God bless you man!!! I folded like a lawn chair 2 years ago and went CC, yeah they are nice, but I missed the sound and speed immediately, been sniffing around for a replacement since......

The Chicago Boat show kept getting smaller and smaller , then moved to the suburbs and it`s not so great but still something to do in January .
The $hitcago car Show used to be much bigger too , to really check everything out you needed 2 days. This year we walked thru it in a few hours.
Poker runs Like Boyne cater to the big money. I get it but if you`re not a baller you get some crappy docks, all the bathtubs get the best spots.

After 12 years of constant wrenching, rebuilding motors, etc etc I don`t know how I`m still in it, .... and still working on big blocks but here I am doing the same thing and expecting a different result.:bong:
Just can`t swing a OB cat.

100% true & sad!

Thistank
:ernaehrung004:

SPOT ON TRUE 100% still have 2x big blocks avoiding all runs except good ones:ernaehrung004:

Kuttawa Cannonball Run, Rock the River, LEOPA Thunder run are all runs that have the latest "Hardware" as well as have cool old school Big block powered boats. entry fees aren't thought the roof you should check them out!

I completely agree with Indy. I've been on here per my badge 20 + years now, A LOT has come, gone and changed. I remember this was the first site I clicked on every morning, looking at all the different Owners Forum posts, learning things, shooting and talking smack was fun. Now we rely on what...maybe one or two threads with something posted in the owners section, hoping Phil has something in Skater to see pix of rebuilding... hell, thank God for Tank always posting pix lol.

I am not a rich man by any means but there was a time I could afford to have the truck, boat and cool stuff that went with it. But like others have said the $500K "entry" level boat has taken me completely out of the market. I get the outboard craze but man, they are all the same really, not a lot of "man that is sweet" factor stuff anymore. Sure everything is cool but all CC's seem the same and cats seem the same just like every 38 top gun is the same but it was the comradery just like the Baja days, yes, Baja days where 90% of us probably cut our teeth and helped make the site(s) what they are. Remember Teambajamarine.com....those were some fun times lol!

Anyway, I lurk, don't post much because I don't have a dog in the hunt but retirement is my focus now. Then I can get a HCB or Yellow Fin and retire in Costa Rica in 10-12 years.... Wish we could get some more of that kind of publicity on the site since the CC craze is still what it is.

Agree, those are fun runs.

just my $.02, I just to look forward to the boat show season every year and always went to at least 2. There used to be so much to look at, new innovation, etc. Now there are so very few performance boats made, so few manufacturers and basically nothing to see. How many center consoles can you look at, especially when that's not your thing. There really isn't a whole lot for the common man in the go fast world anymore. Hell, even bowriders are $200K and up now! I really miss the days of Baja, Checkmate, Fountain, Scarab, etc. And you had 4-Winns Liberator, Chaparral Villain, Chris Craft Stinger, etc. Those were the days!

In my opinion, this type of show is dead, they just do not know it yet. As a consumer, I have been twice in the past 7 years. When it comes down to what I am interested in looking at (performance boats and accessories) both times I left wanting more. Between my first show and my last show (last year) there was enough of a drop of what I am interested in looking at that I will not be back. I may be spoiled, because at Lake of the Ozarks there are several dealers that. combined, seem to show more performance boats that the entire Miami show, and this does not include the boats on the water and at the docks. If truly a buyer a trip to LOTO could be less expensive and more beneficial than Miami.

From a dealer perspective, I cannot even imagine the cost, when all of the expenses are factored in (let alone the human resources). It is my bet that most "boat show sales" are sales that had already been lined up, but were signed up at the show. It seems like a strong social media presence, a good poker run schedule, and top notch showroom with good inventory could have a better ROI than the big shows. By attracting consumers to the dealership you have better control and the consumer has a far better experience.

On the upside, Miami has the weather when those of us up north are tired of the cold!

I know little of the boat industry, so this opinion is probably worth what you paid to read it!