Hi Gang Rick here at Bayliner Boats. Business Seems Brisk at Toronto International Boat Show. Early anecdotal evidence suggests strong sales at the 50th Anniversary of the Toronto International Boat Show. Boating Industry Canada questioned a random group of 10 dealers and heard positive comments from all.
Customers are driving harder than ever for a good deal but it seems that the recently increased purchasing power of the Canadian dollar may be at least partly accountable for the sales action. The dealers included both small boat and fishing boat dealers as well as two yacht dealers. There seems to be strength across the board so far.
The show opened Saturday January 12 to what may possibly be record crowds. Instead of the customary January blizzard, unseasonable weather had totally melted the Christmas snowfall leaving above-freezing temperatures and green grass in many areas. Perhaps this weather has people thinking about boating earlier than ever. Final attendance results will be announced by show organizers about a week after it closes on Sunday January 20th.
A lot can happen in the next week but so far, the Canadian boat show season is off to a solid start.
This year Buckeye is Going Overboard for the Bouchard family.
After a great success in 2007, Buckeye Marine is Going Overboard again in 2008. Going Overboard is a program aimed at giving back to a member of the boating community when they need it most, while gaining publicity for the marine industry. It starts with Buckeye Marine choosing from their vast customer base, to create a list of customers who faced adversity in their lives.
Larry Bouchard loved the water and had a burning passion for barefoot waterskiing. At age 55 he purchased a 2001 195 MasterCraft Prostar. The boat was Larry’s pride and joy. Every weekend when he left the cottage he meticulously cleaned and polished it. He cared for his boat so dearly that one of Larry’s close skiing buds jokingly said Larry should put a pair of lips on the boat so he could kiss it goodbye every Sunday evening.
In the winter of 2004, however, Larry’s life was cut short after being diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 59, only four years in to his bare footing career. Larry’s passion for life along with his love for his family and friends made him an inspiration to everyone who knew him.
The make-over starts once the unknowing family is chosen. The Going Overboard crew, consisting of Buckeye staff, Canadian boat designer Chris Riggs of Riggs Innovative Design, a wide array of marine distributors, parts manufacturers and volunteers, all come together to re-build the vessel into the boat dreams are made of.
Taken from the proven formats of popular television shows “Overhaulin” and “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”, an inside source is chosen, whether it be a family member or friend, to ensure the customization is in line with the customer’s wants and needs.
This Year’s Project
In January of 2005, Larry’s brother Jim purchased the prized possession from Larry’s wife. Although the 195 MasterCraft fulfills the mission of family togetherness and serves a memoir, it also left some voids. As a result, Chris Riggs of Riggs Innovative Design Inc., Buckeye Marine and numerous generous sponsors teamed together to transform this vessel into a custom masterpiece so the boat could appropriately live on as a constant reminder of the man who loved it so dearly. In the end, the finished project has 1500 man hours put in it along with $45,000 worth of custom equipment, refurbishing and accessories.
Using The Toronto International Boat show as its venue, the unknowing winner is invited to what they will know later as their boat “unveiling”. Here media is on hand to witness and capture the awe-inspiring looks as the boat is revealed for the first time to the deserving customer!
The boat will remain in the Riggs Innovative Design booth for the duration of the boat show.
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Rick Ostler, Bayliner Boats.
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