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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.

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 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,

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.

After the success of its 30 amp products, SmartPlug Systems now offers its unique product in 50 amps.  Designed for larger boats, the new Connector and Inlet incorporate the same revolutionary features as the original 30 amp version.

The SmartPlug's straight-in, sleeved design enables the body of the plug to bear weight, instead of the electrical pins.  This keeps the points of electrical contact secure and makes sure the pins don't work themselves loose.  Intuitive to use, owners simply push the plug straight in until the side levers click and then snap the locking cap down on top to finish the job.  The unique shape of the plug makes it easy to orient, since it can only be plugged in one way.  No twisting is required.

The managers of the Vancouver International Boat Show wanted to remind you that as a valued exhibitor, you are entitled to:

Have you boats that will be on display appear on the Vancouver International Boat Show website at no charge. You can also have unlimited New & Used Listings on Boatdealers.ca until March 31st 2012 at no charge.

The "CASBAs" Canada's boating safety awards were presented at a dinner and awards event held during the Toronto International Boat Show, on January 15th, 2012.

Across Canada, four individuals and four organizations stand out in 2011 – whether for their efforts that saved the lives of students capsized in a gale, teaching people how to use lifejackets to save the lives of loved ones, inventing a new product to aid rescuers in finding those stranded in the water, or providing their boating expertise and helping to protect the environment.

Aquabus, a new water-taxi service in Ottawa, Ontario, promises elegance and silence on an eco-friendly boat.  For a clean, quiet river cruise, Au feel de l'eau (Go with the Flow) is powered by electric motors from Torqeedo.

"We were sold on Torqeedo because it's a light, powerful outboard that's waterproof and easy to remove," said Jean-Marc Hénot, who owns Au feel de l'eau with his wife, Sylvie Lyonnais.  "The Twin Cruise 4.0 R makes it easier to maneuver the boat.  We also like the long running time."

Through its subsidiary across the Atlantic, Poralu Marine is continuing to develop its activity in North America with the renovation of the Outer Harbour Marina, located in Toronto. Capital of the province of Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest city with 2.5 million inhabitants.

Under the terms of an invitation to tender launched by the Port Authority of Toronto, Poralu Marine was awarded the renovation of the marina of the Outer Harbour with a replacement of the pontoons, fingers and gangways.

Novatec Braids Ltd., manufacturer of Novabraid ropes for marine, industrial, and military applications is pleased to partner with FJORD LLC, the North Carolina USA manufacturer of Chafe-Pro® to serve the Canadian market.

FJORD holds US patent (#5441790) for Chafe-Pro®’s unique hook and loop design with wrap-around-closing feature. Chafe-Pro® is currently protecting lines for our Canadian Coast Guard, 95% of the US Coast Guard fleet, and more than 75 US Navy vessels.

Fluid Motion, LLC, the designers and builders of the popular line of Ranger Tugs have introduced the newest model in the fleet—the Ranger 31. The new R31 will debut this month at the Seattle Boat Show in the Stadium Exhibition Center, January 26-Feburary 5. Hull #2 is expected to make the East Coast debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 16-20 at Sea Isle Marina on Biscayne Bay.

The R31 shares many of the features and qualities of her smaller sisterships but some notable additions to this larger model make her ideal for extended cruising while still being a trailerable trawler.

Boating Industry Canada readers can now access a Technical Guidance Document for the Marine Spark-Ignition Engine, Vessel and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations (Regulation) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. 

This document is intended to aid in the understanding of the Regulations and consequently compliance with the Regulations.  It is available on Environment Canada's

Lori Mason, president of The Store, Mason's Chandlery, and Morten Fogh, president of Fogh Marine, have announced an agreement in principle for Morten to purchase The Store, Mason's Chandlery. The expected deal should be done by the end of February.  It will be business as usual at both locations before and afterwards.

After almost 34 years (in April) the Mason’s are finally retiring to Picton. “It has been the best career I could ever think of” stated Lori Mason, “I am so happy that my parents choose to open The Store back in 1978 and gave me an opportunity to work here 34 years while buying the store from them.