March 31, 2026 I was surprised (in a positive way), at the Boating Ontario Regional meeting last Thursday, March 26 when CEO Rick Layzell asked the room how many attendees were looking for techs. The audience was largely marina people and only four or five hands went up. ‘Not very many from the audience of…
March 31, 2026 Yamaha Motor Canada is proud to introduce its newest group of Yamaha Elite Dealers! This year, 42 dealers from across the country have achieved Elite status, with 16 of those dealers recognized for five years in a row*. To achieve Elite status, Yamaha dealers undergo a thorough year-long performance evaluation of all areas of their business,…
March 31, 2026 Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the global leader in marine technology, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Brunswick…
March 24, 2026 Last week I received an email about a new initiative from Performance Sailcraft that aims to tackle one of the biggest barriers in grassroots sailing: the upfront cost of dinghy ownership. The company has launched “Magic”, a new financing program designed to make dinghy racing more affordable for sailors and clubs. The model…
March 24, 2026 A collaboration between the Government House Foundation and the Maritime Museum of BC, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement’s nomination period is now open. This award recognizes and acknowledges individuals and organizations along BC’s coast and inland waterways who have made noteworthy contributions to BC’s maritime interests in the areas of science, technology, business, applications of maritime skills, nautical…
March 24, 2026 HARMAN International Industries, the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, has announced its award-winning entertainment and industry-first fully-digital premium audio solutions from Harman Kardon have been selected to elevate the luxury experience on the new Cruisers Yachts 50 FLY. From staterooms to the fly bridge, Harman Kardon audio technology will…
March 24, 2026 Candela’s largest funding round to date, with the World Bank’s IFC arm joining existing investors, will finance a second manufacturing facility to scale production of its ground-breaking hydrofoiling P-12 ferries and meet growing global demand. The round brings Candela’s total capital raised to €129 million since its inception, making it the best-funded electric vessel manufacturer globally. It…
March 24, 2026 The Industry’s First AI-Powered Insights Engine Built for Powersports, Marine, RV, Trailer and Golf Car Dealerships Built from 40+ years of dealership expertise and data from 4,500+ dealers, AI Command Center delivers real-time intelligence that helps dealerships move from reactive reporting to predictive decision-making. Lightspeed, the leading dealer management system (DMS) provider for powersports, marine, RV, trailer and…
March 24, 2026 The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) is pleased to announce that the 2025 recipient of the annual FOCA Terry Rees Achievement Award is the Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association (GPCA) in the Muskoka District. The Award was presented on March 7th at the FOCA Spring Seminar for Lake Associations, held at the Bayview Golf and Country Club in…
March 24, 2026 Flite is proud to announce that FLITELab AMPJet and Fliteboard RACE have each been awarded the internationally renowned iF Design Award, marking a significant milestone for the Byron Bay–based innovator in electric hydrofoiling. The recognition highlights the strength of two ground-breaking products recently introduced to the market. Winning at this level reflects the depth of innovation, engineering…
March 17, 2026 I’m pleased to say that we received several responses to the Editor’s Message column in last week’s edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest and all were in agreement that we need affordable new boats to keep building the business. Chris Mills, President of SeaMasters on the East coast wrote that…
Tyler Bourns – Chief Marketing Officer – Dragonfly Energy Accepting the CHARGE Award March 17, 2026 Last week, Dragonfly Energy, an industry leader in energy storage and battery technology and maker of Battle Born Batteries, was recognized as the Clean Energy Impact Brand of the Year at CHARGE North America 2026, a premier industry platform celebrating excellence in energy branding,…
March 17, 2026 ePropulsion Americas, the global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services, announced that its latest electric outboard, Spirit 2, has won the prestigious Innovation Award in the Alternative Propulsion category at the Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show. Presented during one of the marine industry’s most influential global events, the award recognizes outstanding achievement in advancing…
March 17, 2026 Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), celebrated the expansion of its Plant 7 manufacturing facility in St. Cloud, Florida, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The expansion adds 25,000 square feet of new manufacturing space enabling the installation of four additional Surface Mount Technology (SMT) lines and will create nearly 30 jobs…
March 17, 2026 Annapolis, MD or Virtual; April 1–2, 2026 The Marine Law Symposium is fast approaching! This is your chance to get an in-depth and firsthand review of some of the biggest legal cases and verdicts impacting our industry. Join this small group of diverse and knowledgeable professionals, earn up to 10 CEUs, and take advantage of this rare opportunity…
March 10, 2026 I’ve written about my personal concern over the rising costs of new boats and the fact that we are seeing steady increases in both boat size and horsepower. As a teen, my father traded in our first boat, a 14-foot Crestliner Mustang with a 40 for a new 16-foot Sea Ray with…
March 10, 2026 YANMAR Marine International (YMI) introduces an extended warranty program for its powerboat engines. The ‘two plus three-year’ coverage makes for one of the most competitive warranties offered on the market. This move brings YANMAR’s powerboat warranty in line with its existing sailboat engine coverage and underscores its commitment to reliability and enhances customer confidence. The extended 2+3-year…
March 10, 2026 European Boating Industry (EBI) welcomes the launch of the first-ever EU Industrial Maritime Strategy a , landmark initiative by the EU Commission to strengthen Europe’s maritime industries, support innovation and sustainability, and reinforce the competitiveness of Europe’s recreational boat and yacht sector from builders to propulsion and equipment manufacturers and the refit sector. The strategy…
March 10, 2026 Submissions open until March 23 Now’s the time to nominate a tech for the Outstanding Technician Awards! This award recognizes marine service professionals excelling in customer service, technical training, and industry involvement. Techs who were not selected last year can be entered again for another chance. Want to celebrate a recent hire or a crew…
March 10, 2026 March is when customers start noticing what needs replacing. Mooring setups, hardware, protection profiles, and safety gear all move fast and experienced dealers aren’t caught off guard. The dealers who win early-season sales treat spring demand as a system, not a surprise. They stock the replacement items customers start asking for the moment inspections begin. If these product categories aren’t…