Changing Scene

  • CRATE’S IS OPENING IN BELLEVILLE

    Crate Marine Sales is pleased to announce that Crate’s is expanding to Belleville, Ontario.  With plans to open for the 2013 boating season, work is already underway at what was previously the Morch Marine location. Crate’s Belleville will be a full service marina and will offer full sales, service and dockage.

    Sales at Crate’s Belleville will include new boats from Carver, Marquis, Regal, Cruisers Yachts and Cruisers Sport Series meaning buyers will have a choice from these premium brands ranging from 19 foot bow riders to 72 foot luxury yachts. Dockage will be expanded to over 200 slips with

  • WEST MARINE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR $30,000 IN MARINE CONSERVATION GRANTS

    In support of its ongoing efforts to improve and conserve the marine environment, West Marine is seeking applications for Marine Conservation Grants. There will be five to ten grants awarded in amounts ranging from $500-$5000 per recipient. 

    Applications are available online at www.westmarine.com/bluefuture. The closing date for entries is May 1, 2013 and the winners will be announced on World Oceans Day, June 8, 2013.

  • COUNTDOWN TO BVI SPRING REGATTA AND SAILING FESTIVAL, 25-31 MARCH

    Warm water and hot racing are guaranteed at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, March 25-31, 2013!
     
    With less than three weeks to go until the 42nd edition of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival at Nanny Cay, a truly international cast is making ready to take centre stage in the beautiful sailing grounds off Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

    The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has always attracted sailors from around the world to take part and this year is no exception.

  • ADP LIGHTSPEED RELEASES SERVICE CONNECT

    In the latest release of LightspeedNXT (ver 3.9.7) and LightspeedEVO (ver 5.6) hosted users of ADP Lightspeed will have access to Service Connect, an integrated smart-help menu designed to provide answers to user’s questions without leaving their workflow. This simple, time-saving feature knows what screen the user is working from and will suggest topics to answer questions.

    Service Connect picks up right where the user left off providing helpful hints, tips, and even offering LIVE web chat with Lightspeed customer

  • MONCTON BOAT SHOW OPENS FRIDAY MARCH 15TH

    The Moncton Boat Show returns March 15-17, 2013 at the Coliseum in Moncton. The boat show is located in Agrena’s A, B and C and brings together the leading dealers from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, all in one place at one time; this is New Brunswick’s largest boat show.
     
    This will be the biggest and most diverse display of boats EVER at this event with several new dealers and new lines of boats and products making their debuts.

  • 2013 VICTORIA BOAT SHOW DROPS ANCHOR

    Vancouver Island’s premiere in-water boat show, the 2013 Victoria Harbour Boat Show, returns to the pristine waters of Victoria’s Inner Harbour, April 18 – 21, 2013.

    Hosted by the British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association, the 23rd Annual Show is the place to get great deals on all your boating needs, just in time for the 2013 boating season.

    Whether you’re new to boating or a seasoned sailor, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Show. View hundreds of new and pre-owned boats

  • WEBASTO AWARDS ITS TOP CUSTOMERS

    To honor those who've contributed much to its success, Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America presented its 2012 Top Customer Awards at this year's Miami International Boat Show. ITR Marine, Sure Marine, West Marine and Land N' Sea all received this top honor. Webasto also named Defender as its 2012 Retailer of the Year and honored Marysville Marine with an Outstanding FCF Sales Achievement award.

    Dave Wollard, director marine division, presented the awards at Webasto's Series 40 Sunroof launch reception during the show. Gary Lee, of ITR Marine, Eric N. Hinze of Sure Marine Service Inc., Matt Hyde of West Marine, and Tom Schuessler and Mike Conners of Land N' Sea were on hand to accept the awards.

  • LEARNING OPPORTUNITY – ABYC ELECTRICAL CERT COURSE IN VANCOUVER

    For marine industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills, Raven Marine is hosting an ABYC Electrical Certification Course in Vancouver, BC on June 11, 2013 at Mosquito Creek Marina, 419 West Esplanade in North Vancouver.

    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.

  • IMI POSTS CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS FOR DRYSTACK CONFERENCE

    The International Marina Institute (IMI), the training subsidiary of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI), has posted a “Call for Presentations” to its website for its Drystack Conference, October 27–28, 2013, at the B Ocean Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

    The Drystack Conference is a professional-development opportunity for those interested in the latest in drystack technology as part of their daily business responsibilities.

  • LEGEND BOATS RE-LAUNCHES ITS 16 XTERMINATOR

    Back by Popular Demand, Legend Boats' has re-introduced its 16Xterminator Aluminum Fishing Boat for 2013. Legend Boats is one of Canada's largest manufacturers of aluminum fishing and pontoon boats. 
     
    “Every year we listen to our customers’ feedback and research industry trends before designing our next year’s boat lines,” says Marc Duhamel, General Manager at Legend Boats.  “This year the 16 Xterminator brings an extremely high value in features and it is being introduced in 2013 with an additional one thousand dollar savings.”  The experts at Legend Boats feel that the 16Xterminator will be one of this year’s customer favourites because it delivers extremely high value and strong appeal while delivering everything you could want in a fishing boat. Its distinct lines, new colours

  • TAKE THE HELM OF A GRAND BANKS

    West Coast Grand Banks dealer Grand Yachts invites boaters interested in GBs in general and GB 36s in particular to “take the helm” of one of these boats Saturday, March 23 at their sales docks in Coal Harbour, Vancouver or at Port Sidney on Vancouver Island.

    The 36 was among GB’s most popular models over its history, and Grand Yachts has several of them available for sale, so is staging the event to show them off. Each sales dock will have three or four4 36s on display, and one or two of them will take interested parties for a short cruise.

  • TALL SHIPS 1812 TOUR VISITING 16 GREAT LAKES PORTS THIS SUMMER

    The TALL SHIPS® 1812 Tour presented by Redpath Sugar will sail throughout Ontario during the summer of 2013! In commemoration of the War of 1812, 16 ports will be participating and the tour is produced in partnership with the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes. 

    The Redpath Waterfront Festival, June 20-23, 2013, will be the official launch of the tour when TORONTO welcomes the entire international fleet, occupying two kilometers along the inner harbour. The spectacular Opening Ceremonies will take place on Thursday June 20 and the entire four-day weekend is given over to festivities for all ages and interests.

  • UNCHARTED WATERS: TORONTO’S ENIGMATIC HARBOUR

    Presented with the assistance of the Toronto Port Authority, from now until June 2013, come and see the

    Some of Canada’s most talented and exciting contemporary visual artists continue to participate in a photographic exploration at Toronto’s harbour. Dianne Davis, Johan Hallberg-Campbell, Jesse Louttit, Eamon Mac Mahon, Joanne Ratajczak and Clare Samuel represent the broadest range of photographic practice, and are recognized for their photo documentary, studio and series work.

  • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE ASSOCIATION INTEGRATES WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

    The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has announced the integration of the Northern California Marine Association (NCMA) and its members with NMMA. The integration comes in an effort to grow boating participation across the U.S. and expand the market for recreational boating.

    NCMA and its members will be part of NMMA under the recently formed NMMA West. NCMA voting members unanimously approved the integration. “NMMA continues to look for new and strategic ways to help all segments of the recreational boating industry anticipate, adapt and prosper from changes in the economic landscape,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. “With NCMA’s integration, we can help devote resources to spur growth of recreational boating in Northern California.”

  • RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE AT THE 2013 HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

    Boat Dealers and marine retailers supported the the 2013 Halifax International Boat Show in a big way this year, with new boat lines, new equipment and great deals. Good weather meant that the show had a record breaking attendance day on Saturday and the other days were very steady as well with thousands flocking to Exhibition Park.
     
    “The buzz on the floor was fantastic,” said Show Manager Scott Sprague. “The excitement about the upcoming boating season coupled with the new line of boats debuting and great sales activity made this event one to remember,” said Sprague.

  • STILL A FEW SEATS FOR NSBA’S MARINE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2013

    There are still a few seats available for the NSBA Marine Industry Conference this week at the Lord Nelson Hotel in downtown Halifax. The sessions run on March 7th and 8th, 2013.

    Five internationally-renown speakers – all of whom were featured at the recent IBEX 2012 – will be talking on topics ranging from new and emerging marine electrical technologies to the design and construction of lightweight plywood boats.

    Program outline:
    Thursday, March 7th from 7pm – 10pm    Evening Industry Reception at Lord Nelson Hotel and Suites

  • STRONG SALES AT THE 2013 CENTRAL ONTARIO BOAT SHOW AND SALE

    The Central Ontario Boat Show & Sale just concluded its third successful boat show. The show ran Family Day Weekend, February 15-18 at the Careport Centre in Hamilton. Overall attendance was 23,191, a slight 3% dip from 2012, however, crowds were still very strong.

    Figures showed that while Saturday’s attendance was down slightly, Friday, Sunday and particularly Monday were very strong show days as compared to the 2012 recorded attendance.  Dealers reported to show management that a combined total of 118 boats were sold on the show floor which is an increase of 12% from 2012 show floor sales, with many dealers confident in after show sales expected to close in the near future from the show.