Changing Scene

  • NMEA 2013 CONFERENCE AND EXPO WILL BE HELD IN SAN DIEGO

    The National Marine Electronics Association has announced that the 2013 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo will be held September 25–28 in San Diego, California, at the Sheraton Hotel and Marina. The event follows a highly successful NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo in Orlando last fall.  “Our upcoming NMEA Conference & Expo in San Diego will be the first in many years held adjacent to a large marina,” said Bruce Angus, executive director of the NMEA. “We haven’t held the event in San Diego since 2008. That, combined with this great setting, makes us believe we will see very strong participation.”

  • ORACLE TEAM USA SELECTS BENETEAU AS OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY VESSEL SUPPLIER

    Oracle Team USA announced that it has selected Beneteau America as the team’s official hospitality vessel supplier. Beneteau will provide its Swift Trawler 34, 44 and 50 for Oracle Team USA’s hospitality use leading up to and during the 34th America’s Cup. “It is an honor to support Oracle Team USA in their campaign to bring home another victory in the 34th America’s Cup. This is a unique opportunity for a select few organizations, all leaders committed to the highest level of excellence, to unite behind an iconic racing team, and Beneteau is proud to be among them,” says Beneteau America President Laurent Fabre.

  • NAVICO WINS 2013 NEW ZEALAND HI-TECH AWARD

    Navico, a world leader in recreational marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G brands — announced that it has won the 2013 New Zealand Hi-Tech Award in the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Best Contribution to the New Zealand Hi-Tech Sector from a Multinational Company category. Judged by a panel of local and international high-profile business luminaries including Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, the award celebrates Navico’s contribution to the country’s landscape in terms of its investment in the industry’s continued growth and success. The awards seek to provide a premier showcase and networking opportunities for the producers of high technology. Navico took the top honor in its category over finalists Microsoft and Sprint International.

  • SABRE 42 SALON EXPRESS

    The advent of pod drives for recreational motor yachts has taken place over a relatively short period in time. Sabre offers six models in the current motor yacht range and all models are available with pod drives; in fact only two of the six, the Sabre 54 Salon Express and Fly Bridge, can be offered with straight shafts. Our transition from shaft driven to pod driven models is almost complete. For those who are still not convinced here's an explanation of the benefits. Commercial vessels such as tugs and cruise ships have been using pods for some time. For the tug boat operator, the ability to direct thrust in any direction as required, is a huge benefit. Pods are far more efficient than conventional drives when operating in close quarters. For the cruise ship

  • NEW VOLVO PENTA DEALER IN THE GTA HANDLES ALL MODELS 12 TO 900 HP

    Toronto Yacht Services is now an Authorized Volvo Penta dealer for warranty, service, parts and also for engine sales and installation for the full range of Volvo Penta gasoline sterndrive engines, diesel stern drives, Volvo Penta saildrive, and inboard diesel from 1 to 13 litres (12 to 900hp) . Of particular interest to owners with newer power yachts, Toronto Yacht Services will handle Volvo Penta IPS of all types from twin to quadruple installations. Toronto Yacht Services will also be providing mobile service from Toronto to Hamilton.

  • DR. SHRINK PRESIDENT NAMED FINALIST FOR ERNST & YOUNG AWARD

    Premium international shrink wrap supplier, Dr. Shrink, Inc. is proud that its president/CEO/founder Michael Stenberg is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2013 Award in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Award recipients will be named at a black-tie gala on June 20 at the MGM Grand, Detroit.  Dr. Shrink, Inc. is a small company that was started by Michael and his wife Jill Stenberg in Manistee, Michigan in April of 1992. They had a related

  • REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR 2013 IBEX SHOW

    Show organizers announce registration is now open for the 2013 International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), to be held from September 17-19 at the Louisville Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. All qualified marine professionals are invited to register for this trade-only event by visiting the new IBEX website. The 2013 IBEX Show offers a full schedule of 75 seminars, presented by industry experts on a variety of subjects vital to the marine trades. Topics range from in-depth looks at specific products; discussions on methods of boatbuilding, repair, surveying, and design; as well as issues of boatyard

  • CBC HALIFAX VIDEO – LUNENBURG YC BRINGS MORE TEENS INTO SAILING

    Pat Nelder at the Atlantic Marine Trades Association sent us this video link to the CBC Halifax site where broadcaster Colleen Jones visits the Lunenburg Yacht Club to investigate a new high-school sports program that brings more teens into sailing. It seems that in spite of the famous sailing heritage throughout Atlantic Canada, a significant number of teens have never had the chance to experience sailing first-hand.

  • BENTLEY HODGE BECOMES BASE MANAGER FOR MARINEMAX VACATIONS TORTOLA, BVI

    MarineMax Vacations is pleased to announce that Bentley Hodge has been promoted to the role of Base Manager at the company’s charter base in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.  “We are excited to have Bentley move into this role and manage our base operations in the British Virgin Islands” said Raul Bermudez, Vice President of MarineMax Vacations. “Bentley’s extensive industry experience and his drive for excellence in customer service have paved the way for this well-deserved promotion.  Most recently, Bentley served as our Customer Service Manager and has been an asset to the base operations and the entire MarineMax Vacations team.” Lex Raas, President of MarineMax Vacations also commented, “Bentley truly lives the MarineMax culture of

  • MP DAN ALBAS REFERENCES NMMA CANADA MEETINGS RAISING CONCERNS OVER BARRIERS TO TRADE

    National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced that on Thursday May 23rd, 2013, Member of Parliament (MP) Dan Albas, Okanagan-Coquihalla, made reference to his meetings with members of NMMA in the House of Commons during a debate on Bill S-12. In his remarks, Albas cites concerns made by members of NMMA as evidence for the need to improve trade for Canadian industries. NMMA Canada is pleased that our annual meetings in Ottawa for Day on the Hill created momentum in government and that the concerns of our members are being voiced by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons.

  • STILL TIME TO JOIN THE ABYC ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATION COURSE (NORTH VANCOUVER, BC)


    There is still time to get into the ABYC Electrical Certification Course held through Raven Marine, North Vancouver. The ABYC says that this electrical certification course with instructor Kevin Ritz is designed and intended for those with a minimum of 3-5 years practical experience in the field of marine electrical design, service or installation. Students new to the marine electrical field should consider our basic electrical programming options. The successful certification candidate should be familiar with all of the ABYC electrical standards, although the applicable standards will be reviewed as a part of the course. Course content is broken out into 14 topic areas that will be presented over a three and ½ day period. The three-hour

  • CDI ELECTRONICS WELCOMES TARA SANDS AS SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

    CDI Electronics, supplier of outboard ignition components, is pleased to welcome Tara Sands as the Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Tara will work with the Sales and Marketing team in a variety of areas that will increase brand awareness in the marine industry.Tara brings a vast amount of knowledge in the areas of marketing and graphic design to the manufacturing operation in Huntsville, Alabama. “We are very excited to welcome Tara to our team at CDI,” explained Thomas James, Sales and Marketing Manager for CDI Electronics. “Her marketing and

  • CPS FLAG RELAY VISITS PENETANGUISHENE ON ITS WAY WEST

    To honour its 75th anniversary the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron has undertaken a journey west to Vancouver Island, BC and East to Avalon, Nfld.  On May 28th the flag made its stop at Penetanguishene, ON and was presented by Andy Myers, Power Squadron Commander for Penetanguishene. 1938 was the year that Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons (CPS-ECP) started its journey. Three members of the Windsor Yacht Club took the Junior Piloting Course at the Detroit Power Squadron in 1937 and instructed the first course in Windsor in 1938.  In honour of this 75th milestone in our history, two specially designed CPS anniversary flags arrived by boat from the United States depicting where we grew from.  These flags were

  • BOATING ONTARIO INVITES LAKE SIMCOE MEMBERS TO ‘MAKE A BIG SPLASH THIS SUMMER’

    Call now – there may still be time to get involved! ‘Make a big SPLASH this summer’ is the slogan being used for the 3rd annual Splash Floating Water Festival being held on Saturday August 17, 2013 at De La Salle Park, near Jackson’s Point. The one day event includes fun for the whole family offering everything from a sand castle competition, boat show, live music, kid’s activities and much more.  This festival was created to assist with the development of an Ontario Water Centre for Innovation, Research and Learning. The impact of this Centre will be great – socially, economically and environmentally. Lake Simcoe will be home to a world-class living laboratory for research and social innovation in an emerging green economy.

  • ATLANTIC CANADA EDUCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE NMEA

    Plan on joining the upcoming Educational Training Sessions, August 28, 29, 30th in Halifax, NS. Note: the location has changed. It will now be held at the Future Inns Halifax Hotel and Conference Centre, 30 Fairfax Drive in Halifax.
    The courses offered are the new Basic Marine Electronics Installer, on Wednesday, August 28th, NMEA 2000 Training, on Thursday, August 29th and the Advanced Marine Electronics Installer, on Friday, August 30th.

  • CRISIS ON GEORGIAN BAY

    Is this a real crisis or journalistic hyperbole?  Are the authors deliberately distorting the facts to prove their hypothesis?   There is no question that present water levels are close to the historic lows set in 1964/5.   But other than last December, which barely broke the record, we have not dipped below them as your first article implied.  The fact that water levels have been above average from 1968 to 1999 (with the exception of a brief period from 1989 to 1991 when levels dipped slightly below the norm) might be distorting the public’s impression of what is normal.  This situation may be exacerbated by the fact that levels have been below average for the last 14 years, the longest stretch in recorded history. But an average requires

  • WRISTBANDS HELP TAME THE UNCOMFORTABLE EFFECTS OF TRAVEL

    The unpleasant effects of choppy seas, bumpy flights, winding roads or even spinning Ferris wheels can ruin an otherwise great adventure. A non-drug aid, Queaz-Away Travelers' Wristbands from Davis Instruments help tame the tummies of people on the go. Queaz-Away is used throughout the world by yachtsmen, pilots, divers, physicians and hospitals.These wristbands exert gentle pressure on points on each wrist to minimize or eliminate the miserable effects of travel. They're made of tough,

  • IBEX ANNOUNCES TAMPA AS SECOND LOCATION IN NEW, ROTATING SHOW SCHEDULE

    The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) announced a new rotating show schedule to increase accessibility for attendees and exhibitors across the U.S. and internationally. The show will be held in Louisville, Kentucky in 2013; Tampa, Florida in 2014; Louisville in 2015; and Tampa in 2016.  Alternating between Louisville and Tampa offers enormous benefits to marine industry professionals. Both cities are easily accessed travel hubs and the rotation between a southern location and a central location allows more professionals to attend. A rotating schedule also creates more location-specific social and networking opportunities, which show organizers anticipate will increase attendance.

  • WIRELESS SYSTEM ENABLES STEERING FROM ANYWHERE ONBOARD

    Having to constantly steer a kicker or wheel for course adjustments while trolling prevents boaters from fully enjoying time on the water. Intellisteer wireless steering packages from Canada Metal (Pacific) put steering control into a handheld pendant. Intellisteer offers push-button steering at trolling speeds for freedom while fishing or cruising. Designed for do-it-yourself installation, the handheld unit and receiver can be paired in the field from over one million control codes to enhance security. The receiver/motor controller has a motor drive capability up to 25A, overload protection and reverse polarity protection.