Yarmouth Boat Yard attends 2015 Pursuit Dealer’s Conference 

In October Yarmouth Boat Yard owner, Steve Arnold and sales manager Captain Jack Stewart attended the Pursuit Dealer's Conference held in Sarasota, Florida. In addition to receiving two awards, Pursuit also unveiled the new 23 Center Console and the new Offshore 355.

An awards dinner was also held and Yarmouth Boat Yard once again received the Gold Flagship Dealer status. To qualify and be recognized as a Gold Flagship Dealer, vendors must meet high standards with exceptional performance in three areas: dealership sales, marketing, and service, as well as be a member of the Marine Industry Dealer Certification (MIDC) program.

A focus of the Gold Flagship Dealer program is on operational excellence that will result in higher customer satisfaction for building a lifetime customer. Pursuit’s Flagship Dealer Program builds on the MIDC program instituted by the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturer’s Association) to help marine dealers achieve and maintain certain standards and practices for their dealerships in several different areas. Pursuit’s program adds operational enhancements to ensure Pursuit dealers excel in overall customer satisfaction.

Awards were also presented to the salespeople who qualified for the prestigious “Club Pursuit and Club Elite” awards. Captain Jack Stewart was awarded the Club Elite award for the being a top salesman of Pursuit Boats for 2015.  

Pursuit Debuts OS 355 During Annual Dealer Meeting

October 15, 2015 - Sarasota, Florida — Pursuit Boats debuted their new 355 OFFSHORE and 238 CENTER CONSOLE to a select group of marine media today under crystal clear Florida skies. These are the first of four exciting products coming to market this year as Pursuit is on an aggressive design and engineering schedule to meet the growing demand for their product.

“All of the Pursuit products are in great demand right now as the market has responded well to the new blend of modern features, styling and materials created for today’s discerning customers. Our blend of luxury, yacht-caliber designs meld innovative amenities with timeless and classic American styling delivering an experience unmatched in today’s marketplace,” George Hetzel, Vice President Sales and Marketing, S2 Yachts.

The C238 and the OS 355 are powered by reliable Yamaha Engines elevating the proven performance of the Pursuit hulls by building on a more than 30 year relationship with the number one power provider in the marine industry, Yamaha Motor Corporation. The OS 355, powered by twin F350s, cruises at a strong 28 MPH with a range of over 300 miles while the C 238, powered by a single F250, cruises at 25 MPH with a range of 280 miles. Push either boat up a few more RPM’s and run all day long at 30 MPH without sacrificing any significant overall mileage. That power happens around the 4000 RPM level, a real sweet spot for the Yamaha power when matched with the Pursuit hull.

Highlights for the OS 355 include a single-piece, laminated, optically clear windshield. Hull platform extensions give the hull a very sleek and stylish profile while also providing excellent water access and maneuverability around the transom, with the added benefit of a port to starboard bridgeway. Hull-side windows, thru stem anchoring and an industry-leading bow sunpad option are just a few of the innovative features that place this Pursuit in a class all her own. For Captains intent on servicing their own vessels, the large mechanical access with sliding generator rails and well-placed filter/rigging access are evident of a thoroughly thought out design.

Dedicated aft facing cockpit seating, along with starboard-side pull-out gunwale lounge seating and convertible transom seating can easily accommodate five guests adjacent to the entertainment center. Slide out the automatic, retractable sunshade and place the cockpit table in the dedicated in-floor receiver and you have the perfect space to entertain all your friends and family.

The helm seat adjusts fore and aft along with the ability to rotate 180 degrees and view the cockpit, adjustable armrests are included. A flip down step and dedicated foot rests complete the helm and paired with the ergonomic controls and mechanical switches make the boat a joy to run.

Pursuit Boats is a division of Holland, Michigan-based S2 Yachts, Inc. For more
than half a century, three-generations of this family-owned business has set an unsurpassed standard of quality in marine design and manufacturing. From their modern, recently expanded production facility in Ft. Pierce, Florida, the Slikkers family continues to build distinctive outboard powered fishing boats in Offshore, Center Console, Sport and Dual Console configurations, in models from twenty- three to thirty-seven feet. S2 Yachts also produces Tiara Yachts, whose inboard power models include Open, Flybridge, Coupe and Convertible models ranging in size from thirty to fifty-eight feet are built in Holland, MI. For more information, please visit www. pursuitboats.com and www.tiarayachts.com.

6 Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Fall Boating Trip

The arrival of fall does not mean the end of boating season. Some of the best fishing takes place in the fall and nature also presents an array of colors for leaf-peeping. The waters tend to be calmer for a fall cruise as most boaters have begun the process of removal for winterization and storage. 

Planning an autumn cruise or fishing trip, boaters will need to take some considerations in mind. The days tend to get shorter and the temperatures can fluctuate at a moments notice, so a few safety precautions are necessary.

Sea Tow Foundation, a nonprofit organization, offers the following six tips for a safe and enjoyable fall boating trip.

1. Update your charts. Local aids to navigation like channel markers and buoys placed by local authorities may be pulled as early as October in some areas. With autumn’s shorter days, you also may wind up cruising home after dark, making even familiar landmarks hard to spot. Make sure your charts – electronic and paper – are up to date so you can use them to navigate instead of visual aids.

2. Check nav lights and flares. Make sure that your boat's navigation lights are in working order and your emergency flares are not past their expiration date. Carry a couple of waterproof flashlights onboard to help you unload passengers and gear at the dock or boat ramp after dark, and be sure to stock spare batteries.

3. Make sure your VHF is working. During the fall, the waterways are less crowded. While this is peaceful, it also means that if you run into a problem, you might not see another boater. You can use your VHF radio to call for help even in spots where your cell phone has no signal. Use Sea Tow’s free Automated Radio Check system to ensure the radio is working properly – to find the right VHF channel for your area, visit www.seatow.com/boating-safety/automated-radio-checks.

4. Gas up before you go. With fewer boats on the water, some fuel docks may close early during the fall season. Don’t assume you can fill up at your destination for the return trip home.

5. Wear a life jacket. In the autumn, as water temperatures start to fall, boaters who accidentally fall overboard run an increased risk of hypothermia. While children under 13 must wear a life jacket when the boat is underway by law, it's a good idea for adults to wear them, too – especially at night. Purchase life jackets with lights attached so rescuers can find you in the water. Make sure they fit over your bulky “fall layers” – jackets, sweatshirts, etc. If you don’t have a life jacket, you can borrow a life jacket for free from one of the 160+ Sea Tow Foundation life jacket loaner stations. Find one near you at www.boatingsafety.com.

6. Keep a “weather eye”. Autumn storms can approach swiftly, and often seem more menacing than summer rain showers. If you have a smartphone, download the Sea Tow App at www.seatow.com/app. Boaters can use this free app to get up-to-date weather forecasts, as well as tides and navigation information. It also lets you call for help with the swipe of a finger.

Following those tips will help you enjoy the rest of your boating season. If you have additional questions, Yarmouth Boat Yard will be glad to assist in answering, please call 207-846-9050.

Sea Tow Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to promote safe boating practices. The Foundation’s goal is to reduce accidents, fatalities and property damage related to recreational boating. For more information, please visit boatingsafety.com.