The Toronto International Boat Show always makes buying a boat a fun and easy experience, but now picture what it’s like to buy your first boat and then top it off by winning $10,000 towards the purchase of that boat – incredible! That’s what happened to Shawn and Pamela Parsons of Innisfil, Ontario at the 2011 Toronto Boat Show. The Parsons are this year’s winner of The Buy A Boat & Win Contest sponsored by Skippers’ Plan, Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance and the Toronto International Boat Show.

Anyone who purchased a boat at the 2011 show qualified to enter the contest. The Parsons qualified when they purchased a Chaparral 2011 SSi WT 216.

“We are thrilled and incredibly lucky to have won,” exclaimed Shawn Parsons. “The Chaparral is our first boat, and we debated for two years whether we should buy one new or used, and it worked out better than we could have ever imagined. We can’t wait to take it for a cruise through Lake Simcoe this summer and for years to come.”

This is a highlight of the job for Andrew Robertson, President of Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance, who has been a sponsor of the contest since its inception.  “The Buy A Boat & Win contest is truly a great program and something that we are pleased to be a part of. The Toronto International Boat Show is a consumer show and the contest is able to provide the extra incentive in moving forward and making a decision to purchase.”

More boats are purchased at the Toronto Boat Show than any other place or event in Canada. Incredible selection, low interest rates, intense dealer competition and numerous in-show specials make the show Canada’s best marine marketplace.

Photo, from L-R: Scott Dallimore, Sandy Cove Marine; Mark McKenzie, Sandy Cove Marine; Andrew Parsons, Victoria Parsons, Pamela Parsons, winner; Shawn Parsons, winner; Cynthia Hare, Show Manager, Toronto International Boat Show; Andrew Robertson, Robertson & Robertson, Skippers Plan.