Changing Scene

  • UNCONVENTIONAL PARTNERSHIP YIELDS TOP HONOURS AT NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST SAILBOAT SHOW

    The newly formed alliance between Beneteau America, a world leader in the manufacturing of high quality production sailing and powerboats from 21 to 59 feet, and Maine Cottage®, a coastal cottage furniture company known for its distinctive style, handmade craftsmanship and spirited fabrics reminiscent of seaside living, earned them “Best Display” at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD today.

    Beneteau’s exhibit at North America’s preeminent sailboat show was adorned with furnishings by Maine Cottage® and
    showcased the companies’ partnership.

  • BENETEAU AMERICA AND AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION CREATE PARTNERSHIP

    Beneteau America and the American Sailing Association (ASA) are entering in a new strategic partnership, as disclosed this afternoon during a press event at the Annapolis boat show, the largest sailboat show in North America.

    Laurent Fabre, President of Beneteau America, and Lenny Shabes, ASA’s founder and chairman of the board, have announced their joint collaboration on the design of a new ASA-exclusive sail training vessel. The new sailboat, ASA First Trainer, will be produced in Beneteau’s factory of Marion, South Carolina.

  • TIBS 2014 EXHIBITOR KIT NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

    The Toronto International Boat Show Jan 11 to 19 2014 is fast approaching and Exhibitor Kits are now available online.  The Discounted Rates Deadline is December 20, giving you the opportunity for huge savings on regular rates if you take advantage of the details in advance.

    A date to remember is November 1st, 2013 for submitting Exhibitor Listing Information.  Ensure your company name, booth number and products are easily searchable by the consumer in FREE Exhibitor Listings and Product cross-references in the Official Boat Show Guide and on TorontoBoatShow.com.

  • ABYC REMEMBERS BOARD CHAIRMAN JACK HORNOR

    John Carl "Jack" Hornor, the Chairman of the Board for the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) and leading marine industry leader, died October 1, 2013 of brain disease at Hospice of Queen Anne's in Centreville, MD. He was 68. Hornor celebrated life on the water as a sailor. He was a naval architect and marine surveyor with many ties to the recreational boating industry.  Hornor was the founder and owner of Marine Survey & Design Company and was a mentor to many in the marine industry.

  • BOATING ONTARIO ANNOUNCES HEADLINE SPEAKER SAM DANTZLER FOR DEC 1ST CONFERENCE

    Boating Ontario has announced another headline speaker for the annual Boating Ontario Conference and Trade Show that runs from Sunday, December 1 to Tuesday December 3 at beautiful Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. Sam Dantzler is a noted expert in dealership training and consulting. While his focus may be in motorcycles, he is also a frequent speaker at 20-groups, OEM events, powersports and marine industry events across North America.  Dantzler will be hosting two informative and motivational sessions: "Selling an experience, not a boat" and "Creating customers for life through follow-up and driving traffic, as opposed to

  • MY-VILLAGES PURCHASES DOCKMASTER

    My-Villages, a leader in marine mobile technology, has acquired DockMaster, the information management solution for marine retailers, marinas and service centers. The integration of DockMaster software and My-Villages’ consumer and professional application, called The Boat Village, will create the largest and most integrated software solution for marine businesses in the industry.
     By combining the DockMaster and The Boat Village technology products, My-Villages will serve more than 600 marinas, dealers, boatyards and marine service centers in North America and the Caribbean, and facilitate the care of tens of thousands of vessels.

  • MUSTANG SURVIVAL LAUNCHES NEW OCEAN COMMANDER

    Mustang Survival® is pleased to launch an improved Ocean Commander immersion suit to the Canadian marketplace; the first immersion suit to receive Transport Canada, MED, and SOLAS approvals.  After research and tests, this launch also marks the return of the long-trusted Ocean Commander® immersion suit for sailors, offshore boaters, anglers and other commercial marine workers alike. The new Ocean Commander (Model #OC8003 HR) is constructed of a high visibility fluorescent yellow-green shell material, building off the findings of a recent study led by Mustang Survival’s research department. The study, titled On-Water Visibility, found fluorescent yellow-green to

  • WINNER OF NADEN’S PINK BOAT

    Well we did it! Or WE should say that the wonderful dealers for Naden Boats did it, along with the volunteers at the CBCF North Bay group. The Naden Pink Boat Tour 2013 raised $19,590 for Breast Cancer Research.  The winner of the Pink Boat is Michel Mino, a boater from Northern Ontario, so the Pink Boat will remain in the North.

    Even with the short boating/ summer season in Northern Ontario the Naden Dealers pulled through and made this event a succes in 2.5 months. Eight dealers participated in 14 events and the little boat travelled 15,000 km all summer.

  • BASS TOURNAMENT RAISES FUNDS FOR CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

    Presentation of a cheque to the London Children’s Health Foundation took place on October 1st, 2013 in Turkey Point.  On hand for the presentation were, from left to right, Volunteer Iris Loder, Norfolk County Councilor Jim Oliver, Jennifer Baxter of the London Children's Health Foundation, Brad Thomson, General Manager of MacDonald Turkey Point Marina Inc., Danny MacDonald, President of MacDonald Marine and Norfolk Mayor Dennis Travale.  Our 13th annual fundraising season ended with our Children's Health Foundation Bass Tournament that was held

  • ICOMIA APPOINTS NEW TECHNICAL MANAGER

    The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) welcomed its newest member to the Secretariat. Patrick Hemp will with immediate effect take over as Technical Manager – representing ICOMIA on technical legislative and standardisation issues covering recreational craft, restricted range superyachts and equipment including marine engines. Patrick, a naval architect with almost 20- years’ project management and design experience, is from Cape Town, South Africa with dual UK citizenship.

  • DR. SHRINK WINS DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

    With a reputation for high-quality products and service, Dr. Shrink was recently awarded Distributor of the Year by Shrinkfast Marketing. The international premium shrink wrap supplier was given this honor not only due to its high volume sales, but also its unique approach to marketing and training. Dr. Shrink also serves as an authorized heat tool repair center. "Dr. Shrink offers marketing programs for its customers and Shrink Wrap University, a hands-on training workshop that not only shows the

  • SMARTPLUG IS SHORE POWER SOLUTION FOR METALCRAFT

    Proving its revolutionary products are built for use in the commercial marine market, SmartPlug has been named as the shore power solution for Kingston, Ontario-based MetalCraft Marine Inc. SmartPlug will supply its 50 and 30 amp products to the standard in the world's toughest fireboats.  "We're honored to provide shore power solutions to MetalCraft commercial vessels," said Ken Smith, SmartPlug owner and creator. "We look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship and generating more business in the commercial sector."

  • BOATUS FOUNDATION PRESIDENT CHRIS EDMONSTON ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL

    BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston has been elected Chairman of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) in the United States. Created in its current form by the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971, the Council is the nation's principle public-private boating safety advocacy organization with a coalition of over 330 US and international member organizations. Its mission is to promote a safer recreational boating experience through education, outreach and training. "Chris has made boating safety education more accessible for thousands of America's boaters, contributing to the Council's effort to ensure everyone has a great, and safe, day on the water." said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich. "We are humbled by the Council's decision to

  • BOATING ONTARIO ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR DECEMBER 1ST CONFERENCE

    Boating Ontario has announced the keynote speaker for the annual Boating Ontario Conference and Trade Show that runs from Sunday, December 1 to Tuesday December 3 at beautiful Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. Donald Dubois, President of Princecraft Boats, will kick off the Conference sessions on Monday morning as this year's keynote speaker.   Princecraft, located in Princeville, Québec is one of the largest boat manufacturers in Canada building fishing boats, pontoons and deck boats. Donald will discuss how Princecraft Boats has continually manufactured boats in Canada for the past 60 years in a small Quebec town and

  • TRUE NORTH YACHTS TO REPRESENT BENETEAU POWERBOATS

    True North Yachts, based in Port Credit, Ontario is now the exclusive dealer for Beneteau’s Powerboats Division in Ontario. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome True North Yachts as our exclusive partner for the Beneteau Powerboats Division in southwestern Ontario,” says Beneteau America President Laurent Fabre. “True North Yachts has earned the respect and admiration of their industry peers and most importantly their clients. We look forward to working closely with their team to exceed customer expectations in every way,” remarks Fabre.

  • GILL SELLS THE MAJORITY STAKE IN ITS CLOTHING COMPANY TO YFM

    The undisclosed sum of money paid to Douglas Gill International to YFM Equity Partners is intended to back their existing management team. Gill was established in the 1975 by Nick Gill who started up the business in his father's Nottingham lace factory. The Gill business makes technical sailing clothing and accessories and exported to more than 35 countries and last year and won the Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade. Gill employs more than 40 staff at its Long Eaton site.

  • SELL PROFESSIONAL WINTERIZING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS TO AVOID INSURANCE CLAIMS

    We recently saw an article about winterizing boats and the limitations in their insurance policies that boat owners may face. Is the boat kept in an indoor facility? If so, does it need to be winterized? We contacted Drew Robertson at Skippers' Plan Insurance, The CG&B Group Inc., and we asked him about freezing and ice damage, especially for DIY boat owners. He explained that every insurance company approaches freezing and ice damage differently. Damage caused by ice is normally excluded while the boat is afloat between  November 30  and April 1. Damage to an engine block due to freezing is also excluded unless the owner can demonstrate it was properly winterized.   

  • MERCURY MARINE RECYCLING CHALLENGE EARNS AWARD FROM FESTIVAL AND EVEN ASSOCIATION

    A recycling program spearheaded by Mercury Marine and implemented at the 2013 Walleye Weekend Festival in Fond du Lac, Wis., earned a Gold Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association in the “Best Green Program – Budget Under $250,000” category.
    Area elementary school students decorated 55-gallon recycling containers with various environmental themes for a chance to win a $500 grant toward green initiatives and education. The containers were then placed along high-traffic areas during the 2013 Walleye Weekend festival and were highly utilized.