Chicago Boat Show 2014
 

Did anyone have a chance to go to the Chicago Boat Show- Thoughts, Pics -- any new/different boats?

Couldn't make it this year but I hope it was better than last

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We went yesterday. We keep saying each year we are never going again, but then January roles around and we go just to have something to do, mostly to stop at our favorite sports bar in Joliet on the way home for some pizza and beer. Pizza and beer was great. Chicago boat show has been so lame the last 5-6 years we were sure it could get no worse. We were wrong. It is pathetic. I read somewhere that Pier 57 was going to be there. Yeah right, they had a billboard there with ads for the used boats they have for sale. Not sure why they bothered to do that.

If you wanna waste some money for parking, overpriced food/drink/ admission and don`t like powerboats its the place to be!!

Thank you so much for the information

I figured so much -- I remember in the good old days- the displays, boats, vendors were all top notch. There was one time in the early 70's that Mercury had a display with every engine, outdrive, etc all there. A couple of years ago BlackThunder was there.

Oh well times change

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formula had their 353 with 565 mercury racing engines that was the only performance boat I saw

lots of pontoons a few NICE center consoles cobalt always has a nice booth if you want to see a 90K 24' bowrider or a 97k pontoon talk about sticker shock

Yep it sucks

We were pretty shocked at some of the "show prices" too. I told the guys with me these prices make the CC I just got look like a bargain.:eekdrop::eekdrop:

Milwaukee boat show wasn't much better. Only one performance boat. 26' Nordic with a single 565. Ton's of pontoon's - they had one with a bar and twin 300's for way more $$$ then it should be. Kinda cool if you live on a small lake though.

Chicago boat show
 

A friend of a friend got his F250 stolen out of the parking garage today at the chicago boat show. Sound like it was not the only one stolen today from the same garage. And it was not towed.

I went yesterday and it was pretty lame, the only performance boats their was a 353 fastech and the miss Geico race boat. I was able to get free tickets and parking so it was worth it to go down and walk around for a while. I remember it being a lot more fun when I was a kid they had all the cool stuff their!!

Well the Detroit boat show blows also! Went about six years ago and it was terrible, so I didn't go till last year thinking it will be better. Yea right, even worse. If you're in the market for a rinker or pantoon boat you'll hit the mother load.

I almost went today just because but figured id save the time and money considering whats usually there. I still like going if there's nothing better to do

Cimeno's ?

I went and had a good time but I also went to look/shop jetskis for the family. In my opinion, there was way more blinged-out over-priced ski boats than pontoons or runabouts. Chris Craft had a good display and the Riva Iseo was absolutely stunning. I can see the cruisers with rear jetski compartment being the new fad at LOTO next year lol

Yes. Even brought a couple uncooked ones home.

What did you think of those Seadoo plastic jet skis? They weren't my cup of tea but it will be interesting to see if they catch on given their price point. I have a 2006 Yamaha ski and a 2009 Seadoo 15 ft jet boat that I picked up new late 2010. Yamaha has never been to the shop and only needed general maintenance in 8 seasons. Seadoo has been to the shop twice in 3 seasons, idle control sensor on it didn't last 10 hours.

We went yesterday as well. Gonna give it a few years before we go back. Same old chit.

I know it was Sunday, but hey parents...a 200,000 boat is not your kids swing set. Take them to Chuckie Cheese.

Those (Spark) were actually what I went to see. I've heard the hulls are very tough and the simplistic design is nice. The wife has been bothering me for years for a pair and I just didn't want to spend $25-35k on a pair of them considering we have a boat to use. I figure $12k for a pair on a dual trailer with 3yr warranties is cheap entertainment and the depreciation won't be as bad. They're just going to be for cruising around on so we don't need something loaded with bells & whistles.