Formula at the Atlanta Boat Show
 

I got an email today from Formula that they will have a presence at the Atlanta Boat Show this weekend. That kind of surprised me and I didn't know there was a Formula dealer here but the email listed CareFree Boat sales as the local dealer.

The Atl show has gotten kind of drab but since Formula is there I will go.

Anyone else going to the Atlanta Boat Show?

I am not going to the Atlanta show but I am going to the Cleveland show on Saturday because Formula is going to be there. We don't have many of them around here.

I bet all you will find from Formula are cruisers. I will be at Cleveland too but not expecting to see any go fasts.

Padraig

AF- I consider that to be a very accurate & factual statement!

The Formula email specified one SS and two bow riders for the show here. If that has anything to do with market then I guess that is us. No go fast of course and that has been a let down for me here for years.

Im guessing if there are only cruisers for your show then it is marketing.

I did the show today. The Formula email, as I think of it, was also a piece of marketing. I was glad they were at the show and I also learned they are marketing a new approach to sales for the under 30' boats through the "CareFree Boating Club." Interesting angle that I think should produce more exposure to boaters and availability for checking out boats so maybe that will help Formula get back to 100%. Since the market crash they laid off workers to keep the doors open and according to the Formula sales guy they are still only at 50% with employees.

Saw some new designs in the pontoon/deck boat concepts and thought a lot more people should have been there like Mercury Marine for one. The presence at the shows seems only geared for sales and not for industry exposure. I used to go to the boat show and all the power builders were there, electronics builders were there, all forms of boating were there and now just brochures and a couple reps.........too lame. I understand the economy is down but that does not negate marketing in my mind. At least have a small booth or display with a large flat screen to show power and products etc because that is what people come to see. A table with brochures just doesn't cut it in my book.

The Cleveland show didn't have any FasTech boats either. 24, 27, 31 foot bowriders, the 350 CBR, a 40 FX8, and a 34PC. Nice boats though .

Couldn't ask about the business. They were really busy, like bouncers at a club letting 1 off and 1 on.

Cleveland was a Very boring show. No go fasts and lack of vendors. I guess I am old but remember when you walked the aisles and saw dozens of vendors selling fenders, lines, anchors, radios, GPS, etc. Now you see bath fitters, gutter guard and basement water proofing! WTF are they doing at a so called boat show?

Padraig

Yup, thats why we don't bother anymore, used to go overnight and have a blast, then do a day trip to TO, don't do either anymore, It was one thing when the go-fast left, but when all the "fun" accessories/nick/knacks, cool new products vendors started disappearing we gave it up

Hey Sam, is the club doing anything at the Buffalo show?

Padraig

pretty sure we will have a booth with video's and info going again, we have many new members since we started doing the boat show, hopefully they put us bye the beverage center again:ernaehrung004:

I learned a couple of things at the show even though many major producers in the marine industry who usually attend were MIA!!!! :mad::mad: That stuff really pizzes me off. :mad::mad: This is a boat show for crying out loud and a lot of the major players are not there.
At previous shows here we had mercury racing with power and displays as well as other builders and mfgrs. Now I was told that there were a couple of Mercury reps at the show but I didn't run into one. The shows have dwindled due to the economy and vendors of any kind are cutting costs and since Key Bank is not backing floor plans and shows nobody is going; it sucks.
Since Formula emailed and said they were going to be there I went. One thing I learned is that Formula is marketing sales through the CareFree Boating Club. Seems like a good way to get people exposed, set the hook and put them in a boat. I had not heard of this boat club but it is in many places nationwide and growing. The Formula factory guy said that this market idea is a focus on the under 30' boats since they are doing well on orders at the factory for 30' and up.


The other thing I saw was the Caravelle Razor and I-Toon. A new wild concept of blending a pontoon upper with a cat and semi-V fiberglass lower offered as a pontoon class option. I don't care for a pontoon myself for the poor handling issues but this new lower design caught my interest. IT is supposed to be stable where a pontoon is stable but nimble like a v hull boat and still agile for water sports. The price tag seemed low enough to easily fit in a brand new purchase with a packaged 150HP eggbeater. Kind of cool for a pontoon boat and easy price.

Also there is going to be a Formula rendezvous here in Atlanta on Lake Lanier the first week in May. That is awesome. Now I am going to be crammed to get my services done by that time since I am still in a class at that time. Hopefully I will make it and meet more Formula guys here.

Aqua- empty out your pm box

Thanks, just realized that, done.