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In just a few short months, Marquis Yachts has rapidly become one of the leading luxury yacht manufacturers represented in China.  Robert VanGrunsven, President of Marquis Yachts, showcased these accomplishments on Tuesday, May 3^rd with news of aggressive distribution advancement and recent retail sales success achieved by the company over the last 12 months through the new Marquis multilingual sales office in Shanghai.

We in the boating industry are sensitive to environmental issues and of course, vitally concerned about boat sales and usage too, so a decline in the availability of on-the-water fuel is a worry.

Boating Industry Canada prepared the following On-The-Water Fuel Sales Survey to learn more about the availability of on-the-water fuel for this coming summer, 2011.

Don’t let a cold spring stop your customers from enjoying boating!!

Wallas forced air marine heaters and stoves represent the state of the art in marine cooking systems. 

Both the diesel and kerosene models eliminate the need for hazardous propane systems, while providing responsive high temperature heaters and stoves that will give years of service. 

Surveyors represent the largest occupational group of all the ABYC members.  Responsible surveyors perform surveys using the ABYC Standards and thereby protect their customers from unpleasant surprises and dangerous revelations.  This concern for a client’s well-being is what separates you from those people who lack the commitment to provide the best for their customers. Thomas Ask, an Associate Professor in the School of Construction Design at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and his book the Handbook of Marine Surveying describe the tools of responsible surveying and deliver another valuable asset in your toolbox.

Canadian solo sailor Derek Hatfield has finished second in the fourth sprint of the VELUX 5 OCEANS round the world yacht race as he sailed into Charleston, South Carolina.

The 58-year-old sailed into Charleston, South Carolina, after racing more than 5981 nautical miles from Punta del Este in Uruguay. Derek, at the helm of Active House, crossed the finish line in Charleston Harbor at 07.36 am local time following 23 days, 19 hours and 36 minutes at sea, only 15 hours behind the race leader Brad Van Liew.

To clarify recent media reports regarding new standards for Pleasure Craft Operator Card testing we have asked John Gullick, CPS Manager of Government & Special Programmes at the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) for a response.

Q: I hear there are a number of changes coming from Transport Canada that will affect the Pleasure Craft Operator Card programme. Is that true?

Beginning on May 1, 2011, The Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) and Robertson & Robertson’s Skippers Plan join forces to offer CYA members a number of exclusive unique feature benefits including  a one-stop  source for home, auto and commercial insurance.

” Our alliance with Skippers Plan creates an unprecedented opportunity to provide our members with a full spectrum of insurance services, not just on their boats but also on the rest of their insurance needs,” notes the CYA’s Executive Director Paddy Boyd.

After completing the Swift Trawler range with a third model this year (the new Swift Trawler 44), Beneteau is preparing to strike again in the power arena, bringing to the North American market a new line of express cruisers ranging from 34 to 49 feet.

Beneteau is pleased to announce the addition of the Flyer Gran Turismo range to its product line of powerboats in the US and Canada, with the launch of 4 models during the Fort Lauderdale boat show this October 2011.

… or an echo?

We want to know what percentage of Canada’s on-the-water retail fuel outlets plan to continue selling fuel this summer.

Will your tanks be full, or empty?

Maretron and Airmar announced a joint cooperation to implement an, up until now, underutilized advanced feature of an NMEA 2000® network standard. This multi-manufacturer configuration feature was planned by NMEA to provide for mixed manufacturer’s products to be configured by one another’s devices over a network.

Airmar and Maretron have been cooperating for some time as Airmar has been supplying Maretron® with a Depth/Speed/Temperature triducer since 2004.

Earlier this month, NMMA Canada organized a two day strategy session to address a number of important issues facing the industry across the country including the shortage of skills trades. A committee made up of MTAs and NMMA members has been created to address the problem in the coming months. The group has identified that a national standardized program needs to be established. Tim Martin from the Alberta MTA will lead the group.  “Regional MTAs joined the NMMA Canada Board of Directors in a roll up their sleeves session where many important issues were identified.

BRP will donate warm clothing to relief efforts in Japan.

The clothing was distributed to its subsidiary, BRP Japan, who will redirect it to people most in need.

“The Japan earthquake and tsunami has left so many homeless during such a cold time of the year,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO.

BRP, in cooperation with the Centre de technologies avancées BRP-Université de Sherbrooke (CTA), will develop the chassis and locomotion systems for a Lunar Exploration Light Rover and a Mars Exploration Science Rover.

BRP was awarded $5.6 million in contracts by MacDonald Dettwiler and Associated Ltd. (MDA) after they received the mandate of two contracts by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the design, BRP was awarded $5.6 million in contracts by MacDonald Dettwiler and Associated Ltd. 

Attwood Marine is pleased to announce it has received its EPA Certificate of Conformance (COC) for Carbon Canisters for use in trailerable and non-trailerable vessels. Additionally, the Attwood Carbon Canister diurnal and refueling emission control system has completed all development and validation testing and has been released for sale.

The Attwood Carbon Canister diurnal and refueling control system meets all EPA, ABYC, USCG and proposed CARB requirements.

An amazing 90% of distress calls reaching the US Coast Guard from DSC-equipped VHF radios are not properly connected to GPS information and approximately 60% do not have properly registered MMSI information according to a letter sent to the NMEA by R.E. Day, Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard.

Of course, the Coast Guard cannot respond to a call broadcast with no position or vessel identification information.

Campion Marine Inc. of Kelowna, British Columbia, has announced the addition of three new Ontario dealerships; Payne Marine located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay in Pointe au Baril, Huntsville Marine in Hunstville, and The Performance Shed, just north of Kingston, in Harrowsmith, have all recently taken on the Campion brand.

“We are always excited to add quality dealers to the Campion family,” says Brock Elliott,

Cortland recently produced the world’s largest 12-strand rope for a European client, constructed on the giant 12 strand braiding machine using Cortland’s patented Plasma® synthetic fibre. This rope will be used to create an enormous industrial lifting sling.  

This unique rope was created from more than 52,000 individual Plasma® strands using Cortland’s patented 12×12® braiding technique.

Effective March 1, Starport Marina has expanded their portfolio and acquired two new marinas. The first Marina, formerly Severn Boat Haven, is located on the Trent Severn Waterway [Lock 45], has been in business for 42 years and houses 100 slips ranging in size from 15 feet to 45 feet.

The second Marina acquired is Jim Earle Marina located at the bottom of Lock 45.

Here is a vacation idea that keen sailors and history buffs alike will enjoy.  The Nova Scotia Schooner Association will celebrate its 50th year with a week 0f events from July 31 to August 7, 2011. 

Founded in 1961, the NSSA was formed to promote, and preserve the uniqueness of Nova Scotia Schooners by maintaining past and present records of schooners built in Nova Scotia and to organize annual race competitions and to further educate the public of the schooners unique and valuable part of Nova Scotia maritime history.