How does a company based in Hiram, Ohio, come to be a leader in marine technology? In the case of Duramax Marine, it all started in the late 1800s with maple syrup buckets. Tapping trees was and still is big business in Amish country. When the industry moved to metal buckets with lids, they needed rubber seals, which led to bearings, and the rest was history.
I’m down in New Orleans this week for the WorkBoat Maintenance and Repair show. Compared to Maine late winter/early mud season, the spring weather down here feels a might steamy. So I grabbed a chance to catch up with Mike Schonauer from Duramax to see a demonstration on their DuraCooler SuprStak keel cooler.
About a year ago, the company invested in a full-scale water tunnel to test water flow and maximize cooling efficiency. The research from that investment led to the addition of flow diverter scoops which draws water in through the cooler. While Duramax is not officially releasing their numbers while the patent is pending, they will claim a double digit increase in efficiency.
But increasing the flow through the TurboTunnel is a delicate endeavor. Too much flow, and you run into a corrosion problem. The SuprStak is designed for optimized flow that meets Tier III and IV requirements. Check it out at www.duramaxmarine.com.
