Canadian Boating December 2024 - 6

CANADIAN
AT THE HELM | DEC 2024
MANAGING EDITOR Andy Adams
416-574-7313 * aadams@kerrwil.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Allegra Smith-Herriott
705-527-7666 * asmithherriott@kerrwil.com
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Greg Nicoll
877-620-9373 * gnicoll@kerrwil.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Jill Snider
705-527-7666 ext. 225 * jillsnider@kerrwil.com
CREATIVE DESIGNER Caroline Bowker
oceangraphics.ca
ADVERTISING
705-527-7666, ext 225 * advertising@kerrwil.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Andy Adams, Mike Gridley, John Morris,
Marianne Scott
CIRCULATION Elissa Campbell
705-527-7666 * elissacampbell@kerrwil.com
AD & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Patti Bowden
705-527-7666 ext. 231 * pattibowden@kerrwil.com
Canadian Boating is published
by Kerrwil Media Limited
HEAD OFFICE
538 Elizabeth St., Midland, ON L4R 2A3
Tel: 705-527-7666
www.kerrwil.com
KERRWIL MEDIA LIMITED.
John W. Kerr Jr. - Director and Managing Partner
Canadian Boating is published six times a year.
Subscription rates: 1 year $31.95 + tax ; 2 years $47.95
+ tax. Outside Canada: 1 year US $52.00 Prices include
GST Registration number R102819539
The contents of this publication are the property of
Kerrwil Media Limited and may not be reproduced
in whole or in part without prior written consent. We
encourage letters to the editor, submissions and query
letters from writers and our readers. For material to
be returned, please include a stamped self-addressed
envelope. Occasionally, we allow the use of mailing lists
to firms offering products and information that we feel
may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name
made available, please return your mailing label to us
marked DO NOT RELEASE ERRORS and OMISSIONS.
Kerrwil Media Limited assumes no responsibility or
liability for any errors or omissions in the content of
this publication or related website. The information
contained in this site is provided on an " as is " basis with
no guarantees of completeness, accuracy or usefulness,
or timeliness.
Send all address changes, post office returns and
subscription inquiries to:
Canadian Boating 538 Elizabeth St., Midland, ON L4R 2A3
Tel: 705-527-7666 Fax 705-527-7662
Email: elissacampbell@kerrwil.com
Canada Post Mail Agreement 40065481
ISSN 0384-0999 return postage guaranteed
Boating Education
for Everyone
How did you learn to drive? I bet you were enrolled
in Drivers Education back in high school. After some
classroom training and coaching, you would head out
to a parking lot so you could try the controls in a safe
environment. With the driving school instructor sitting
beside you with a separate brake pedal, this delivered learning
with close control and coaching.
Many of us learned how to drive a boat from a relative or family member,
usually in a small boat. Lessons learned in those early days certainly help
us figure out how to drive larger boats, but not everyone had that childhood
opportunity.
We do a lot as an industry to attract new boaters. That's a key goal for the
boat shows and all the advertising the industry does. We do see new boaters
at the shows, and it's fair to say that some will find their way into boating
and will buy a boat.
Unfortunately, there are few " boat driving " schools, and I'm told there
is a significant demand for education. For example, taking a course from
BoaterSkills (www.boaterskills.ca) would help inexperienced boaters, but
there are a limited number of instructors and training days in the year.
Insurance and other factors also make it somewhat expensive.
There are now several boat clubs that people can join and they require
members to gain a certain measure of operator competency before you can
take the boat out alone. That's a really good thing but again it's a significant
financial commitment.
Many yacht clubs have Adult Learn-to-Sail and other on-water courses,
although joining a yacht club is a bigger step again. Yacht club members
typically are not the people seeking novice level education.
Well, this year, the Toronto International Boat Show, which has long had
the World's Largest Indoor Lake for Boaters, will have something positive
for novice boaters and experts alike. On January 1 - 26, 2025 at the
Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place, the show returns and with it, their show
theme, " We are Summer! " . The Lake, presented by Aviva, will again be a
key feature and will offer a chance to get out on the water in January. Show
guests can enjoy FREE boat rides in a kayak, canoe or pedal boat or participate
in an immersive experience that offers Glow in the Dark Boating!
Visitors can also enjoy the entertaining wakeboard and waterski shows
or sign up and learn how to wakeboard from the pros! Or choose from
hundreds of seminars geared to educate, inspire, and entertain as boating
experts share their adventures, advice and expertise on a variety of boating
subjects and interests.
But perhaps the coolest thing is that this year, Boat Handling & Docking
Demos will be provided by Captain Craig Hamilton, BoaterSkills.ca. At
the show, catch one of Craig's Docking and Close Quarters Manoeuvring
seminars for tips on docking and close quarters maneuvering for power or
sail. The indoor Lake is a comfortable and safe learning environment where
boaters can learn from expert instructors and gain knowledge and skills
they can bring with them onto the water next season.
Check at www.TorontoBoatshow.com for more show updates. And
while you are there, come and visit the Canadian Boating magazine booth!
Andy Adams - Managing Editor
6 CANADIAN BOATING | December 2024
http://www.oceangraphics.ca http://www.boaterskills.ca http://www.kerrwil.com http://www.BoaterSkills.ca http://www.TorontoBoatshow.com
Canadian Boating December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Boating December 2024
