It’s a Wrap at the 2024 Montréal International Boat Show!

Well, the Power Boating Canada team has just wrapped up their exhibit at the latest boat show that closed yesterday … and the Montréal International Boat Show was a huge success!

By: Gordon Cruise McBride

Billed as the largest boat show in Eastern Canada, the four-day event was held at the Palais des Congrès and sponsored by Nautisme Québec, who worked very hard with the planning and logistics to ensure a successful show. The Nautisme Québec team had their exhibit kiosk buzzing with nautical fans and customers in search of the latest on-water news, regulations and events. Lucky NQ members took advantage of the free multi-day tickets that were available for pickup on-site, giving them access to all the boats, kiosks and conferences for the duration of the show. And what a show!

The variety of watercraft on display was impressive, including pontoon boats, fiberglass and aluminium custom fishing boats, electric boats, cruisers and yachts, along with many boating accessories and docks for your homes and cottages.

There were many new models and features displayed by boating manufacturers and dealers, and a lot of interest in the new Yamaha 350 V-6 4.3 litre. The V-6 comes with Yamaha’s state-of-the-art built-in Digital Electric Steering. This integrated steering system delivers extremely smooth, quiet and responsive steering, with additional technical smarts to give you even more control over your boat. The DES system eliminates the need for steering pumps, hoses, hydraulic lines and bleeding procedures, resulting in a cleaner and less cluttered engine well, and is the easiest outboard to fit in the market.

We spoke with Marc-André Loyer, who was very excited about the Montréal show. And no wonder, as Marc-André “wears 2 caps” on the water—as President of Nautisme Québec, and as Yamaha Canada’s District Sales Manager. With decades of nautical and mechanical experience, Marc-André is your go-to reference for all nautical questions. Marc-André promised us the inside scoop on some major new changes they are planning in the near future for the Québec boating industry. And his counterpart, Josée Côté, Executive Director of Nautisme Québec, was kept very busy during the 4-day event, assisting consumers and exhibitors alike.

Red Shark Bikes Canada garnered a lot of interest from sports enthusiasts looking for new ways to enjoy the water while combining a bit of exercise in a carbon-neutral activity. Jean-François Riendeau told us that they believe in “no noise, no pollution, and no fuel costs.”
MD Marine Insurance attracted many visitors at the show, sharing their expertise in protecting your vessel. They work with you to provide peace of mind on the water, whether you are buzzing around on your PWC, or on a long journey in unfamiliar waters.
Chic Marine has all the cleaning solutions you need for your watercraft, and Martin Duguay was on hand to provide technical advice on how to keep your boat shining, even on a cloudy day… whether it is boat detailing, canvas waterproofing, or ceramic coating that lasts all season.
Voile Capitaine Jack was busy signing up many show participants who are interested in perfecting their on-water sailing skills or just having fun and relaxing on the water. Alexandre Dubord, Convoy Manager at the sailing and charter school, said the school offers sailing courses and cruises in Montréal, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. They are affiliated with Sail Canada and the Fedération de Voile du Québec.
Catherine Vachon of VanLife MTL and her team greeted all visitors at the entrance to the boat show, displaying a lovely 21’ RAM 3500 V6 3,6L model van that is equipped to take you and your boat safely to your favourite water playground. Looking forward to seeing you on the road/water!

Alary Sport took centre stage with their diverse lineup of watercraft. They featured Avalon and SunCatcher pontoons, the G3 and Skeeter fishing boats. Their dedicated team had no less than 27 boats on site at the show!

Suzuki Marine introduced outboards with new colours for this year, and they were a big hit at the show, and we were told that they sold out at the show!
Mercury had a great display as always, with their Mercury Avator Electric outboard in the spotlight. Calm, quiet and smooth, with intuitive controls and advanced technologies that monitor your battery level and range, an Avator outboard lets you fully enjoy nature on the water, while exploring new hiding spots with confidence. Honda was in full form with their lineup of advanced outboards, including their new 350 V8! The all new Honda BF350 V8 is truly a landmark achievement: Honda’s first-ever production V8 engine for use on either land or water. Designed to meet the needs of today’s families, who want larger boats and the ability to journey farther from shore, the goal of the Honda BF350 is to deliver maximum power with impressive fuel efficiency. It’s “The V8 you’ve been waiting for.”
Canada was represented by the Canadian Coast Guard, the RCMP, and the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. Parks Canada had their kiosk next to the Nautisme Québec booth, and provided detailed information on the Canadian waterways and lock network.
One of the interesting aspects of the exhibition was the large variety of seminars that took place, ranging from new developments in the boating industry, to safety on the water, to educational courses.

And something I had not seen at previous boat shows … the enormous effort and teamwork involved in the breakdown of the show and “magical disappearance” of all the motors, equipment and yachts! Everything new and shiny, loaded up and ready for the next boat show, coming to Miami next week … the Power Boating Canada team will be at MIBS for the entire show, and we look forward to meeting you down in Miami! Until then, stay safe on the water!