Storm Update - Canadian Weather Blog Weather Blog

Storm Update - Canadian Weather Blog Weather Blog

MALIBU BOATS AWARDED PATENT FOR BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATIONS IN WAKESURFING

 

Malibu Boats, the global leader in watersports towboats and the inventor of on-the-fly surf wake switching technology, announced today that it has been awarded a patent for its surfing innovations from the United States Patent Office. This is the first patent in a series of patent applications on surfing and SURF GATE®.

 

Using Malibu's proprietary water diversion technology, a watersports boat can produce a surf wave, and almost instantaneously change the surf wave from one side of the boat to the other. Wakesurfers are finally free to surf either side of the boat with no need to wait for ballast changes or moving people around the boat. Malibu is pleased that the Patent Office has acknowledged Malibu’s latest innovation by granting patent protection.”

 

Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats. Malibu markets the RESPONSE, WAKESETTER and RIDE models as well as the Axis Wake Research brand .

 

Check out the Malibu Boats available at Gordon Bay Marine

2014 Models arriving, on display in the Gordon Bay Marine Showroom.

Awarded Certified Brunswick Master Dealer

Gordon Bay Marine has been awarded Certified Brunswick Master Dealer status from Brunswick Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of recreational boats and marine engines. The Brunswick dealer certification program is the most compre...hensive independent dealer certification program in the marine industry. As such, Brunswick believes that boaters can expect a superior boating experience from certified dealers such as Gordon Bay Marine.

The Brunswick certification program provides operational processes and criteria designed to maintain continuous improvement in customer service across all dealer departments. The program ensures excellence through measurement of the quality of a dealer's sales process, its facilities, after-sale-follow-up, service and parts department as well as overall employee and customer satisfaction levels. Compliance is independently verified and dealers are evaluated every year to make sure they continue to meet program requirements.
The Master Dealer certification is Brunswick's foundation distinction for dealers, reserved for those dealers who meet Brunswick's higher standards of operation excellence. To qualify, dealers must pass over 80 best practice requirements across every area of their business. The result is an ownership experience that customers can truly rely on.

2014 Malibu Boats 23 LSV

SURF, SKATE AND WAKEBOARD IN STYLE,
WITH ROOM TO SPARE
The best-selling 23-foot boat in the history of the watersports industry just got better. Malibu's WAKESETTER 23 LSV has been fully redesigned for 2014 and includes numerous enhancements to improve your experience on the water.

IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW BOAT?

  SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER …
Fuel efficiency. Buy an engine that is small and efficient and meets your needs. The more power you enjoy, the bigger the gas bill.
Expected use. Are you planning to fish tournaments on inland lakes or take a boat onto the ocean? Do you want the flexibility to bring the family along for a day of water skiing and fun in the sun? These choices will affect your design selection.
Electronics. You can pick and choose your electronics, from GPS to fish-finder to motor adaptor, but they will cost you. Investigate interoperability if you are considering buying systems from different manufacturers.
Storage and design. Do you have all the storage you need for fish, rods, gear, food and drinks? Will you want a shady spot for children to nap?
For more information, visit discoverboating.com.
For the perfect boat, visit gordonbay.com

Safe Boating Awareness Week

Safe Boating Awareness Week starts today
(May 18-24, 2013), Thank you to the OPP For this News Release published Friday, May 17, 2013   by: Kate Adams in BAYTODAY.ca

Some Great Reminders


The OPP is reminding all boaters and paddlers that being well-informed and focused on safe boating practices is a sure-fire way to enjoy a tragedy-free boating season.

Responsible for policing more than 94,000 square kilometres of Ontario waterways, the OPP is highly familiar with the causes of boating fatalities every year. According to the OPP, the hard facts about how preventable they are lie in the statistics.

Last year (2012), the OPP investigated 20 fatal boating incidents in which 22 persons lost their lives. Twelve of these people were boat operators and 10 were passengers.

Eighteen of the 22 victims were not wearing Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) and in many of those incidents, the vessel either capsized or the victim fell overboard. Eight of the 20 fatal incidents involved either a canoe, kayak or sailboat.

Regardless of what type of vessel you are in when the time comes and you really need that PFD, remember that "It won't work if you don't wear it". Over and above the risk of hypothermia, cold water immersion poses another immediate threat to boaters who fall overboard or whose vessels capsize.

Seven of last years boating deaths involved alcohol consumption. The motto on the road is if you drink, don't drive. It is the same on the water and so are the laws, right down to immediately having your drivers licence suspended if you are in the "Warn Range".
Factoring in weather is also key to a safe boating season. Make an informed decision and use sound judgement when deciding the best time to head out on the water.

Familiarize yourself with the boat you are operating and ensure that it is properly prepared for the boating season. Remember that the law requires anyone operating a motorized water vessel to have a pleasure craft operating card.
For more information about Safe Boating Awareness Week, visit the Canadian Safe Boating Council website.

The Gordon Bay Marine Facebook Page will be posting some great tips on boating safety through out the week so be sure to visit our page.  "Like Us"  and you could win some great prizes!! Always something interesting being posted.

Boat Rentals In Muskoka

 Gordon Bay Marine Boat Rentals 

invites you to enjoy the beautiful waters of Lake Joseph, Rosseau and Muskoka in one of our premier rental boats! 

Whether you’re visiting the area or just want to rent a boat before you purchase one , this is a great opportunity to have fun on the water while taking it easy and enjoying the beautiful views.

 

 Tubes, Wakeboards, Water Skis, Ropes and PFD are also available for rent.

* All boats come with the Required Safety Equipment: paddles, fire extinguisher, safety package, life jackets (one per person), and a chart of the appropriate lake system.

Visit www.gordonbay.com

 Book your boat early for best selection.

Spring Cottage Life Show

 

Join Gordon Bay Marine at the 2013 Spring Cottage Life Show! Learn more about the show and this year's features and events here. New 2013 boat models will be on display with our professional sales representatives available to answer all of your questions. Visit our website @ www.gordonbay.com

Show Dates/Hours: Friday, April 5 11:00am - 8:00pm Saturday, April 6 9:00am - 6:00pm Sunday, April 7 10:00am - 5:00pm

Location: International Centre, Toronto Free parking for 5,000 cars 6900 Airport Road at Derry Road Enter at Halls 1, 3, or 5 Get directions

Admission: Adults (18+): $17 Youth (13-17): $8 Weekend Pass: $24 Kids 12 and under are free. Buy your tickets online here. New! Senior (65+): $12 available on Friday, April 5 only. Seniors tickets can be purchased at the on site box offices with valid ID (not available online). New! Friday Night Special: Adult ticket is $12 after 5:00pm. Available for purchase at the on site box offices only, beginning at 5:00 pm (not available online). Please note, on site box office tickets sales are cash only

Something Exciting Is Happening!!

It's Friday March 15th At The Gordon Bay Marine Cottage Shop.

Check out this video...it's a sweet sweet sled! 

HWY 400 EXIT 214 

30 Minutes South Of Parry Sound

2 Hours North Of Toronto

Hope to see you there!

Finding That Perfect Boat

One of the joys of boat ownership is the search for The Perfect One. You know it when you see it, and in the meantime you get to check out all sorts of great boats. Bowriders, Pontoons, Tow boats, Fishing boats, but  which one is right for you?


Click Here To Start Exploring

 

Here is what I think is some valuable information for anyone interested in finding the right new or used boat.
We want to help make your buying experience as smooth and stress free as possible.
A great place to start is the Discover BOATING website.
Here are some tips from Discover BOATING that will help you navigate through the rough waters..

 How to Buy a Boat
5 Steps to Boat Ownership

Step 1: Choose Your Boat

Decide what your main purpose and activity for the boat will be. This will help to narrow down your choice of boats to a select few.
Review boat types »
 

Step 2: Visit A Dealer or Show

Visit a dealer or boat show to discuss needs with experts. Test drive and compare prices. A NMMA-certified boat is recommended
Find a boat show »

Step 3: Learn All You Can

You learned the “Rules of the Road” before you sat behind the wheel of a car, and you should do the same before taking the helm.
Watch videos »

Step 4: Finance Your Boat

Boating is more affordable than you think; use our loan calculator to see your potential monthly payment.
Boat Loan Calculator »

Step 5: Get Out On The Water

Whether you’re looking for a family boating centre or the perfect place to fishing, just getting out on the water is key to understanding the boating lifestyle.
Use our On-the-Water Apps »

 

Boating, the recreational activity that connects like no other.

 

Check out just a few of the great boats available at
 Gordon Bay Marine

 

visit: www.gordonbay.com 

 

 

 

Discover Boating! Enjoy The Lifestyle!

Did you know that there is roughly 1.4 billion trillion litres of water on the earth, so there’s plenty to explore and that in 2012, over one in five Canadian households owned at least one recreational boat.

Boating is a fun recreational activity shared by many Canadians and believe it or not over half of those who went boating in the past year having done so without owning a boat.

So what are you waiting for!!

With Manufacturers offering some of the best deals right now and with an incredible array of amenities and options to choose from there’s sure to be a boat to fit your active boating and fishing lifestyle.

Take a peek at some of the great boats & savings that will get you out on the water.

 Bayliner's- Big Deal Sales Event,

Now until February 28, 2013.

Bayliner is offering significant rebates on many popular models, including the best-selling 175 Bowrider.

There's a reason it's called the Big Deal.

Boston Whaler ‘s  OwnThe View  Sales Event ,

Now until March 10, 2013

 It's enough to keep you smiling all season long!  A  Boston Whaler 13 Super Sport, might just be the boat to get you started.

With their rugged utility, cutting-edge design and superior reliability, every Boston Whaler proudly carries on the Unsinkable Legend.

If you've ever considered adding a boat to your family, the time is now. Don't miss out!

Discover Boating and the boating lifestyle, you will ask yourself “why didn’t I do this sooner” 

 

 

 

“Get out on the water”

Enjoy Savings Like Never Before!

This winter, enjoy savings like never before! Boston Whaler is offering seasonal incentives from now until March 10, 2013 on every Outrage, Conquest*, Dauntless, Montauk and Super Sport model. It's enough to keep you smiling all season long! With their rugged utility, cutting-edge design and superior reliability, every Boston Whaler proudly carries on the Unsinkable Legend. And with an incredible array of amenities and options to choose from, there's a Boston Whaler sure to fit your active boating and fishing lifestyle. If you've ever considered adding a new Boston Whaler to your family, the time is now. This winter, own the view. To receive additional information from  Gordon Bay Marine and to register to win an Apple iPad, click here!       Craig Murray : craigm@gordonbay.com Jim Parent : jimp@gordonbay.com 705.375.2623   *Please note that the 315 Conquest, 230 Vantage and 270 Vantage do not  qualify for the Own       the View Winter Sales Event.

 

New At Gordon Bay Marine

 

HOVERCRAFT-LAND-ICE-WATER

 

What is a hovercraft?

 

 It’s a unique vehicle that can travel over land, ice and water. In fact, it doesn’t actually touch the surface it’s travelling on, instead it rides on a cushion of air. That cushion allows it to move smoothly over even the roughest and most unstable surfaces in any weather.

What really sets it apart is the powerful fan at the back of the craft that pushes air downward, creating that cushion of air.

Who uses them?

On the one hand, this is a really practical vehicle that allows people to get to difficult-to-reach places in even extreme weather. So they’re ideal for search and rescue. As well, people who want to travel to backcountry locations such as hunting grounds, islands in winter or in summer and on ice roads that have not yet frozen completely. Hovercrafts are also very practical for cottagers or homeowners who cannot reach their properties with low or receding water levels. 

But as well, hovercrafts are fun to drive and they can also be a pleasure vehicles.
 

 Who are they?

A new Canadian company based in Toronto and Parry Sound, Ontario.
Although a new company, the hovercraft team has decades of experience running businesses in Canada and is working with a partner with over 40 years’ experience in hovercraft engineering and design.

These hovercrafts were designed in conjunction with HoverWorks Limited http://hoverworks.co.nz/  of Christchurch, New Zealand, who are experts in designing and building hovercrafts. They have integrated their innovative design elements to make Air Rider hovercrafts the safest, most efficient and easy to drive hovercrafts available in the world.

Want to know more?

Check out the rest of the Air Rider web site for more information, images, videos and specifications about these unique vehicles. Stay tuned to this blog for more inside information about hovercraft.

For sales information contact;

Gordon Bay Marine

 705 375 2623

sales@gordonbay.com

 

 

Great News! Did You Hear?

 

 As determined by Boating Industry magazine, the Top 100 is an annual ranking of dealerships that are unsurpassed in overall business operations, customer service, professionalism, and all the characteristics that go along with them.

Managing a dealership to high levels of customer service, high volume sales and, yes, high profits, is no easy task. Simultaneously creating an atmosphere that exceeds high consumer expectations can be even more difficult. For Gordon Bay Marine however, these tasks have not only become second nature, but they are firmly integrated in the business' day-to-day operations. We understand that delivering on the promise of the boating lifestyle, not just a boat is the No. 1 key to success.

10 Reasons To Do Business With  A Top 100 Dealer 1. DEDICATION TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers have the systems in place to ensure they are satisfying you, their customer.   2. AMBASSADORS FOR THE BOATING LIFESTYLE: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers strive to retain you as a customer for life, offering the education, experiences, events, products and services to make the boating lifestyle as pleasurable and rewarding as possible for you, your family and your friends. 3. SERVICE DONE RIGHT: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers understand your time on the water is precious, so they design their businesses to get you into the shop and back on the water quickly and efficiently. 4. CONSISTENCY: From the website to the showroom, from sales techniques to service processes, your Top 100 Dealer aims to deliver a quality experience you can count on. 5. EXPERT GUIDANCE: Top 100 Dealers invest in the latest training and education so they can provide expert guidance to assist you in making the best decisions, whether you are buying a boat, selecting parts and accessories or bringing your vessel in for maintenance. 6. COMMUNICATION: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers ensure you have access to the information your boating lifestyle demands, from the latest news, events, products and services to regular updates regarding your boat, part or repair order. 7. LONGEVITY: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers relentless quest for excellence, agility in adjusting to the changing marketplace, and dedication to short- and long-term planning make them the ideal partner to guide you along your boating journey. 8. EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers provide the wages, benefits, training and culture that allow their business to attract and retain the best employees in the marketplace. 9. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers contribute to their local communities as a thank you for all that they get back. 10. COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers aim to exceed your expectations and those of their team, suppliers and business partners each and every time, no matter how high those standards are. Thank You Boating Industry For Reconizing Gordon Bay Marine As One Of North America's  TOP 100 DEALERS

Exciting News | 2013 Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Gordon Bay Marine will have a Boston Whaler 230 Vantage at the Toronto International Boat Show in January.

This boat is worth getting excited about!!!

 

Stop by booth #800 to get your personal tour.

 Here is a great article on the 230 & 270 Boston Whaler Vantage:

http://www.marinelink.com/news/vantage-whaler-debuts348460.aspx

 

2013 Toronto International Boat Show Hours

January 12 to 20, 2013:

Show Hours

Saturdays (12th & 19th)

10 am to 7 pm

Sundays (13th & 20th)

10 am to 6 pm

Mon. to Wed. (14th to 16th)

11 am to 8 pm

Thurs. & Fri. (17th & 18th) (New 9 pm closing!)

11 am to 9 pm

Friday, January 11, 2013:
Special Preview Night: 4 to 9 pm

Set Your GPS

The Toronto International Boat Show takes place at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place:

100 Princes' Blvd.
Toronto, ON M6K 3C3

Check out the Show Features...
http://www.torontoboatshow.com/features/show-features/

See you at the Toronto Show!

 

Malibu Boats: Malibu Releases 2013 WAKESETTER 24 MXZ

Gordon Bay Marine, looking forward to the new models!
Check out the 2013 Wakesetter 24 MXZ
Malibu Boats: Malibu Releases 2013 WAKESETTER 24 MXZ

The 2013 Toronto International Boat show in January is going to be a real treat!! Sweet, Sweet Boats on the way.

Pontoon Boats, A Whole New Life!!

Harris FloteBote Pontoons
Taking time away from work and the daily routine is good for us, particularly if we go on vacation.  Well this past week I was able to get away from the Marina, not on vacation but on a journey that took me to Fort Wayne Indiana to the Harris FloteBote Factory for the release of the 2013 models, followed by test runs of the pontoons on the lake.  From the Marina here on Lake Joseph in Muskoka that’s a 1700km round trip. So in a way it was a mini vacation, viewing boats & testing boats.  

If you have never experienced boating, there’s some sort of psychological process that happens when you step aboard a boat and it leaves the dock; you’ll find that you literally leave your worries and stresses behind you. In fact, in a National Marine Manufacturers Association survey, boating is in the top three of all stress-relieving activities.

Now if you have never been on a pontoon boat or still have that image of your grandfather’s pontoon boat with the rail fence and lawn chairs on it, I highly recommend you check out the new models. The Harris FloteBote is the ultimate in luxurious style, an abundance of space and countless amenities. I counted 23, yes 23 cup holders on one boat...These boats are crazy sweet!!!

                                                  

I say consider pontoon boating.  It’s like going on vacation every time you cast off the dock. It brings family and friends together. It just doesn’t get better than that! Pontooning encourages fun such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding, tubing, snorkeling and swimming. Yes, all this is possible with a FloteBote.  

Once you get a taste of the pontooning lifestyle, you will be having so much fun you will wonder why you waited so long to get started.

“There’s nothing even close to this on the market.”

SURF GATE

SBCWAKEBOARD.COM

  Press Release: July 17, 2012

Malibu Boats, the global leader in state-of-the-art water sports towboats, has designed a break-through wakesurfing innovation, Surf Gate (patent pending), which promises to revolutionize the sport. Malibu unveiled the new wave-making feature at the Red Bull Wake Open in Tampa, FL this past weekend.

“From now on, every time you drain your sacs for thirty minutes just to switch sides, you’ll wish you had Surf Gate,” said Brian Grubb, Malibu team rider. “It’s so cool to be able to switch waves with the press of a button and transfer from left to right. The wave is perfect and big on both sides. This is the future and it can only be done with Surf Gate.”

 

Malibu has chosen Grubb to drive its new Wakesetter 22 MXZ, the official towboat of the Red Bull Wake Open. The Wakesetter 22 MXZ was the original test boat for Surf Gate and is the most successful new product launch in Malibu history, in terms of units sold.

The fastest growing activity in water sports, wakesurfing has evolved over the past decade from a niche activity to a legitimate competitive sport. In order to wakesurf, it is necessary to have an adequately weighted boat – one weighted to either the left or right side, which produces a larger wake. Prior to Surf Gate, wakesurfing required boaters to empty ballasts on one side of the boat and subsequently refill them displacing passengers and shifting weight accordingly. Surf Gate alleviates this time-consuming process. Extreme leaning of the boat is no longer necessary. Additionally, Surf Gate enables riders to cross the wave and perform previously impossible moves.

“To create a surf wave without leaning the boat is a big advantage, “ said Dan Gasper, director of product design. “We’ve been working on ways to create surf wakes to avoid hull shape changes so as not to create a negative effect to our great wakeboard wakes. Surf Gate is the culmination of our efforts.

Commanding 30 percent of the market share in its category, Malibu is the world’s top-selling towboat manufacturer. Surf Gate will be available on all 2013 Wakesetter models.

“We’re thrilled to offer this proprietary innovation to enhance the sport and build Malibu’s legacy of industry leadership,” said Nick Skally, Malibu’s director of marketing. “There’s nothing even close to this on the market.”

Thanks SBCWAKEBOARD for bringing the news!

Boat registration hinges on motor size — OPP

Great Article Worth Sharing...

Thank you to:

By Mike Verdone

Posted 3 hours ago

Recreational boating is a favourite pastime of Canadians with between seven and nine million people enjoying the waterways each year.

If you're out on the lake in a boat with a 9.9-horsepower motor, there's no need to worry if the men in blue come along and ask to see your vessel registration because you don't need one.

As long as you keep that motor on the boat there is no need to register the vessel and put those three-inch-high registration numbers on both sides of the bow.

But as soon as you bolt on a 10-horsepower, or larger motor, you must register the vessel or face a potential fine if you're stopped by the OPP Marine Unit.

When it comes to regulations for pleasure crafts in Ontario - boats not used for commercial enterprise - all things hinge on engine size, says Const. Dave Ault of the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Marine Unit.

"Everything basically over 10 horsepower or more must be licenced," Ault says.

"We do come upon those (situations) every now and then."

He says it's up to the discretion of the police officer to lay a fine, or not.

Ault says 9.9-hp motors came on line specifically to skirt the registration law.

"It's one of those things where the industry was looking at what the rules and regulations are."

If a boat meets the criteria and must be registered, it is mandatory to have registration documents present on the vessel. Ault says most people photocopy the documents and keep them aboard their vessel.

If the registration is not present, it may also cost you money.

"We don't deal with that too often, but there is a fine for not having it (on hand)," Ault says.

"Again, it's a discretionary call" by the officer of the marine unit, he said.

It's also important for boat owners to keep their registration updated, Ault says. If someone buys a second-hand boat that requires registration, the owner must change the documents over into their own name.

They must also post the new registration numbers on the vessel. If they fail to do so, they could also be fined.

"The officer, yes, he can lay a ticket. Would he lay a ticket, who knows."

Ault was unsure about the size of fines police can levy for violating mandatory requirements.

"It's close to the $100 area."

To register a vessel go to the office of boating safety at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca 

Click on "Vessels" on the left side of the page and follow the link.

We hear don’t drink and drive, or drink and boat & this is why!

 Provincial Police are out in full force and with weather warming up… they’re turning their focus to people on the water.

  37% of boaters in Canada admit to consuming alcohol every time they boat.

  66% report they drink alcohol sometimes when boating.

  Alcohol is a factor in over 40% of recreational boating fatalities.

O-P-P is reminding all boaters that you can be charged with Impaired Operation of a Vessel if you’re blood alcohol level is above point-zero-eight.

Police also say rules for having alcohol in boats vary by province… but in Ontario… you can’t even transport alcohol unless your boat is classed as a home.

Under Ontario Bill 209, drunken boaters will be subject to the same suspension penalties that now apply to vehicle drivers. The Highway Traffic Act applies to “anyone operating or having the care or control of a vessel”. Anyone found operating a boat while impaired can face an on-the-spot vehicle driver’s license suspension, with additional suspension if convicted.

Under what circumstances is it illegal to transport alcohol?
It is illegal to transport beverage alcohol in a motor vehicle, a motorized snow vehicle or a boat unless the beverage alcohol is in a container that is unopened and the seal unbroken, or unless the beverage alcohol is packaged in baggage that is fastened closed or is not otherwise readily available to anyone in the vehicle. In a boat, the beverage alcohol must be stored in a closed compartment. (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario)

What boats may carry alcohol in Ontario?
A boat with permanent sleeping accommodations and permanent cooking and sanitary facilities, other than a boat used to carry passengers for hire, is considered to be a private place while the boat is at anchor or is secured to the dock or land. (Sec.3/7 Read Ontario Liquor License Act for more.)

For current information about the laws and regulations affecting boaters, visit the Office of Boating Safety and the Province of Ontario. You may also ask the Provincial Police who enforce the laws and regulations.

 Gordon Bay Marine Supports The Water On The Water Saying...Stay Safe & Happy Boating!!