Create Your Wave

  Before I start with the now, - please bear with me while I regress into my childhood and walk with me and my dog in what seems a long time ago. While I was going-up, part time in “Cottage Country”; we were part of a cottage neighborhood.   The neighborhood spanned about 6 miles.   Each cottage making up about ¼ acre along the way.   Everyone in the neighborhood came from various walks of life: My Dad – Accountant and business owner, Uncle Ron and Aunty Merle – Shoe supply Salespeople and business owners, my grandpa – Retired Principle at a fairly large school, Uncle Freddie, Manager at ACME Cribbage boards, and the list goes on.   I can still recollect all and every one.   I say this in reference as in the city: where I spent most of my childhood, I can only recollect a few of my neighbors and their children.   Most definitely not a 6-mile stretch.   All were my uncles and aunts, some were by birth, many by honorary. Moving forward, there wa...

I thought I would write this blog on a different note. I went through the following information with my nephew and thought it may be an interesting spreadsheet to share. Most are his numbers, dealing with PWC’s. It took a few phone calls and some driving, but I believe the numbers will drive many of the points home. Today I will share a Total Cost of Ownership scenario for traditional PWC’s and electronic surfboards. It should be noted that this is purely a financial analysis. It does not consider noise and gas / oil pollution etc. variables with a combustion engine on the water, ease of transportation, set up, etc. Before we start, this analysis, assumes the owner will have the marina close to “the shop” do repairs and maintenance, gas, etc. with hydro, I do not have the meters to gauge, it is a rough assumption. Description Cost e-surfboard (Maverick )/ Cost PWC (Personal Water Craft) Notes: These are estimations – not exact numbers. There are also other things to take into considera...

 As we are approaching the monumental Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada, I find myself at a point of internal debate. As with many in Northern Ontario it is the time when the leaves change and sunsets over the lakes become a real spectacle. This year will be no exception! Internal Debate 1 The internal debate then? Over the years many have been talking about Global warming. Although true, We in Canada have yet to see winters and summers as when I was a toddler: Snow higher than a grown man, Ski hills with chair lifts that the skiers drag their skies over when lifted to the top of the hill, summers that reach into the 100’s, and the such. Would it be safe to say that we have global levelling? Simply the highs and lows appear to be a thing of the past. It would appear this year as well. Never do I remember being able to swim during the Thanksgiving weekend without a dry suit. At this time of the year, it was “give or take” as to snow. Although in other parts of Canada, yes: it is snowin...

Given the advancements in batteries over the past few years, the gap between gas and electric is closing quickly. Some may say that the gap has already been closed. I will break down this argument into the most popular points asked by our marketplace: Costs: Yes, at 1st an electric board cost more: upfront. When considered gas, maintenance, replacement parts, time and consideration, break and fix these costs gap closes quickly over time. In time (in many circumstances) within 1 season one would at least break even, with an additional battery purchase. Performance: We are seeing better torque from our Electric Surfboards than from gas. The batteries that are out there have really come a long way in wattage, voltage, and reduction in charge time. Also given there is one variable – electrical current controlling torque with Electric Motors, as apposed to 3 with gas, again performance, speed, and simplicity goes to Electric. Weight: Electric Motors are lighter and have less components than...

There was a time when I would go to the gym 3 – 5 days a week. I joined many of my friends and we would go and work out on weights, run around a rubber track, do yoga, pass a medicine ball back and forth, do the exercise class etc.  I was searching for ways to get in shape with good results at first and then my body fell into a conundrum. It seemed that no matter what I did, I could not get to where I wanted to be. I decided to get a fitness trainer, started meal plans, work out plans etc. Obviously, my financial demands were increasing as well. Again, months went by with an initial spike of improvement and then the flat line. It seemed that no matter what I tried in the work out world, I just could not get my body to where I wanted. The workouts were becoming routine and the food I was eating was just a twist on the same food and my goals for weight and muscle to fat appeared to be out of reach. I decided it was time to do a radical change. One Saturday, I decided to write down al...

Awhile ago I took my best friend and her daughter out on the surf boards. While we were cruising along the calm waters. Soon we got to a more congested area of boats. Although to me, it appeared we had lots of room, I noticed my best friend’s daughter appearing more and more nervous.  After a while I could see that she was actually becoming scared. To me the surroundings were as easy as waking up on a Saturday morning. To her, it appeared chaotic. Me, being myself, I came close to her and asked what is wrong. She said she wondered if anyone could see her as the boats were very large in comparison. I suggested that when ever a boat came close to simply waive. I told her it would be a great surprise for her, as naturally she is shy. It gave me great joy to see the change in her. I don’t know if it is like a custom on the lakes around, but everyone started waiving back at her. Eventually she gracefully fell into the water and everyone around came rushing to see if she was all right. W...

I saw a video recently of one of our competitors. It killed me so much that I had to write a blog about it and ask for explanation of logic and empathy. Before I start, I understand that it may cause accelerated discussions but please keep in mind the intended context of this discussion. The context is to create thought and to question. The video in context was on a competitors’ youtube feed. The question: Part A Why would a company suggest that its customers and constituents use a product that has warnings in their MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) about using it for their intended purpose? Part B Why would they suggest using the same product type that is a severe danger to the environment in which we play? Part C Why has no one challenged them on these grounds: till now. The product in question is a petroleum-based lubricant. The case was to spray it in the engine compartment before going out on the water. Does the company not realize that petroleum catches fire and can explode in a...