Comprising three models – Elite-5x fishfinder, Elite-5m GPS chartplotter and Elite-5 combo – the Elite series has been designed with a 12.7cm (5”), 480×480-pixel SolarMAX™ 256-colour display with best-in-class brightness for superior viewing of chart detail and sonar graphs – even in the brightest sunlight conditions and from wide viewing angles.

Offering greater coverage for a variety of fishing and boating conditions, the Elite series of dual-frequency fishfinders provides the Lowrance standard for superior clarity, performance and target separation, while the chartplotters provide out-of-the-box, plug-and-play navigational functionality.

The Elite-5x and Elite-5 fishfinder models utilise a transom-mount 83/200 KHz Skimmerâ transducer that provides up to 120° of fishfinding coverage, as well as accurate temperature readings. Both sonar units can reach depths of over 300m with 500 watts RMS power/4000 watts of peak-to-peak power. To help anglers avoid missing a good area of fish-holding structure, both models also feature a unique TrackBack™ function that allows users to scroll back and review multiple pages of fishfinder display history.

For ease of installation, the Elite-5 and Elite-5m chartplotter models feature a built-in 16-channel GPS+WAAS precision antenna, along with an external antenna option. Both units also house a waterproof micro SD memory card slot and come with Navionics Gold charting. In addition, owners can store up to 3000 waypoints, 100 routes with 100 waypoints per route, 100 retraceable plot trails and up to 10,000 points per trail.

Other features of the Elite series include a new mounting design with an easy-to-install, quick-release, tilt-and-swivel bracket that offers convenient removal for storage and remounting. The backlit, enhanced keypad is configured for simplified single-thumb control of easy-to-use menus and an Advanced User Mode for expanded feature selections. The Elite-5x, Elite-5m, and Elite-5 are fully waterproof to IPx7 standards and come with a one-year limited warranty.

To be introduced to the Lowrance dealer network during the national roadshow over coming weeks, the Elite series will be available to consumers in the first quarter of 2010. RRP starts from $699 for the Elite-5x and rounds out at $1099 fro the Elite-5 combo unit.

Further information:

Navico Australia – (02) 9936 1000 or visit: www.lowrance.com.au

“This year we observed nineteen   different fish species, the most numerous of which were the Blue Throated Wrasse, Six-spined Leatherjackets and Silver Sweep” said Parks Victoria Marine and Coasts Program Leader Mark Rodrigue.

“Seven years since Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary received its highly protected Marine Sanctuary status, more species of fish were found than in other survey undertaken to date around the State.” said Mr Rodrigue.

Participants were pleased to see a number of small rays and one excited fish counter reported a Rusty Catshark, a small harmless local species.

The fish count utilises specially prepared underwater slates with illustrations of twenty four fish species of particular interest. Snorkelers and divers use these underwater slates to record the number of different species seen during each count at different locations along Victoria’s coast.

The count provides a snapshot of fish species living in the temperate coastal waters of Victoria and allows an estimation of the structure of fish communities around the coast at that time. This data is then compared to data collected at the same time in previous year.

“The diversity of habitats within the seventeen hectare reserve makes this a great place to observe a wide range of local marine life including fish,” Mr Rodrigue said.

Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary supports a broad range of marine habitats including extensive intertidal rock platforms, subtidal reefs many of which support kelp forests, seagrass bedsand sand.

“While the diversity was greater than that seen before overall numbers were hard to collate because of conditions on the day. The swell conditions had reduced visibility to several metres making it quite hard to see fish, especially in the areas covered by the beautiful kelp forests in which fish hide for protection” said Mr Rodrigue.

The annual Great Victorian Fish Count is a state-wide Reef Watch program conducted in conjunction with Museum Victoria.

Other fish count events will be occurring across Victoria moving forward. For more information on the Great Victorian Fish Count including event locations visit www.reefwatchvic.asn.au/GVFC.htm

For more information about Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or www.barwonbluff.com.au

Marine Solutions – mooring made easy, has flicked live its new website – www.marinesolutions.com.au – complete with a shopping cart facility for convenient and secure online shopping.

The new website showcases Marine Solutions’ full range of innovative vessel protection and docking products, which has been developed in collaboration with boat owners, commercial operators and marina managers.

Visit their fantastic looking website and get shopping!

Catering for everything from trailerable boats up to large yachts and cruisers, Marine Solutions’ product range includes fenders and fender covers; pre-spliced ropes and rope covers; mooring compensators; dock boxes; Gullsweep bird scarers; safety gear; Ultimate Vessel Protection (UVP) packages; inflatable boats; the unique D Fender system and much more.

All products have been designed for both functionality and simplicity, sourced from quality suppliers around the globe and tested in all conditions to ensure years of enjoyable boating.

You can check out the new website on the link below! Lets go shopping!

Further information:

Marine Solutions – (03) 9670 3305 or visit: www.marinesolutions.com.au

Media enquiries:

Sandman PR – (03) 8774 1622 or visit www.sandmanpr.com.au for media releases and hi-res images

HAVE YOU TRIED Tef-Gel? THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!

This series on River to Reef we highlight a fantastic product that every one from fishermen, Scuba Divers and Boaties should use.
It’s a safe product to use for you and importantly the environment!

It’s also very versatile so whilst its white, you can also paint over it!

Seen here used on a Scuba Diving oxygen tank

Tef-Gel is designed to prevent corrosion and rust seizing between dis-similar metals. Tef-Gel is effectively a lubricant which will make servicing your precious equipment a breeze.

Importantly to us fishing folk it wont break down in salt water or detergents. Tef-Gel also has no expiry date so it wont go hard, be in-effective or wasted like so many other products.

After showcasing this product in our show, the more we learnt the more we were amazed by Tef-Gel’s multitude of uses.

Tef-Gel™ is derived from a specially formulated Teflon paste and is used in high corrosive environments to ensure serviceability & presentation of assembled hardware.

Tef-Gel™ is designed to perform in areas of Rust Prevention, Corrosion Elimination & as an Anti Seize Lubricant.

Tef-Gel™ was developed using aerospace industry experience, it will eliminate –

- BLISTERING, CORROSION, RUST, GALLING and SEIZING of hardware in corrosive environments.

It can be used in all weather conditions! The amazing composition is derived from a specially formulated PTFE paste.

Whether it swivels, slips or slides, Tef-Gel™ will protect and ensure the painless future removal of all assembled hardware.

It is used by the most demanding professionals, including major equipment manufacturers, mining companies, rigging companies & shipbuilders to name a few. It is now available to all of you at home.

To find out more check out their website – www.tefgel.com.au or call 07 4946 5430

Here is number 8 in the highly acclaimed STRIKEZONE series Sportfishing DVD’s and it is set to be a fishing sensation. We kick of the adventure with some extreme action on huge kingfish.

Fishing just off Sydney we get our arms stretched  by some heavyweight hoodlums.

Next stop is New Zealand where we live it up in        luxury while chasing snapper and kingfish. Back on home turf we mix it up with albacore offshore as well as triple hook ups on daylight jewfish.

You can check out the teaser at  www.almcglashan.com/videos.php?video_id=50

Cheers al mcglashan

www.almcglashan.com

Navico / Lowrance Radar Unit

Adding to its impressive list of global accolades, Navico’s BR24 Broadband Radar has received the DAME award honourable mention for best product in marine electronics at the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS).

Held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, last week, an unprecedented 154 products were submitted for the award – Navico’s honourable mention within such a large field of submissions signifying a tremendous achievement for the Australasian-designed BR24.

Navico Asia Pacific’s chief operation officer John Scott said all the awards the BR24 had received to date were the culmination of exceptional efforts from everyone within Navico.

“From the years of commitment from our R&D team, to the massive awareness campaigns executed by our regional marketing teams and agencies, and through the growing revenue generated by our worldwide sales teams, the BR24 is truly a Navico success story,” Mr Scott said.

“Each passing day and each new accolade is another important step towards cementing Navico’s position as the best business partner and customer service organisation in the global marine electronics industry.”

Recently winning the NMEA Technology Award, the 2009 National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award and the 2009 EDN Innovation Award for ‘best application of RF design’, among others, Navico’s BR24 Broadband Radar is the world’s first recreational marine Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar.

Radar Image

Representing the next generation of radar safety, affordability and ease of use, the BR24 combines straightforward installation, flexible antenna placement options, a 24nm range and low power draw, making it the clear choice for coastal and inshore navigation.

Further information:

Navico Australia – (02) 9936 1000 or visit: www.navico.com

Media enquiries:

Sandman PR – (03) 8774 1622 or visit www.sandmanpr.com.au

Parks Victoria is urging the public not to jump or dive from piers and jetties as hotter weather draws increasing numbers of people to Australia’s bays and waterways.

“Diving from piers is highly dangerous, especially on the bays, where varying tidal and sand movements constantly change the water depths and submerged debris can pose an unexpected hazard”, said Parks Victoria Chief Ranger, Graeme Davis.

Ferguson Street Pier Victoria

Every year a number of people are seriously injured or sometimes die as a result of injuries caused by jumping from piers.

“The safety of swimmers who continue to dive from piers despite the clear ‘no diving’ signage is of great concern to Parks Victoria”, said Mr Davis.

Parks Victoria has in place clear ‘no diving’ signs on all its piers across Port Phillip and Western Port.

Parents should be especially vigilant and ensure their children are aware that jumping off piers is not a safe way to enjoy the water.

Mr Davis continued, “The last thing anyone wants to hear is a story of a fun day by the bay resulting in a severe injury or even worse – loss of life”

Not only is the practice of jumping or diving off piers hazardous to those engaged in the activity, it also puts at risk boat operators attempting to berth and disembark passengers.

Parks Victoria wants to encourage people to think carefully about their safety before choosing a location for swimming. There are safer places than piers to enter the water to swim and enjoy the beach.

For more information about the piers and jetties around Port Phillip call Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Sold in kit form, the Eco Trailerwash System is a clever network of poly tubing and nozzles which is fitted to the trailer frame and connected to a water supply via a standard hose fitting. The nozzles, which are positioned all around the trailer, can be adjusted to spray specific areas such as wheel hubs, brake systems and axles.

More effective than rinsing the trailer with a hose, a fine mist of water is simultaneously sprayed around the entire trailer as soon as the tap is turned on, which thoroughly washes the trailer – as well as the bottom of the hull.

Importantly, in a time of increased water restrictions, the Eco Trailerwash uses up to 80 per cent less water compared to using a standard hose.

Eco Trailer Wash in action!

With 25m of poly tubing and all the required fittings, gal screws and nozzles included in every kit, the Eco Trailerwash System is suitable for trailers up to 8m in length. RRP is $99.

Further information:

Call– (03) 9580 2455

Media enquiries:

Sandman PR – (03) 8774 1622 or visit www.sandmanpr.com.au

Melbourne is bracing itself to welcome one of the world’s most prestigious sailing events, the ISAF Sailing World Cup.  A host of world champions and Olympic gold medallists from across the globe will descend on Sandringham Yacht Club for ‘Sail Melbourne’ – the first leg which runs from 14 to 19 December 2009.

Olympic gold medalist Malcolm Page and his new 470 partner Mathew Belcher, 49er world champions Nathan Outteridge and Ian Jensen, and Olympic RS:X boardsailor Jessica Crisp are just a sample of the sailing elite taking part on their quest for world glory. The stunning, recently refurbished Sandringham Yacht Club will play host to six days of action.

Otherwise known as the ‘Grand Slam of Olympic Sailing’ the  Cup gets underway in Melbourne and then moves to six other venues around the world – Miami, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain. At each event competitors vie for valuable ranking points which determine the overall ISAF Sailing World Cup champions.

Bruce Griffiths, Chairman of Sail Melbourne, said: “We are all incredibly excited that the ISAF Sailing World Cup is coming to Melbourne. Sandringham will offer an ideal, picturesque backdrop to a week of exciting action involving some of the world’s top sailing talent. Our vision is to grow the event over the next three years, with as much happening on-shore as out on the water. Our aim is to promote the benefits of the sailing lifestyle to the wider community as well as providing a riveting show for sailing enthusiasts.”

A lavish opening dinner, a glamorous Lady’s Day and spectator events for kids and adults will ensure everybody gets a chance to embrace the lifestyle.

Earlier this year, the Victorian Government announced its successful bid to host the Asia Pacific arm of this prestigious event until 2011.

Sports Minister James Merlino said: “Victorians love their sport and they love our major events. We are delighted that yet another sporting event of this calibre is coming to Melbourne. The chance to see it grow over the next three years into a signature event is a wonderful opportunity for Victoria. We’re certain that the ISAF Sailing World Cup will become a fixture of our jam-packed sporting calendar and Sandringham will play host to an ever expanding marine carnival.”

Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, said: “The Victorian Government is delighted to have a strong and ongoing relationship with the sailing community through its partnerships with Parks Victoria, Yachting Victoria and Sail Melbourne.  We welcome the opportunity Sail Melbourne provides to showcase Port Phillip on a national and international stage as a vibrant destination for sailing and other recreational and tourism activities.”

Sail Melbourne’s own sailing legend John Bertrand said: “Australia is one of the most successful countries in the world when it comes to sailing, currently ranked second in the world. We’re thrilled to be able to offer such a great platform for our home grown sailors to demonstrate their talents. Watching them contend against some of the highest calibre of international competitors is bound to make for an event not to be missed.

For more information visit www.sailmelbourne.com.au or contact Sam Watson at Pesel & Carr on 03 9663 0886.