NORTHERN LIGHTS TRAINS MOORINGS TECHNICIANS IN THE WINDWARD ISLANDS

Posted on by Ashley Uyeta

On February 17 Tod Bartus from Northern Lights and Gavin Dooley from Parts & Power travelled to St. Lucia to put on service training for the Moorings technicians. Technicians from the St. Lucia and Grenada bases attended the training. The Moorings has set up a base to do phase out (turnover) preparation on St. Lucia.  The crew in St. Lucia are putting the vessels that are leaving the fleet in “as new” condition for the owners of those vessel. They are also setting up a Robertson & Cain Leopard Service Center as well. In addition, the technicians from the base are trying to be proactive in maintaining the generators in their fleet and do emergency repairs more quickly.

 

 

16 technicians attended the training.  They received 3 days of intense training on the DC logic and AC power generation on Northern Lights generators. They learned how simple the features are on Northern Lights generators, and how to troubleshoot and repair them quickly. The attendees were very attentive and receptive to the training. It was clear that they would be able to readily apply the training they received to their day-to-day activities.

 

 

Graduating class with Parts & Power’s Gavin Dooley (center back) and

Northern Light’s trainer, Todd Bartus (right).

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS SCOTT DYBALL VISITS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Posted on by Ashley Uyeta

Scott Dyball, who is half of Northern Lights’ International Service Support Team visited the Virgin Islands from February 3-6.  He met with Fleet Operators who use Northern Lights generators exclusively: the Moorings and Voyage Yachts. He addressed concerns from both Fleet Operators and heard firsthand the challenges they face with operating generators on their fleets of Bareboat and Crewed Yachts. He was able to get suggestions on ways to improve the product and took them back to Seattle to incorporate these in the design and build of Northern Lights Generators.

Scott Dyball addressing concerns from Fleet Operators

 

Northern Lights has been supporting the Charter Industry in the Caribbean for over 30 years.  Charter operators here comprise a significant amount of Northern Lights’ business, as is evident that they sent him down to hear the Voice of the Customer. It is unique in that Northern Lights is one of the only Generator Manufacturers who have sent a Service Representative as opposed to the regular Sales Representatives who usually visit.

Scott also held a 2-day Service School for Virgin Islands Fleet Operators. Service Techs from the Moorings, Voyage, TMM, BVI Yacht Charters, Conch Charters and Waypoints Yacht Charters attended. The reviews from the attendees were unanimously positive, the only complaint being that the training was too short. Topics of the training focused on AC and DC electrics, as well as Engine and electrical end troubleshooting and maintenance.

Graduating class from Scott Dyball’s training

PARTS & POWER ATTENDS NORTHERN LIGHTS SALES CONFERENCE JULY 2024

Posted on by Ashley Uyeta

Northern Lights hosted a 3-day Sales Conference on 16 – 18 July for their Sales staff and Distributors.  Distributors from the UK, Holland, Italy, France were there.  Barb and Tom Gerker represented Parts & Power for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.  Updates for new and existing products were rolled out including a new 25kW model and updates on the 9kW.  The very impressive L/M 4105/6105 was displayed.  With individual cylinder heads and nearly 90% parts commonality between the models, it is the ideal replacement for the old Lugger 6125, 6140 and 6170 engines.  Presentations were made by Chairman of Northern Lights – Sam Hill, VP of Marketing – Kit Purdy, Engineering Manager – Tracy Hach, Marketing Coordinator – Ashley Uyeta, Global Sales Manager – Nils Nelson and Donald Williams, who updated everyone on the Hybrid and Electric products.  Scott Putnicki, Compliance and Quality Systems Administrator, explained current Classification requirements and Tracy Hach updated everyone on the ever-changing Emissions Regulations. Engineering Production Manager – Chad Evans and National Sales Representative – Todd Bartus, gave a presentation on the Technicold products.

 

The participants were wined and dined every evening and there was a Dinner Cruise on Thursday night aboard the 80 ft Hatteras Sport fisherman “Surfrider”.

PARTS & POWER VISITS INBOARD DIESEL SERVICE IN MARTINIQUE

Posted on by Ashley Uyeta

In March, Meckel Weste and Tom Gerker visited Inboard Diesel Service in Martinique. IDS, founded and owned by Frank Agren, has been a Northern Lights Dealer for over 25 years.  He started the business in the village of Case Pilote where most of his customers are Commercial Vessels.  Recently he opened a new location in Le Marin where there are hundreds of pleasure craft, primarily medium sized sailing yachts.  The most striking aspect of IDS is its Service Departments.  Both have workshops that are meticulously clean and well organized.  This is such a point of pride for Frank and his staff that the entrance to their Parts, Sales and Administration areas in both locations is through the workshop.

Adrien, Tom, Meckel, and Marce in Le Marin Parts Department

IDS has consistently been one of the best performing Northern Lights dealers in the Caribbean, both in terms of Sales and Service.  Their customer service is excellent.  This is due to the standard set by Frank and personified by long term employees Béatrice RINTO, Ludovic ROSE-ÉLOÏSE (who manages the Le Marin operation) and Marcé NUBUL.   They have 3 technicians in the Case Pilote location and 4 techs in Le Marin. They have recently added Adrien Mesureur to their Admin and Sales staff who is in training to assist Beatrice and Frank.

Adrien, Tom, Meckel and Marce in Le Marin store

Northern Lights Supports Marine Charter Season Kickoffs

Posted on by Ashley Uyeta

Northern Lights Generators and Lugger Marine Diesel Engines recently sponsored 3 events in the Virgin Islands to kick off the 2023-2024 Marine Season.  Parts & Power, distributor for Northern Lights in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, attended all 3 Crewed Charter Yacht events.  They sponsored the food and drink for the BVI Charter Yacht Society Crew Party and AGM on November 6.  They pitched their Northern Lights tent and met with Yacht Crews at the BVI Vendor night on November 7.  Then they sailed to St. Thomas on Nov 10 and attended the VIPCA Marine Expo.  Gavin Dooley and Shawina Jacobs were joined by St. Thomas Northern Lights dealer Mark van den Driessche for the event.

Both Virgin Islands Shows were filled to capacity with Yachts.  It is a positive sign for the Marine Industry going into 2024.  Northern Lights has supported the Charter Yacht Industry for over 25 years and is committed to continue their support. The Northern Lights, Technicold and Lugger Products are uniquely qualified for Charter Yachts where simplicity, durability and long life are critical to the vessels’ success.  Both the VIPCA and the BVICYS organizations are continuing to grow and support their members.  The BVICYS has a record number of member Yachts in 2023.

BVI Charter Yacht Society Crew Party

 

BVI Charter Yacht Society Vendor Night

 

VIPCA St. Thomas Charter Yacht Show Marine Expo

Northern Lights Visits St. Thomas Super Yacht Show December 2021

Posted on by Adriene Riordan

 

IGY Marinas and the International Yacht Brokers Association held its first Super Yacht Charter Show at the Yacht Haven Grand Marina on St. Thomas from 9-13 December. Northern Lights Inc was on hand as a sponsor and presenter at the event.  Due to the huge surge of charters booked in late 2021, none of the Caribbean Charter Yacht Shows had many boats attend this year. Only 10 Super Yachts were in attendance at the event, but 6 of the 10 present had Northern Lights generators on them.  There were a great number of brokers present, which gave the yachts great exposure and kept the crews busy.  The Organizers arranged air travel for the brokers from the Antigua ACYM Show to St. Thomas.

Nils Nelson, from Northern Lights, and Tom Gerker from Caribbean Distributor Parts & Power, visited each of the yachts during the Show.  They met the engineers from each yacht and asked about the performance of their generators and if they had any service issues. As is often the case, most engineers said that their Northern Lights generators were running great, and they wished all their equipment was a reliable as a Northern Lights.  One yacht had a pair of 45kW generators with over 35,000 hours on them and neither had been overhauled or had any significant service issues.

The Show itself was extremely well organized with presentations for Yacht Crews and Brokers, and lots of social events. 3 meals per day were provided for Brokers and Sponsors, and a party with a different theme was offered each evening. Strict Covid protocols were in place that kept the event safe but did not interfere with everyone having a good time.

The Organizers originally had 25 Super Yachts registered, but many had to drop out due to charters being booked during the Show.  Despite the low number of yachts, they were happy with the event and were looking forward to holding it annually.

 

 

 

21 hours delivery!

Posted on by Guy Phoenix

Tom Gerker of Parts & Power Ltd,  received a call from Erwan Le Normand at Caraibes Diesel in Sint  Maarten at 5:45 pm on the 19th of April 2021.  Erwan desperately needed a  Northern Lights M673L3G marine generator for S/Y Encore, whose owner was due to arrive on the 21st of April for the first visit in over a year.

With the vast inventory of Northern Lights generators and parts held in stock by Parts & Power in the British Virgin Islands, Tom was able to expedite delivery.  He contacted Captain Neville Brathwaite Jr of North Eastern Caribbean Airline, located at Beef Island, Tortola.  Neville said he would make it happen.  The Britten Norman Islander aircraft was the perfect plane for this mission!

21 hours delivery  

The Northern Lights generator arrived at Princess Juliana International Airport at 2:30 pm the next day and was delivered to the boat by 3 pm.

Parts & Power had a generator delivered to the customer in Sint Maarten 21 hours after the initial call, which was also after regular business hours.

Even more impressive, Erwan and the Team at Caraibes Diesel Services had the generator installed by 10 AM the following morning. This is Caribbean Nothern Lights at its very best.

In this pandemic era, no one would have thought this possible!

 

The Parts & Power Team worked hard to make this happen.  Those not directly involved, picked up the slack so others could.  It was truly a team effort.

Captain S/Y Encore

I can’t thank everyone enough for the extra effort in making this happen. We received the generator at Port de Plaisance around 3:00 pm this afternoon and had it in the boat shortly thereafter.

 Great job all around, very impressive, we truly appreciate it!!

 

COVID Camaraderie within the Caribbean Northern Lights Dealer Network

Posted on by Guy Phoenix

It’s over a year since we started lockdowns and were affected by COVID 19 Restrictions throughout the Caribbean.  Parts & Power Ltd the Northern Lights Caribbean Distributor implemented a number of online training courses for its team and dealer network throughout the islands.  Hosted by Rob Hales and training by Gavin Dooley of Parts & Power Ltd, the online courses became more than a product refresher or introduction, they became a place for the Northern Lights Caribbean Dealer Network to interact, with more time to make new friends and share experiences, and tips.  With over 30 personnel on each course, a fresh camaraderie was established, many staying online for an hour after the training finished, yes, just to catch up!

Many of the dealers, like Parts & Power Ltd, have had a tough year.  Everyone has experienced business, financial and personal challenges.  However, today the Northern Lights Caribbean Dealer Network is strong and supported by a dedicated Parts & Power team.  We regularly communicate and update each other and in January 2021 we were given a glimpse of the future, with a surge in sales and installations.

In July 2020 Parts & Power moved to its new facility in Fish Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.  From here we look forward to a time when we can welcome our Northern Lights dealers for in house and hands-on training.

We heard on Thursday that a long time Northern Lights advocate, Craig Lovett from Grenada Marine, has made the decision to return to his native Australia, to do some cruising.  Parts & Power wish Craig all the best for his next adventure and hope we will see him again in the Caribbean.  May fair winds and calm seas be with you always.

There is a Caribbean Northern Lights dealer near every port of call.  They are ready to support both existing and new Northern Lights Marine Generator customers.

A full list of Caribbean Northern Lights Dealers can be found at;

http://www.caribbeannorthernlights.com/

Alternatively contact Parts & Power Ltd:  Tel: +1(284) 494-2830/440-2830

Or email info@partsandpower.com

 

We are here for you!

Palm Tree Marine Services Mega Yacht Northern Lights Generator

Posted on by Adriene Riordan

PALM TREE MARINE SERVICES MEGA YACHT NORTHERN LIGHTS GENERATOR

In December of 2020, Mike Bingley and Sim Hoggarth of Palm Tree Marine in Grenada were asked by a customer if they could change the generator end on his yacht’s Northern Lights Generator.  “No problem,” they said.  Then they found out that the generator was on the 144 ft mega yacht “King Baby” moored at Port Louis marina in St. George’s harbour.  Not only was the generator end over 900lbs, but it would also require negotiating the huge alternator through a circuitous route in the immaculate interior of the yacht.  It took some clever engineering to make ramps and lifting gear to move the old alternator out of the vessel, then move the new one in.  The captain was at first concerned about having the work done in the Caribbean.  But Palm Tree Marine is an authorized Northern Lights Dealer and they soon put his mind at ease with their professionalism.  With good engineering and careful hands-on work, they removed the old alternator in 2 days.  Having set up everything already, Palm Tree was ready when the new alternator arrived and got it installed within budget and on time.

Palm Tree Marine has been in business since ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­2007 and were appointed as Northern Lights Dealers in Grenada soon thereafter.  They regularly assist Northern Lights customers with competent and cost effective repairs and repowers.  For more information, contact Sim Hoggarth in Clarkes’ Court Boatyard, St Georges, Grenada on +1-473-407-2782 or email sim@palmtreemarine.com.

Mike and Jason wrestle the alternator into position on the aft deck.

King Baby’s chief engineer looks on as Mike and Jason lift the 900lb alternator off the generator.

Mike Bingley carefully pushes the new alternator on its custom made trolley.