The Perfect Boat Show!

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Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
I spent three hours with a buddy yesterday at the Seattle Boats Afloat Show. We climbed on and off at least 25 boats, "kicking tires" and snooping about. 1. Gary's award for the ugliest, most dysfunctional boat goes to Island Packet for it's "innovative" new SP Cruiser. Neither a trawler nor a sailboat. I wouldn't have it if they gave it to me. 2. Gary's award for the most overpriced boat: a used Nauticat 37 at just a hair under half a million bucks for a 37 foot sailboat! It's actually a very nice boat--maybe at $350M? 3. Boat I liked best was a Robert Perry designed Tayana 48 with a pilothouse, great deck level salon, two wonderful sleeping cabins with en suite heads, big cockpit, cutter rig. Nice boat (please see attached link) but too much boat for me. So why the perfect boat show? Had a good time and came home thinking what a wonderful boat Wanderlust is! Big enough to cruise on anywhere I want to go. Small enough to single hand. Sails great. Wonderful to live on. Tweaked to my personal taste and use. And paid for. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
C

capn Bill

You're entitled to your opinion

Never more than after reading your comments did I realize that boat shows are different things to different people! We all have our likes and dislikes - often completely at odds with each other! Boat builders don't build boats unless there's a market for them. The ones you mention - while not my idea of a great boat design - nevertheless appeal to a lot of boaters! Me? I'm a staunch traditionalist. Give me a classic any day like a Taretan or a Sabre. Many others fit this style. Be thankful that there ARE different boats to see. That's what makes boat shows so much fun! Bill on STARGAZER
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
".....love the one you're with!"

After a couple months of, uh... drizzle, snow, wind storms, .... we get to finally peek at the sun. Ah, yes, boat show time! Have to agree, that Tyana 48 is a really nice looking boat. But, also have to agree, the dollar-delta to go from what you have, or I have, to that boat isn't worth the incremental increase in pleasure. And, who knows, after the first year of maintenance it might even be an actual decrease. I'm kinda with you - I'm always looking but it's hard to beat the boat we have so, as the song goes, ".... love the one you're with..". Well, maybe the song didn't mean it *quite* that way. :) From what I've seen the past year in the way of 'new' boats there isn't anything that is in my must-see category. But who knows, something might have slipped under the radar so it's good to check things out. For the inside show - I plan to check out insurance companies, water makers (but will probably go with Village Marine), and see what new gadgets are out there. Saw a pair of sunglasses that have blocking for light that comes in from the side so that would be of interest. Have a list of things I've seen over the past year that I'll be looking out for, too. Otherwise, this year, for me, the show will be more of a winter break.
 
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