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The Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 (The Greatest Loop) was at the Port Credit Yacht Club this past Saturday afternoon for a viewing, combined with a cocktail party sponsored by Anchor Yacht Sales the Beneteau Power Boat Dealer, Powerboat America-Beneteau Group and Canadian Yachting. The new Trawler was a great hit with the guests who got to explore the fit and finish of this magnificent vessel as well as see the versatility and ease of handling that was demonstrated in the harbour.

Naval Architect Stephen Leake launches a new style of houseboat -the Esposa 15-5.

There was a time when savvy consumers recognized the value of being able to live and vacation on the water comfortably yet be mobile. Boaters chose the ubiquitous North American houseboat style. Many of those offered thirty years ago are no longer in production. Those that remain are tired, shabby and require considerable investment to restore to modern requirements.

Canadian rep firm Agence CK has added the Schmitt line of steering wheels and related accessories to its current offerings of Schmitt & Ongaro products.  Agence CK now serves as the company's exclusive rep for Eastern Canada and the Maritimes.  Timothy Schmitt, president of Schmitt & Ongaro Marine Products, made the announcement.

Agence CK's history with Ongaro products extends back over a decade, before Ongaro was acquired by Schmitt.  "Agence CK has a proven track record with our company.  We look forward to the new opportunities they'll present with their additional responsibilities," said Schmitt.

Ken Blodgett and his wife Pam McLaughlin-Blodgett have been running Canadian Yacht charters for the past 20 years, pictured here are Ken and Pam just prior to a surprise Birthday Party that Pam organized for her Husband last Saturday night, upwards of 30 friends and clients attended a sit down dinner at the School House restaurant in Providence Bay in honour of Ken.   

It shouldn't take National Safe Boating Awareness Week (May 19-25) to remind us that life jackets are important, even for man's best friend. But no matter if you have a water dog or a lap dog, the life jacket has to be right-sized – so how will you know it fits?

We thank the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety that has released "Foundation Findings #52," the latest boating safety equipment product testing series now chronicled in the June/July 2012 BoatUS Magazine, "It's a Dog's Life (Jacket)."

Doing its part to support those in need of aid, SmartPlug recently made a donation to International Rescue Group.  The company gave this non-profit organization shore power cables and inlets.

"International Rescue Group is a great group of people who are working hard to help others," said Aaron Bronson, SmartPlug sales rep.  "This group helps survivors all over the world and we're proud to help further this cause."

After 34 years at The Store, Lori Mason is retiring. Her deal to sell The Store is complete and her last days will be Friday May 18 from 10am-4pm and Saturday May 19 from 10am-4pm. We would like to invite you to come by The Store on those days to say goodbye, sign a book and give Lori a lasting memory of all those who were so much a part of her life.

An active and respected member of the Canadian Marine Industry, she was the recipient of the CASBA Award for Top Individual Dedicated to Safe Boating for her many safety seminars in 2000;

BRP begins a program to test butanol-extended fuel in a variety of recreational marine engines for Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. Butanol-extended fuel will be tested as an alternative to gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a waiver allowing up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline. According to industry test data published last October, E15 can cause significant damage to marine engines.

ASA Electronics, manufacturer of the industry leading Jensen brand announced they have purchased the assets of Marine Audio Engineering and Sales.  For the past 35 years, ASA has been dedicated to providing premium, high quality JENSEN products to the industry and this acquisition will diversify ASA’s portfolio allowing them to add additional outdoor electronics to their line-up.

Marine Audio, a St. Louis, Missouri based company, has been an established leader in the audio entertainment industry for many years and is regarded as one of the leading suppliers of environmentally engineered outdoor entertainment systems.

On April 23rd, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada launched its enhanced Watercraft Policy. The policy has several advantages including a new discount, improved deductible options, expanded navigational coverage, travel-sized certificates of insurance and greater damage coverage.

The enhanced policy provides a 5% discount if the watercraft owner also has their home covered by Chubb Canada, and provides a 0.5% deductible option for boats with hull values over $50,000. Recognizing that many boaters live along the border, there are enhanced navigational limits with expanded West Coast navigation and a more cost effective Port of New York trip charge.

US footwear giants, Wolverine Worldwide, owners of Sebago, have announced effective 1 May one of their largest acquisitions to date: Wolverine Worldwide has purchased Collective Brands’ Performance and Lifestyle Group (PLG) consisting of Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds.

This adds to Wolverine’s existing portfolio of Sebago, Merrell, Hush Puppies, Wolverine, and Caterpillar Footwear.

Wolverine has a good track record of successfully integrating brands. As well as creating a $2.5 billion global footwear and lifestyle empire, this transaction also brings established marine names Sebago and Sperry Top-Sider into the same powerful stable of iconic brands.

For the second time in two years, boat-builder Doral International has filed for bankruptcy. According to an article in La Presse, owner Denis Poliseno filed after rejecting an offer from Investissement Québec. Poliseno had taken out a $2 million start-up loan from the provincial investment corporation after he bought the firm’s assets in a 2010 bankruptcy.

The bankruptcy buys the firm 30 days to seek out new partners or even a purchaser.

KCS International Inc., (KCS) parent company of Cruisers Yachts and Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts, announced the first sport boat from newly acquired Azure Sport Boats, will roll off the line on Monday, May 7. The AZ 258 Bow Rider will include a MerCruisers, 350 Mag, Bravo-3 I/O (inboard/outboard) engine from Mercury Marine, officially making the boat 100 percent assembled in Wisconsin.

“Since we announced the acquisition of Azure at the Miami International Boat Show in February, there has been great anticipation for this day both within the boating industry and at KCS,” said Mark Pedersen, president of KCS International Inc.

Durasafe has announced a new line of “Codeable” locks and two new Canadian distributors. These unique new locks “learn” your vehicle key.

The company has announced 12 new distributors and dealers in North America who now carry the unique BOLT® (Breakthrough One-Key Lock Technology) codeable lock products line from DuraSafe.

The new distributors include Hutchings Marine Products and KTL (Canada).

ALACHUA, FLORIDA – APRIL 30 – Morgan Industries Corporation, the parent company of Hunter Marine Corporation and the Luhrs Marine Group family of boat manufacturing businesses, announced today that it and its U.S. subsidiaries (the “Company”) filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganization in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company is a global leader in the production of recreational powerboats and sailboats under the iconic brand names of Hunter Marine, Silverton, Ovation, Luhrs, and Mainship. The business reorganization is intended to bolster liquidity, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable the company to focus on its most valuable business lines and assets.

Like tens of thousands of others, Les Baker of Bethany, ON, went to the 2012 Toronto International Boat Show in search of the boat of his dreams and the best deals of the year. The first-time boater knew that with more than 550 exhibitors and over 1,000 boats of every size, make and model filling the one-million square feet of the Direct Energy Centre, Canada’s largest boat show is the best place to see and buy the latest in boats and boating-related accessories. What Baker didn’t know, was how easy it would be to win $10,000 towards the purchase of his boat once he found it!

Oceanair, the world’s leading supplier in the design and manufacture of marine blinds and shading solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paynes Marine Group as its new distributor in Canada.

With over 29 years in the marine industry, Paynes Marine Group runs four branches across Canada and represents many marine brands including Lewmar and Standard Horizon.

Beneteau Ameriac has announced that Anchor Yacht Sales in Port Credit, Ontario is one of two new dealers that have signed on to represent the powerboats division. The other dealer is South Coast Yacht Sales in San Diego, California.

“We’re committed to establishing the most knowledgeable, customer-focused dealer network possible throughout North America. Adding South Coast Yachts on the west coast along with Anchor Yacht Sales in Canada to our already distinguished list of powerboat dealers brings us two steps closer to achieving our goal,” said Laurent Fabre, vice president of sales and marketing for Beneteau’s North American powerboats division.

Chemring Marine’s Canadian distributor DSS Marine has expanded by opening FitzWright Survival Incorporated in Vancouver, British Columbia.

FitzWright, based at 2459 Beta Avenue, in Burnaby, is well-known for its Marine and Aviation Immersion Suit Systems, but its strong client base will now have access to products sold through the DSS Group.

These include Comet and Pains Wessex marine distress signals, which are manufactured by Chemring Marine, the world’s leading company in the sector.

Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. has been selected as one of the Top 20 BCBusiness Leading Innovators for 2012.  The award was announced by Canada Wide Media Ltd., publisher of BCBusiness, in Vancouver, British Columbia, in late March.  The honor recognizes Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd.'s cadmium-free Martyr II Aluminum anodes, which prevent underwater corrosion without releasing toxic chemicals.

A panel of Canada's top business experts chose Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. to join an elite echelon of companies that refuse to settle for the status quo and are a force to be reckoned with, according to Canada Wide Media.