On The Docks

Renovations at Pride West

2011-03-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

As of April 15th the new location for the sales office at pride west will be located on the highway side of the property. This move will help with our exposure along the highway while still being very close to our water front. We will have the latest in computers and software to help narrow down the search for the boat you are looking for along with a wide selection of product on the property available to water test. Please come by and check it out.

Winter Swim on Lake Rosseau

2011-02-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

Our friend Lena Patten, of Hilltop Interiors in Rosseau, took a chilly swim on Saturday, February 12th in the annual Polar Dip. This year’s plunge was in support of the “Free the Children” initiative; with the fundraising portion organized by Courtney Nickel of Pride Marine Group. Courtney also braved the icy waters!

View From Pride of Rosseau

2011-02-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

The team at Pride of Rosseau was delighted with the view across the bay this afternoon. At about 3:30 this afternoon we watched nine whitetail deer walking across the ice… This is one of the true joys of a Muskoka winter.

Christina

The 12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-15T10:34:00.001-08:00

1. Boat In a Tree
2. Black mooring lines
3. Outboard Motors
4. Life jackets
5. On water locations
6. Friends wakesurfing
7. Pairs of board shorts
8. Premium brands
9. Days at Toronto Boat Show
10. Weeks of summer
11. Person capacity
12. Licensed Technicians

HO HO HO Merry Christmas!!!!

2010-12-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let everyone know that Pride of Muskoka participated with two Nautiques in the annual Bracebridge Santa Clause Parade this past Saturday. Thanks to Jim Marshall and Mike Boland to initially get the boats/trucks/trailers to Mike Boland”s home .Mike graciously offered his place as a staging area and a heated shop came in handy for the kids on a chilly December morning. Mike Boland and his entire family, plus Jane Jackson, Lana Bissell, Cyndi Zator and family, Jimmy Marshall, Wendy Boland, Mike Thomas and family all chipped in to get the floats ready Sunday morning. We were later joined by Neil Brown and Chris Bannon’s family .Chris’s family included exchange students from Korea who immediately had a lifetime memory to send home. Jim and Mike B. did a great job driving the trucks and keeping us on time. Mike’s youngest son set a Canadian record of over 1000 horn honks in one hour while sitting on daddy’s lap helping with the driving .The children piled on the Nautiques. Cyndi, daughter and friend Lindsey, Chris, Mike T and the legendary “downtown Neil Brown walked the parade distributing candy. It is basically a jog the whole time as we had a large supply of candy(thanks for the shopping Jane) and we tried to get as many kids as possible. I know there were times I looked up from a crowd of eight children with there little mitts full of candy to find I had lagged 50 yards behind the float. All and all it was a great experience and I am sure from the smiles and yells I received form the street it was greatly appreciated by our community. I think everyone involved is already looking for ward to next year. Merry Christmas everyone !!

Mike Thomas

Welcome To Winter

2010-11-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Winter Cottage Country

When I turned into Marina Rd and the snow bubbled up over the hood of my truck and onto my windshield, I knew that winter had hit us with a bang. The mild fall temperatures and dry forests are now laden with 45cm of snow in the Lake of Bays region. The overnight storm ended as quickly as it began today and we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunny day, though I felt a little like Rip Van Winkle - unsure if I had only slept through one evening.
It will be another few weeks before the main lakes freeze, but the small ponds are becoming solid and I actually saw a snowmobile go by my window today. Welcome to winter cottage country!

Seasons Changing

2010-11-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

GREETINGS from Pride West

Well it looks like we are down to the last of the hard core boaters now. With Doug throwing in the towel yesterday and Alex with his daughter Debbie getting off the water last evening in the pitch black during a hail storm we now have only 2 left going back and forth to the island. Although Peirre is always one of the last to shut it down he will never beat Greg who lives on the island year around.

Although it looks like we are winding down it is not that way at all. We are still very busy completeing winter work so that boats are ready for the spring splash, training both in our service and sales deptments, and getting ready for the fast approaching boat show season. Please come and and say hi if you do attend any of the shows.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve you.
From all the crewmwmbers at west.

Balsam in November

2010-11-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

It’s a beautiful day here at Pride of Balsam, and the big news around here is our new Location manager…please welcome Tom Bath to our crew. We are all very excited to have him. He brings a ton on experience and great energy to the table.

The boats are all tucked away ready for a long winters’ nap. There is a skiff of snow on the docks and Jim finally had to put his pants on.

We are now getting our 185SS Crownline ready for the annual Fenelon Falls Christmas parade this Saturday at 5pm. It’s always a great time…last year’s attendance toped out at 15,000 people and this year we anticipate more. The showroom looking very nice so please stop in and take a peek

"Jimmer"

Wrapping Up

2010-11-12T13:38:00.001-08:00

It has been a wonderful week in Muskoka Lakes with temperatures between 10 C and 14 C daily. The crew at Pride of Rosseau has been busy winterizing your boats, boat houses and our property. The photo was taken at 4:00pm today depicting the view from the marina with all of the boats and finger docks safely stowed away. - "Christina"

Lest We Forget

2010-11-10T07:13:00.001-08:00

A quick reminder to support our veterans unconditionally, just as they defended our country unconditionally. Take time on November 11th to reflect on the freedom they won for you and shake a veteran’s hand. A thank-you is all they ask for. I found a great website that creates a post-secondary scholarship legacy for the children and spouses of Canadian fallen military heroes. The charity is represented and chaired by some heavy weight Canadian industry and political icons. It is building positive outcomes for the families that were affected by military tragedy.

Check out the Canadian Hero Fund at www.11for11.ca

A Great Year

2010-11-10T06:35:00.000-08:00

2010 is wrapping up into a successful season, with a much different character than 2009. Bad weather and a poor economy were replaced by great weather and an improved economy. The traffic on the lake and the customer visits here were stronger than I have seen in several years and the feeling going into the Toronto Boat Show is that Canada is really starting to hit its stride economically.
Driving to work this week feels more like we are heading out of fall and into winter. All the ponds have a skin of ice on them and there is a dusting of snow hiding in the ditches. All of our customer boats are off the lake and safely in our storage yard. We will be finishing the last few shrink wrapped boats before getting a head start on our winter work load. With over 300 boats in storage at Pride of Lake of Bays alone, it will take several weeks just to get through the regular maintenance, impeller services and tune-ups before we embark on the long term projects of fiberglass repairs, engine and drive work. We will be busy right up to the Boat Show, so we will be exciting to get a break from winter to visit with customers again

25th Anniversary

2010-05-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that this week marks Pride serving customers for a quarter century. To stop and think about it is overwhelming. Somehow it doesn’t seem that long ago that there were just a few of us at a small fuel stop with a modest dock, but looking at the calendar it really has been 25 years. The years have brought us so much to be thankful for. As I take some time to reflect on this, I feel truly overwhelmed by the support you have provided us through the good, and yes the bad. THANK YOU. On a personal note, I can assure you that it has been a very large learning experience for both Karen and I. It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago I was raking gravel and fixing docks...part of me still reflects on that being the good old days.

So what does the future hold for Pride in the next 25 years? As owner of the company, I believe that we must continue to focus on you the customer - that is how it all started. We must focus on your needs and wants. We must continue and get better at listening to you. We must deliver what we say we will deliver in terms of products, services and experiences. These are my promises to you. I will continue to be laser focused on getting better and improving continuously.

I would like to close by sharing with you a quote that I do not think I would have appreciated 25 years ago, but now it seems to make a whole lot of sense to me.

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” - Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Easter Swimming

2010-03-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

For the past week Muskoka has been heating up. Spring is moving in quickly with warm sunny weather. We have all been enjoying the change in weather and we are just waiting for the ice to go out, so we can get some boats in the lake!
The lake is getting slushy and water is starting to pool on top of the ice.
With this warm weather and no snow in the forcast, we predict the ice will be out by Good Friday!
This could be the earliest ice out yet!!
Anyone up for a refreshing Easter swim?

Enter Pride Marine Group's Ice Out Contest
http://www.pridemarinegroup.com/custompage.asp?pg=ice_out_contest

Lake Of Bays Wildlife

2010-02-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

One morning we were lucky enough to find some wildlife waiting to entertain us at Pride of Lake of Bays. We pulled into the marina to see two "wolves" on the ice in front of the marina. We later discovered the "wolves" were actually coyotes. Some time during the previous night the coyotes had killed a deer and they were just now taking the time to snack on it.

At our Lake of Bays location, we are lucky enough to have a contact that is a professional photographer, Michael Bertelsen. We called him in and he set up a tent to photograph the coyotes. Michael sent a few of his pictures for me to show everyone.
To see more of Michael's photos, check out www.algonquinparkphototours.com

Our entertainment has lasted for quite a few days, as the coyotes came back for a few mornings and a pair of Bald eagles has been visiting the marina in the evenings.
And thats why we love Muskoka!

Top 10 Boat Names of 2009

2010-02-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

The Top 10 Boat Names of 2009

1. Second Wind
2. Seas the Day
3. Lazy Daze
4. Jolly Roger
5. Bail Out
6. On the Rocks
7. Pegasus
8. Serenity Now
9. Namaste
10. Comfortably Numb

Beautiful Muskoka Weekend

2010-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Muskoka was full of people this weekend and everyone was out taking advantage of a beautiful winter day. The sun was bright, the skys were clear and the temperature was just right.

The lakes were busy with snowmobilers, hikers and cross country skiiers. It was a great weekend for snowshoeing through the forest or just walking the dog.

Deer were out wandering and the turkeys were strutting. The odd eagle could be spotted soaring over the lakes. Everyone and everything was out to enjoy the weather.

Our winter wonderland has spent the day melting away, but the snow is to start up again later today.

Muskoka is beautiful and it's weekends like this that show us how special it really is.

Toronto Boat Show Booth Sets World Record

2010-01-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

With over 22,000 square feet of floor space the Pride Marine Booth has been recognized as the largest single indoor boat display in the world. With 8 brands represented the booth was put together over 60 hours with the help of 30 people. The key changes for 2010 include the move to include both Hackercraft and Tiara Yachts in the booth. Previously they had been separate stand alone booths. Come down and see what its all about this week at the Toronto International Boat Show.

The much anticipated release of the new Nautique Ski 200 has been a huge success in Toronto. With a new hull design and retro look this new 20’ boat has slalom skiers around the globe talking. Nautique’s ski team is ecstatic with the new boat and wake shape. The interior features a 95” beam and the layout feels much larger than either the 196 or 206. Side storage is large and the boat is available either as an open or closed bow boat while maintaining the exact same weight.

We are proud to announce the addition of Chaparral boats to the Pride family. Pride will represent Chaparral for the Muskoka region including Haliburton and the edge of Georgian Bay. Chaparral offers a range of product from 18-40 feet in length and is well recognized for both quality and innovation in the boating industry. Their Extreme series leads the pack in terms of Wakeboarding outfitted inboard/outboards and have a very distinct look.

ChrisCraft stepped it up again this year with another Limited Edition model. The Red 20’ Lancer GT features a clear engine cover and a dark mahogany accent in place of the traditional teak. This shot shows last season’s Limited Edition model the “Silver Bullet”. The Chris Craft area is a must see for anyone coming to check out the show.

Keep watching for updates from the boatshow.

Don't miss out, the show ends this Sunday January 14th.

White Christmas In Muskoka

2009-12-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

While Muskoka has always been known to have a lot of snow, it is very rare to get such a large amount at one time. Last week Muskoka shut down. Roads were unsafe, cars were snowed in, power was out. Everyone stayed home.
With this storm, Huntsville broke records by getting at least 80cm in some places.
Bracebridge was hammered with even more snow. The snow started Wednesday and continued through the weekend. Snow was piled over a metre high. We have passed the average December snowfall of 72cm. Muskoka turned into a winter wonderland.
Power was out all over Bracebridge and both the Town of Bracebridge and the Town of Huntsville declared Snow Emergencies.
Snow plows worked overtime, trying to get the roads cleared. In some areas, regular pick-up trucks with plows were doing the side roads. It took almost a week to get the roads properly plowed.
Looks like this will be a great winter for everyone that loves snow. The ski hills are ready and the snowmobile trails are being prepared. Lake of Bays froze overnight. If we’re lucky, the temperature will stay down and we’ll be able to skate on the lakes early in the new year.
Another white Christmas in Muskoka!
I hope everyone has a great holiday and a happy new year.

An End To A Great Season

2009-12-05T11:34:00.001-08:00

My boating season started this year on April 17th on a beautiful sunny and warm April afternoon. The ice was still in and in spite of my best judgment I strapped on the wakeboard and went for the first ride of the year on Lake Muskoka. Yes the Water Was cold at a not so balmy 1 degree Celsius but it was great to get back out on the water after a long, cold and very snowy winter and well worth the lack of feeling left in my toes.

After the longest boating season I have ever had personally you can flash forward almost eight months later on December 5. As Muskoka receives its first real blast of winter weather I put on my winter coat, touque, gloves and a pair of ski goggles, brushed the snow off the boat and head out for a trip across the lake to Pride of Muskoka and back for what I can only assume will be my final boat ride of the 2009 boating season. It is a far cry from that beautiful day in April with my anticipation of the coming season and the warm and sunny days of July and August to boating in December in Muskoka which is a very different experience. It is almost serine as you are the only boat on the lake running along the snow covered shoreline. It feels as though you should be on a snowmobile and not in a boat. Although I am saddened that I’ve been out on my last boat ride of the 2009 season, I’m glad that I live in such an amazing part of our country and that I have the opportunity to spend so much time on the water, and I’m excited for next year, who knows maybe I’ll be able to get out there on April 16th.

See You on the Water.
Brandon

It's the First Snow of the Year

2009-12-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

The first winter blast has finally hit Muskoka. Accumulations of heavy snow from 1cm to 8cm deep, blanketed cottage country this morning. The ground is still not yet frozen, so most of the snow evidence melted away by noon, but it was still a stern reminder that winter is on its way. After an unseasonably warm and dry November, the morning of December 1st felt more like, last few brave island cottagers hoping to get to the cottage one more time before the hard freeze up, are going to have to move quickly.
The winter weather is supposed to continue through the weekend and then we are on to a white Christmas in Muskoka!

Just Before The Weather Turns

2009-11-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

Just in time before the weather turns

On Friday, all 5 Pride Marine Group locations completed our winterization and shrink wrap season. The weather held as one of the warmest and driest autumn’s in recent history allowing all the work to be completed 10-14 days ahead of location schedules. Looking at the Weather Network for the upcoming weeks, it looks like nothing but rain and eventually cold snow in the forecast for the next two weeks. A well deserved congratulations to all of the technicians and yard staff that were able to bed down 1,167 boats at our 5 locations and an additional 417 boats that have been safely winter serviced and raised in customer’s boathouses across cottage country. To get that amount of work done in less than 6 weeks is truly incredible. With well over a thousand boats on site, there will be lots of off season repairs and accessory installations to be done this winter to keep everyone very busy in January, February and March.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss” (Publilius Syrus) – so we are now in full swing for Boat Show preparations. Stay tuned for big changes in the Pride Marine Group Booth at the Toronto Boat Show this year!

A Tale of 2 Boating Countries

2009-11-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Over the past 2 weeks, I have had the opportunity to experience the incredible difference between the American boating industry and the Canadian boating industry.
Before I left the hotel on Oct 30 for Day 1 at the Ft Lauderdale Boat Show (the largest boat show in the world), I checked my email. An industry publication had broken the story that Genmar's Chapter 11 reorganization (link - http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2345977) had officially moved toward asset liquidation. That made for an interesting dynamic for the Lauderdale Show to say the least. Sales representatives for the Genmar Brands (Four Winns, Larson, Glastron, Hydrosport, Carver, Wellcraft, Seaswirl, Ranger,etc) were reeling while their competitors were too concerned trying to keep their own houses in order to even mention it. Financial forclosures, bank reposessions, "No Warranty Sales", and dealers walking away from inventory issues or customer issues was the theme for 5 days in Florida. The remaining minority of quality, well run manufacturers were struggling to find customers to engage in a normal purchase conversation centred around products, customer needs and value.
Two days after arriving back in to Canada from the Lauderdale Show, I was at the Cottage Life Fall Show in Toronto. What a difference of attitude north of the border. The three day Fall Show has always been a great place for us to reaquaint with customers and build toward the Toronto Boat Show in January. Amazingly this year, twice as many customers decided to purchase boats during the Show than we had ever experienced at the Cottage Life Fall Show before. Not once was the economy discussed in three days. Conversations of customer needs, new products and relationship value were occuring. Customers asked about boat availability and our ability to take care of their long term needs. The show was populated with people smiling and families passionate about cottaging and boating were trying to mentally fast forward through the next 6 months to Victoria Day Weekend 2010.
Our world in Canada is almost back to normal and a steady economic recovery is gaining traction. More than ever, I am very happy to live and work in Canada.