May 8, 2023
The 2023 Skills Ontario Competition was held at the Toronto Congress Centre May 1 – 2. The competition draws over 40,000 students, competitors and visitors over the course of two days. This is Canada’s largest skilled trades and technologies competition that features over 76 different contests alongside elementary workshops.

Rob Davidson (the Provincial Technical Chair) and Roy King (Co-Chair) are the heads of the Outdoor Powered Equipment Contest. This year they were in charge of designing and setting up six competitions that hosted 24 high school and six post-secondary student competitors. The contest was held on May 2nd.
Two students, Xander Powell and Matt LaRiviere, were in attendance from the Marine Engine Mechanic program at Georgian College. Rob Davidson is also a Professor and Program Coordinator for the program.
The Outdoor Powered Equipment Contest includes marine, small engine, motorcycle and powersports equipment. Students competed in six tests that were 85% practical and 15% theory based. They had one hour to complete each test before moving onto the next. The tests were as follows:
1. 2-Stroke Engine Mechanical Operation
2. 2-Stroke Engine Troubleshooting
3. Fuel System and Carburetor Repair
4. Electrical Wiring and Troubleshooting
5. 4-Cycle Engine Troubleshooting
6. Theory
The gold medal winners, one high school and one post-secondary student, will move on to represent Team Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition, May 24 – 27 in Winnipeg. The closing ceremonies were held on May 3rd after the two days of competition. Students were competing for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as monetary awards and job offers in select contest areas.
Xander Powell from Georgian College won gold at the Skills Competition! He comments on his favourite part of the marine industry: “Everything’s different. Every day is different. Every day is a new day.”
Xander Powell won gold and Matt LaRiviere placed 4th in a close race for bronze! Congratulations to both for your hard work and well-earned finishes.
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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