Defender Discount Marine Outfitters - Manufacturers' Recalls

This does not affect SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker (SPOT-1) nor is it an upgrade program to transition from SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker (SPOT-1) to the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger (SPOT-2).

AFFECTED PRODUCTS:
All Garmin GPSMAP 400, 500, 600, 4000, and 5000 series chartplotters

ISSUE:
When calculating Auto Guidance with a Garmin Bluechart g2 Vision data card, the affected Garmin chartplotters may indicate a path that crosses charted obstacles.

DESCRIPTION:
The Auto Guidance feature of the Bluechart g2 Vision data card utilizes user-specified safe depth, safe height, and chart data to determine a course to a destination. The Auto Guidance feature does not ensure absolute protection regarding obstacles or bottom clearance. In some cases, Auto Guidance routes may not avoid charted obstacles, such as buoys, shallow water, or other obstructions.

As referenced in the owner’s manuals for affected chartplotters, the ship’s pilot must check route details, regardless of origin, to ensure it is appropriate and safe for the intended operation.

Software updates will be provided on the Garmin Web site for affected chartplotters. These updates will provide an alarm message if an Auto Guidance route passes too closely to charted obstacles and will highlight those obstacles on the chart for review and consideration by the user.

Raymarine has identified a problem with SPX5 Sport Drive Autopilot Drive Unit (sold between February and July 2009). As a result the mechanical clutch assembly may fail, causing the steering of the vessel to lock in one direction, with a possible risk to the safety of the vessel and crew.

Because of the potentially serious nature of the Sport Drive problem and the potential to render the vessels steering system inoperable, Raymarine is voluntarily recalling all Distributor, Dealer and Retail stock. We are also voluntarily recalling all Sport Drive units that are with the end user and installed on vessels. (Please refer to the Raymarine Voluntary Safety Recall Notice.)

Customers must stop using the products immediately and arrange de-installation and return to the retailer/dealer from whom it was purchased. The retailer/dealer will arrange for a replacement or, if preferred, a refund.

Any customers who have any questions regarding these products should contact Raymarine Product Support at (603) 881-5200 or go to Raymarine's website: http://www.raymarine.com/

Posted 6/04/09
2009 versions of BlueChart g2 in Garmin card format, BlueChart g2 in microSD/SD card format and BlueChart g2 Vision in microSD™/SD™ card format.
If you purchased any BlueChart g2 or BlueChart g2 Vision cards since April 8, 2009, please read this Recall
Notice to see if your product is affected.

DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY ISSUE
In certain waters, there are inaccuracies and/or omissions in the way that this specific version of charting presents depth contours and depth areas, resulting in the depiction of water depth as deeper than the actual depth under certain display conditions. This
may lead to boats going aground which, in certain circumstances, could lead to risk of personal injury.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
1. Do not use the affected cards for navigation.
2. Return affected products to Garmin for replacement.

OBTAINING REPLACEMENT CARDS
Any customer who owns a BlueChart g2 or BlueChart g2 Vision v2009 card will receive a free replacement BlueChart or BlueChart g2 Vision card v2008.5 (dated July 2008) When the latest version of BlueChart g2 and BlueChart g2 Vision are corrected, Garmin
will make them available free of charge to affected customers. Please contact your retailer or contact Garmin directly at
1-800-800-1020, www.garmin.com/support, or by e-mail at cartography@garmin.com.

Posted December 5, 2008
Limited Recall Notice ACR GlobalFix™ iPRO™ EPIRB

The full Safety Alert and Recall from ACR Electronics reads:
ACR has discovered that a small percentage of GlobalFix™ iPRO™ EPIRBs may not activate manually and has decided to issue a limited recall notice. The condition could exist in a maximum of 400 units built within serial number range of 1000 to 1688. If you own or have a GlobalFix™ iPRO™ that falls within this serial number range you should contact ACR's Customer Service department immediately at +1-854-862-2110 or at NBuckle@ACRelectronics.com.

ACR discovered that some of the witness seal tabs require the application of excessive force to put the switch into the correct position when manually activating the EPIRB. The water activation feature works separately and is not affected by the manual switch. The manual switch assembly needs to be reworked on a maximum of 400 units to insure that the switch and witness seal will activate as designed and intended. The 400 units potentially affected by this problem fall into the serial number range of 1000 -1688. If your GlobalFix™ iPRO™ serial number falls outside this range, then your GlobalFix™ iPRO™ is not affected by this notice. The 400 units could be of either the PIN 2846 Category I (automatic deploy) or PIN 2848 Category II (manual deploy) model.

This condition does not occur in any other ACR EPIRB model. This recall is limited to only the GlobalFix™ iPRO™ units falling within the serial number range of 1000 to 1688.

For more information or to obtain a Return Authorization contact:
ACR Customer Service
Telephone: +1-854-862-2110 (in the USA: 1-800-432-0227, ext. 2110)
E-Mail: NBuckle@ACRelectronics.com

Posted June 18, 2008
Switlik Life Raft Safety Alert and Recall Inspection Notice

The full Safety Alert and Recall from Switlik reads:

IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF A MARINE LIFE RAFT MANUFACTURED BY
SWITLIK PARACHUTE COMPANY,
IT MAY HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE INFLATION SYSTEM.

THIS IS NOT OBVIOUS AND COULD CAUSE FALSE RELIANCE ON A LIFE RAFT
THAT, IF NEEDED, MAY NOT INFLATE AND FUNCTION AS A LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

We have had reports recently from two Life Raft Service Stations of Switlik Life Raft inflation valves failing to operate properly and discharge the gas from the CO2 cylinder into the life raft. These malfunctions occurred during performance of annual service and standard 5-year operational and inflation testing.

Inspection of these valves indicated clear signs of changes in the consistency of the lubricant and a degradation of the piston O-ring material. This resulted in the O-rings adhering to the pistons and valve bodies, causing the inflation valves to malfunction.

We are implementing a corrective action that mandates replacement of the inflation valve with a valve that does not utilize this O-ring material and lubricant combination. While the instances and percentages of improper inflation system operation are relatively small, this issue directly affects whether or not a life raft will properly inflate in case of an emergency. We feel that this valve replacement should occur at your earliest practical opportunity.

To facilitate the inflation valve Service Bulletin in the safest and most expeditious manner for you, we will be replacing, at no charge to you, the existing S-2630 inflation valve/s on your life raft. (You are responsible for complying with any normal recommended service procedures and transportation of the Life Raft to and from the service facility.)

YOUR SAFETY is of the utmost importance to us! Please contact Switlik Parachute Company at (609) 587-3300 or click here for a listing of our Service Stations to schedule the servicing of your life raft and replacement of the inflation valve. We regret this occurrence and the inconvenience it causes you. Although the probability that your life raft will not work as designed is small, we are addressing this issue by erring on the side of safety.

We thank you for your patience while we work to make your time on the water safer.

SWITLIK PARACHUTE COMPANY
1325 East State Street, Trenton, N.J. 08609
Phone: (609)-587-3300 Fax: (609)-586-6647