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The decision came after the U.S. Commerce Department advised the Commission that 'At this time there are no mitigation strategies' that could prevent interference with GPS signals if the cell phone network planned by a private company, LightSquared, were to be built as proposed.

'This is a significant development for all GPS users,' said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich. 'The FCC, as America's guardian of our airwaves, needs to protect the integrity of the GPS system. It is one of the most important, reliable, and critical elements in navigation today – on boats, in the air, and on land.'

Something very sad recently happened to a small boating club in Winnipeg, Canada: The Redboine Boating Club was vandalized.

Due to floods in the last decade or so, the non-profit Redboine Boating Club is the last club remaining (of eight) on the river for Winnipeg residents. It is a great community asset by providing critical boating access and launch ramp services, hosts the Winnipeg River Rescue, offers the only fuel dock, and has given help and instruction to hundreds since its founding in 1950. Just two years ago, the club's 60 members renovated their clubhouse, which sadly, is now in terrible shape.

Fifteen marine products were honoured last Thursday February 16, for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 71st annual Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail. Thirteen companies took home the prestigious boating industry 2012 Innovation Award and two the Honorable Mention during NMMA’s State of the Recreational Boating Industry Breakfast, held this morning at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize products that best meet the following criteria:

For 65 years, outdoor enthusiasts have relied on The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show (TSS) to deliver the latest and greatest in everything to do with boating, fishing, camping and beyond. To celebrate the big “6-5”, The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, March 14-19, 2012 where more than 450 exhibitors will showcase the newest products, and absolute best in outdoor adventure and travel.

As a non-profit corporation, Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows is committed to conserving Canada's outdoors and instilling Canadian youth with an appreciation for nature and outdoor activity.

Making the decision to buy a boat comes easy for some people. Picking out a name for the boat, however, can prove to be much harder, according to Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).

“A boat name reflects the life and loves of the owner,” says Occoless Trotter of the BoatUS Boat Graphics department in Alexandria, Virginia, which helps boaters design their own boat names “But, it’s hard to sum it all up with just a few words.” The half-million-member boat owners group has been tallying the Top Ten Boat Names List for over two decades.

The Moorings, the world’s leading yacht charter company, announced today it will open a new base in Corfu, located just off Greece’s northwest coast. Corfu is the perfect starting point for a luxurious Moorings bareboat sailing or skippered charter through the region’s famous northern and southern Ionian Islands.

The flexible itineraries of Corfu yacht charter offer a range of experiences to suit all tastes.

M&P Mercury proudly announces their first Vancouver Island location at the Anchorage Marina Building at 1520 Stewart Ave, Nanaimo, two blocks from the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. The new Nanaimo M&P Mercury store is scheduled to open March 1, 2012 and will showcase Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner and Trophy boats. “Vancouver Island has always been a very important market to M&P Mercury,” stated President Bob Pappajohn. “We are excited for the opportunity to better represent our brands to our Island clientele in such an optimal location.”

To mark the opening of their fourth location, M&P Mercury will be hosting an Open House event in March; Dave Boxrud, Vancouver Island Store Manager, with 30 years sales experience, will be on-hand to consult.

With the debut of its third new Conquest model for 2012, the 315 Conquest, Boston Whaler has firmly placed itself at the cutting edge of the boatbuilding industry.

“The 315 Conquest joins a stunning class of new models, including the 285 Conquest, the 285 Conquest Pilothouse , the 210 Montauk and the 170 Dauntless, which demonstrates that the Boston Whaler team has truly pulled out all the stops,” said Ron Berman, Boston Whaler’s vice president of product development and engineering.

The International Marina Institute (IMI), the training subsidiary of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI), awarded eight marina professionals as Certified Marina Managers (CMM) and one marina professional as Certified Marina Operator (CMO) at the AMI-produced 2012 International Marina & Boatyard Marina Conference (IMBC) in Lake Buena Vista, FL, on February 2. The CMM designation recognizes and distinguishes the most highly qualified marina managers throughout the world.

The 50th annual Vancouver International Boat Show that ran from February 8 to February 12, closed with significant positive feedback from key stakeholders in its 250 exhibitor base, and an overall attendance of 32,981 – up 6% from 2011.

Held at the newly renovated BC Place and a new in-water venue at Granville Island, Western Canada’s premier boat show delivered exceptional results for the industry.  The expanded seminar program and features offered at the show proved to be popular public and media draws.

The Vancouver International Boat Show marked its 50th anniversary Wednesday -Sunday with steady attendance, enthusiastic crowds, and reports of strong boat and equipment sales. The show ran indoors at the renovated BC Place Stadium and afloat at Granville Island Marina, its first year at the latter venue.

On the busiest day, Saturday, combined attendance at the two venues was up 12 percent over 2011. Despite Saturday’s showery weather, more than 3,900 show-goers crowded the Granville Island docks – a one-day record for the in-water show.

Gill North America has partnered with Sunsail to offer the The Ultimate Sunsail and Gill Getaway Giveaway. The Grand Prize is a one week Sunsail charter up to 39 feet sailboat in the British Virgin Islands (ARV $4000 value) and $1000 value of Gill apparel. The British Virgin Islands offers an ideal blend of easy deep-water island hops, consistent trade winds, line-of-sight navigation and plentiful sheltered anchorages, making this an excellent family-friendly location and perfect for sailing vacations.

Mustang Survival showed the Catalyst Flotation Jacket for the first time on the Canadian West Coast at the 2012 Vancouver International Boat Show. The company also promoted PFD (personal flotation devices) awareness during the five day event with show greeters wearing lightweight inflatable PFDs at the newly renovated BC Place and by providing show attendees with PFDs while they took part in on-water seminars at the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina.

The CBC TV website reported on this dramatic story. One of three Canadians picked up by a giant container ship at sea overnight after a storm damaged and then sunk their Hawaii-bound sailboat is calling their dramatic rescue a "gauntlet of happiness."

Brad James, 32, told CBC News last Thursday morning after the rescue that he felt great, despite the dramatic chain of events that left him and his nine-year-old son, West, floating in the dark sea for 2½ hours.

Poralu Marine has announced that the company is expanding its areas of expertise with the installation of a floating solar platform at Canoe Brook in the state of New Jersey, about 25 km from New York.

The market for energy produced from photovoltaic panels is developing increasingly on water, with the use of floating installations. This is in response to strong constraints in terms of the competitiveness and lack of availability of large sites of land suitable for development.

Businesses in western Canada’s manufacturing sector will be able to increase their competitive edge thanks to a federal investment of $9.8 million announced last week at the University of British Columbia.

At UBC’s Vancouver campus, Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, unveiled the pan-western Composites Research Network (CRN) which aims to provide businesses the necessary skills and knowledge in a rapidly expanding and evolving industry.

For Canadian marine industry professionals who either sell to, or buy from the USA, the following economic indicators released by the NMMA will be of interest. Some of the data is really encouraging and overall, our impression is that the American economy is starting to lift, buoyed perhaps by such factors as overall adjustment over time and the excitement of the upcoming elections.

Software manufacturer Northport Systems Inc. has announced the next-generation of its pioneering, user-friendly marine navigation software, Fugawi Marine 5™.

Redesigned to utilize the newest Windows® technology, Fugawi Marine 5 revolutionizes navigation, waypoint management, and chart downloading. The all-new software features MarineTouch™ touch-screen control optimized for use with Windows 7 and 8 touchscreen tablets, ClearChart™ ultra fast, smooth and brilliantly clear chart presentation, SurePlanner™ simple, intuitive and efficient route and waypoint planning,

Drew Alford has been hired as Territory Representative for Southwestern Ontario. Most recently Drew was with Ports Cruising Guides covering Ontario, and has past experience in Marine Finance operations.

Sean Beamish has been appointed Territory Representative for Eastern Ontario. Sean has several years experience with Land’N’Sea as the territory representative for Southwestern Ontario, as well as being the former product manager for Mercruiser and Motorguide for Mercury Marine Canada.

At the 2012 Toronto International Boat Show, Icom Canada was recognized by the Aquanaute Training Centre (ATC) with the most prestigious “Sponsorship Excellence Award” for their outstanding contribution and leadership to responsible and Safe Boating, presented by ATC President Vahe T. Vassilian to Jason Wegwitz, Marine Manager, Marketing Coordinator of Icom Canada. For more information contact: www.aquanaute.ca and www.icomcanada.com.