Get ready for boating season with our favourite water toys!
By Canadian Boating Staff
Boating season is nearly here, and those winter daydreams are about to become a reality. Water sports, fishing, cruising, relaxing days at your favourite boat access beach… the possibilities are as endless as they are tantalizing.
Which means it’s time to start thinking about getting the right gear for your ideal boating adventures! With so much on offer, choosing the right products and trying to balance budget vs quality can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why the Canadian Boating Magazine editorial team have put together a quick list of toys and gear that we are really excited about this season!
White Knuckle Swerve Towable Tube
The latest awesome towable from Canadian company White Knuckle maximizes comfort, safety, speed and stability! Available in 2- and 3-seater options, the Swerve lets you tow in two directions: chariot style or sitting and facing the boat. The Swerve features a thick base, high back and winged sides for an extra stable ride, no matter how fast the driver makes you spin. Each handle (8 handles on the 2-seater and 10 handles on the 3-seater) have knuckle guards and EVA padding, and the EVA padded seat provides the ultimate in towing comfort.
White Knuckle Swerve 2-seater | $375 CAD
White Knuckle Swerve 3-seater | $495 CAD
Garmin Quatix 7 Pro GPS Smartwatch
Garmin have been frontrunners in the marine tech space for a long time, and their latest wearable continues that trend by improving integration of boat tech. The Quatix 7 Pro integrates with compatible Garmin chartplotter, Force trolling motor, and Fusion stereo, includes an LED flashlight and red light, and offers a full suite of maps and environmental data. Boaters can maneuver their vessel with autopilot control, manage alerts and alarms, control onboard entertainment, and more, all with touchscreen or button control, essentially turning the Quatix into a remote MFD. With the ability to display any data you might want from your boat instantly, the Quatix 7 Pro is a great choice for all levels of boater.
Many boaters may not realise that Garmin’s fitness and outdoor focus is as large as its marine focus. The Quatix 7 Pro, then, isn’t just a boater’s watch with a few add-ons. It offers all the features you might expect from a competitive smart device these days: built-in sports and performance metrics, sleep and health metrics, outdoor recreation, mapping including topographical, freshwater and coastal charts, and a host of other smart features.
The Quatix 7 Pro is lightweight and durable, made from titanium and reinforced recycled ocean plastic (different strap options available) and weighing in at 70g. Display size is 1.3” with a 416 x 416-pixel colour display. A noticeable improvement on the newest Qautix is the improved display in both dark and light conditions. The AMOLED display improves sharpness and vibrance, though this comes with a reduction in overall battery life from previous models. Battery life lasts up to 16 days, with a Battery Saver mode extending that to 21 days.
Garmin Quatix 7 Pro | $1,349.99 CAD | www.garmin.com/en-CA/
White Knuckle Shred Wakeboard
The Shred by White Knuckle is designed to bring an aspiring wakeboarder from beginner level to advanced. It’s available in 129cm, 134cm and 139cm, making it easy to transition between board sizes without changing style or design. Dual channels aid tracking for less experienced riders, and the molded in fin design gives a little extra bite when turning. The 3-stage rocker offers effortless carving on flat water and creates extra pop when launching over the wake and a smoother landing on the downside. The PU foam core makes the Shred strong and lightweight, ready for any kind of style, whether that’s hitting obstacles, cruisy carving, or popping off the wake. Get shredding this summer!
White Knuckle Shred Wakeboard | $269 CAD | www.whiteknucklesport.com
Canadian Board Co. Inflatable POP Up Chairs
What’s that awkward, bulky thing you always hate packing when you’re about to head out to your favourite boat-access beach? That’s right… chairs. If only there was a lightweight, portable, easily stowable option that looked cool too.
Okanagan-based company Canadian Board Co. gets you ready for easy summer days out with their inflatable POP Up chair. Designed for boats, beaches, cottages, wherever the water takes you, this set of 2 inflatable chairs offers comfortable seating, portability, ease of use and added fun to your day out. A feature we loved was the Cool-Tech neoprene drink holder on the outside of each armrest. Each chair also has durable carry handles and 4 base D-rings so you can anchor your chair to your dock, your boat, even your paddleboard!
POP Up chairs are lightweight without sacrificing durability, weighing in at 9lbs each. Each set of 2 packs down into a convenient carry bag that can be easily stowed in your boat storage locker or tucked into the back of your car. Each chair set includes a dual-action pump when purchased, and with it these chairs are quick and easy to inflate to their optimum 7 – 10 PSI and max weight capacity of 300lbs.
Canadian Board Co. POP UP Chairs | $549 CAD (set of 2 chairs) | www.canadianboardco.com
ClearWater Design Inuvik Kayak
ClearWater Design is a family-owned Canadian Company that specializes in building high-quality rotationally moulded kayaks and canoes from their factory in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Company owners Ian and Michelle are avid paddlers and experts at building watercraft for Canadians, including their signature all-round model, the Inuvik.
The Inuvik is broad, extremely stable, with a high-volume bow, high-capacity hull and an extra-large cockpit opening, great for paddling with your dog or child, or for packing extra gear. An added benefit of the large cockpit is easier entry and exit, making the Inuvik great to use from your boat or dock. It also allows for an extra-large padded seat, giving the Inuvik a noticeable level of comfort.
While the Inuvik is a touring kayak and suitable for rough water, it’s versatile enough that any level of paddler will enjoy it, whether that’s a lap around the lake with the kids or a multi-day expidition. If you’re looking for a do-it-all kayak, the Inuvik is for you.
Dimensions: 4.03m x 0.71m, 25kg weight, 160kg carrying capacity. Cockpit dimensions: 1.42m x .48m.
ClearWater Design Inuvik | $1040 CAD | https://clearwaterdesign.com/
Sublue MIX Underwater Scooter
Underwater scooters have exploded in popularity in recent years, leading to an influx of designs, improvements in performance, and accessibility to more people at different price points. If you want to try one out but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars, the Sublue Whiteshark Mix is a great place to start. It’s designed for ease of use, with intuitive controls that make it easy to start learning underwater acrobatics! It’s also light, weighing just 3.5kg, and small enough to fit into a storage compartment on your boat, or even into carry-on luggage on an airplane for your next sail charter getaway.
The Sublue Mix is rated as waterproof to 40m and offers a run time up to 30 minutes. The dual trigger control creates a greater sense of control and smooth movement underwater, with the added safety feature of instantly stopping the scooter if either trigger is released. The dual propulsion system gives speeds up to 1.5 meters per second, a lot faster than it sounds when you’re cruising below the surface! One particularly cool feature is the standard Go-Pro mount on the nose, making it easy to film smooth, sweeping shots underwater. Comes with a safety leash, carry bag and charging station.
Sublue MIX Scooter | $499 USD | www.sublue.com
Disclaimer: There are laws and regulations for certain watercraft determined by Transport Canada. Canadian Boating is not liable for any misleading information regarding legal use of the watercraft mentioned in this article. It is suggested that readers keep informed on the changing laws related to using vessels on their waterways.
Solstice Watersports Inflatable Pup Plank
We all love days out on the water, and they’re even more fun when our furry friends come along too! Unfortunately, dogs are not well built for climbing onto boats or docks. Solstice Watersports has solved that problem with their Inflatable Pup Plank, a specially designed inflatable pontoon and ramp to help your pooch get out of the water. Now your puppy pal can have as much fun as you! Weighted mesh with integrated steps lets your dog climb out of the water onto the claw resistant traction pads, and from there onto your boat. Even better, the Pup Plank folds up and fits into a carry bag for easy storage onboard. Available in 4 sizes, starting with the Pup Plank Mini (30lbs max) and going all the way up to the Pup Plank Boost (220lbs), there’s a pup plank for every size of dog. Comes with multiple D-ring tie points and 2 x 8-foot lines for securing it your vessel or dock.
Solstice Pup Plank | Starting at $179 USD | www.solsticewatersports.com
LI/NE Upcycled Sailcloth Bags
LI/NE bags, made from upcycled canvas sailcloth, began as a passion project for mother-daughter company co-owners Lilliana and Anela Dujsic, but has since evolved into an exciting Canadian business that is rethinking end-of-life for products in the marine industry.
Dujsic combines her experience in renewable fashion with her interest in sailing to create hand-crafted bags that are awesome for boat and beach days while saving used sails from landfills. Last year alone LI/NE rescued 200 sails from going to waste. Not only are LI/NE Bags environmentally friendly, extremely durable, and look great, each bag is one-of-a-kind yet retains the LI/NE signature look.
Their size, durability, and design make them perfect for days on the water, in your boat, on the beach, wherever you are heading outdoors. A clever flat bottom design for stacking items makes these bags incredibly versatile, and their canvas construction means they will last for as many boating seasons as you can handle!
LI/NE offers duffel bags, various tote styles, pouches, and a cool ice-bucket bag for those hot days out on the water.
LI/NE Cottage Tote | $195 CAD | www.linebags.ca
