So who all went to the Chicago boat show this past weekend??
Im not sure about anyone else but I was very disapointed. I felt like it was much smaller and boring than last year.
They also need to get more performance boats in there. Fountain only had 2 boats. woo hooo.

Hey...there were 3 Fountains! Behind the clothing rack there was a fish boat w/triple 300s. I made the same mistake! Only saw the 48 and the 47!

What percentage of the boating market is really PERFORMANCE-oriented? I don't believe it's really that large...companies are going to show what they think is gonna sell...i.e. runabouts and pontoon boats and pwcs and cruisers.

We were dissapointed in last years numbers in terms of performance builders being represented. Figured this year would be even worse.
Not the same show it used to be.

Cig, Donzi, Fountain, Formula, Checkmate, and Baja were all represented there, albeit in relatively small numbers. Sunsation was not there this year as they no longer have a dealer in the vicinity (the podunk Clinton dealer they used last year totally blew the display), PQ is still not making boats, Black Thunder was AWOL, and Eliminator was a no show. Can't think off the top of my head what other performance dealers they used to have in the past that are no longer showing up. If you were looking for a baby poop colored Cobalt yacht this was the show to attend. The new Merc Zeus system they had on it looked like a cheap hooker next to Volvo's IPS that was on a Formula yacht.

Kudos to Shogren for bringing babes. The 47 lightning wasn't too shabby either.

Me (after buying Chicago Powerboat Club tank top for a girl I'm seeing: ) "Yeah... She's not really happy that I'm getting a boat. I keep telling her that girls don't like boats."

Shogren girl: "You could take them fishing."

Me: "I'm not buying a fishing boat?"

Shogren girl: "But girls like to fish."

Me: "Uh, OK."


The 38 Gun was awesome... It's what whatever boat I buy wants to be when it grows up. LOL.

Go to Miami International Boatshow. Just allow 3 days for viewing.

I wasn't real impressed. Every year less and less performance boats.

Got to talk Fountains with Scott Shogren and talk Cigs and Donzis with Mark Miller of GSC...
My buddy wanted to make a deal on a 353 Formula but got the run around.

I tell ya, after walking around looking at some of the prices, I quickly remember why I like the old school 80's boats so much! Nothing against checkmates, I always liked them, but I just couldnt swallow a "boat show price" of 160k for a 30ft production boat with black motors.

Amen. A day at the convention center, a day at the on-water location, and a day to revisit things you missed the first two days at both locations. Best show I've ever been to. Can't wait to get back there in '09.