Jan 31, 2023
By Andy Adams
It was a standing room crowd at the NMMA Canada State of the Recreational Boating Industry Breakfast on Tuesday January 24th and I was again honored to be the opening host. The program featured several important sessions beginning with the NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer who was in attendance to join NMMA Canada Chairman JF Rioux to present a special award to Sara Anghel recognizing her many contributions to the industry and the NMMA Canada. Sara has now departed her position at the NMMA to be the new President of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association.
JF Rioux (left) and Frank Hugelmeyer present Sara Anghel with a award for her service to the NMMA Canada
As the primary sponsor, Wells Fargo again brought Managing Director and International Economist, Nick Bennenbroek to deliver a broad-ranging review of the economic conditions the boating industry in Canada faces. There was a lot to absorb in this session but my overall take-away was that 2023 can be expected to be a good year for boating.
Kevin Williams, Vice President, North American Marketing for the NMMA gave an update on the Discover Boating program.
Bob Clark (centre) and JF Rioux (right) induct Bill Connor of Stanley Boats to the NMMA Canada Hall of Fame
One of the most important sessions was the presentation of the NMMA Canada Hall of Fame Award. Bob Clark, Contracts Manager at MetalCraft Marine Inc., gave the tribute to Bill Connor who established Stanley Boats, the Lighthouse boats brand and who recently bought into MetalCraft Marine.
Jonathan Levine, General Manager at Mercury Canada presented Les Sparks (left) with a special memorial award.
Closing out the event, Jonathan Levine, General Manager at Mercury Canada gave a tribute to Les Sparks for his remarkable 50-year career with Mercury as he prepares to enter retirement.
Thanks to all who got up early to join us for this informative and enjoyable event!
Corporate Profile - Dometic Outdoor Global Marine Division

Dometic Outdoor Global Marine Division is one organization that has set the bar high globally on quality standards in all aspects of its operation. From its human resources practices to its product development and manufacturing standards, the company strives for 110% in all it does. Dometic’s Vancouver, British Columbia design and manufacturing facility is the largest marine focused company in Canada. Its global standards are admirable, and our entire industry can learn from its leadership and positive practices.
In 1962, Dometic (then under the name Teleflex) developed, launched, and marketed a mechanical steering system and with its success came the first hydraulic steering in 1983 and No FeedBack Steering in ’91.
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The 10th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) has wrapped up at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and it gives a compelling look at the future of electric boating.
The MEBC was started in 2014 as a competition between university teams who built and raced boats powered only by solar power and batteries. To encourage more participation from institutions that may not have naval architecture or boat construction expertise, the YCM introduced the Energy Class competition. The club supplies the student teams with the same one-design catamaran hull, and each team adds their own cockpit and propulsion system that can be powered by any renewable alternative energy sources, not just solar.
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Questus Marine patented, Self-Leveling Radar Mounts automatically keep radar antennas level with the horizon, eliminating target loss.
Regardless of the angle of heel, with a Questus mount, a radar antenna will pick up targets to either side of a vessel, rather than aiming to the sky and water (for planes and fish). The Questus Marine Self-Leveling Radar Mount can be installed in three basic configurations: backstay mount, mast mount or Stern Pole mount.
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Torqeedo announces new structure and names business unit management

Left to right: Matthias Vogel, Fabian Bez, Sven Mostoegl
Torqeedo, the global market leader for electric mobility on the water, announced on July 18th, the creation of two dedicated business units and named their managers. Matthias Vogel will lead the Customized Solutions unit, and Sven Mostögl will lead the Branded Retail line.
“The new Customized Solutions business unit will serve our marine industry and commercial maritime clientele with a dedicated team of experts in sales, application engineering, customer service, and after-sales service,“ said Fabian Bez, CEO of Torqeedo GmbH.
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