From January 18 to 26, the Toronto International Boat Show took place at the Enercare Centre—North America’s largest indoor boat show! With over 500 exhibitors and hundreds of boats on display, it was the perfect event for boating enthusiasts like me.
My Focus: High-Performance Boating
I explored most of the exhibitors, but a few really caught my attention - especially those related to high-performance boating.
Meeting the CJ Grant Offshore Race Team (Graydel 54)
One of the highlights of my visit was meeting the CJ Grant Offshore Race Team, including Chris Grant, the pilot who races in the Super Cat class. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect over our shared passion for high-performance boating and get an inside look into the world of offshore racing.
Exciting news: in collaboration with RWO (Race World Offshore), they announced that the North American Championship will be held in Toronto from July 11 to 13, 2025 - a first for Canada! You can bet I’ll be there, right in the action. Check them out at: www.cjgrantracing.com
MCR Performance - Tuning for Yamaha Outboards
Next, I had a great chat with James and his team at MCR Performance (Riversports Recreation), the Canadian dealer for Argo Cat23 Widebody boats. They are true performance enthusiasts and have developed a specialized tuning product line designed to boost Yamaha outboard engine performance while maintaining reliability.
If you're looking to repower your boat and take your performance to the next level, reach out to them at: www.mcr-performance.com
Power Boating Magazine & Poker Runs America
I also had the pleasure of meeting Bill Taylor from Poker Runs America and Power Boating Magazine.
- Power Boating Magazine is the go-to source for the latest news and updates in the boating world.
- Poker Runs America organizes the legendary poker runs we all know and love.
If you want to stay up to date on the latest releases, events, and industry news, be sure to follow them:
👉 www.powerboating.com / www.pokerrunsamerica.com
Big East Racing Team - Super Stock Racing at Its Finest
Lastly, I stopped by the Big East Racing Team booth, where they had a stunning Victory Cat 32’ race boat, powered by twin 300R Mercury Racing Engines in a striking neon green. It was the end of the day, so I didn’t get a chance to meet the team in person, but I’ll definitely catch up with them at the next event!
Find out more about their racing team here: www.bigeastconstruction.com/bigeast-racing
What’s Next for XP Marine?
At XPM, we’re always working on developing new performance parts and accessories for boating enthusiasts. This visit to the show confirmed that there’s a real gap in niche products, and we’re excited to step up and bring innovation to the market.
Final Thoughts
The Toronto International Boat Show was an incredible opportunity to meet key players in the high-performance boating and racing world. At XP Marine, we’re more motivated than ever to integrate and get involved in this dynamic sector.
See you on the water! 🚤🔥