Seattle Boat Show

[haakebecks]

Anyone make it this year? Any specials on boats?

 

[Salmon Fisher]

I went and there were lots of boats. About half the number of vendors than in past years.
Deals on boat? Not so much. There was a beautiful teal Tomcat there. Almost $200K.
I'm sure you'll find a good deal on nice boat this spring or fall.

 

[SounderSolutions]

We went also. Not near the selection of boats compared to pre-COVID boat shows. Fewer vendors and manufacturers. Noticeably missing was the Lowrance and Raymarine booths. With the new boat, I was looking at options to update the electronics. Garmin was the only one present so they ended up getting my full attention and electronics budget.

I will agree that the teal TC was beautiful!

The highlight of our trip was boating to the boat show. Deception Pass to Elliott Bay and back. What a great trip! DP to Port Townsend was pretty rough but the TC handles it well. From PT to EB, it was flat and we ran it fast! The trip home was gorgeous (and fast)! Flat water and 32kts at 7.5gph. Love it!

 

[hardee]

I didn't make it to the Boat Show, would have IF Raymarine had a booth, but they opted not to, for what ever reason and instead, offer a Boat Show Rebate on Certain Raymarine products IF you pick up a qualifying coupon (form) at the "Boat Show" Well, I did purchase Raymarine products, and with some help from a C-BRAT friend, and the guys from Rodgers Marine Electronics in Portland, where I purchased and they installed, I was able to get to the Raymarine Rep to Rodgers, and he said he would help.

So, No Raymarine booth at the show. Go there, get your coupon and your dose of Covid in whatever version the current variant is, and then file for your rebate. Well, with Rodgers help I got past that, but it really makes me wonder IF Raymarine is planning on being around in the future.

This is not the only electronics customer that did this:

"Noticeably missing was the Lowrance and Raymarine booths. With the new boat, I was looking at options to update the electronics. Garmin was the only one present so they ended up getting my full attention and electronics budget.

Just looking forward to B O A T I N G :smile

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[djy887]

I went to the show on Friday. Was hoping to see more from the engine manufactures and some of the new technologies we've reading about lately...electric and diesel outboards. There were a few boats that had some of these mounted...but no real detail on the technology. Deals...uh, no. Sticker shock...yes! Current prices make the price I was quoted last year for a new 25' Cruiser ($140K) seem like a bargain...but I'd bet that price is outdated now. Most impressive boat...the 88' Ocean Alexander 27E on display at Bell Harbor Marina. Couldn't get anyone to give me a price...its one of those 'if you have to ask' things. Guessing it would be in the $12M-$15M range. It had berths for only 8 people...and an incredible multi-station helm. There's no way this is a 'mom-and-dad-lets-take-the-kids-out-for-a-spin' boat. Turns out there was a crew quarters (for 3) by the engineroom (room...not compartment) that was blocked off. Even the 20-24' ski boats were really kind of over the top. Where is the boat show for the 'normal' boater?

 

[Leo Smith]

Craigslist is the boat show for normal boaters (aka middle class budgets).

 

[johnr]

Where is the boat show for the 'normal' boater?

Normal boaters don't buy new boats.

 

[kaelc]

Too bad it was smaller. I had a good time picking up our boat during the boat show in 2018, it was used at the broker, but looking at a few 100-400k boats helped me swallow my hesitation.

Would love to see all the engine manufacturers as well, some guides were just explaining to me their love of the Mercury 150 and I was drooling over their 60amp alternator.

I would think manufacturers are investing more in websites and marketing, less in shows.