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Author Topic:   Brunswick Acquires Northstar Technologies

jimh posted 12-16-2002 11:12 PM ET (US)
Brunswick announced today that it has acquired privately-held Northstar Technologies, a Massachusetts company with 65 employees that specializes in electronic marine navigation systems.
See http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=7418 for more information.
Also http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2002/12/16/daily13.html for the Northstar point of view on the deal.
jimh posted 12-16-2002 11:18 PM ET (US)
It is interesting to speculate on this deal.
Brunswick Mercury Marine is already far in front of the rest of the outboard industry with its innovative application of digital technology to outboard engines. Mercury's SMART-CRAFT gauge technology and electronic remote controls ("fly-by-wire") are more advanced than any other outboard maker's products.
If advanced navigation instrumentation is added to the system integration, perhaps we will soon see some truly "smart" craft.
It may be more likely to see this coming to the larger boats in the Brunswick family first (i.e., Sea Ray and Meridian). Eventually this type of technology may find application on smaller boats like Boston Whalers.
TRAFFICLAWYER posted 12-16-2002 11:26 PM ET (US)
Oh Well, another resaon to purchase Standard Horizon products, by the way how is it that smartcraft 'ANALOG' are so advanced, maybe innovative analog technology of the 1980's trying to make a comeback?
j_h_nimrod posted 12-17-2002 01:42 AM ET (US)
That is one of the best things about buying a used Whaler-You get a great boat and do not lend support to the "new improved" ( yeah right!!) Brunswick Whaler Mercury Northstar Reebok etc. Inc.
PFSQUAN posted 12-17-2002 07:56 AM ET (US)
This is most interesting. Northstar is the top of the line in GPS systems. In the past Sea Ray and other Brunswick companies pushed the moderately priced Raytheon (Raystar) equipment as standard. The Northstar 962XD is a $10,000 piece of equipment.
JBCornwell posted 12-17-2002 08:51 AM ET (US)
Interesting.
Now that we have SeaRays with Whaler logos on them, maybe B'wick will buy Humminbird and put Northstar logos on them.:)
Red sky at night. . .
JB
captbone posted 12-17-2002 02:30 PM ET (US)
the 952 is best gps out there, hope they dont destory that too.
dgp posted 12-17-2002 06:22 PM ET (US)
This electronic vertical integration could be a real benefit to the boat owner. With all of this micro-computing power, it could be connected to an industrial phone modem whereby you'd be called at home (or fire or police) if the GPS detected an unauthorizied departure from your dock, or the bilge pump cycled excessively, or the cabin smoke detector went off, or.......?
daverdla posted 12-17-2002 09:31 PM ET (US)
DGP,
Onstar provides that type of service for automobiles. They use analog digital phones because the coverage, on land, is much better than digital. It of course has alot of other nice features. Many new GM cars come with either full or limited service for the first year of ownership. My car had the premium plan for the first year. I used it to get directions a couple of times. At $400/year I didn't bother renewing.
Dave

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Author	Topic: Brunswick Acquires Northstar Technologies
jimh	posted 12-16-2002 11:12 PM ET (US) Brunswick announced today that it has acquired privately-held Northstar Technologies, a Massachusetts company with 65 employees that specializes in electronic marine navigation systems. See http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=7418 for more information. Also http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2002/12/16/daily13.html for the Northstar point of view on the deal.
jimh	posted 12-16-2002 11:18 PM ET (US) It is interesting to speculate on this deal. Brunswick Mercury Marine is already far in front of the rest of the outboard industry with its innovative application of digital technology to outboard engines. Mercury's SMART-CRAFT gauge technology and electronic remote controls ("fly-by-wire") are more advanced than any other outboard maker's products. If advanced navigation instrumentation is added to the system integration, perhaps we will soon see some truly "smart" craft. It may be more likely to see this coming to the larger boats in the Brunswick family first (i.e., Sea Ray and Meridian). Eventually this type of technology may find application on smaller boats like Boston Whalers.
TRAFFICLAWYER	posted 12-16-2002 11:26 PM ET (US) Oh Well, another resaon to purchase Standard Horizon products, by the way how is it that smartcraft 'ANALOG' are so advanced, maybe innovative analog technology of the 1980's trying to make a comeback?
j_h_nimrod	posted 12-17-2002 01:42 AM ET (US) That is one of the best things about buying a used Whaler-You get a great boat and do not lend support to the "new improved" ( yeah right!!) Brunswick Whaler Mercury Northstar Reebok etc. Inc.
PFSQUAN	posted 12-17-2002 07:56 AM ET (US) This is most interesting. Northstar is the top of the line in GPS systems. In the past Sea Ray and other Brunswick companies pushed the moderately priced Raytheon (Raystar) equipment as standard. The Northstar 962XD is a $10,000 piece of equipment.
JBCornwell	posted 12-17-2002 08:51 AM ET (US) Interesting. Now that we have SeaRays with Whaler logos on them, maybe B'wick will buy Humminbird and put Northstar logos on them.:) Red sky at night. . . JB
captbone	posted 12-17-2002 02:30 PM ET (US) the 952 is best gps out there, hope they dont destory that too.
dgp	posted 12-17-2002 06:22 PM ET (US) This electronic vertical integration could be a real benefit to the boat owner. With all of this micro-computing power, it could be connected to an industrial phone modem whereby you'd be called at home (or fire or police) if the GPS detected an unauthorizied departure from your dock, or the bilge pump cycled excessively, or the cabin smoke detector went off, or.......?
daverdla	posted 12-17-2002 09:31 PM ET (US) DGP, Onstar provides that type of service for automobiles. They use analog digital phones because the coverage, on land, is much better than digital. It of course has alot of other nice features. Many new GM cars come with either full or limited service for the first year of ownership. My car had the premium plan for the first year. I used it to get directions a couple of times. At $400/year I didn't bother renewing. Dave