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

3pointstar

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

3pointstar

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.

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.

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.