Toronto Boat Show – Lots Of Fun As Usual

TIBS Crowds

 

Jan 25, 2018

After what seemed like a deep freeze eternity, it was a delight to see some boats and summer friends at this year’s Toronto Boat Show. No matter how cranky winter makes us, being among the summer toys seems to cheer everyone up. Friday’s Preview Day was humming. I went back a few times during the week and it was all smiles throughout the building.

Highlights? Wow – pontoon boats were everywhere in a much wider variety of shapes and sizes than I remember from previous years. Ditto wakeboard boats. Silver, bright green – lotsa fun.

Topside Ports

 

 

topside ports are de rigeur

Trends we noticed: the topside windows on the cruisers both on power cruisers and on the few sail cruisers on display. Besides the slick new interior looks, the lights on the hull sides are the dramatic symbol of modern design and a fine addition bringing light and visibility to cabins.

CYS Amelia Morris

 

 

 

 

 

 

CY’s Social Media Director Amelia at our booth

The hanging shiny red balloons marking new products at the show were everywhere. On the outboard stands they pointed to some pretty interesting new rigs. Part of the popularity comes from the trend away from sterndrives towards outboard power. The other aspect is the snazzy shell design on the engines…low and muscular. Colours even.

 

 

 

Cool JazzCool jazz on Preview Day

Beneteau Model

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beneteau Swift Trawler was adorable; the scale model maybe even more so Boat show time is always welcome and this year’s was a very nice break from the chilly winter. Makes spring seem possible!

– John Morris

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle