Zodiac Pro Series Boats

Today I want to talk to you about a versatile RIB (rigid inflatable boat), the Zodiac Pro Series Boats offer a range of sizes, 2 color choices in one fabric choice and one color choice in the other fabric choice. In addition they also offer the boats in a host of ways ranging from open with no seating for use with a tiller steer motor to fully rigged with many seating configurations and power options.

The boats also feature a removable tube set making them ideal for people in commercial settings, it allows them to purchase and extra tube set that can be put on the boat if the original is punctured and in need of repair. This keeps them working while the tube set is being repaired.

This boat is now offered in a series called the Bayrunner which provides a different seating style to make it a family friendly Bay style boat. Zodiac Pro Series boats start at 13'9" and go up to 20'8".

Triad Marine will be happy to talk to you about your options when choosing a Zodiac Pro Series boat and how to make it the perfect boat for your application.

Other advantages of the inflatable boats are the stability , buoyancy, and weight. The lighter weigh will allow you to use a smaller tow vehicle as well as make it more manageable in the long run. Inflatable boats can be used anywhere you would use a fiberglass or aluminum boat. Just remember to care for them properly and run them inflated to the proper pressure.

Come and see the Zodiac Pro 500 boat at Triad Marine we have the open models here leaving all of the options up to you! The Pro 500 is 15'5" in length and can take a maximum of a 70 horse power motor. Let us help you decide which way the Pro 500 will work best for whatever you do on the water.

Pro 500 (9 Man) $10835.00 open boat in Red PVC or Grey Hypalon in stock and ready to become your dream boat!

**pictures are examples and actual product may vary**

Coming Soon Achilles Folding Transom RIB

Triad Marine is proud to offer you the first look at the Achilles HB300FX folding transom RIB (rigid inflatable boat).
We will have this boat on display at 55th Annual Houston Boat Show happening January 7-17, 2011.

This folding transom RIB is made of hypalon material, has a fiberglass transom, wooden seat, 2 seat attachment points, oars, foot pump, repair kit and a storage bag with 3 handles for easy lifting. The boat also features towing d-rings, a bow lift eye and a stainless steel motor mount. Achilles is offering you the same great quality as the other HB series RIBs but in a portable package. This boat will be perfect for sail boats, RVs, cars, trucks and SUVs.

At 9'10" in length the boat will offer plenty of room for four people. At this time we do not have the final specifications with a horse power rating, weight and beam but we will keep you updated.

Stop by The Houston Boat Show and see us in Booth 7030 to see this brand new Achilles Model as well as many other great inflatable boats, life rafts and lots of marine safety gear!

Colder Weather Means More Boating Risks

As the cooler temperatures make their way south to the Houston area we find increased risks with boating...Should you fall over board and remain in the water very long you are at increased risk for hypothermia. Hypothermia is actually defined as any time the core body temperature falls below 95* F. Taking extra precautions in cooler temperatures is the key to avoiding a tragic outcome.  On Friday December 2, 2010 we had a shrimp boat capsize in our waters and 3 of the 4 men were rescued clinging to debris, sadly they have to be treated for hypothermia which leaves a grim reality that the 4th person in the water probably has hypothermia as well leaving them at greater risk of drowning. He has still not been located and the Coast Guard suspended it's search for him. You can read the full story here.

Make sure there is a working PFD for each person aboard and make sure they are wearing it. By having the life vest on you give yourself an advantage should you fall over board. Once you fall into the cold water if you begin to lose dexterity and function you will not be able to swim to keep your head above water a PFD is designed to help you stay afloat. Wearing it is the only way to be sure it will work.

With that being said there are some things that can make your journeys on the water safer and help protect you against hypothermia. The first thing you need is a life raft this will help get you our of the water if your boat were to capsize or sink. even if you go into the water and become wet and cold you can increase your chances by having a way to get out of the water. Pack some extra isothermal blankets in your ditch bag and use them to attempt to stay warm once you are in the life raft. Purchase an EPIRB or PLB or both and keep the PLB with you. The sooner they can find you the better chance you have of recovering fully from hypothermia.

If you plan on making overnight trips in cold weather you may want to consider an immersion suit for each crew member. The immersion suits are designed to help you stay warm, they will make a big difference in how quickly your body begins to go through the stages of hypothermia.

As always file a float plan, check dates on safety gear, check all components of the boat, and be prepared for the worst conditions and you will always have a more enjoyable boating experience.
There are a lot of ditch bag items that can help one survive and if you need help choosing these items we will be happy to sit down and help you. We can also provide you with more information on PFDs, PLBs, EPIRBs, and Life Rafts.

Survival Times in Cold Water Without Protective Clothing

Water Temperature		Loss of Dexterity	Exhaustion or	Expected Time of
Degrees C	Degrees F	with no protective clothing	Unconsciousness	Survival
0.3	32.5	Under 2 min.	Under 15 min.	Under 15 to 45 min.
0.3 to 4.5	32.5 - 40	Under 3 min.	15 to 30 min.	30 to 90 min.
4.5 to 10	40 - 50	Under 5 min.	30 to 60 min.	1 to 3 hrs.
10 to 15.5	50 - 60	10 to 15 min.	1 to 2 hrs.	1 to 6 hrs.
15.5 to 21	60 - 70	30 to 40 min.	2 to 7 hrs.	2 to 40 hrs.
21 to 26.5	70 - 80	1 to 2 hrs.	2 to 12 hrs.	3 hrs. to indefinite
Over 26.5	Over 80	2 to 12 hrs.	Indefinite	Indefinite

The above table is simply a reference, remember each person's body reacts differently and one may become colder more quickly if they suffer from certain illnesses or if they take blood thinning medications.

Safety Man Part 2

Show & Go Video Series Part 1

Thank you for taking the time to watch our Show & Go Video Series. Keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon ...Inflatable Boat Care and Cleaning

Safety Man Part 1

Stay tuned for Safety Man part 2 Coming soon you will meet his arch enemy ...DOPE (Doesn't Own Proper Equipment)

Zodiac FC420 Inflatable Boat

Triad marine is the leader in Zodiac Military Profesional products in Texas. Remember this post titled "Another Zodiac FC420 to be used by a Fire Department" well there have been plenty more sold by Triad Marine since then!

The Zodiac FC420 is a versatile inflatable boat constructed for professional and military usage. This boat has features that set it apart from other professional use inflatable boats such as the intercommunicating valves. These valves allow the boat to be used with a rapid inflation system. This boat also has heavy duty construction and is made of hypalon/neoprene fabric.  The boat is 13'9" and weighs around 265, making it a good size and weight for portability and stowing.


Many of our Texas agencies are equipped with the Zodiac FC420 boats, largely thanks to TEEX. They have chosen the Zodiac F boats as their boat line of choice based on the ease of deployment, construction and consistency. The Zodiac FC420 is a great size for the fire departments as a search and rescue boat that can be portable but still big enough for the job.

The Zodiac FC420 boasts an impressive payload capacity of 1,918 lbs. and  23.19 sq. ft. of usable floor board space, allowing searchers plenty of room to make a rescue. The Boat is rated for 50 horse power and it is recommended that you put 30 horse power on it, but is nicely outfitted with 40 horse power. Triad Marine can equip the boat with a Yamaha or Evinrude E-Tec engine. Both manufactures of engines offer 40 horse power, the differences are Yamaha is a four stroke 40 horse power motor available with electric start and a tiller handle the Evinrude E-Tec is a two stroke motor and is available with manual start and a tiller handle. (*Evinrude engines are only available to Government Agencies*) 


A quality boat with 2 quality engine options allows Triad Marine to fully cater to the needs of our first responders in Texas. Triad Marine is first class in the delivery, after sales care and repair of you Zodiac FC420. Choosing Triad Marine as your source for Zodiac Military Boats gives you distinct advantages of working with a dealer who cares about you, your boat and keeping you on the water. Priority servicing as well as complete follow up knowledge set us apart when we sell these boats.

Triad Marine will be happy to quote you a boat but in addition to that we will explain the things about the boat and motor that make it relevant to you and your situation. We pride ourselves on customer service and satisfaction.

Zodiac Pro 12 Man In Action Used By a Fire Department

  A chance to see a one of the boats we sold doing it's job!

  The Jamaica Beach Fire Department bought a Zodiac Pro 12 Man Inflatable Boat powered with a Yamaha F75 HP Outboard motor. We showed you some pictures in this post.

  Saturday October 23, 2010 they put the boat to use, working to rescue stranded boaters. You can read the full story here. 

(Photo from Police News)

  Thanks to the hard work of the Jamaica Beach Fire department and their Zodiac these boaters were rescued. Good Work Guys!

Inflatable Boat Care Part 1-Pump It Up

Achilles Inflatable boats reccomends 2.8 PSI for the working Pressure of their hypalon boats

There are a few things that go into caring for and inflatable and during the month of October we will showcase them.

This week we will discuss running the boat at the proper pressure.

It is important to know the working pressure of your inflatable boat and to make sure the boat is all ways at that pressure before putting it in the water for use.
Typically most hypalon boats will have a working pressure of about 2.8 PSI to 3.0 PSI and most PVC boats will have a working Pressure of about 3.0 PSI to 3.3 PSI (check the owner's manual for the exact working pressure of your boat make and model as it varies by manufacture).
Inflatable boats are mostly volume air so inflating them with the provided and recommended foot pump will not take as long as one may think. You could purchase a small 12 volt inflator but note you will still need to finish with the foot pump to achieve the proper working pressure...
NEVER USE A COMPRESSOR!
Inflatable boats have baffles inside them which divide the chambers and compressors can damage these baffles causing all kinds of problems for your boat and even make it unsafe to use.

There are pressure gauges available for use but if you don't have one you can simply pump with the foot pump until no more air will go into the boat ....You can't over inflate with the foot pump.
Most customers will tell me they did not know the boat should be up to pressure before every use, these are the same customers who are generally having performance issues or possible leak issues. Pumping the boat up hard is key to performance, leak prevention and even puncture resistance.
Even if you wake on a cool morning top the boat off, even f it is going to get hot in the afternoon even though the boat will expand some it will not cause the boat to pop. They are designed to expand and contract when needed.

Seaglow- Conditioner

As a part of the October blog series on maintaining and caring for your inflatable boat I would like to tell you about Island Girl Seaglow. This product can help bring a new look back to the fabric of the inflatable boat.

From the Island Girl website  you can read about Seaglow here!

"Hypalon

Inflatable dinghies, RIB collars, ignition cables and more. Benefits include prevention of deterioration due to UV oxidation, algae & mildew (very important on white hypalon e.g. Novorania, Achilles, etc). "Using a product like Seaglow can help keep your inflatable looking its best and don't forget a non-petroleum based protectant as well. For More care tips come back and Join us every Thursday in October as we help you keep your inflatable in tip top shape!



Here are a few sample pictures I took on a hypalon inflatable and a fiberglass boat

As you can see the part we treated with the Seaglow looks great ...

Did you know there are other uses for Seaglow such as removing the yellowing on your tennis shoe soles.
You can see and read about this right here on the Island Girl Website

Need to know more contact us and look for Island Girl coming soon on Our Website

Mobile Pet Adoptions Coming to Triad Marine!

October 16, 2010 from 9 AM until 2 PM join the Friends of League City Animal Shelter and Triad Marine for Mobile Pet adoptions .... Thinking adoption first helps keep animals from being euthanized and can bring many years of joy to a family.


You can click here to visit the League City Animal Shelter's Website


They have a wish list as well as a list of their adoptable pets! My dog Bailey came from there in February of 2008 and she is truly a member of the family.

This is her sweet and loving

This is from the League City Animal Shelter website

The most asked question in the Animal Control field is



"Why put animals to sleep?".

No one in the Animal Control field likes to put animals to sleep. It is a necessary job due to people's irresponsible behavior of not taking better care of their animals.
The answer is simply there are not enough homes for them all. A large number of animals enter Animal Shelters all across the United States on a daily basis. This is mostly due to not enough animals being spayed or neutered. Animals that breed at will produce 6-12 animals per litter. This cycle happens twice a year. This alone leads to a staggering number of animals. It is said a pair of uncontrolled breeding cats will produce 420,000 cats in a six year breeding life. Two dogs will produce 4,372 dogs in 7 yrs. It is not hard to see when considering how many animals are out there that are not spayed or neutered and allowed to breed at will causes the over population problem we are faced with today.

Please consider adopting a pet or donating items on the wish list!

PLBs are not Gadgets!

I have written a few posts on PLBs and today I am going to write another and I am also going to layout some information to help you choose a PLB over just a gadget ....If you feel the need for the gadgets have both ...PLBs are so affordable now you would be crazy not to have one...
Boaters, Hunters, Fishermen, Kayakers, ATV enthusiasts, Hikers and anyone who participates in outdoor activities are candidates for needing a PLB!
Here are just a Few Posts from the past
A Tale of a PLB Rescue


10 Reasons to Buy an ACR Aqualink


Hunters Need PLBs Too


I Fish the Bay do I need a PLB


All of these post put you in different shoes when it comes to PLBs we give you information and tools to help you choose we show you a real rescue story and we urge you to be safe in any outdoor environment .


Here is a video from the nice guys at ACR about PLBs versus gadgets



Consider always having a back up plan and remember a PLB is a life saving device and not a gadget. Gadgets are nice and have a purpose, but saving your life is not their purpose.

Why Service Your Life Raft

Life rafts come in a variety of brands, sizes, person capacities, and have a variety of equipment package options. Every life raft is inflated the same way via CO2 cylinder but that is pretty much the only thing that is exactly the same. Life rafts are meant to be opened and serviced, some manufactures say every year and some manufactures have vacuum bag sealed life rafts that are every three years.

What happens when a life raft is serviced?
The life raft is open and the dates of all the internal equipment are determined so the service technician will know what needs to be replaced. The date of the last CO2 cylinder refill is determined and if it has been five years then the life raft is gas inflated, tested and the cylinder gets refilled.  The technician will also air and pressure test the life raft for defects and leaks.
All of these processes help ensure your life raft has a longer life and the best chance of working the way it is supposed to when you need it.

What are some things I can expect at each service?
If you have a life raft with one year service intervals the first 2 services will be pretty basic and include replacing of repair cement (glue) and batteries for the flash light as well as the set of spares.
There will be a charge for the service currently ours is $400.00 but they vary by station. You may also have charges for manufactures certificates, gaskets, seals, bursting straps called commonly bands (only on container style life rafts).
Three year service interval life rafts and the third service on a one year life raft will incur charges for all of the one year items in addition to replacing all of the flares in the raft. Also a three year service interval life raft will be in a vacuum bag that must be replaced at this service, the bags typically cost around $150.00 and up but vary with manufacture and the size of the life raft.

What happens if I skip a service or two?
Typically the rafts will be fine if they have been stowed properly and not submersed in water, however sometimes natural conditions and water can make the life of a life raft shorted especially when it has not been opened and allowed to breathe, dry and be cleaned if needed.
Also not servicing a raft at the manufactures intervals will void the manufactures warranty of the life raft.
The worst thing we see in waiting to service is the cost becomes high because you have so many things to replace at one time. You will incur however many years of charges on one bill and this often makes customers feel like it is not worth it for a service, even if the raft is in very good condition.
Like anything you purchase there are care instructions and not following them can result in costly repairs and frustrations. Why would you risk your life saving equipment failing when you need it.
Should you have questions or concerns about your life raft and servicing the life raft please contact us.
To avoid extra high services bills, maintain the warranty of the life raft and ensure the equipment is working properly servicing is key!

Hunters Need PLBs Too

Copy Right Warner Brothers

Hunting Season is right around the corner....Whether you hunt for deer, geese, dove, turkey, or even (wabbits) rabbits a PLB is as important as ammunition.
Hunting can take one to very remote places and can leave us all alone so this is certainly a time when you would want to have a back up plan in place. One device that weighs less than one pound and will operate all over the world where cell phones do not could save your life. There are many uncertainties with hunting, you could fall and become injured, what if you were attacked by a wild animal and injured, you wreck your ATV leaving you unable to walk or barely move for that matter, you could become lost and so many other unpredictable things that mother nature may throw your way. Why take chances with your life there are PLBs that are as small as a mobile phone and cost less than $400.00, some models are less than $300.00....I know that this may seem like a lot but it is 5 years worth of maintenance free insurance and peace of mind...A PLB goes where you go from hunting to fishing to hiking to kayaking...A PLB is the best investment you can make to increase your chances of beating unthinkable disastrous odds while outdoors.
By arming yourself with a PLB you only have to worry about how to find those trophy animals.
Think of your friends and family, all of the emotion and sadness of searching for you in case of the unthinkable. Save rescuers time and money as well as saving your family grief just by spending less than $400.00!
As you set out on any outdoor adventure safety should be your first thought so the rest of the thoughts can be about enjoying the adventure! Good luck this hunting season and please be safe!

McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB

Buy It Here

ACR Aqualink PLB

Buy It Here

Both of these great PLBs have internal GPS signal and operate on the 406MHz signal as well as having the 121.5 MHz homing signal for fly over searches 

Thanks to ACR Electronics for the following information on how EPIRBs and PLBs work

I hope the videos are helpful!

I have a (Insert Unsinkable Boat Name Here) so I don't need one of "Those"

In the title it says I have a (unsinkable boat) you can choose your favorite brand name as my point is not to bash the boats but the mentality that comes with the word unsinkable. Also in the title I don't need one of "those" you can make this a few items EPIRB, PLB, Ditch Bag, or a Life Raft.


"In 2008 the #1 cause of deaths - 278 of them -- in boating accidents was because of capsizing, flooding or swamping.

Last month the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a two-year grant to the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and Davis & Company (boat surveyors) to investigate capsizing and swamping occurrences in recreational boating. The last time the USCG investigated this category of accident in a special study was in the 1970s. In 2008 there were 856 reported accidents involved with capsizing, swamping or flooding, and 535 (62.5%) of these involved "cabin motorboats" or "open motorboats."


To me 62.5% is a big number of cabin and open motor boats, that is more than half. So these unsinkable boats do you think they capsize ...Of course when you are doing things wrong like this little story below or mother nature decides the weather will change and the seas will be rough.


"Katherine Martin was operating a 17-foot Boston Whaler when she crashed with an 18-foot Larson Bow Rider operated by Eric Meyer at 12:15 a.m., police said. The Boston Whaler (unsinkable boat) capsized and sent all five people on board into the water. "
See the full story HERE


Beyond capsizing there are chances of motor and electronics failure so every boat no matter the sinkable factor needs to be properly equipped for every trip you make on the water.


Should your unsinkable boat capsize would you be able to hold on the the hull of the boat in rough seas and manage to hold on to your kids, wife, family, or friends. If you are in an area where no one may see you for 17 hours like THIS POST how will you fair. Do you have an accessible life vest for everyone on board or better yet are they wearing them.  A PLB could have changed their story and reduced time in the water how could it change yours.
Remember This Story From Last Summer a PLB or EPIRB could have re-written this as well.
Safe boating is the most important part of boating, in the event your unsinkable boat leaves you stranded or capsizes wouldn't you like to just say that it did not matter because I had my back up plan in place.


No one at this point can make recreational boaters have life rafts, EPIRBs and PLBs as these are not regulated under laws like the commercial vessels, so it is up to each boater to put forth personal responsibility in the matter.  Not every boat needs to be decked out with every piece of safety gear available but at least choose safety gear based on where you boat and the number of people you are going to be responsible for while on the water.
Everyone from the Kayaker to the ocean cruiser can benefit from safety gear, starting with a small and simple PLB and going all out with an EPIRB, Life Raft, PLB, Ditch Bag, VHF radio, Sat Phone and many other items you may want when doing an ocean sail or cruise.


Remember unsinkable means nothing to mother nature, unsinkable doesn't mean the battery won't go down, the engine and electronics won't fail or that your boat won't capsize.
Something as simple as spending less than $400 on a PLB can re-write your story!

As Small as most Mobile phones sells for $279.00

Buy it Here

use Coupon Code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

This Larger PLB unit is full of features and will come with a belt clip, lanyard and floats!

Also now with yearly subscription you can get the "I'm OK" service to learn more visit 406 Link 

$395.00

Buy it Here

Use Coupon code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

Don't go on any outdoor adventure without the peace of mind a PLB can bring.