Changing Scene

Ford Motor Company and Sharrow Engineering Scale Production of the Sharrow Propeller in Detroit

April 14, 2026 Sharrow Engineering just announced that it is scaling production of its patented Sharrow™ Propeller through a collaboration with Ford Motor Company’s Advanced Industrial Technology & Platforms (ATP) team, using advanced 3D sand-casting techniques thanks to connections made through the Michigan Central innovation ecosystem. The result is a significant reduction in production timelines, shortening what used to…

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Boating Ontario Association Announces CEO Transition as Rick Layzell Steps Down

April 14, 2026 On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, The Boating Ontario Association announced that CEO Rick Layzell will be stepping down from his role at the end of 2026. Rick will transition out of the position and into semi-retirement as the calendar turns to 2027. During his tenure, Layzell played a key role in strengthening Boating Ontario’s position as…

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A Valuable List of Valuable Resources

April 7, 2026 On Thursday, March 26, I attended the Boating Ontario Regional meeting in Orillia. It was the last of the eight meetings the association held this spring. I took lots of notes because I was planning to write about this. But, I didn’t need to take any notes at all as it turned…

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Free lockage and discounted overnight stays on Canada’s historic canals and waterways

April 7, 2026 The Canada Strong Pass is back for summer 2026! The Government of Canada is offering free lockage and a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays from June 19 to September 7, 2026 inclusive. Free lockage During the Canada Strong Pass period, free lockage will be available for boats, canoes and kayaks travelling…

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Zach Hutcheson Steps into Chief Executive Officer Role at Correct Craft

April 7, 2026 Hutcheson to Lead Next Chapter of Growth and Culture-Driven ImpactOn April 1st, Zach Hutcheson stepped into the Chief Executive Officer role at Correct Craft. Hutcheson succeeds Bill Yeargin, who served as CEO for the past two decades. A long-time Correct Craft leader and previously the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Hutcheson steps into the role following…

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Freedom Boat Club Celebrates Franchise Network Excellence at 2026 Freedom Forum

April 7, 2026 Freedom Boat Club, the world’s largest boat club and a business of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), recently hosted its 2026 Freedom Forum annual franchise conference in Tampa, Florida. This year’s event marked a significant milestone for the franchise network bringing together franchise partners from across the globe to celebrate a year of exceptional…

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Sail Canada Awards $80,000 in funding to 24 Member Clubs and Schools as part of the “Sailing for All” Initiative

April 7, 2026 Sail Canada is pleased to announce that 24-member sailing clubs and schools from across the country have been awarded a combined total of $80,750 as part of Sail Canada’s 2026 “Sailing for All” initiative. This funding is courtesy of Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative. “We are grateful for the continued support from Sport…

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Thomas Groves Named to Boating Industry 40 Under 40

April 7, 2026 Thomas Groves, Director of Marketing at Legend Boats, has been named an honouree in the Boating Industry 40 Under 40. Presented annually by Boating Industry, the 40 Under 40 program recognizes rising leaders from across North America who are making a strong impact on the recreational boating industry. Honourees are selected based on…

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In Uncertain Times Count On Service

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…

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Yamaha Motor Canada Announces 2026 Elite Dealers

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,…

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Brunswick Corporation Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026

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…

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One Way to Make Boating More Affordable

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…

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Government House Foundation and the Maritime Museum of BC Announce the 2026 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement

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…

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Harman Kardon Curates Unparalleled Fully Digital Premium Audio Experience on New Cruisers Yachts 50 FLY

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…

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Flying electric vessel maker Candela raises millions amid soaring oil prices

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…

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Lightspeed Launches AI Command Center

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…

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Annual FOCA Achievement Award Presented to the Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association

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…

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Flite Wins Two Prestigious iF Design Awards

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…

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Some Responses to the Small Boat Comments

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…

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Dragonfly Energy Recognized as Clean Energy Impact Brand of the Year

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,…

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