Harris Boat Works

10/07/2026

Repowering this season? Mercury financing is 5.48% (OAC) right now.

Build your own quote at mercuryrepower.ca. Real prices, no phone tag.

02/07/2026

Storm: 0. Rice Lake: 1.

The daily thunderstorm came, yelled, and left. Back to business as usual at the docks.

28/06/2026

Celebrate Canada Day with an entire week of free fishing. 🍁

From June 27 to July 5, Canadian residents can fish for free in Ontario! 🐟

When fishing for free, remember to:
• follow conservation licence catch limits
• obey size limits and sanctuaries
• follow the fishing regulations
• carry ID showing your name and date of birth

Plan your adventure and learn more at: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1007665/celebrate-canada-day-week-with-free-fishing

12/06/2026

September 1955.

That's George Harris, the man who started all this, standing in his yard just up the hill from the marina with a stringer of Rice Lake muskie. Look closely on the right and you can see the original workshop in the background.

At that point he was 8 years into building Harris Boat Works. He probably wasn't thinking about legacy. He was thinking about supper.

06/06/2026

Winds have gotten very high in the past hour.

02/06/2026

After a number of windy days on the lake, finally calm.

29/05/2026

Boat, V8, and trailer. The whole package, ready to launch. 🚤
2011 Ebbtide 224 deck boat — 265 hours, wakeboard tower, swim platform. Built for Rice Lake family days.
$36,900 Call 905-342-2153 or text 647-952-2153. Consignment listing: hbw.wiki/4vin9jf

28/05/2026

📢 All locks along the Trent-Severn Waterway will reopen for navigation starting at 9 AM tomorrow.

⚠️ Please navigate with care — flows and levels may fluctuate outside of navigation hours to balance water levels across the system.

Stay safe and happy boating! 🛥️

https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/securite-safety/bulletins/3ebbc6d9-eb9a-4d87-939c-6aad9be5b449

23/05/2026

A Morning Photo looking over the marina from our neighbour Derek Banville.

21/05/2026

Mary found a time capsule in our files this week.

It's a 1996 price sheet from the Ontario Marine Operators Association. Every year the OMOA surveyed marinas across the province and published the average rates for dockage, storage, winterizing, and rentals, a benchmark owners used to set their own prices. This copy has been sitting in a drawer at Harris Boat Works for 30 years.

So it's the real thing. A snapshot of what it actually cost to own a boat in Ontario, three decades ago.

Take a look at the photo, then tell us: which 1996 price would you bring back tomorrow? We'll start. Marine shop labour at $59 an hour. Your turn.

HBW was already 49 years old when this sheet was printed. We've watched these averages climb every season since. The paper yellowed. The lake didn't change a bit.

16/05/2026

Long Weekend Underway. Windy conditions now

12/05/2026

Held a funeral on the bench last weekend.

Mr. Lin's old 115 Optimax. Long career chasing bass on Rice Lake. Repair bill came in bigger than the motor was worth.

This new Mercury 115 ProXS going in its place. Bass boat was reborn for walleye opener this past Saturday.

When yours isn't worth fixing, you know where to find us.

mercuryrepower.ca

11/05/2026

The Trent-Severn Waterway remains closed while our staff prepare a staged opening on Friday, May 15th. Due to high water levels and flows, Lock 42 - Couchiching to Lock 45 - Port Severn will be closed to navigation until further notice.

Activities on or near the water and around locks and dams could be hazardous and are not recommended at this time. Thank you for your patience. ❤️

https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/securite-safety/bulletins/832f2105-8008-4f81-a78f-2e6854115dda

10/05/2026

Some kids grew up at hockey rinks. I grew up at a marina.

That's me, somewhere around 1981, parked behind the desk at Harris Boat Works like I had anywhere else to be.

04/05/2026

225 Optimax: cooked.
250 Pro XS: ready.

Ryan from Curve Lake came to us when his 225 was beyond repair. Some shops would've sold him a rebuild. We told him the truth. That motor's done, and throwing $4-5K at it gets you maybe two more seasons before the next thing breaks.

So we built him a 250 Pro XS quote instead. 4.6L V8. Modern fuel injection. The kind of motor you forget is even there because it just works.

He pulled the trigger. Boat's faster, quieter, more fuel efficient at 25 more horsepower, and he's not nursing it home from the far end of the lake every weekend.

Repowering isn't a loss. It's a reset.

Got an aging 2-stroke on Rice Lake or the Kawarthas? Let's talk before it strands you.

📞 (905) 342-2153

01/05/2026

What's the most expensive thing your boat ever taught you?

A) The "I'll just run it one more weekend before service" lesson.
B) The "I forgot to put the plug in" lesson.
C) The "battery was fine LAST October" lesson.
D) The "I thought I could clear the weeds at the mouth of the Otonabee" lesson.
E) "Railroad Tracks?! On a lake?!"

Tell us in the comments. No judgment — boats teach all of us eventually.

Curious which one is winning the room this spring.

30/04/2026

Making progress…

28/04/2026

Crew was cleaning out one of the old buildings today and found this under a pile of stuff.

A Hostess Krinkles bag. Regular flavour. 200g. Munchies mascots and all. Almost certainly 1980s — Hostess got bought out by Lay's in '96, so this thing has been sitting in our shop for 35+ years easy.

When your marina opens in 1947, even the garbage has history.

Anyone else remember Hostess Chips? Or the Munchies? 👇

26/04/2026

A beautiful day. Water level update

25/04/2026

It's the last week of April.

We opened three weeks ago. Keys on the board, shrink-wrap coming off, batteries getting checked, trailers moving, engines getting their first run of the season. The launch ramp doesn't stop. The phone doesn't stop.

And this team doesn't stop.

This week we recognized the people who've given decades to this place. Today it's for everyone now and over the years: the techs, the helpers, the people chasing parts, moving boats, and making sure customers get answers before the weekend.

Small marina. Everyone does everything. That's how it works and we wouldn't have it any other way. We've had so many great young people come in over the years, giving them a start, some laughs and memories and maybe some life lessons, has probably been what I take the most pride in.

To every person at Harris Boat Works. Thank you. Now let's get back to work 💪

If any of these folks have helped you out, drop a comment below.

24/04/2026

Some people come to Harris Boat Works and just become part of the place. Liam is one of those people.

He came in young in 2019, a wee lad, honestly, and here he is. Part of the crew, learning the trade, always up for a good laugh with whoever's around. Always looking to pick up something new, which in a shop like this means there's never a shortage of things to figure out.

Outside the shop he plays guitar, which tells you something about the kind of person he is. Patient enough to learn something hard and stick with it.

He's a great young man and we're lucky to have him.

Liam. Keep at it.

If he has ever helped you out or you just want to say hi, leave a comment.

23/04/2026

Randy has been telling people the truth about their boats since 1989.

He came up as a mechanic. Spent years turning wrenches and learning every system in this shop the hard way. Now he runs service, and he will tell you exactly what's wrong with your boat, exactly what it'll cost, and exactly what he thinks about it.

No sugarcoating. No runaround.

Thirty-seven years of marine engines earns you the right to speak plainly, and Randy uses every bit of it. Customers either love him immediately or figure out pretty quickly that they should.

He's as much a part of this place as the docks.

Randy. We're lucky and we know it.

If he has ever helped you out or you just want to say hi, leave a comment.

23/04/2026

Just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone for the kind comments on the post the shop did about me. Hard to believe 35 years have gone by working for Harris Boat Works. I truly do enjoy my job and welcome the challenges that pop up daily. My Dad was a fix anything kind of guy and when I started working for Jim Harris he was a fantastic teacher. I am so lucky to have 2 brilliant men pass on their knowledge to me. Working for the Harris family truly has been fantastic. Hope to see you all around the shop this summer!

Graham.

22/04/2026

Ryan is my cousin and nephew to HBW owner Mary Harris. He's been part of this place since 2006.

Ryan rigs new boats, motors, trolling motors and fish finders which means any new unit that leaves this lot has his hands on it. He does whatever else we throw at him too, which is plenty. That's just how this place works.

You'll know when Ryan's having a good day. You'll also know when he's not. Either way, you'll hear him.

Last name's Gough. A hotel check-in in Mexico called him Señor Gooch in 2006, the same year he started here, and it stuck. Twenty years later we still call him Gooch.

We're fortunate to have someone who works as hard as he does and who cares enough to make some noise when it matters.

Gooch. Thanks for everything.

If he has ever helped you out or you just want to say hi, leave a comment.

21/04/2026

Shea has been at Harris Boat Works since 2013.

He's our stern drive specialist. If you've got a Mercruiser that needs work, he's the guy. Stern drives are a different world from outboards. Tighter spaces, more complexity, fewer people who actually know what they're doing. Shea knows what he's doing.

That said, like everyone here, he does a bit of everything. Whatever the shop needs, Shea's in.

He also happens to be one of the bigger personalities in the shop, which is saying something. Never a dull moment when he's around.

Twelve years in and still at it. We're glad he stuck around.

Shea. Thanks for everything you do.

If he has ever helped you out or you just want to say hi, leave a comment.

20/04/2026

For 35 years, when the hard jobs landed in our shop, Graham was the guy.

He started at Harris Boat Works in 1991. He was a teenager. Now he's our head technician, but "technician" undersells it. When something breaks in a way nobody's seen before, when a problem doesn't have a manual page, when we need to figure something out from scratch, we go ask Graham.

He's diagnosed engines other shops couldn't crack. He's built solutions to problems that didn't have solutions yet. He's the reason customers who've tried everywhere else end up here and leave with their boat running.

Most of his life has been spent on these docks, solving things the rest of us couldn't. Harris Boat Works would not be what it is without him.

Graham. Thank you. We mean it more than we probably say.

If he has ever helped you out or you just want to say hi, leave a comment.

20/04/2026

Water Level Status at Our Docks Today

17/04/2026

Today’s conditions.

16/04/2026

FLOOD WATCH — Rice Lake (in effect through April 23)

Ganaraska Conservation issued a Flood Watch for the Rice Lake shoreline this morning.

The numbers: water level is 186.93m — 8cm above normal and rising about 5cm a day. Snowmelt from the Haliburton headwaters plus more rain in the forecast means sustained high flows for at least another week. Winds 25–30 km/h this weekend, shifting from easterly to north-westerly Saturday night as a cold front moves through.

For anyone on or near Rice Lake:

• Stay well clear of shorelines during onshore winds — wave action is actively eroding banks
• Secure docks, lifts, and waterfront gear
• If you're itching to launch, give it a week. Cold water, floating debris, and stronger-than-usual currents
• Report shoreline flooding to GRCA: 905-885-8173

Questions about your dock, lift, or whether it's time to splash your boat? Call us at 905-342-2153 — we'll tell you straight.

Source: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Flood Watch FW_02_26

15/04/2026

The docks are disappearing.

Heavy rain and snowmelt coming down through the Haliburton reservoir system have the Trent-Severn Waterway under an active Flood Warning. Otonabee flows are elevated. The lake is rising fast.

By Friday we expect water at the top of the docks here in Gores Landing.

We've put launches on hold. Not forever. Just until the lake stops trying to eat our docks.

This is Rice Lake in April. We've seen it before. We'll watch it daily and get boats in the water as soon as it makes sense.

09/04/2026

12 days left on the Legend factory promo.

If you've been shopping for a new boat this spring, here's what's on the table until April 20:

Option A: Up to $3,000 off + 5.99% financing OAC
Option B: 3.99% rate on a 24-month term

Pick the one that works for your situation.

We've got 2026 Legend fishing boats and pontoons in stock — R Series, XF, XT, and pontoons. Cover add-ons available on eligible models too.

After the 20th, it goes back to regular pricing.

See what's in stock →

Factory Promotions Harris Boat Works Gores Landing, ON (905) 342-2153

06/04/2026

Season 79 starts today.

Doors open.
Walleye opener in 33 days.
May long weekend in 42.

Your motor ready?

hbw.wiki/40JlaHj

04/04/2026

Ice is almost gone

02/04/2026

What was your first boat?

Not the one you have now. The first one. The one with the questionable motor and the seats your buddy duct-taped back together.

Drop it below. Bonus points for photos.

02/04/2026

1960. The Canteen. Hamburgers, ice cream, and apparently every dog in Gores Landing.

The Frankavitz brothers, cousins on my grandfather George's side. Their mom married an American and moved to Pennsylvania, but summers meant Rice Lake.

We ran The Canteen from the mid-'50s right up until '86. If you were on Rice Lake between then, you probably had a burger here. Your kids probably snuck ice cream from here. And there was almost certainly a dog underfoot.

Some things change. The Canteen's long gone. But the dogs? Wherever there's a Harris, there will be dogs. That part's non-negotiable.

79 years on this lake. Same family. Same spot. Slightly fewer hot dogs.

28/03/2026

Opening April 6th

26/03/2026

Be honest — what kind of boater are you on day one?

A) Straight to the fishing spot, don't even talk to me
B) Slow cruise, cold drink, no destination
C) Tubing until someone falls off (it's always Uncle Dave)
D) Just sit at the dock and stare at the water for 20 minutes because you earned this

Tell us below. Wrong answers only are also accepted.

25/03/2026

Big thanks to

Joe Robson, Mike Thompson, Kathy Thompson, Sean Sullivan, John Joyce, James A. Self, Robert Pugh, Sal Frijio, Arnold Lalonde, Doug Mouncey

for all your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!

24/03/2026

Planning your season from the couch? Smart.

The 2026 Sea Value marine accessories catalogue just dropped — fully priced, hundreds of pages, browsable on your phone.

See something you like? Build a wish list right in the catalogue and send it to us. We'll handle the rest.

We've got physical copies at the shop too.

Browse it here → https://hbw.wiki/47jupBU

22/03/2026

Mercury made outboards. Mercury made snowmobiles. Mercury made one very good dog seat.

Meet Jakey — the Harris family dog, sometime in the late '70s, parked on Jim and Mary's Mercury sled like he owned it. He did.

Mercury built snowmobiles from '68 to '76. Same engineering mindset, different season. Some of those sleds became legends on the race circuit.

And yes — I was named after the dog. No regrets.