Have large-scale boat shows outlived their purpose? https://speedonthewater.com/the-dinosaur-of-miami/

$500,000 entry level boats, sheesh...that's why there's like 13 members on this site that post anymore compared to earlier times

first, look at the history of the boat shows. they came about at a time when you had one or two dealers near you so you had to do a lot of traveling to see all that was out there. there also was no internet so in person or if a magazine covered the boat you were interested in that was all the options.
second, it was an experience back in the day. you saw boats from all over that may or may not have representation in your area or even your corner of the country/world. now you can hop on the internet and see hundreds of pictures of any boat offered any where in the world. if you decide to get serious one call or click of the mouse and you can set up an appointment to see it and have a one on one experience with the dealer or seller.
last, what is the turnout the last couple years both in terms of builders/dealer and potential customers (real ones). the cost to go to the show is way more than people think once you add in travel, show space and all the crap they tack on, employee time away from work, etc. it adds up to you having to sell a few boats to recoup the cost and be back to even.
is it really worth it in these days and times. not to me but that is just my $.02 worth and with the penny going away it is worth less now.

Couldn't agree more. We stopped doing poker runs because all the high dollar boats got all the dock space while us middle class folks had to dock on the concrete break walls, times will change, sure, but I can't see how the current times are good for the sport as a whole, And God do I miss seeing big blocks and raw horsepower in this sport....

i agree with blown hammer we old school hot rodders are being pushed out of the poker runs the bling new center consuls get all the docks and i had to raft out 5 boats deep try getting to your boat after the evening dew sets in trying to climb over the stern of 4 other very slippery boats and we all paid the same entry fee!

I read the article as the hall itself is old as schit and doesn't do anything for the boats that are showcased in it. Everything expensive and flashy Miami, including all it’s boats running around , is not including the building(s) the shows are at.

Maybe i shall re-read the article

I couldn't agree more.
btw I haven't given up on mine.😎

^^^^🤤🤤🤤 beautiful!!!

No sir, you are correct. That's how I read it too, my response was to Indy's post, guess I kinda curve balled Matt's post, was not my intention

I refuse to conform! No CC and no outboard cat for me. 😂😂😂