Boatguide Canada

Trolling for Trophies

By Craig Ritchie

Trolling – dragging a fishing lure behind a slowly moving boat – might just be the simplest way to catch fish ever. Make a long cast, drop the rod into a rod holder and gently slip the boat in gear – what could be easier? 

It seems simple enough. But dragging a lure behind the boat is one thing. Actually catching some fish that way is quite another. To catch fish by trolling, you need to drag your lure where the fish will see it. That means you need to know a thing or two about the places that fish call home...Read More

Using Flares

Not only are flares a mandatory safety device for your boat, but everybody onboard should know how to use one in the event of an emergency.
There are four types of flares approved by Transport Canada, categorized by the letters A, B, C and D. Some are handheld or thrown into the water, while others are fired into the sky. Regardless of which type of you keep on board, make sure you're familiar with the steps for firing them, as the procedure varies from one manufacturer to the next.

Handy Websites for Boaters

In this day and age we're bombarded with information. Trying to sort through it all can quickly turn into a tedious task. To save time researching or surfing, listed below is a handful of great websites that will help you access the information you require.

•    www.discoverboating.com
Managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), www.discoverboating.com incorporates an array of helpful features including Ask the Boating Guy, an area of the site where new or seasoned boaters can post questions that will be answered via email or a video clip, suggestions on great spots to cruise, plus a budget planner to find out exactly how much a boat will cost you per month.

Great Lakes Water Levels Higher

The water levels of four Great Lakes are higher than they were one year ago, and all except for Lake Ontario should be at or above last year's levels by the start of the 2010 boating season, according to a six-month outlook issued on December 17 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The 2010 Buyer's Guide is Coming!!

We're putting the finishing touches on our 2010 buyer's guide -- more than 200 pages, nearly 300 new boats in 17 categories, and more than a dozen boat reviews including our largest ever -- a monster 440-footer!!

Look for Boatguide's 2010 Boat Buyer's Guide on newsstands and at major boat shows in January.

Relieving Sea Sickness

There’s nothing worse than fighting (and enduring) a case of seasickness in rough, inclement boating weather. The Queasy Drops from Three Lollies are specially formulated to provide effective relief for adults and children. A departure from several remedies currently on the market, the Queasy Drops come in lollypop or lozenge form and according to the company, they taste good – as they are available in a variety of flavors including cinnamon, cola, peppermint, ginger, papaya, sour lemon, green apple and green tea with lemon. Simply take the first Queasy Drop before leaving the dock, and then continue to savour the Queasy Drops periodically throughout the day. 
www.queasydrops.com

Buy A Boat at TIBS And Win

Buy a boat at the upcoming Toronto International Boat Show and you could go home with $10,000.

Robertson & Robertson Skippers’ Plan is teaming up with TIBS to offer the prize money  as an incentive to the thousands of Show visitors who might be wavering about a purchase.

The contest will be promoted at the show, in the show program and in a mass distribution of Boatguide News to 100,000 homes in the GTA.

“We’re confident that this contest will assist the dealers on the floor,” says Drew Robertson whose company has worked with TIBS over the years to help build boating. Robertson is excited about his company’s contribution noting that it is a significant amount of money. “Ten thousand dollars,” is a pretty exciting prize for someone who makes a deal at the show; the odds are a lot better than the lottery!”

The winner will be drawn on the last day of the show, January 17, 2010.

Naked Rowers Grounded By Atlantic Storms

England may be known for its chilly winter weather, but charity rowers Rich Hume and Tom Barnes, both from London, are about to feel even colder. The pair plan to spend the winter rowing across the North Atlantic in a small boat. 

What’s more, they plan to do it naked.

The pair are competing in something called the Woodvale Race, a famously gruelling ocean challenge completed by Ben Fogle and James Cracknell in 2005.

Starcraft Superfisherman 170 Sport

By Steve Fennell

Starcraft Marine, a company that has delved into recreational boating for more than a century, offers an extensive series of boat models to meet many activities. From its range of fishing boats and pontoons to a full line of fibreglass runabouts and deckboats, the Indiana-based company has a long history of understanding what boaters want and need. 

Four Winns SL222

By Bill Jennings

It’s great when a recreational boat offers a long list of amenities. But the real measure of value in a boat, we believe, is in the ride that it delivers.

To produce a remarkably handling boat requires the combination of many individual elements, none of which are classified secrets. Here are some of the items that give the Four Winns’ SL222 its great ride. The first element is its length. At 22 feet, seven inches, the SL222 is longer than most bow riders and is much more capable of bridging wakes or medium-sized waves. To accentuate this advantage, the SL222 bottom is extended under part of the swim platform and the deadrise is a conservative 20 degrees. This design helps distribute weight as well as provide better lateral stability while underway.