AC Boat Show 2011

D

dl2525

Member
Joined
May 4, 2009
RO Number
31205
Messages
375
Did anyone attend the boat show in AC over the weekend?

I had tickets that they refunded me from last year after they cancelled the show when we had over 20 inches of snow.

I have to say the show really disappointed me again.

I went on Saturday morning. First of all it took us almost an hour just to park. The traffic was ridiculous. We come to find out that they booked a cheerleading competition during the event at the convention center. Second, they also combined the sail show with the power show this year. Third, the lines were ridiculously long. I waited on average 30 minutes for any boat over 30 feet in length.

I have to say the boats that impressed me the most were the Chaparral 400 and the Meridian 391. The Chaparral had a hardtop with a full glass enclsoure and a sunroof. The cockpit was laid out very well. Something interesting that I had seen for the first time was a water mister on the very back of the hard top. I guess this is to provide a little evaporative cooling for anyone on the back seat. The whole interior was also laid out very nicely. The boat sported two heads as well. A very nice 40' boat. The Meridian still impresses me. The boat just feels big for a 391 - plain and simple. I don't have anything specific to mention about the boat, other than it just appears to be very well laid out. I toured the Azimut sedan bridge and that was such a waste. I literally waited an hour for that boat, only to find out that it was laid out horribly, had horrible seating, a bridge ladder that was an accident waiting to happen, and finishes that were just disappointing.

What was your experience?
 
I went of Friday. The show seems to be getting smaller and smaller every year. The dealers no longer bring in the big sportfishers. Most of the boats there are trailer boats with a few exceptions. I even thought the vendor area did not offer as much as previous years.
 
We decided to go to the AC show this year since the Baltimore show has been disappointing over the last few years. Turns out the AC show was disappointing as well. The last time I was at the AC show, the boats and the vendor area were larger. We, as new cruiser owners, were really looking to stock up on accessories. We didn't find anything that we were really looking for. I did beat up the salesman for a pair of Maui Jims though :D.

Greg
 
I remember when you could go to a boat show and actually buy something.

Since I am not in the market for a boat at this moment, I went mainly for the vendors…need some electronics for the current boat and some accessories for a waverunner I picked up over the winter. I came home with two tee-shirts from the reject bin and a $6 can of soup. Another thing that I noticed was that most boats did not have signs advertising prices.

To top it off, the only boat I went on was a sail bote….still got the heebeejeebees.
 
ditto
went Sunday, boats seemed on the small size but as I remember, I thought AC was not cooperating in letting in the larger/taller boats to the convention center.

but very light crowds, walked right up to ticket booth. Usually have 100 foot long lines

lots of places to sit, like they were filling up floor space.

Was West Marine there?
Didn't see them.
 
I went on Friday. I figured I would beat the crowds. While it wasn't wall-to-wall people in the show, I had to park in the garage. I normally have no trouble finding a space across the street. I went there specifically looking for an aluminum gas tank vendor, a fiberglass repair vendor, and a Garmin GPS/sounder. The one tank vendor turned me off big time, the fiberglass repair I was quoted was $90 an hour - after I bring them the hatch, and anyone selling the Garmin 546s was selling it at the same rediculous $900. No, I didn't see West Marine there. I did see a beautiful "tug" type boat near the entrance, but it had no price tag on it - I didn't bother to board her or I'd still be love-sick!
 
IN the past, there was one marina that could accomodate hauling large boats out of the water and take them over to the show. That place has been gone for over 2 years. So the dealers who would drive the boats down and lift out and over to show are no longer doing it. So for them to trailer the boats, some would have to be taken apart and the cost of trailering them is not cost effective. Thus many fewer larger boats.
 
I'm going to the RIC show next weekend expecting to be disappointed. Looking more for electronics than anything. I'm wondering if they are just becoming too cost prohibitive on both the seller and potential buyers side.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen

I did see a beautiful "tug" type boat near the entrance, but it had no price tag on it - I didn't bother to board her or I'd still be love-sick!
Click to expand...
I believe you are referring to the Ranger Tug R-29. I went on board, sharp little tug! The wife and I got a little love sick for ya :). BTW - "Special Pricing" from $229,937 (excluding options, freight and taxes)

Greg
 
quote:
Originally posted by GripB

quote:
Originally posted by Stephen

Click to expand...
Ranger Tug R-29....sharp little tug! BTW - "Special Pricing" from $229,937 (excluding options, freight and taxes)

Greg

Click to expand...


Well....There's more than part of the problem. 1/4 of a mil for a 29 footer?!? That is completely insane.
 
Yeah, that's the one. That "special pricing" is the list price posted on their website. I guess it's special...to them!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen

Yeah, that's the one. That "special pricing" is the list price posted on their website. I guess it's special...to them!

Click to expand...


I'm curious. Are the effing Teamsters building this from woven virgin pubic hair? A quarter of a million dollars for a 29 footer!?!?!?
 
Ok. Have to disagree a bit. Went Sunday. Last year they had curtained off about a third of the convention center. Not this year. Agree that the 50 plus footers were lacking but seemed like a good number of vendors and marinas. Some builders missing, like Cruisers but decent crowd. But now it's a 20-50 foot show, not a 30-60 foot show.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top