Power on the water

The Parade of Power performance boat rally brings power and charity to Muskoka’s big-three lakes

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High speeds not necessary
Dear Editor... Although it is nice to see people doing recreational things for charity, I am worried about the...

THE MUSKOKAN - There’s a big difference between 50 miles per hour and 100 miles per hour when you’re in a boat.
Blazing across the water at anywhere above 70 miles per hour means the boat is just skimming across the surface. Little jolts to the normally smooth ride create a roller-coaster-like stomach drop, and the wind blows across the cabin with such force it can pull the sunglasses off your face.
When the throttle goes down, the engine roars and heads have to turn quickly to watch. It all adds up to an incredibly exciting adrenaline-pumping experience.
The Performance Boat Club of Canada arrived in Muskoka Saturday to raise money for charity, and maybe do just a little bit of showing off. Called the Parade of Power, performance boats capable of speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour travelled through Muskoka over the course of the day-long event.
Bill Jennings, a former performance boat racer and a safety adviser for the parade, said a big part of fast-boat appeal is the excitement.
“The water is the last place you can still go fast. Even in airplanes you’ve got height restrictions, and there are always heavy rules when flying,” explained Jennings. “I don’t care if you’re going 60 or 25, there’s still an adrenaline rush in knowing the power of these boats and I’m sure that’s why the boaters here do it.”
Starting at the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst and travelling through Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph, the boaters kept the boats at a slowed pace when travelling near the shoreline and only unleashed the full power of their vessels in the wide-open sections.
Despite rainy weather on Saturday, the event was hailed as a success after it raised $18,600 in funds for the nurse practitioners station in Muskoka Lakes.
The parade also attracted substantial attention from onlookers throughout the day. During the parade, and at each stop along the way, crowds formed to take pictures, ask questions and get a closer look at the machines. Along the lakeshore, people lined docks to wave and watch as the boats blazed by.
“People are fascinated with the technology in these boats,” Jennings said. “You can’t put a structure through the kind of stress these boats are built for without building an expensive boat. They’re built with expensive laminates, high-end composites and excellent design. If you like boats, you got to like these.”
In the past, not everybody in Muskoka was happy about the arrival of the performance boats. Complaints were heard that accused the boaters of creating too much noise and too large a wake. One year, a resident even protested at a lock by holding up a sign that told the boaters to leave the lake.
This year, there was no visible sign of opposition to the event. Supporters of the parade pointed to the greater community awareness as a likely reason for the apparent absence of any opposition.
David Grant, the captain of the All In, a Nor-Tech Supercat 3600 capable of speeds around 125 miles per hour, said the vast majority of the people they encounter are very welcoming.
“People are always waving at us, so we know the majority are happy. They may be wooden boat guys, but they love to see something different for a change,” Grant said.
Even compared to other tourists in Muskoka, Grant said performance boaters bring a significant economic benefit to the towns they stop in. He pointed to the thousands the participants spent at local hotels, restaurants and stores over the course of just one day. Filling up the average performance boat costs roughly $1,000.
Before starting the parade, boaters were given information on where the no-wake zones were located, as well as where they needed to show particular caution. Captains were told to be respectful of other people on the lake and to stay in a fairly tight group.
Carl McBride, president of the Performance Boat Club of Canada, said it’s important for the club to prove they are responsible boaters.
“We want to continue to lead by example, and show the residents and other folks of the lakes just what a good group of boaters we are.”

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