Mark Hart is a sales manager for marine leisure and equipment at Barrus.

Q What is your role at Barrus?
MH: I am the Sales Manager for Marine Leisure and Equipment and joined Barrus in April this year. It has been an enjoyable and busy few months getting out and about meeting lots of customers. I have been lucky enough to travel to Italy to meet customers based out there and enjoyed my first Seawork and Southampton Boat Show as part of the Barrus team. Set up in 2018 the Marine Equipment division has seen tremendous growth, and I am looking forward to contributing to its future success.

Q Barrus has a history going back more than 100 years. What would you say are some of the company’s biggest achievements?
MH: Barrus has always been an innovator and has constantly adapted to new opportunities and challenges, and today its business operations cover the marine, garden, industrial and vehicle markets.

Barrus first became involved in the marine market during the late 1920s with the concept of what became known in the 1990s as the ‘package boat’. This was a series of boats that came fully equipped and priced to suit most pockets.
With a reputation for specialist design and engineering, Barrus is also a leading custom-engine builder. The Post Immersion Restart System, an outboard engine that can be rapidly restarted after being submerged, was pioneered for the RNLI and the professional rescue services. It would be true to say that there is scarcely a single professional rescue organisation around the UK that does not use Barrus-supplied equipment. At the company’s headquarters in Bicester, you can see everything from custom-built marine and industrial engines, inflatable boats and outboard engines, garden machinery and tools, wellington boots and gardening gloves to electric utility vehicles. The line-up of brands includes Mercury and Mariner outboards, Beneteau boats, Zodiac inflatable boats and marine equipment such as Barton, Simrad and International Paints.

Q Can you tell us about Mercury Marine’s Avator™ electric outboard concept, announced earlier this year.
MH: The Avator program is a further step towards Mercury’s commitment to sustainability and product excellence. The Avator concept provides a sense of what Mercury believes is important for an initial electric propulsion offering: ease of use, premium quality, efficiency and a great user experience. Mercury intends to make the first formal Avator product introduction in January 2023 and bring five electric outboards to market in 2023.

 

Q What else is coming up for Barrus in 2023?
MH: Following the successful launch at Southampton and an overwhelming response to our new SEAFLO brand, we will be extending the range by adding a further 40 new products in all categories such as bilge, freshwater and sanitation. This includes the introduction of a new Quiet Flush freshwater electric marine toilet offering a great combination of quality and affordability.

From the anchor manufacturer Rocna, there will be a new Mk11 model which was showcased at METS in Amsterdam last month and will be available early next year. Also being featured at METS are new products from UK manufacturer Barton Marine including a new range of wind indicators, stanchion bullseye and flush-mounted deck plates. All are available for the 2023 season.

We recently announced a new distribution agreement with the long-established boatbuilder Beneteau; we are the UK dealer for the Flyer Range, which has been totally renewed, and the bestselling Antares Range of outboard boats.

Q Are you a boater yourself?
MH: Yes, I enjoy shared ownership of a small Hardy with a Mercury (what else) 30hp. I love being out on the water as it is a great escape from my busy life.

Q What kind of boating do you enjoy?
MH: Sea fishing – I particularly enjoy dawn and dusk when there is little traffic, the water is calm and the sun is rising or setting.

Q What is your dream boat?
MH: Never an easy one and if outside my current financial limitations (wife allowing) I would buy a bigger Hardy, or if I had the money (and you could guarantee the sunshine) a Duchy 35 – I would always buy British!

Q Can you tell us something people might not know about you?
MH: I love playing hockey, it is a great team sport that attracts some great people. I have friendships that have extended more than 30 years because of it and my wife and both daughters all play at a high standard too!

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