Friday, the opening day of the Seattle boat show, was lightly attended. Power boats own 90 plus % boat show. You hear the salesmen discussing the difference between their 300, 400,450, and 500 V8 driven outboards, often with 3 or 4 outboards stacked on the stern. "This rig, as shown here, will do 53mph on a plane! If we add another outboard, you'll reach your destination even faster!"
I wondered how quickly you would reach shore after hitting a floating sleeper stump, commonly referred to as a deadhead.
Duckworks Boat Builder's Supply and Gig Harbor Boat Works have consolidated their businesses in a new, larger facility in Gig Harbor. At the show, they displayed their rowing, sailing, and dinghy tenders in the shadow of 40-foot twin diesel power cruisers. At least they proudly displayed the ability to sail a Gig Harbor-built dinghy when you have powered your "real boat" up to an anchorage in the San Juans.
US Sails appeared to be this year's single sail loft promoting their capabilities at the show.
There were fewer sellers at the equipment booths than last year. Looking for innovation in electronics, I did not find any standout OMGs that I must have. There was a clever dinghy pump at the Fisheries Supply booth. It harnessed the power of wave action to empty your dinghy of water while attached to a mooring ball. It is touted as a renewable energy source to drain the water from your boat.
It's probably a weak link in your dinghy mooring system. I would use a secondary line to the mooring buoy to save the boat when the pump mechanism breaks down.
