On a Friday before the second-last weekend in August, instead of sitting in a stuffy office most of us would rather be cruising on a boat, listening to the deliciously catchy ‘Fishin’ in the Dark’ by Emerson Drive.

Turning on the music is one of the first things boaters do when stepping on a dock, says Tracey Hart, marketing manager for Discover Boating Canada, a non-profit awareness program managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Acting on this insight, the Bolton, ON.-based organization, through their website DiscoverBoating.ca, this week launched their own iTunes playlists to create a ‘feeling of fun on the water’ before even hitting the lake.

The recommended ‘Cruising’ list for powerboating currently posted online includes ‘Seven Day Fool’ by Jully Black and ‘Summer of ’69’ by Bryan Adams. There is also a sailing mix (featuring Michael Buble) a watersports list (includes Sum 41) and finally, the fishing mix featuring the Emerson Drive classic.

Targeted to ages 25 to 54, visitors can also create their own iTunes playlists, a feature that will be promoted on the Discover Boating Facebook and Twitter pages.

There are about six million boaters in Canada. ‘There’s a powerful connection between music and boating that you can’t ignore,’ Hart tells MiC.