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T-H Marine Acquires HydroWaveT-H Marine Acquires HydroWaveT-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces the acquisition of the assets of HydroWave, LLC of Carrollton, Texas. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. HydroWave designs, manufactures, and sells a patented line of marine sound technology devices that attract fish for anglers.

T-H Marine's president, Jeff Huntley, stated "We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of the HydroWave assets. We are also proud that we will retain several key HydroWave employees and have entered into a multi-year consulting agreement with HydroWave founder, Gene Eisenmann. Gene and his team have built a strong company with an excellent reputation for providing cutting edge technology to help make fishing more rewarding for anglers of any skill level. These products really work and we are excited about adding this great brand to the T-H Marine product line."

Gene Eisenmann, founder and president of HydroWave stated, "Growing HydroWave over the last four years has been an exciting adventure. I can't imagine the dynamic growth it will achieve tied in with an industry leader such as T-H Marine. I'm also looking forward to a continued role in new product development."

Huntley also said, "We are excited to announce that Kevin VanDam, one of the owners of HydroWave, and one of the top anglers in the world, is maintaining an interest in the brand and staying involved with product development and promotion. We love that KVD believes in us and the HydroWave brand."

Kevin VanDam said the following about the acquisition, "I have been with HydroWave as an owner from the beginning. I believe in and use the product. I am excited that a super company like T-H Marine has bought HydroWave. T-H is a true leader in innovation of new products for serious fisherman. I have used and believed in T-H products for many, many years and they are literally on my boat from trolling motor to transom. We have already made plans for me to stay very involved with the brand and to work with T-H Marine to help more anglers catch fish with our sound technology."

Huntley said that the HydroWave assets and people are relocating to T-H Marine headquarters in Huntsville, AL, where all future assembly and shipping of the product will occur. There will be no disruption to HydroWave customers or suppliers, just more access to the products through more outlets than ever. Within one week of this closing, HydroWave will be fully functioning as a brand at T-H Marine.

T-H Marine's Huntley also stated, "T-H Marine continues to seek quality brands and products to add to our portfolio. This is our third company acquisition in the past three years along with many product license acquisitions. We have awesome momentum in bringing exciting and innovative products to market for the boating and fishing consumer. We are not letting that slow down. The acquisition of the HydroWave assets puts us into a new sound technology space that we looking forward to growing."

T-H Marine is celebrating its 40th Anniversary of business and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers of boating and fishing accessories in the U.S. T-H Marine provides parts to every boat manufacturer in the country and distributes them thru virtually every major distributor and retailer of boating and fishing products. To learn more about T-H Marine, please visit www.thmarine.com . To learn more about the HydroWave products, please visit www.hydrowave.com.


By Louie Stout

Drift Paddles are necessity for Michiana wind.Drift Paddles are necessity for Michiana wind.

There’s a saying in fishing that “wind is your friend.”

A breeze blowing across the water stirs things up, breaks up the sunlight and gets fish – especially predator fish – actively feeding.

But the wind can be a curse, especially here in the Midwest where it can blow hard and come on unexpectedly.

As a bass fisherman, I like to fish windy flats and points, especially this time of year, but sometimes the wind makes it difficult to control the boat properly.

Drift socks can slow your drift. They’re basically funnel-shaped nylon bags that you toss into the water and attach with a rope to your boat. The bag catches water and that slows you down.

But I’ve come onto a better solution, one that requires far less effort and is more versatile - Power Pole Drift Paddles.


Z-Launch simplifies launching boats alone.Z-Launch simplifies launching boats alone.Launching your boat alone on a Michiana lake can be a pain at times, but the new TH Marine Z-Launch Cord eliminates a lot of the hassles.

The durable elastic cord attaches between your (locked) trailer winch strap and the nose of the boat. As you back into the water and the boat slides off the trailer, the boat stays connected to the winch.

As you pull forward, the elasticity of the cord absorbs the shock and guides the boat smoothly to shore. Once the trailer clears the water, simply unhook the Z-launch and toss it in your vehicle, secure the boat to shore and park the trailer.

The cord expands to more than 20 feet when taut and returns to its original size when relived of pressure. One end has a heavy duty, spring-loaded clasp that attaches to the bow eye and a large steel O ring that clips to your winch strap.

Suggested retail is $39.95. Visit www.thmarine.com for more information.

Z-Launch simplifies launching boats alone.Z-Launch simplifies launching boats alone.


(Provided by Ranger Boats)

D&R Sports Center Marine announces the addition of legendary Ranger Boats to the lineup of its Kalamazoo-based dealership. As an authorized Ranger dealer, D&R Sports Center will be the local home to some of the industry's most acclaimed models, including the award-winning Z500C Series of bass boats.

Owned by Randy VanDam, D&R Sports Center offers a variety of outdoor sporting gear, from fishing tackle, boats and electronics to firearms, archery gear and hunting accessories. Long known in western Michigan, northern Indiana and surrounding areas for its wealth of knowledgeable and professional staff and outstanding customer service, the dealership now offers a full line of Ranger and Ranger Aluminum freshwater boats in addition to its other new and previously owned marine inventory. Along with its dealership's factory-certified service facility and parts department, D&R Sports Center enables boaters and anglers to manage the full spectrum of boat ownership from a single, centralized location.


(Provided by Mercury Marine)

Mercury Marine demonstrated to the media its new Active Trim system, which automatically delivers instant, effortless trimming of boat engines.  

Designed to suit entry-level and expert boaters alike, Active Trim simplifies boat operation, while improving engine performance and decreasing fuel costs.

New boaters immediately are able to trim their engines properly with no intimidating learning curve, and experienced boaters won’t need to monitor and adjust trim constantly upon changes in boat speed or turns. 

Using Active Trim has been likened to switching from a manual transmission on an automobile to automatic transmission.