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The Montreal Boat and Water Sports
Show runs from January 28 to February 1 at Place Bonaventure, Montreal, Quebec. With more than 400
different boats, 150 exhibitors and about 30,000 visitors expected, this 11th annual boating extravaganza has all sorts of boats from cruisers to kayaks, fishing boats, sailboats, parts, accessories, clothing and more. For more info, see the show website by clicking here.
“The lower-pitch front propellers in the Bravo Three lineup have been
redesigned from top to bottom,” says Mercury Product Manager, Dirk Bjornstad.
“These changes result in better acceleration across the board with light and
heavy loads.
The differences are most pronounced on boats with slower acceleration times.
We've seen up to eight percent faster acceleration with the new four-blade
front propeller in heavier applications."
A Bravo Three propeller set consists of two counter-rotating propellers mounted
in tandem on the same drive. The Generation II Bravo Three propellers feature a
four-blade front and a three-blade rear while the Generation I Bravo Three
propellers used a three-blade front and rear.
“Our engineers have made refinements to the rake profile to provide the kind of
holding customers expect with a four-blade front propeller,” said Bjornstad.
“The new low pitch propellers ensure the complete line of Generation II models
will accelerate and hold better than their predecessors.”
Production of the latest revision of the 20, 21 and 22.5 Brave Three series
began on January 22.
Campion General Manger Brock Elliott announced “we have just contracted the first-ever Envirez boat to be run on bio-diesel. The Campion Allante 645i bowrider will be powered by new Volvo Penta D3 200 horsepower engine, and will be built using resin from renewable resources.”
Campion Allante 645i
The boat was purchased by an Ontario boater named Mr. Mark Hayhoe, on the heels of Campion's announcement at the start of the Toronto International Boat Show that the company will build all its boats going forward using Ashland’s environmentally-friendly Envirez product.
“I have wanted an ecologically-friendly boat for some time, but the right combination has not been available until now,” says Hayhoe. “I have spent a lot of summers on the Muskoka lakes and I am impressed with Campion's vision towards a more ecologically responsible boating experience. This will be an exciting project and I look forward to picking up my Campion bio-boat and getting out on Lake Muskoka.”
Brock Elliott announced that Campion will become the first boat builder in the world to manufacture all of its product with Envirez, a renewably-sourced bio-derived resin from Ashland Performance Materials, at the beginning of the Toronto show. Envirez resin is descried as using a substantial amount of soybean oil and corn-derived ethanol in its formulation.
“Ashland's bio-based resin delivers the performance characteristics we want for our boats and it reduces our reliance on petroleum-based counterparts,” says Elliott. “We are putting Envirez resin in all our boats, not only because of its superior performance relating to strength and elongation, but because it's the right thing to do for our world. We have tested the Envirez resin hulls in our Chase 550 and 600 on Lake Okanagan for the past two years, and it has proven itself. We will now use the product to form all of our hulls, liners and decks.”
Elliott notes that Campion's adoption of Envirez resin will eliminate more than 100,000 pounds of carbon monoxide from entering the atmosphere.
The Atlantic Marine Trades Association (AMTA) has extended the entry deadline for its 2010 Halifax International Boat Show photo contest to February 15. If you have some snappy photos of boating in Atlantic Canada, here's your chance to win a new digital camera, courtesy of Fairway Insurance, or one of a pair of $200 gift certificates to spend at this year's Halifax International Boat Show courtesy of Discover Boating.
Silver Fox Yacht Club, Summerside, PEI.
Entries can be submitted electronically to editor@advocatemediainc.com as 300 dpi high resolution files, or printed and mailed to the 2010 Halifax International Boat Show Photo Contest, 162 Trider Cres., Dartmouth, NS, B3B 1R6.
All entries will be displayed at the 2010 Halifax International Boat Show.
Visit www.atlanticboatingnews.com for further details.
The E-TEC 15 HO is built on a 35.3 cubic inch, two-cylinder design that is CARB 3-Star, EPA and EU compliant. Both versions are available with an adjustable tiller handle or as a remote control model, each incorporating a high-speed tilt component supported by a heavy-duty bracket system that deploys at a speed said to be three times that of standard systems. The unit includes the company’s exclusive Touch-Troll feature that provides accurate electronic RPM speed control for improved fishability, while a 15-amp alternator delivers best-in-class charging power. The unit requires no scheduled dealer maintenance for three years or 300 hours.
“We’re delivering on our commitment to expand our Evinrude E-TEC line-up,” stated Yves Leduc, Vice President and General Manager for BRP’s North America division. “The new 15 horsepower HO model gives the consumer the best of both worlds – the largest displacement, which delivers the maximum get-home speed, and the direct-injection fuel system which offers the optimum ability for slow trolling.”
The Evinrude E-TEC 15 HO engine boasts many of the same features and benefits found on its bigger brothers in the Evinrude E-TEC line-up. Low maintenance, cleaner and quieter performance, durability and reliability through design and components including NASA-developed alloy pistons, a high-thrust reversing exhaust propeller, and fast rise inductive ignition (IDI) for sure starts and longer spark plug life.
BRP will highlight the Evinrude E-TEC 15 HO engine will be highlighted at select boat shows in key markets across Canada and the US, including the Toronto International Boat Show, the Houston International Boat Show, the Seattle Boat Show, the Minneapolis Boat Show and the Miami International Boat Show.
The new 15 HO model will be available as a limited release production to authorized Evinrude dealers beginning in May 2010. BRP's Evinrude E-TEC engine line-up now includes 98 engine models from 15 to 300 horsepower.
Cold weather couldn't do it. Even at minus 15 degree Celsius temperatures with wind chill, crowds we're lined up in the lobby of the Direct Energy Centre for the opening of the nine-day long Toronto International Boat Show this past Saturday.
There was a positive atmosphere on the show floor as exhibitor's booths quickly filled up with show goers in search of their next boat. Show manager Cynthia Hare reported attendance down 10 percent on Saturday and five percent on Sunday. Nonetheless, during the opening weekend exhibitors reported making sales, some setting new records for opening weekend.
“As a whole we sold 24 boats on Saturday,” reports Jamie Small of CO2 Inflatables. “It was a strong opening day. We sold boats anywhere from eight feet up to 16 feet. On Sunday we sold a 20-footer. The qualified buyers were here and the crowd was knowledgeable.”
While opinions varied on what type of consumer was at the show, many felt that the entry-level consumer was prevalent.
“The entry-level boat buyer has returned,” commented Tom McNair of Brunswick – US Marine & Outboard Boats.
Others shared McNair's view. The Boat Warehouse, which has Four Winns models on display ranging from 18 to 43 feet, agrees that there's a lot of interest at the entry level.
“We find we are getting the new boat buyer,” says Dave Mayhew of The Boat Warehouse. “It's exciting to see the entry-level buyer. It shows that there is some consumer confidence despite the economy. We're spending more time with them because they are new to boating and first time buyers. Customers have been looking to us to help them find out what would be the best boat for them.”
“So far we've had a wide range of success,” continues Mayhew. “We've had small boat sales and more mid-range sales than we've had in the opening weekend of the past two years. Saturday the traffic was so busy we couldn't even get to everyone. We've sold 24s, 27s, some big boats, some small – it has been right across the whole board.”
Staff at the Discover Boating booth also noticed a surge of potential first-time boat owners who were seeking insight on how to get into the recreational boating. Siegi Kaminski, who has been working with Discover Boating for more than 10 years, has seen his share of visitors to the organization's booth. “We've found a lot of new cottage owners who want to get into boating are visiting us,” says Kaminski. “A lot of them have no boating experience, but they knew to come see us. We've seen a very significant increase in interest over last year. This year they are gung-ho to buy a boat.”
Other exhibitors found that consumer interest was more spread out. That said, the feedback they had to share was positive as well.
“I'm seeing the mid-range right now,” says Bruce Cleland, Sales Manager of Gordon Bay Marine, MacTier, ON. “We've done a lot of mid-range Boston Whalers and Monterey. "Most people have been on the Internet before they came down because they are very informed. There have been more educated buyers this year than we've ever seen.”
Sea-Doo had a good opening weekend, reporting sales across its lineup. “It was a good opening weekend for us,” says Bob Gossling, Sea-Doo shows and events – North America – BRP. “We're selling everything from entry level to $45,000 dollar boats – it's right across the spectrum.”
Bayliner had 13 boats on display at its booth (five cruisers and eight runabouts) ranging from 16 to 31 feet. :You've got to show it if you want to sell it,” says Bryan Down, District Business Manager for Brunswick - US Marine & Outboard Boats. “The quality of the people here over the weekend was quite good,” continues Down. “They qualified themselves nicely.”
Based on the Volvo Group’s 13-litre engines, the two new IPS drive packages generate the equivalent of 1,050 and 1,200 horsepower respectively. This means that Volvo Penta can now offer the IPS system for boats in excess of 100 feet LOA.
The engine for the new power classes is Volvo Penta’s D13, a 13-liter diesel with dual-stage turbo technology developing 800 and 900 horsepower, respectively. The first stage in its sophisticated dual-stage turbo design is a twin-entry turbo that enables pulse charging – the power in each exhaust pulse is used to provide pulse pressure – which results in a very high torque from low rpm. At higher rpm, a second turbo kicks in so that the engine retains its power even at high rpm.
EMS 2, the new engine control system developed by Volvo Penta, regulates fuel injection 100 times per second. The system controls the unit injectors, one per cylinder, which operate at a pressure of as much as 2000 bar and atomize the fuel for optimum combustion. Total emissions satisfy the EU RCD and US EPA Tier 2 regulations and are also in line with the stringent EPA Tier 3 regulations that will come into force in 2012.
The new IPS1050 and IPS1200 will be available on the market from autumn 2010.
Volvo Penta launched its IPS system in 2005, with units based on the company’s four- and six-litre diesel engines. Last year, the company added two new power classes with larger drive units based on 11-liter engines.
Along with the new IPS units, Volvo Penta also announced its new Dynamic Positioning System, which helps the driver to maintain the boat’s position by just pressing a button. The Dynamic Positioning System is controlled by special software integrated in Volvo Penta’s electronic platform. An antenna with twin GPS receivers supplies the system with exact information on the boat’s position and with the help of this information the software controls engine revs, shift positions and the drive units. The system is ideal for situations where boats must maintain a static position, such as when waiting to enter a lock, or for a bridge to open.
Campion Marine Inc., Kelowna, BC, announced Monday that it will become the first boat builder in the world to manufacture all of its boats with Envirez, a renewably sourced bio-derived resin from Ashland Performance Materials. Envirez resin is descried as the first resin that uses a substantial amount of soybean oil and corn derived ethanol in its formulation.
Campion Chase 600
“Ashland's bio-based resin delivers the performance characteristics we want for our boats and it reduces our reliance on petroleum-based counterparts,” said Brock Elliott, General Manager of Campion Marine. “We are putting Envirez resin in all our boats, not only because of its superior performance relating to strength and elongation, but because it's the right thing to do for our world.”
Elliott made the announcement Monday morning at the NMMA Canada annual general meeting, held in conjunction with the Toronto International Boat Show. Elliott noted that Campion was selected as the world's first builder of bio resin boats in 2008. “We have tested the Envirez resin hulls in our Chase 550 and 600 on Lake Okanagan for the past two years, and it has proven itself. We will now use the product to form all of our hulls, liners and decks.”
Elliott notes that the move to Envirez resin by Campion will eliminate over 100,000 pounds of C0 from entering the atmosphere.
“We are pleased to be working with a great company like Campion to bring this technology to the boating public,” said Mike Wallenhorst, Director of Product Management, Ashland Performance Materials. “Envirez is a fantastic product that offers outstanding toughness and is a big step towards a totally renewable resin. It's exciting to realize that hundreds of boats made from Envirez resin will soon be navigating the world's waterways thanks to Campion.”
Lund's 2010 Spring Catch promotion offers consumers up to $1,500 in cash rebates plus a complete 17-volume Angling Edge DVD collection featuring legendary angler Al Lindner, valued at $300.
The Spring Catch promotion involves more than 17 models, with a tiered rebate structure that provides greater incentive for buying earlier in the year. For example, buy a 2010 model year Pro V 197 GL in January and you're eligible for a $1,200 rebate. Wait till February and the amount drops to $700, and $600 if you don't buy till March.
What's more, 2009 model year product also qualifies for the Spring Catch rebate, with higher rebate amounts than 2010 product.
Buy a Rebel XL model before April 15, 2010 will you'll also receive a custom Lund / Angling Edge / Angler-Young Angler hat, plus access to the all-new Faculty of Fishing online education program, valued at $149. Lund has announced national retail pricing of $12,995 USD for the 1625 Rebel XL SS packaged with a 50 two-stroke (plus freight and PDI). The program is available to Canadian consumers, but is administered in US dollars, with currency conversion made during purchase through the participating dealer.
The LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) system
was an American development of the British GEE radio navigation system used
early in World War II. While GEE had a range of about 640 km, initial LORAN
systems had a range of more than 1,900 km. LORAN was used by the US Navy, Royal
Navy and Royal Air Force during the later stages of World War II, then came
into widespread commercial and civilian use in the 1950s and 60s. The system
was updated through the years to the current C-version standard.
Satellite navigation systems began
replacing LORAN systems in commercial vessels in the early ‘90s. With the
subsequent development of affordable, accurate and easy-to-use consumer GPS
receivers, sales of LORAN units – once a staple in recreational boats –
virtually evaporated.
An oldie, and a goodie, but no competition to GPS.
