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Boating Industry magazine, headquartered in the USA has announced the results of their seventh-annual Top 100 Dealers program and Canadian dealerships have achieved an impressive result.

While powerboat unit sales across North America continued to decline in 2010, the Top 100 Dealers, added together, increased their revenue nearly 9 percent to $957 million – $1.51 billion, if you include Top 100 Dealers Hall of Fame Members MarineMax Inc. and Galati Yacht Sales.

Buckeye Marine was again  ranked as the Top Dealer in Ontario for the 7th consecutive year in Boating Industry Magazine’s annual Top 100 Dealer Awards and the only Canadian dealer to have been ranked in the program every year since the inception. Although retaining this stature is an exciting accomplishment in itself, Buckeye is also proud to rank 8th in North America and also as the Top ranking single location dealership in Canada.

“To be once again named in the Top 10 dealers on the continent is an amazing accomplishment that we share with our staff and our customers.”

Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA), the virus that devastated the Chilean salmon farming industry a few years ago, appears to be lurking in BC waters as well. Although not yet confirmed, cases of this exotic virus have been identified in Pacific salmon in several locations on the coast. ISAv, which is endemic to Atlantic salmon, can only have originated from imported farm salmon eggs. Rather than attempting to discredit the findings, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia must take urgent action.

With a full room and an engaged audience, ICOMIA’s 1st International Hybrid Marine Propulsion Conference turned out to be a success as it preceded METS on Monday at the Amsterdam RAI.

“ICOMIA is very pleased to be leading this conference, said Tony Rice, ICOMIA Secretary General. “We are delighted about the turnout and the support we have from Amsterdam RAI with a superb setting of the Emerald Lounge.”

Former Vice President of Government Affairs, Margaret Bonds Podlich has been named President of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). Her new role with the Association, which is celebrating its 45th year, broadens her responsibilities to include external communications encompassing Government Affairs and Public Relations as well as other association programs, benefits and services. This includes developing the association's official policy positions and leading the advocacy efforts on behalf of the nation's recreational boat owners. Podlich's promotion comes after the half-million member boat owners group recently lost its former President, Nancy Michelman, to a courageous battle with cancer.

Jim Snare and Sunnybrook Yachts have announced that Jim Newell has joined Sunnybrook Yachts as a member of their yacht brokering team. 

With experience throughout Atlantic Canada operating Lifeline Marine Services, Jim's expertise as a technician, will serve a buyer or seller well.

Jim hopes to develop and grow existing relationships with uncompromising customer service and professionalism.

True North Yachts founding partner Ross Bryden Richardson, passed away peacefully at 9:50pm on Monday November 14th at Princess Margaret Hospital after a courageous battle with lung cancer. 

Ross was not an observer of life but rather one of its most active participants.  He amazed everyone with his determination to win this fight and participated in both sporting and social events right up to the very end.

Skyline International Development Inc., held a ground-breaking ceremony on November 9 for their new Port McNicoll Yacht Club, a focal point of the ongoing revitalization of the Port McNicoll, Ontario waterfront.

The design for the Port McNicoll Yacht Club reclaims the town’s lost waterfront heritage and will form one of the hubs of a vibrant new redevelopment along nearly 11 kilometres of once inaccessible shoreline. When completed, the Port McNicoll Yacht Club and its associated facilities will be a primary gateway to easy exploration of Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

At the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, Cruisers Yachts unveiled interior upgrades on their 350 Express and 380 Express models which focused on the navigational center, stylish fabrics and adding more natural light to enhance the on-board experience. These new interiors bring a mega-yacht feel to these mid-size models.

“At Cruisers Yachts, we believe every design must benefit the overall yachting experience,” said Russ Davis, director of marketing for Cruisers Yachts.

The Toronto International Boat Show, January 14 – 22, 2012 has announced their list of free activities designed to add entertainment and enjoyment to show visitors seraching for the boat of their dreams

Some of the great 2012 Toronto International Boast Show special attractions are:

THE LAKE will be back to provide indoor thrills without the outside chills.

The Vancouver International Boat Show has announced that the in-water portion of the show will be relocating to the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina. In addition, the indoor venue for the Show returns to the newly renovated BC Place.

“2012 is a monumental year for the Vancouver International Boat Show,” says Linda Waddell, Show Director. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show, we’re excited to be moving to Granville Island.  We’ll have a larger area to showcase boats on the market – and where attendees can have a great Show experience.”

According to a ranking by a leading marine trade publication, four out of the five top boat dealers in North America are Sea Ray dealers — including the number one dealer, Prince William Marine Sales, which earned the top ranking for the second consecutive year. In addition, Sea Ray dealers make up nine of the top 20 dealer rankings and 29 of the top 100, and Sea Ray dealer MarineMax Inc. remains the first dealership inducted into the Top 100 Dealers Hall of Fame, an honor worthy of the company’s continued dedication to maximizing its customers' enjoyment on the water.

Canadian Sea Ray dealers did very well, capturing 9 of the 29 spots on Sea Ray's list of Top 100 dealers.

Several years ago, Dave McPhail and his wife Sharon started Boacan Computer Boat Sales a successful on-line marine advertising website. During his time in the marine industry Dave has been extremely active serving on various boards and committees to enhance and promote boating in Ontario and Canada.

Three years ago Dave was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, which was inoperable and not curable.

Employees at Interlux® North America headquarters in New Jersey recently applied the company’s antifouling, topcoat and deck paint systems to better understand what Interlux customers experience during the bottom painting process and to familiarize themselves with the products the company manufactures.

Products applied included InterProtect 2000E epoxy barrier coat, Trilux 33 antifouling, 404 Epoxy primer, Perfection topcoat and Interdeck.

Just a reminder that the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association (NSBA) will be holding an American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Electrical Certification Course at the Atlantic Beer Institute in the Brewery Market Building in Halifax (1496 Lower Water Street), November 29th to December 2nd, 2011: Facilitated by ABYC, this course is designed for the marine technician with at least three to five years' experience working with marine electricity.  The student also needs some familiarity with ABYC electrical standards.  Course topics include: electrical theory, lead-acid batteries, using a multi-meter, battery testing, generator sets, inverters, grounding and bonding systems, troubleshooting and more.

For its 40th Anniversary, Doral Marine International is pleased to announce the launch of the 275 Venezia Limited Edition for its 2012 Cruisers line-up.

The 275 Venezia design was first launched in 2008 as the “next generation” of the Doral family of luxury cruisers and received the 2009 Design Award from the Trailer Boats Excellence program. For 2012, the 275 Venezia Limited Edition – with a 9’4" beam – features many of the wants and needs of a North American boater with a European flair in style and design.

The votes have been counted and Canadians have swept both the consumer and partner categories of the 2011 Mercury Films Festival.

Mercury Marine announced Oct. 27 during a media event in Fort Lauderdale that Lonnie King and Cody Graham have won the Mercury Films Festival promotion for their consumer and partner videos.

Mercury invited consumers, partners and employees to submit their own on-the-water videos this summer for a chance to win a free engine, fishing trips and more.