February 24, 2026

In Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest this week, we have a great story from Nautisme Québec. That association announced, during a press conference held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, at the official opening of the Montréal Boat Show, the launch of Canada’s largest in-water boat show, set to take place this coming September in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

I would certainly like to attend that, especially to see how this broader mix of activities and products attracts attendees. Our Toronto boat show is largely a boat show. There are related exhibitors like yacht clubs, ski schools, chandleries with ropes, fenders and other gear. Still, many of the boat exhibitors are marina dealers who are there to sell boats. So, yes, it’s a boat show. But what are we doing to sell boating activities, or the boating lifestyle?

This past show, the Toronto attendance numbers declined a bit and the weather was certainly a factor. But the Toronto population has been growing for many years and it seems reasonable to think that boat show attendance would increase as the population grows. Well, apparently not.

I have just returned from the Miami International Boat Show. I have not seen any official attendance numbers and this year the show was laid out quite differently from the previous year, but it felt soft to me – no big crowds, no tight aisles and easy to find a seat in the food court.

What I think is missing is a way into boating for ordinary folks. Brunswick certainly displayed their Flite Boards but I would have liked to see an affordable car like a Toyota GR86 or a Subaru BRZ that had a pair of Flite boards with other cool beach gear displayed. That tells a young couple, they can live the beach life at an affordable level, at least in Florida.  

I’m also thinking of clearly communicated displays showing how to learn to fish. Rods and reels, tackle boxes and other cool gear can be very attractive while not being prohibitively expensive. I realize the big money is in selling a few blazing fast centre consoles, but the price is enough to turn people off. Who wants to go to the boat show to learn that they simply can’t afford to be a boater?

There are boat clubs that offer a far lower price of entry and training too, but I didn’t notice those displays. Boat rental deserves a bigger footprint. There are used boats in the marketplace but not at the shows. I would like to see displays of restored older boats and maybe a generic or broker sponsored DIY display.

My simple point is that I think the boat shows need to lead the way to introducing new people to boating.

TIBS has The Lake and they have had wake boarding demos and cable systems for many years now. I know a few people try it but again, I think it should be the show’s job to be a point of access and education. Few dealers have the size or resources to educate the masses, but shows are set up to attract mass audiences.

Maybe the new Quebec show in September will lead the way by being a full Summer Outdoor Show with fishing, sailing, skiing and other wake sports. And let’s show an affordable price tag. The younger generations need to find a way in. They will need to be our future.

Andy Adams – Editor