (Honda Marine Knysna is the local Agent for World Cat)
>>click here to read more
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| CUSTOMER FEEDBACK |
We warmly welcome the following new boat owners to our Honda Marine Knysna and Honda Marine Somerset West family:
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| Brian and June Sparg |
Charles Graham |
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| Derik with Dave Perkins and his daughter |
Dr and Mrs Bowker |
NB. We sincerely hope that you are enjoying our regular monthly Newsletter. With this in mind should you have a friend or 10 whom you would like to introduce to the world of Honda Marine Knysna then please send us their email addresses… Thank YOU!
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