Thursday, February 18, 2010
Bill Cochran's Outdoors: Shows point to smoother sailing for boating in 2010
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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Boat show in Virginia Beach draws many lookers, some buyers.
The allure of boating is back. January and February boat shows have been reporting good numbers of attendees with smiles on their face and, in some cases, money to be spent for a new boat.
On Saturday, I attended one of the biggest boat shows in Virginia, the 57th annual Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show in Virginia Beach, to see for myself if boating is breaking out of the economic bondage that has kept it moored the past couple years.
But first, here’s a look at some of the earlier shows as reported by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and other sources:
NEW YORK: Even with fewer show days, attendance was up 51 percent over the previous year. As for sales, one dealer said he wasn’t getting rich, but he was selling some boats.
CHICAGO: “If this show is a barometer for the selling season it’s going to be an exciting year,” said a dealer.
SEATTLE: Bigger crowds, strong sales. One dealer sold a $2.3 million yacht. Normally, boat shows aren’t the place where multimillion dollar deals are made.
ATLANTA: A dealer reported selling nearly every boat in his display and enjoying a 40 percent increase over the previous year.
BALTIMORE: Crowds were so large that one dealer said his biggest task was to pick and choose who to talk to next.
NASHVILLE: “Everyone is happier, more upbeat and ready to buy,” said a dealer who sold 20 boats.
LOUISVILLE: “I haven’t seen this much traffic in years -- it’s like old times,” said Randell Gibson of Kentucky Trophy Fishing.
CHARLESON, S.C.: Largest turnout in the show’s 27 year history.
As for the Virginia Beach show, which featured 17 boat dealers, attendance was impressive, but what counts isn’t how many people come, but how many write contracts. The dealers I talked with were cautiously optimistic, although it was obvious that many of the people who turned out on snow-spitting Saturday were coping with cabin fever and weren’t real candidates to buy now or later. Even so, dealers had to encouraged by the enthusiasm.
The Southwest Virginia Boat show, Feb. 26-28 at the Roanoke Civic Center, should profit from the optimism. So should the Richmond Boat Show. In an effort to provide a weightier event in a down economy, the Virginia Boat Show, originally scheduled Jan. 22-24 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, was merged with the Richmond Boat Show which will be held at the Richmond Raceway, Feb. 19-21.
Here are some of the trends I noted at the Virginia Beach Show:
OLD IS NEW: Many dealers had inventory left over from last season, so what you will find in their displays is a mixture of 2009 and 2010 models. To their credit, most readily identify their leftovers as 2009 models and have priced them accordingly. In some cases, the prices are lower than last year, which makes for a buyer’s market. Before you buy, check the date of manufacturer, which can be found on boats and engines. An older model is a perfectly good investment, and should result in a better deal.
ASK ABOUT INCENTIVES: Some manufacturers and dealers sweeten the pot in tough times by offering an incentive. I am not seeing as many this year as last, but they are out there. An example, Yamaha is offering a 6-year warranty.
LIVE WITH LESS POWER: When covering boat shows 20 or so years ago, dealers often would tell me that if you under-power your boat you are certain to be disappointed. Times have changed. What with the high cost of outboards and the fuel to run them, there is a trend toward power downsizing. I saw some pretty big boats with a 115-hp engine, where you’d expect to see at least a 150. The smaller engine will get you there, albeit it will take a tad longer. If that is the difference in having a boat and not having one, then downsizing is a good idea. Just don’t overdo it.
BEST OF SHOW: Lean economic times generally aren’t when you find innovative changes in boats and engines. In fact, I saw some center console craft little changed from the same model offered 10 years ago. My choice for the most innovative thing in the show goes to Yamaha for its new VMAX SHO series, which are four-stroke outboards that are lighter, smaller, quicker, more fuel economic, quieter, and more environmental friendly than their two-stroke counterparts. Right now they only are available in high horsepower models, so they are being marketed for high-performance bass boats and larger fishing boats.
CONSIDER RE-POWERING: If you love your boat and it is in good shape, but you aren’t so confident with your engine, then re-powering might be your best deal. Putting a new engine on a used boat is a trend being seen during these uncertain economic times. Some dealers are offering special re-powering packages, including a trade-in for your old engine.
WHERE THE CROWDS GATHERED: I noted that some of the biggest crowds gathered around displays that featured towing services and treatment for ethanol fuel. These two are related. Boating has been hammered by the ills of ethanol fuel and this has made towing services attractive, particularly when you can get one for less than $150 per year.
THE CAT’S MEOW: Multi-hull boats, known as catamarans, were big news a decade ago, threatening to give mono-hulls stiff competition, but they have faded sharply. There were only a couple or so at the show.
INTERNET SHOW: Boaters have a great source of buying information available on the Internet. Most manufactures have Web sites with information and pictures that highlight the models they sell. Dealers sites let you do check prices beyond your home area without having to travel. There are virtual boat show sites that let you see and compare numerous models. An example is newboats.com.
