Miami Boat Show

MrBill_FLL · Feb 20, 2015

IMHO, it was just a cold weekend, in Miami, and nobody wants to go out on the water when its cold. (bayside is pretty exposed).

Was the powerboat side slow too? (inside at the convention center)?

the ft lauderdale (big yachts) show was as big as ever.. (more floating docks at bahia mar)

PGIJon · Feb 20, 2015

I thought the weather was nice (and no I didn't come from the frozen northern tundra (that's north of Orlando)) especially as compared to the previous couple of years. Several of the dealers were saying that they dropped their prices from last year. That could be from the drop in the Euro. There also seemed to be more cats this year and Hunter was basically a no show. Which was disappointing. At least for me.

Didn't go to the powerboat side, but a couple from upstate NY mentioned how unfriendly the crowd was as compared to the Strictly Sail side.

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 20, 2015

PGIJohn;

Hunter was down also in boats shown in Annapolis last fall at the show and then you go over and look at Beneteau and Jeneau which were full of boats. I understand that there is no dealer financing for the dealers anymore nor was there an incentive to purchase the little 18 which I was interested in but walked away. A far cry when I was a Hunter dealer. I wonder if change of ownership would improve Hunter??

Benny17441 · Feb 20, 2015

It is a vicious circle; the manufacturers do not seem to be keen on the economy's recovery and are only willing to take a couple of boats to keep costs and staffing down. The show goer wants to see a lot of boats, vendors, freebies and glitter. Word of mouth is the best/worst seller of entry tickets. The manufacturers walk out saying there were right as hardly any boats were sold and the show goer saying they wont waste their time next year. Show goer traffic dwindles and so will the number of vendors. The old formula of Less + Less = Less is at work. Miami is a very expensive venue and if you do not put on a first class show it will not sell. I was lucky to attend some of the best shows that Miami and Ft Lauderdale had put on but I have not been to a show in the past four years as the last couple of shows were very disappointing. The promoters and the manufacturers need to understand that they need to go all out and present a first class show just to bring the crowds back and not to expect to reap immediate benefits but to await them down the line.

HukilauMike · Feb 20, 2015

I was at Miami too. However, I did come from the frozen tundra of Connecticut, so in my mind, the weather was fantastic: lower 70's and sunny. My impression: the construction at Bayside really put a monkey wrench in the show. Moving the tent out to the front of the event instead of dockside shouldn't have been such a big deal, but apparently, it was. The split location caused some issues. We went right to the boats from the parking garage (following several signs and "footprints" along the way that said "this way to the boat show", only to find that upon arrival at the docks, they weren't selling tickets there. You had to back track quite aways and then find the tent out front to buy tickets. Of course, the internet was down, so cash only. When I told the guy at the dock entrance there were no signs saying where to buy tickets, he seemed rather surprised, then embarrassed.

The show itself: the docks themselves were in bad shape. Usually (I've been to the Miami show probably 10 times over the years), you can walk all around the docks. This year, the docks were separated, requiring you to exit the pier and go ashore to get to the next one. A bit irritating, but nothing to get too worked up over. I too was surprised to see that Hunter only had one boat there. Beneteau and Jenneau were well represented: the new Bene 60 was really something. I wish I had a friend who had one. And it seemed quite a good value (if something that costs over 900K can be seen as a "value". But, no IP (a surprise as they are a Florida company), and only (I think) 3 Catalinas. Happy to see the Seawards there (the 32RK is my personal favorite), and if you are in the market for a catamaran, its about the best show around.

The vendor tent was well stocked, but I seem to recall that there used to be two of them? I've never made it over to the Convention Center, so I'm guessing that the majority of the vendors that sell electronics and other general boating stuff are over there. I sure hope so, because otherwise, we are really missing out.

All in all, I still think Newport is a better show, but you can't beat a shorts and tshirt day around boats in mid February.

gettinthere · Feb 20, 2015

I got the sense that Miami is becoming much more of a powerboat show. The Miami Beach conv center was packed with fishing machines and the giant tents at the conv center were full too.
Lots of talk of not coming back next year, especially with the wholesale changes.

Bill1565 · Feb 21, 2015

gettinthere said:
I got the sense that Miami is becoming much more of a powerboat show. The Miami Beach conv center was packed with fishing machines and the giant tents at the conv center were full too. Lots of talk of not coming back next year, especially with the wholesale changes.

I for one, will make a lot of effort to get to next years show if indeed they move it all to the marine stadium. We have been going on and off for years, since the sailboats were at Watson Island. Convention center and tents there have always been power boats fishing gear and electronics.

gettinthere · Feb 21, 2015

Word is that Strictly Sail will stay where it is. The rest of the show will move to the stadium...if the lawsuits dont stop it. The only road to the stadium is 2 lanes and there are no restaurants or hotels nearby.

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 22, 2015

Benny, you are correct about to some degree about the manufacturers and the recession what it did to the marine industry as boats are the first thing to go. I was a dealer and attended many shows to include Atlanta at one time, Miami, Annapolis, etc.. There fore there is more than meets the eye on this which most of you do not know.

However, most of you do not know the expense either of showing at the shows. One year alone at Annapolis, I spent nearly $40,000 which a lot was for floor space. Shows have become very expensive but again there are other issues which many of you do not know. A good example, there is basically only one company who does dealer financing who bought out the competition and they set the rates to their desire. Beneteau and Jeaneau use a very friendly bank out of France with better terms and rates and dealer support. I could go on but would prefer not as I am much happier now that I am no longer a dealer. I will sail with friends but the only sailboat I will own is one big enough for my bathtub. I moved back to my mountains and you cannot take the mountains out of the boy. Plus I am into model trains, advocate for the ederly and enjoy volunteering for the Boy Scouts. Now for the lighter side. I had 34-38 inches drop on me this week where I live on a mountain. It is unusal for this neck of the woods.

seadaddler · Feb 22, 2015

Great Show

Even if Hunter and catalina did not have that many boats and the construction
at the Marina must have been bad timing and at first at the sailboat part I was not happy but did enjoy the show.
But all and all I really go to see all the great stuff for sailboats and to be honest so confused where everything was but my head was spinning at all the venders selling there stuff.
I do like looking at the new boats but to be honest we love our 07 H-36 and it was built with very good quality and it's just me but glad I did get my boat the year we did but really not crazy with the way the Hunters are being built but like I said that's just me and we love our H-36.
When we lived in NY the Sailboat shows started going down hill in NY years ago
and had to go to Newport and Annapolis to see a real good show.
But still like going to a boat show for sure and did buy our H-36 at Newport
when good deals on a new boat were possible.
Nick

Jackdaw · Feb 22, 2015

Dave that's a great story. Sorry about the snow!!!

Just like everywhere else, the internet has totally changed how we find, look into, and evaluate boats.

Back in the day, you were lucky if you got the builder to send you a 4-page flyer on the the boat. It's in color?? Whoot!!

So you HAD to go to the dealer. Or better yet to a show. It was kind of the internet of the day. Everything in one place. Get questions answered. Look at it from angles. If you wanted it, you often bought the one he had sitting there. He had another one being built. That's how I bought my C&C34 back in the day.

Now fast forward. I'm all hot for the new Seascape 27. Mind you I've never actually seen one in real life. But I've read the designers brief, watched countless GoPro video on Youtube, built and priced one interactively on-line, and chatted about the boat with new owners that I have never met in person.

It does not mean that I will not want to see on in person before I buy, but the whole dynamic of buying has changed. It effects the ways builder are looking at their marketing. Bene shows up at the shows for sure, but have you seen their youtube videos? Watch the one for the 38 or 60. They are like freakin MOVIES. I'm surprised Hunter is not doing more on-line to make up for trier drop-off in boatshow spending. Seems a very reasonable approach.

Regarding the banking, Beneteau and Societe Generale created a financing arm run by bankers that simply know boats. It's still a bank, and no bank does dumb things with their money. But they do put together programs that reflect the needs of both the bank, and boaters. Kinda like GMAC.

seadaddler · Feb 22, 2015

RV

How does the RV industry do it and maybe take a lesson from them.
Have you ever driven down 75 in Florida and seen all the RV's trailers Fifth wheelers and some the big $$$$$$$ Motorhomes along 75 is crazy.
They must have some great financing deals.
So does anyone know how they do it with some 50 or so $400,00 Motorhomes at these dealers.

Jackdaw · Feb 22, 2015

seadaddler said:
How does the RV industry do it and maybe take a lesson from them.
Have you ever driven down 75 in Florida and seen all the RV's trailers Fifth wheelers and some the big $$$$$$$ Motorhomes along 75 is crazy.
They must have some great financing deals.
So does anyone know how they do it with some 50 or so $400,00 Motorhomes at these dealers.

That's a great point. As the population ages, you have to figure out what motivates them, and what their desires/fears are.

As people get older they want to play in their new free time, but they worry about being able to 'do' things. For sailboat builders, this means designing boats with systems designed for a couple in their 50's to manage.

Then it's a question. Does the couple in question spend their $400-800k on a:

Sailboat
Motorboat
RV
Lake house

You can't make that choice for them, but you have to be in the game. You can see the Beni is aiming at this market exactly with the Sense 55.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzbLQbji_z0

RIVERCRUISER · Feb 22, 2015

seadaddler said:
So does anyone know how they do it with some 50 or so $400,00 Motorhomes at these dealers.

Factory floor plan? Interest only on the invoice of the units?

Steve L22188 · Feb 22, 2015

I've wondered the same thing...

We've got some RV dealers here in the Midwest who have what must be far over 100-150 units on the lot.

The floorplanning program must be incredibly generous. And I suspect the manufacturers have figured out that if the prospect can't kick the tires, they won't buy their product.

Crazy Dave Condon · Feb 23, 2015

Jackdaw,

I know a lot more but refuse to discuss out of respect to various folks and manufacturers. Being in the marine industry in very tough for a dealer with a lot of obstacles as I should know as I was one who knew and experienced more than most of you know. I have said enough. By the way, in one week, 38 inches of snow which is unusual for the neck of the woods and I had to plow a quarter mile long driveway up hill.
Send me an email with your phone number and I will send you some photos.