Manitou Pontoons have Landed-Awesome!

Manitou pontoon Boats have arrived in Muskoka!  The pictures above are of 2011 Manitou 22' Xplode powered by a 150 HP Mercury Optimax. In 24 years of boating all kinds and types of boats, performance boats, fishing boats, cruisers and pontoons this boat is the most fun I have had in quite some time.  I am seriously thinking about one for next year.  Got to wait due to surgery unfortunately.  No one and I mean no one has a pontoon boat that hauls like this and turns so hard it with throw you out of you seat.  These boats are game changers and only Huntsville Marine has them!

This boat with Taylor manning the helm hit 44 MPH and we have not dialed it in yet! We are out in the lake passing a lot of fiberglass runabouts and the looks are priceless!  Much more to follow. 

Today's trends...Hot and Windy with Strong Sales!

Hello from sunny Muskoka! A short period of overcast and light rain this morning followed by blue sky, light clouds and lots of warm sunshine. It has been windy very windy over the last two days with some significant chop and waves on Fairy Lake. I enclosed a picture of a 214FS Monterey heading west towards the mouth of the river into town. Waves up to 3' and lots of the famous Fairy cross chop. Not a problem for the Monterey...build to handle salt water! The other scene shot shows our landmark crooked pine tree just out from the entrance to the marina. You can see it gracefully bending over with the wind and soaking up the sunshine.

The marine business to no surprise is based on good hot summers and a strong economy. We sell wants and lots of them in various colours, sizes and styles. The first enclosed pictures are all new boats heading out to their new owners. A Crestliner 2185 Grand Cayman pontoon, a 180H Four Winns, a 16 Legend Genesis pontoon and lastly a Crestliner 1650 Canadian with a 90 Optimax. New boat buyer from Orillia, Camp Lake, Niagara Falls and the Burk's Falls area. The boat business like may others is constantly changing. A very high percentage of our buyers start on our web site. Just today we had a web specialist look at our site and he felt our was one of the best he has looked at this year for a marine operation of this size. Nice to hear we are going in the right direction and this guy is in the states and looks at lots of marine sites. Anyway for those looking we still have a good selection and the pricing is great...save some dough and get out on the water!

Our first shipment of Manitou Pontoons is arriving Friday AM! With the requests for information from particularly out east and throughout Ontario...seems to be a good fit and a great boat! As I write this the sweat is dripping down onto the keyboard!

I will be going in for shoulder surgery on August 5th in Collingwood for an old I believe baseball injury to my left shoulder. I can't get this done in Huntsville and the specialist only gets the meat cleaver out in Collingwood. I have delayed this operation a couple of times this summer as way too busy and if I delay again...not good shall we say! Most likely on limited duty here for a couple of weeks. Problem with all this...I have been sliced and diced three times...know exactly what is coming! Looking forward too it...really!

I Have Returned!

It is true! I have been on on an awaycation from the blog. Quite frankly it has been too hot and we so busy we all feel like the hamster on the exercise wheel! Unfortunately just no time to gather any coherent thoughts.

Starting off today with shots out over Fairy Lake at 10:00 Am. Lots of boat traffic, skiing underway and some early morning customers seeking gas. Nice picture of the Goose family out for a morning cruise in the early light. Notice that mom and day are leading and leaving a bit of space most likely to get just a little clear of the sibling rivalry. This week here at the marina it has been hot and incredibly humid. True it is so hot that the pesky Seagulls have disappeared and were last picked on radar headed for Hudson's Bay. I know they are a protected bird but those dirty birds make a real mess. This hot weather is great for the vacationers and business here in Huntsville. But those who know me have heard me say " I am a 70's kind of guy...I like 70's music and 70 degree temperatures!"

With our G8 Madness Event many of you found your way to the marina and purchased that new boat of your dreams. This event has been so successful that we are going to extend it for another two weeks. If you are looking for a new boat we are looking to empty the yard in July!

Herds of motorcycles passing the marina in the last few days out enjoying some very fine sunshine! Boating is so much better! As we head into the prime vacation period over the next six weeks, here at the marina every year we see the same unfortunate thing. People coming up on vacation with a boat or engine that has not seen any service...and we now have a problem. Boats and motors do need some TLC on a regular basis. Yes this cost some money but you get to go and enjoy your boat or engine when you want or need it. Most of the major marinas in Muskoka will be two to three weeks wait time for repairs during the summer due to volume. Yes we are going to take care of our regular customers first.

We continue to see some of these side of the road specials and some of you are calling and asking advice. No you cannot get parts or Chysler, Scott, Ted Williams and stuff built in the 50's, 60's or 70's. It is becoming very difficult to get parts for boats and engines in the 80's. None of this was designed for today's fuel. No it cannot be serviced or repaired and in almost 100% of the times you are just flushing your money away. Leave it on the side of the road or push it over the side into the ditch. Also note that insurance companies will not normally insure any boat over 15 years and in some cases 10 without a marine survey. This costs a minimum of $300 and the older boats will not pass.

Our rentals are up and running! The great summer weather is here! Get out on the water and have some fun but be safe!