It's boat showtime!

[Barry]

Shows are getting Worse

I attended Sail Expo in Atlantic City for six years and watched it get worse each year. It's just not worth the trip any more.I purchased big ticket items for my retrofit at the Annapolis show last year.I found shows at Boston and NY to have too many stink pots.It's smart to buy big ticket items or boats at the show for a better price but since I'm not in that market I'll skip them this year.Barry

 

[john King]

Atlantic City's show.

We have been dissappointed with th AC show in the past few years. The show when it was in the "old" Convention center was a class act. An elegant venue for the sights and sounds. Sailing vessels with masts erected indoors adds something to the spectical. The "new" center has all the charm of a bus station. Low ceilings and no atmosphere. Compacted displays and overheating add to the lack of status once achieved by the venerable old hall. Too darn difficult to get to also. A long walk from any parking and not pedestrian friendly. If all this is easy to overcome..wait till you get to the coat check.

 

[Brad]

Chicago

Chicago is the place to go. Strictly Sail at Navy Pier has a great selection of sail boats and quite a few dealer displays. There are also good seminars. Then there is the city itself. Check it out!

 

[Ed Schenck]

Maybe Chicago?

Based on previous comments I went to the "Strictly Sail" site(link below). Should I bypass Cleveland and do the six hour drive to Chicago? Might be worth it for a sailboat only show.

 

[Michael O']

Cleveland vs Chicago

Having done both shows for several years, I must strongly recommend that any sailboat lover go to Chicago after making a visit to the IX center. As you know, the Cleveland Boat show is dominated by power boats. It's important to support the dealers that sell sailboats, which is why i suggest you make one visit to the IX center.However, Navy Pier is heaven. Crammed with nothing but sailboats and exhibits for sail boat lovers.You want to talk to Harken or Garhauer, their top people are waiting for you.Want to meet the guy who owns ATN, he's there and loves to chat.Of course, they never have enough models of the expensive boats, like Tartan, Moody and Gozzard. Swan, Tayana, Alden, Morris don't bother to make the trip. However, everybody else is there.One suggestion: get there the night before and arrive early. By afternoon on the weekends, the place is jammed.See you there.

 

[Cliff Ruckstuhl]

Ed, We take the train to Chicago

We are makeing our 6th trip to the Chicago Show and we get on the train in Toledo. It's with our AAA discount $58.50 round trip. We take are taking the (going) 5:20am train number 29 and then the 7:10 Number 48 coming back. It's great time and ther are about 8 people going as of right now with a few others we gotten to over the years going that get on along the way. So anybody that can make the Train is more than welcome to join us. We are going on Fri the first because of all the crowds on Sat. E mail me off site if you want to be part of it. cliffr@bright.net Cliff

 

[Bob]

Chicago Boat Show

Well, living in Chicago certainly has it's benefits. I've been to Strictly Sail at Navy Pier for the past two years. It's GREAT!!If anybody needs some good, out of the way restaurant recommendations, let me know!! I have included a link to one of the best restaurant finders in the city. Check it out.BobS/V Never Say NeverHunter 320

 

[Steve Growcock]

Chicago Boat Show on 1/31-2/3

Don't expect many St. Louisans in Chicago on Feb. 3. We will be a bit farther south!Steve!

 

[Mickey Goodman]

Providence Boat Show 1/12/02

Will go tomorrow to the Providence Boat Show.This boat show is mostly power but they have a few seminars I wish to attend. One is basic radar and the other is Chartplotters/GPS.I have both on my boat new last season. I just want to make sure I am using them properly.

 

[AL S]

Strictly Sail Miami.

Just bought a new (to us anyway) boat so we're going to join other sails, pick up tips at seminars and see the new toys.

 

[Bob Camarena]

San Diego

I just attended the San Diego Boat Show last week and was very disappointed. We were there on vacation and I was excited that there was going to be a boat show in progress while we were there. Unfortunately it was about 90% oriented to power boats. As far as equipment vendors go, Garhauer was the only vendor there that I recognized. The in-the-water show was definitely oriented to the high end. If you were in the market for a $750k power boat, there were a lot to choose from. On the other hand, there was only one Catalina, I think a 420. Island Packet and Benneteau had several boats each, but in general it was a disappointment.On the other hand, it made me think about what a good boat my '81 C-30 is and how nice I could make it with just a little effort.

 

[Don Alexander]

London international Boatshow - twice

Also I go to the Southampton BS.This year to London BS to get a question answered re my radar and another about my laptop nav program. Both contacts very useful.Also its good to look up old friends.Don Alexander H376 in the UK.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 1/13/2002:Will you go to a boat show this winter?44% To see the latest boats and gear27% For a wintertime sailing fix20% No boat show for me this winter09% To attend seminars

 

[Douglas G Young]

Last show Ill go to.

First few years at the on the water show in Seattle you could go on any dealers boats at no cost. Next few years they wanted to make more money so charged 7 or 8 dollars for a boarding pass. Ok by me. This year they blocked off the side walk along the waterfront. You couldn't even walk past a look unless you paid 12 dollars. Im done. Im looking for a larger boat but will wait and go to a broker to look. Im not going to pay 12 dollars to walk on any side walk.

 

[Jerry Hunt]

I go to the boat show to...

enjoy all the boats .. learn more about them .. make "connections" with people who know more about boats who can help me make the decisions I need to make about the "right" boat for me. That's why I go to to boat show. I'm sure that part of it is the need to get away from winter and start thinking of summer, but at this point it is mostly research and really getting as comfortable as we can with our decision.