June 13, 2022
One of Canada’s most esteemed painter and printmakers, Newfoundland’s Christopher Pratt died last week at 86. In addition to his artistic talents, Pratt was a boater, and his love of boats and in particular C&C sailboats informed his work.
A fiercely proud Newfoundlander, Pratt famously designed the province’s flag, and was named to the Order of Canada in 1983 and awarded the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2018.
Pratt’s highly distinctive work is widely celebrated but as a person who loves boats rather than an art critic, I was knocked over his takes on the series of C&C boats he captured. We’ve all seen “marine art” on clubhouse walls and over the bed in hotels, but to my mind no artist captured the grace and detail of the C&C keel in such a memorable way combining sublime artistry with a detailed appreciation of hull design.
Pratt had said that boats define part of what Newfoundland is to him. For most of its history, Newfoundland and Labrador has been dependent on, and linked to the fishery and the sea, and boats are an inevitable part of this. Pratt was an avid boater and racer himself and this has had a great impact on his work.
From the Mira Godard gallery site, here’s what Pratt said about the C&C 61 recorded in a 1988 print. “From that Spring day in 1972 when I first sniffed the resin inside Eric Bruckmann’s custom shop at C&C, I dreamed of owning a Custom ’61. It was a day-dream, and a persistent night-time dream as well; in that dream, we were always getting ready to put to sea; to slip our lines and be off into the pre-dawn hours. I have sailed in everything from Lasers to a ’43. I have never owned a ’61, so it remains a dream of glory. I found the thrill of sailing to be exponentially related to the size and power of the boat. The compass and cabin and running lights are coloured partly by hand, using Polychromos pencils.”
Marine Industry Career Path: Brett Ramsey
Wendy and Brett Ramsey
Boating Industry Canada is kicking off its Marine Industry Career Path series once again. For the first installments this year, we have two subjects to highlight. Introducing Wendy and Brett Ramsey!
The Ramsey’s have been working in the marine industry for many years but have both had unique paths in getting to where they are now. They’ve also been working on an impactful pilot project for a long time, which will now be launching this spring. The focus of this initiative is to bring more young people into the marine industry.
Read More
Every Tuesday we publish a fresh Digest with informative articles pertaining to the Canadian boating and marine industry. Stay up to date with the latest products, research and industry developments.
Missed an Issue of Boating Industry Canada News Week? If you're looking for a specific issue, or simply want to catch up on previous issues, check out our Boating Industry Canada News Week Archives.
Not signed up for News Week? Subscribe here.
Building on its award-winning M Series, Bayliner unveiled the all-new M19 at the Miami International Boat Show. The M19 joins the M Series lineup of the M15 and M17 delivering the stability and versatility the series is known for with a focus on expanding boater participation through its intuitive design, ease of maintenance and inclusive price point.
With an overall length of 19 feet and starting at $30,995 USD, the M19 is built on an improved M-hull foundation offering increased stability and automotive style handling for familiarity to appeal to the next generation of boaters. The M19 features an upgraded nine-person capacity and is watersports capable for a full day of adventure on the water.
Read More
Televisions on a boat are increasingly commonplace. With the simple-to-install Glomex Avior VT300 Omnidirectional TV/FM antenna from GA Communications, it's never been easier to bring analog and digital broadcasts onboard—at a price that's hard to ignore.
The most noticeable feature of the Avior VT300 antenna is its compact white, anti-yellowing radome. At only 4" dia. x 8" H and 8.8 oz., it's specifically made for smaller boats that can't accommodate large TV antenna domes and only need short range reception, depending on height and conditions. The amplifier allows the antenna to have an increase in gain with a 24.5 dB average to receive vertical and horizontal polarized TV signals simultaneously from 360°.
Read More
