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Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Over the past four decades, the name Latham Marine has become synonymous with innovation, quality and Made-in-America solutions for boaters, boat builders, engine manufacturers and government agencies the world over. And to celebrate their 40-year success story, Bob and Kathy Latham will once again host the POW/MIA Dragster in booth I-100 at the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, February 14-18.
This 1955 Chevy Bellaire Dragster--restored by Army veteran Max Loffgren and a host of other vets, family and friends--is adorned with the hand-painted names of all 3,578 MIAs and POWs from the Viet Nam war and is a tribute to all who served. The car tours the nation under non-profit Never Forgotten Inc., founded by Loffgren in 1993; the organization helps veterans and their families in various associations like the POW Network, National League and National Alliance of Families. While Latham Marine celebrates its 40th Anniversary, last year was the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.
The Miami show offers boaters the unique opportunity to not only see and learn about Latham's World Class Marine Hardware & Steering™ "factory direct," but to see those products in-use on the broad spectrum of boats and motors that have come to rely on Latham Marine. Among OEMs on display at the Miami Show with Latham Steering and parts will be Intrepid, MTI, Thunderbird and Seven Marine. In addition, Statement Marine's new 50' catamaran will show the new super-duty Latham #8 mount, developed for the powerful Mercury Racing 1350's, as will Douglas Marine Skaters;both 38' and 52' cats.
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| The new Super-Duty Latham #8 Mount |
From trim tabs and controls, to custom rudders, hydraulic lifts and heavy-duty steering components for the big-power outboards from Yamaha, Mercury andSeven Marine, Latham can be found throughout the show on boats ranging from high-performance cats, to center console fishing boats and large sport cruisers. And it's not just boat and motor makers who turn to Latham for custom-made solutions. Law enforcement, race teams , government defense departments and the military all rely on the engineering prowess of Bob Latham to tweak their set-up and pack-in every ounce of performance that can be gained. Latham Marine has solved problems for some of the toughest, most demanding customers, anywhere.
But, it's no wonder. Bob and Kathy have built a business through attention to detail, quality design and quality manufacturing; providing "real world" solutions to "real world" problems. When boaters of all kinds have an issue with operations or parts, they call on Bob, who has a relentless pursuit of perfection and refuses to build anything that he wouldn't put on his own boat. His life and business partner, Kathy, has been the business manager and keeps the company in the black through all the ups and downs of the marine industry. Diversification has served the team well.
What began as a one-man mobile service and rigging operation, working from the back of a panel van, quickly grew through reputation. It was a reputation built in the grueling environs of offshore boat racing and then burst onto the world scene with the first marine hydraulic steering systems. It was the first of many firsts, some of which remain confidential due to client agreement.
Today, Latham Marine offers over 10,000 parts and 7,000 components all engineered and built in the USA and hard-tested in the most brutal conditions resulting in robust, incredibly reliable marine hardware.
Latham Marine is proud of our country and the opportunities it affords, and has routinely paid tribute to the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our beliefs and principles. When they met Max Loffgren at the Reno Air Show and learned of his POW/MIA Dragster, the couple was enamored enough with the idea to sponsor a tour of the Southeast, beginning with the 2010 Miami International Boat Show. The exhibit garnered Latham Marine a "Best Engine/Engine Accessories Display" award from the National Marine Manufacturers Association, but more importantly drew heavy traffic and allowed people of all ages to admire the car for its hand-built craftsmanship as well as its remembrance message. Among them, Deidra Bridger, of Tampa, Florida, who was emotionally moved to find her father, listed on the car and former Air Force Lt. Paul Granger of San Diego, California, who was at the show with some buddies and happened upon the car and HIS name painted on the side.
Granger graciously signed the dragsters tailfin, where a number of other former POWs who have encountered the black Chevy have affixed their names. He approached the car with caution, having seen his share of POW exploitation, but commended Loffgren and Latham Marine. "Max is to be congratulated for a professional and respectful presentation and you could tell from talking with Kathy and Bob that their hearts are really in it, it's not just a promotional activity for them," he said.
Proud of their country, proud of their industry and proud of their 40 years in it, Bob and Kathy Latham will spend their anniversary year as every other business year: planning for the future and continuing to steer ahead.
The entire line of over 10,000 Latham Marine components can be seen atwww.lathammarine or call 954 462-3055, 800-422-7267 (RAMS)
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