Six show in Seattle

Press, 20 January 1982, Page 21

Six show in Seattle

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John Hutchison

Six New Zealand firms will be represented here next week at one of the largest boating shows in America.

The Seattle National Boat Show is expected to draw 100.000 visitors to the gigantic indoor sports stadium called the Kingdome where 40.000 spectators can be seated at football contests. South Pacific Associates, a Seattle firm, has arranged for the exhibit of products and displays from Feltex Marine. Feltex Rubber. Dorlon Foul Weather Gear. Sea Craft. Ltd.. Cleveco Murray, and Antares a Wellingtonbased yacht-building firm. The show, with 300 exhibitors. will run from Jan. 22 to 31. All the New Zealand firms

in Seattle

are represented by South Pacific Associates, a Seattle company founded by Mr Peter Rachtman. an American who has lived in New Zealand and whose wife is a New Zealander. Among the products to be exhibited are Seacrafts 25-foot motor sailer and 13 2 z foot sailing dory, now being sold by the largest small-boat dealer in the western United States. Also on display will be the newly designed Feltex rubber boat. A Seattle firm has bought 100 in an initial order to be marketed through a 13store chain in the Pacific Northwest. The boats. Mr Rachtman said have been modified especially for the American market.

Flagship of the New Zealand craft offered will be the

Antares 40. now being completed in Takapuna. Meant to sell for more than USSI6O.OOO this high performance cruising boat designed by Mr Don Senior and the Antares Trading Company, will be shipped to Seattle io be sold by a broker network co-ordinated by South Pacific Associates. Mr Racthman hopes also to find a buyer for a 53-foot sloop, designed for Antares by Mr John Spencer.

Feltex Marine will exhibit a new range of Kevlar-core yachting cordage. and Cleveco Murray will show yachting winches including a bottom handle design reported to be achieving popularity in America and now stocked by dealers from Vancouver. Canada, to Southern California.