First time in many years I was lucky enough to test both the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado back-to-back. Now you might be surprised to find out that these two truck siblings do have little differences in trim and options. But for the most part they are the same when it comes to engines and drivelines.
Over the years I have had a real soft spot for the Jeep Wrangler line of models. Recently I had the opportunity to spend some time with the go anywhere Rubicon and test its off-road and on-road capabilities plus how it could tow.
The problem with driving any full-size Pickup Truck or Sport Utility Vehicle is that when you are not towing anything, generally fuel consumption is not that exciting. For those of you who like to keep fill ups to a minim, Volvo just might have the answer.
Convert your fixed dock to a rolling dock on wheels.
Every once in a while I test a vehicle that I really find exceptional and this was the case with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation 4WD. In the past, the vehicles I have tested from GM have generally been good but have never really stood out. The new Sierra I tested was equipped with the new 3L inline 6-cyclinder Turbo-Diesel that did make it stand out.
Read more: Vehicles on board (formerly cars on board): The...
Editor’s Note: Our Cars on Board column has been taking you for a spin in cars and trucks that we feel are suited to the needs of boaters. That could be getting to your boat, towing it, hauling gear - that sort of thing.
We all know that plastic and plastic waste is a huge issue globally. Driven by innovation and consumer demand for sustainable packaging options, Canadian manufacturer Layfield recently introduced BioFlex™ MarineShrink Boat Wrap coast to coast.
Read more: MarineShrink by Layfield – The Boat Wrap with a...
When are you too old to cruise? When you can’t jump four feet off a moving boat onto a dock!
Ever since I was a youngster Jeeps of all kinds have fascinated me. It wasn’t until the mid 70s that I finally had a chance to drive a CJ5 when I was in college. I was a little disappointed to say the least. Shifting the manual transmission was like the ten-ton truck I drove for a summer job a year before.
With the Swift Harbour Marina Dockage booking system, you can book yourself a slip at any participating marinas. Available online, or for an even better booking experience, download the app for iOS or Android.
Related Articles
Boat Reviews
CY Virtual Video Boat Tours
We all love boats and nothing can break us up! So, what better way to spend our time than looking at interesting boats and going aboard in a virtual ride or tour. We have asked our friends at various dealers and manufacturers to help us assemble a one-stop online resource to experience some of the most interesting boats on the market today. Where the CY Team has done a review, we connect you to that expert viewpoint. If you can’t go boating, you can almost experience the thrill via your screen. Not quite the same, but we hope you enjoy our fine tour collection.
Read more about the CY Virtual Boat Tours....................
Neptunus 750 Enclosed Flybridge
By Andy Adams
In the February 2020 issue of Canadian Yachting magazine, we featured our review of the Neptunus 750 Flybridge, the company’s flagship yacht. The boat had been bought by a gentleman from Newfoundland and we reviewed it just before it was to be delivered.
We learned later that the boat did not leave immediately after delivery. The story is that the new owner reconsidered the beautiful big open flying bridge layout.
Destinations
Salt Spring Island with Gourmet Food and Drink
Text and Photos by Marianne Scott
Salt Spring Island, the largest among the Gulf Islands, has a certain mystique—much of it having to do with locally produced food. It started thousands of years ago when the Coast Salish First Nations used the Island as a summer camp, collecting wild foods while also processing the abundant sea food for winter sustenance.
In the 19th century, five main groups settled here and began farming: Northern Europeans—some of whom had abandoned gold rush dreams; Hawaiians brought here by Vancouver Island’s second governor, James Douglas...
Lifestyle
Oak Bay Marina, Photo by Derek Ford
Oak Bay Marina achieves eco-certification in Clean Marine BC, which helps boating facilities to reduce the impact of recreational boating on the Salish Sea and beyond through the implementation of improved environmental measures, including the reduction and containment of toxins, collection and disposal of various wastes, water and energy conservation, and habitat protection.
“It is important for us to be recognized as environmental stewards because we take caring for these local waters seriously,” says Jennifer McKimmie, General Manager at Oak Bay Marina.
This week, Feb. 22-26, is National Invasive Species Awareness Week and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) released an animated video to raise awareness about the threat Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) pose to the boating industry and what manufacturers can do to limit the spread.
AIS can damage ecosystems and negatively impact fishing and the future of the boating lifestyle. Boat access to many aquatic resources has been limited due to AIS concerns and AIS infestation can result in serious damage to boats and their components. Invasive plant life can foul propellers,
As a life-long marine journalist, it has often occurred to me, that it’s a big leap to lay out the cash, (especially for those with no previous boating experience), to try it out. How does someone even know that they will like boating it if they haven’t tried it?
Well, joining a boat club, or a yacht club that has boats available for members to use, can get you started without the big financial commitment and with the support of the club’s education and resources. Try before you buy.
DIY & How to
So you want to be a better boater? Boating skills for novice to advanced boaters
By Amy Hogue
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unexpected changes in our lives, impacting everything from boating to vacations and these trends look to continue into the future.
In summer 2020, those trends were seen in the unprecedented numbers of boaters flocking to marinas and boat launches seeking a COVID-friendly vacation on the water. While the waterways were more crowded than ever before, the boaters you were likely to encounter weren’t necessarily in the know for boating etiquette, or marine know-how.
Ask Andrew - Off-Season checks for Bilge pump system
By Andrew McDonald
One of the items that gets taken for granted during the spring prep work is the bilge pumping system; it’s one of those on-board features that many of us assume is in working order….until something goes wrong.
Water can get into your boat in a variety of ways: a leaking shaft-seal (stuffing box), ripped or torn bellows, a leaking through-hull, a leaking tank aboard, windows, hatches and deck fittings that aren’t sealed - the list goes on. The catch-22 when considering maintenance in the pre-season, is that you may not know where a leak may start or develop until the boat is in the water and only then do you find that water is getting inside.
BE PLUSH, BE PRACTICAL, BE WELL RESTED
A good night’s sleep on the boat is a great pleasure indeed and custom bedding from SeaSwag can make a world of difference. Their Universal sheet takes the hassle out of buying sheets for the V Berth on your boat.
Available in 4 sizes and 2 fabrics, the set is packaged in a custom reusable bag perfect for storing the sheets on and off the boat.
Stay Winter Cool with a Yeti Tundra 65 Onboard
The YETI Tundra 65 is their most versatile cooler, just as adept at keeping your catch cold as it is storing drinks and food.
This cooler is plenty roomy, built with a Fatwall design and Permafrost insulation, so it has extra thick walls for unmatched thermal retention.
News
AIS can damage ecosystems and negatively impact fishing and the future of the boating lifestyle. Boat access to many aquatic resources has been limited due to AIS concerns and AIS infestation can result in serious damage to boats and their components. Invasive plant life can foul propellers, jam impellors and cause bilge pump failure. Mussels can attach to boats and negatively affect performance, attach to engines causing component failure, and obstruct water lines causing system failure.
Is Fiberglass Recyclable? Part 2 – Emerging innovations in fiberglass recycling
By Jay Weaver
Interest in finding alternative uses for used fiberglass can spark creativity and innovation. For example, a partnership involving the US, Ireland, and Northern Ireland Universities called Re-wind developed some interesting civil engineering project ideas for reusing and repurposing fiberglass blades. These include using decommissioned blades in civil engineering projects as part of powerline structures or towers, or roofs for emergency or affordable housing. In Northern Ireland, Re-wind is also considering piloting them for use in pedestrian bridges along greenways.
Read More about Fiberglass recycling....
Tug news: Theodore Tugboat heads Halifax to Port Dover
According to the Nova Scotia Tourism website, Theodore Tugboat began his travels in 1989, created by Cochran Entertainment, with master model maker Fred Allen, as a children's television series inspired by the Halifax Waterfront and the stories Andrew Cochran would tell his son at bedtime. The CBC television program Theodore Tugboat ran from 1993 to 2001.
A working replica of Theodore, named "Theodore Too" was built in Dayspring, Nova Scotia. Designed by Fred Allen and Marius Lengkeek, the tug was launched on April 19, 2000 at the Snyder Shipyard. After a successful tour of several North America ports, it made its home in Halifax.
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