Nonlinear coupling between two hydrodynamical oscillators is experimentally investigated. The oscillators are obtained by heating a free surface from below by means of a hot-wire, generating propagating waves. The oscillators are spatially separated by a sink in the wave train. The use of a hot-wire gives to the studied geometry a strong one-dimensional character, allowing to vividly illustrate typical behaviors of nonlinear coupling between oscillators, in the case of a Marangoni driven convection. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.