But with Global warming dominating the headlines and D environmental pollution reaching an all time high, eco agencies have been issuing strict regulations on the use of internal combustion engines. In an attempt to address the problem of making powerboat racing more environment friendly, several manufactures produced normally aspirated and super charged 4 stroke outboard engines to replace the old 2 stroke engines which work on the principal of burning the lubrication oil off into the air. However, whilst the 4 stroke outboard engines have their merits in producing lower exhaust emissions, the engine’s lubrication oil kept in the sump means that at some point you will still need to find a way of disposing of a bucket full of dirty oil. One of the engine manufactures who are focussing on the environmental issues is BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products), and in 2003 they launched the Evinrude E-TEC range of outboard engines. This engine produces less than half the total reportable emissions of competitive technologies today.

Its fully stratified combustion system ensures no smoke, and three times lower carbon monoxide emissions. If you have run a performance 2 stroke engine in the past you will recall that with the engine running it was hard to hear yourself think, and that the amount of smoke billowing from the back would alert the fire brigade! Nowadays fuel charge never escapes the combustion chamber as it is burned and is turned into pure power as opposed to the unburnt fuel seeping out, laying a colourful but pollutant film across the water. The direct injection provides up to twice the fuel efficiency of competitive technologies at specific RPM ranges as its Engine Management Module (EMM) calculates the right amount of fuel needed and delivers precisely into the combustion chamber for fast response and low fuel consumption, and the sealed fuel system minimises evaporative emissions. The design of the Evinrude E-TEC has enabled its assembly head to only consist of two parts.

There are no belts, no timing chains, camshafts or valves to change. This means no scheduled dealer maintenance until three years or 300 hours. Previous high powered 2 strokes would need a major engine rebuild after 40 hours of competitive use. The E-TEC is incredibly quiet due to the idle air bypass circuit, acoustically tuned air intakes and exhaust silencers, and acoustics foam lining, in fact it is so quiet you can forget that you even left it running! It was developed not only to be clean and quiet, but also to ensure an efficient and powerful ride. The E-TEC low weight design, superior torque and horsepower allows a superior power to weight ratio enabling the boat to get onto the plane quicker. In fact our training boat fitted with a 250 HO E-Tec reaches 0-60mph in approx 8 seconds. Keith Whittle from Powertech Marine in Hampshire runs a race circuit catamaran fitted with the same engine married onto a racing lower unit. This outfit has produced spectacular results and reliability, and Keith reports no lack of power, therefore, it’s only a matter of time before this unit becomes a serious contender for honours on the race circuit. However, like most new engines it needs to be marketed at a much higher level than it currently enjoys. The racing 250 HO E-Tech has been the result of a tremendous amount of hard-work and money by Keith and his team, but until other drivers ‘bite the bullet’ and go racing with the engine, it will take time for it to become an established unit. Having looked at how the Evinrude –E-TEC engine contributes positively to the environment, what about the benefits to the average power boater? Well for a start the servicing costs should be minimal, fuel consumption is significantly lower than from the old style 2 strokes, and the power to weight ratio is a major benefit Many emissions standards are met or exceeded with the Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine, including the European Union emissions standards that went into effect on 1st January 2007.

The first full line of outboard engines to receive the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) 3-star designation for Ultra Low Emissions was the Evinrude E-TEC range which was also the first outboard engine to receive the Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA), in 2005. To suit a range of boating needs, the Evinrude E-TEC is available in a variety of sizes; from 40hp to 250hp, and uniquely – even a colour choice of white or blue.

Until quite recently, very few, outside of Australia would know that Maritimo is one of Australia’s most prolific builders of high performance sports cruisers. However, that name will soon be up the with the likes of Ferretti, Azimut, Sealine and Sea Ray in terms of international acclaim. Over the years, Bill Barry-Cotter has become an icon in Australia’s performance powerboat industry. When the first model from Maritimo soared above the competition and clinched the Australian Marine Industry Federation’s Cruiser of the Year and Australian Boat of the Year crowns, it should caused some astonishment. However, this was not the case when the Maritimo 60 claimed that coveted double, for the industry recognised that it had been created by a ‘Master’, none other than Bill Barry-Cotter. Bill Barry-Cotter was the man who had built the Riviera name into worldwide recognition before selling the company to a private equity enterprise. Maritimo was established in 2002 with a staff of 80 and is now operating from two modern facilities, one a purpose-built plant rated as perhaps the most modern boat building facility in Australia. Maritimo now employ more than 400 skilled craftsman and currently produces 13 models with another three on the drawing board. The Aegean Open Flybridge range feature the A50-A55-A60, while the Aegean enclosed flybridge include the A50E and A60E. The Cruising Enclosed flybridge range starts at M48-M52-M56-M60 and M72 while the Sports Cabriolet range has three models C50-C55 and C60 and coming soon will be three Sports Convertables, 470-500 and 550. It has been a six-year rollercoaster ride to success for the company, which now boasts a dealer network across Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Italy, the USA and now the UK and Spain. Barry-Cotter’s passion for powerboat racing has seen him secure seven Australian Class 1 title and in 2004 he finished third in the UIM World Class 1 Championship. Much of the development and technology used in his Riviera and latterly Maritimo raceboats is adopted the range of luxury cruisers. At the 2006 Newport International Boat Show on Rhode Island, the Maritimo 60 was judged ‘Powerboat of the Show.’ The Maritimo range includes the Maritimo 52 and the Maritimo 52 Sky Lounge and the Maritimo 550, a classic battlewagon designed specifically to hunt the giant black marlin roaming the Coral Sea and the South Pacific. The much travelled Barry-Cotter is very aware of the unpredictable climate of the northern hemisphere and his design team have produced a craft ideally suited for European and Scandinavian waters, the enclosed Flybridge. While there is acres of open deck space for sun worshippers, the enclosed flybridge reached by an enclosed staircase, not only provides a luxurious protected helm position, it also ensures peace of mind for parents of young children, safe in the knowledge that they can be seated within sight when the craft is underway, in much the same way as they would be when steering from the saloon. While the enclosed flybridge model has tremendous potential, Maritimo produce a range of craft to suit all climates. The United Kingdom dealership was founded in 2008 as Maritimo UK Ltd with headquarters in central Dorset and waterside facility in Poole. The company headed by James Clarke has a staff of six all with a determination to make Maritimo a leading brand in the highly competitive world of high performance luxury cruisers. Clarke has a successful import and export background and first discovered the Maritimo name on a visit to the Sydney Boat Show. “I have a young family and very conscious of the young ones’ welfare while at sea. I was taken by the enclosed flybridge as I felt that the security of being able to keep the children inside while under the way at speed was very appealing”. I met Bill Barry-Cotter at that show and after indicating that I would be interested in importing the Maritimo marquee into the UK, discussions got underway and we were appointed the UK dealer. While the accomodation of all the range is spacious, fuel economy is a priority on most potential buyers’ list and all Maritimos are designed as long-range cruisers boasting a considerably better efficiency in terms of fuel consumption than many of our rivals of similar size. “Although Bill describes his boats as ‘Land Rovers of the Sea’ I’d like to think they are more ‘Range Rover Vogue’s of the Sea’ as they are luxurious without being outlandish. When we decided that Maritimo had a future in the UK, the name was unknown but Bill Barry-Cotter had achieved considerable success both in his home country and the USA. One of his rivals said to me ‘if it’s Bill Barry-Cotter it will be successful, you can bet on that.’ and that inspired me with confidence. At the 2008 Southampton Boat Show we took delivery of our first boat, a Maritimo 48, and it attracted tremendous media and client interest, as did the Sports 50 which we unveiled at 2009 London Show” Unlike most successful boatbuilders who begin to believe in their own importance, Bill Barry-Cotter remains very down to earth and approachable. Whether Maritimo can become ‘best-sellers’ in the Northern Hemisphere remains to be seen but the enclosed flybridge model could go someway to elevating the name of Maritimo in European waters.

When brothers richard and robert inwards founded inwards marine with their father david ten years ago, little could they have imagined that within ten years the company would have offices in london, monaco, genoa and the hq in southampton. when inwards marine opened their first office in hamble point marina, southampton they were agents for just two ranges of craft, hunton powerboats and baia plus their brokerage division. They now represent the prestigious ferretti group brands of riva, pershing, ferretti yachts, custom line, itama and mochi craft as well as the british built bladerunner and pearl motor yacht ranges. This enables them to offer their customers an impressive portfolio of over 55 new boat models between 30ft and 130ft from the world’s leading shipyards. The company’s busy brokerage division continues to go from strength to strength and is established as one of the leading independent motor yacht brokerage firms, offering a highly on Professional yet personal service to buyers and sellers alike. With capacity for over 60 motor yachts displayed outside their offices in the uk’s premier location at hamble, inwards also have over 250 approved pre-owned craft in the uk and overseas. The growing success of their marina and marina homes division has recently been underlined by their appointment to market further projects in the usa, bahamas and mediterranean, including the new multi billion euro porto montenegro development. Inwards’ professional, yet unbiased and honest, approach to assisting their clients with their mooring requirements, be it for a 10m or 100m berth, for buyers, sellers, private, trade, or indeed an investment plc, has proved the key to this success. Although richard, managing director of inwards marine, is committed to the marketing of motor yachts, his background is firmly rooted in sail. After graduating from southampton university, he combined his passion for yacht racing with experience gained at hood sails and bainbridge international, which involved working with projects from the bt global challenge to vendee globe and america’s cup campaigns. On the water richard is an active member of the royal southern and royal thames yacht club’s and has sailed a broad spectrum of yachts from a dragon up to the 65m three masted c&n classic ‘creole’, owned by the gucci family. He also crewed aboard ‘avel’, the 26m jackyard cutter built by c&n in 1896. Gucci rescued her from a backwater in liverpool, where she had been used as a houseboat, before meticulously restoring her to her original glory. We asked if there was any chance of inwards marine ever taking on an agency for sailing craft, bearing in mind richard’s love of sail. “i can’t say we will never include yachts in our portfolio, however, at present we are committed to ensuring our motor yacht and mooring services are second to none” The obvious question to ask, has the downturn in the global market unduly affected business? Richard pointed out that all of us have felt the affect of recent events in one way or another but that the important thing is how you react to it. Inwards have remained focused on their core businesses and are constantly working to ensure they both adapt and take advantage of the opportunities that arise. However our most important asset is our staff and through careful recruitment planning and training, we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional team.