What's the best thing about the Boat Show?

[zipper]

Anybody been to the show yet? What's the one "Do not Miss" thing this year? Some of us have to wait till the end of the week so dangle some bait out there for us to nibble on 'till we can get our fix! :cheers: zip

[ 01-06-2003, 10:27 AM: Message edited by: zipper ]

[NETONE]

Nothing good about it....No dealer willing to work on price, cost of boats is totally out of control...I am now 500% in keeping my boat and networking to trade off trips for the big sea now...

What a waste of time.....

By the way the cocky attitude of our dealers really is sad.....

[zipper]

Netone. thanks. That's just what I'm wondering about. I have been corresponding with a couple out of the local area dealers and finding them very easy to work with. I will see for myself in a few days! :cheers: zip

[Captn]

cant spell, cant edit, cant delete.

[ 01-06-2003, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: captn ]

[Captn]

Netone, I think you might be reflecting an attitude I got from the Northriver/Almar crew. They did put on a "air" that they were the finest kind.
Anyway, if you are intrested in a cataraft be sure an talk with Don Hill (the drift boat kit guy) right inside the door to your left as you come in. They made me a deal that I could not refuse. Great people to deal with both Don and his sales associate Andy Hardwick. Good people great products, and great prices.

[fishing is life]

just because they wont deal doesnt mean a bad thing. if they wont deal that means that havent jacked their prices up where they have lots of room to deal. sometimes it is better if you dont have to haggle. just like buying a car these days it all about the invoice and how much above or below. i prefer not having to visit every dealer. it's all a net number. some boats will be cheaper in price but there will be a reason and you have to decide whether you want it or not. now if they have a stuffy attitude tell them they are hurting their own cause.

[Pete]

I sure wish they were open earlier than 3 PM during the week.

[BigWaterBigFish]

... like everything, it depends on your attitude ... and how much homework you do ... and buying/owning a boat is just like choosing your spouse/girlfriend ... what turns one man's head, does nothing for someone else ... some of us see the world glass half full and others half empty or spilled on the floor. I'm the kind of guy at the dock who will tell you that I may not have caught a fish that day, but had a great day fishing ... it's all in what you want of something.

After last year's boat show, looking and dreaming and learning alot from the dealers ... I started shopping in earnest. It took a month or so but I finally bought the boat that will do everything for me (used): it 's an 18' Walkaround Cuddy Striper fishing boat. :smile: The dealer that helped me was //edited//. He not only took in a bad trade (Seadoo Speedster that I was upside down in :depressed: ) but in the end, steered me to my own credit union for financing even though he gave up $ from his lender. They have been very helpful in customizing the boat and helping me add a kicker and bow roller for anchoring up. Seaswirl has been great at responding to my e-mails on maintence and electrical questions (I installed VHF and GPS) ... so I toured the factory and sold myself even more that I bought the right boat from me. :smile: :smile: :smile:

I am so pleased with the product and the dealer that I am working the boatshow this year on the weekends ... just answering questions for people and relating all the things and adventures I have had on my boat (fishing offshore for salmon, crabbing in the bays, anchoring up for sturgeon and steelies, camping on weekends, trolling for browns in the Century lakes, jigging for kokes in Billy Chinook ... and water skiing when it get's hot). Like the old car ad used to say, "Ask the Man who Owns One".

When a customer comes in with questions and is looking for solutions to trying to match the right boat to their use and pocketbook, most dealers will do what they can to help. Their business depends on word of mouth and return customers. And most of them are boatowners/sportsmen themselves. When a person comes in who isn't interested in a certain product or out of touch with the realities of the economy but who is more than eager to share his know-all opinions ... graemlins/stupid.gif ... they tend to move away and help those people they can. They also have to make a living ... it's a weekend to you and me so we can stand around and chew the fat ... but time is money for sales people ... they are going to try and meet/greet those folks that might be buyers, not spend time with someone who just want to experience his own self-fulfilling prophecy/opinion.

I did my homework ... shopped around and compared prices ... I also knew the quality of the products and knew what I was willing to pay. Very happy with the boat I have, think the world of my dealer and the service they provide ... and am having a great time meeting people (alot of ifish'ers) and sharing fishing experiences and boating advice. If you go this weekend, stop by and say hello.

One word of advice, Zipper ... they want $2 for a small cup of coffee, $3 or $4 for a hotdog and god knows what for a beer ... so save yourself some $ and bring you're own or eat/drink before you get there. There is also a lack of retailers there for boat / fishing products ... might be the cost of floor space or as one dealer related to me, the internet/catalog sales is really cutting in ... but still lots to see, give yourself at least 3 hours and wear comfortable footwear.

[pdxkevin]

Free tickets (won them off the web).

There was a boat manufac. there out of Vancouver, WA. "Magnum Boats" Anyone heard about them? Great concept, and sturdy construction.

Are they really new? There is nothing on the web about them. They say they get 33% more usable space. The design allows for an extreme amount of flexibility.

Surely, some one in this group knows something about these boats.

[Dr Strangelove]

Yes, the NorthRiver contingent at the Boat Show very well staffed and organized, but not stuffy. I had a good experience. Very knowlegdable, and the best selection of customizable stock boats of any manufacturer there. They spent a lot of money in floorspace. Their prices were very good - a Sportster 175 for the same to $2000 less than I paid for my 1999 last year, to a v8 trapper just over 30,000, these prices are realistic. I do think the drift boats and lake v hulls were overpriced though by ~$1500-2500.

BTW did you guys see the new stern on the Boice's?!!! I had to ask if they came with a datebook and prophylactics. Georgeous.

Doc

[TheRogue]

FISHFINDER and I are taking a ride with Justin Boice on Saturday, going out of Clackamette. Pretty gorgeous boats, and honestly, I believe him when he says they're the best performing boats on the water. But how many of us go full throttle up class III+ rapids all the time?? I think his boats are a little beyond the classic fishing boat that I would want.

Of course, being a former Gold Beach'er, maybe he'll make me a deal that I can't pass up?? (of course, I won't be able to live at my home anymore, because all my clothes will be outside on the lawn :wink: :wink: )

TR

[OldRedSled]

im sorry to say that i have the same experence with the northriver guys. I get nothing but attitude from them at last years boat show and in their show room, its amazing they can stay in buisness!!!!

i was going to go all out last year and get a new boat and i really wanted a 20' open scout BAD. after visiting the showroom with a friend of mine and standing around for 15min (with salesmen sitting around chatting with themselves about somthing) i left infurated :mad: :mad: . They never once asked me if i needed help, and they lost a sale!!

I ended up using my down payment money for a cherry hardly-used 18' Alumaweld C-Dory with yahama prop, best boat i have ever owned; glad i got it. But If i ever do buy a new boat it certianly will not be a north-river.

my two cents graemlins/program.gif

[Tagster]

I want to jump in here and share something that happened to me today.

My surge brakes have been grabbing on me and needed to get looked at. I have a 19' Sportster that I bought new over 2 1/2 years ago from NR in Clackamas.

I dropped it off this morning (I just stopped by Friday and asked if I could bring it by and they were able to work me in even during the boat show). At one o'clock I got a call from their service manager saying that my boat is ready to pick up. When I asked him how much, he told me no charge.

Guys, this is a three year old trailer with a ton of miles going to mountain lakes and saltwater launches...and they still fixed it at no cost? They even know that I am going to buy a sea sport and not a NR for my next boat.

THAT is service.

graemlins/applause.gif

Tag

[ 01-06-2003, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[Alligator]

Tag,

You have hit the nail on the head. It's the service that counts. It doesn't matter which brand of boat you own, the service will get my money every time.

[Sturgeon Tom]

North River
They can't service what they don't sell you. I tried several years ago to buy a boat from them and they didn't have the time to take me for a ride. :depressed: I bought another boat. :grin:
Last mounth I go to them and say I am going to buy a boat and tell them what I want. They say "we're busy now can we call you later. I have never heard from them. :depressed: Do they really care? I don't think the sales people do.

[5-Cents]

Just got back from the show. One thing I found out is that I have a pretty darn nice boat and I am happy with it but my wife decided she liked 31ft Formula Cruiser $200K :shocked: graemlins/1zhelp.gif :shocked: .

Told her to keep dreamin :grin:

BTW dont buy any jerky from the jerky guy he charges $14 a pack :shocked: . What a ripoff (typing this as I am picking $14 jerky out of my teeth, graemlins/stupid.gif hey what is a guy supposed to do when the kids where melting down graemlins/icon_argue.gif )

:cheers:

[Jettin' Fool]

Wow guys, I have never had a problem with NorthRiver. I dealt with Joe and he treated me well.
I have a similiar story as Tagster. My starter went out on me well after the warrenty and they still replaced it NO charge!

I dont know about you but I like it when the salesman dont jump all over you. I like to browse around a bit before the vampires come looking for blood.

Make eye contact and they will come. I will buy another NR and recommend them in a heartbeat.

Fool :cool:

[Fishplay]

[ 02-11-2003, 06:27 AM: Message edited by: Fishplay ]

[pdxkevin]

(Giz edited this post due to unfounded statements)


Are they worth buying? Has anyone looked at them? So far I can't see anyone coming close to their price per linear foot. I want a boat and am getting very tired of sitting on muddy banks.

[ 02-10-2003, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Gizmo Man ]

[fish assassin]

ditto that! Except that there is always something new
and exciting to look at every year (IMHO).

My wife and I spent the afternoon walking around the outside edges
looking at all the *stuff* in the booths ... didn't spend much time
looking at boats with the exception of a couple of larger aluminum boats ...
and that was just for comparison purposes since we are not in the
market for another one (yet). :wink:

The wife really liked some things about the 40' x 12' aluminum
boat that was out toward the center of one hall. I almost had her
convinced that we should have Maxweld build *us* a 40' catamaran ...
then she came to her senses and told me that I couldn't even pay off
the 30 footer we now have ... how the heck was I going to be able
to afford 250K+ for a 40 footer!!

Leave it to my sweety graemlins/hearton.gif to keep everything in perspective!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

-assAssin-

[Stabiman]

Hey all,

If you're over looking look at the Sea Sport boats, I'd like to invite you to come by and take a look at the Stabi-Craft sitting on the corner of their lot (space 820).

You can't miss it... 22' aluminum cuddy hardtop... metallic ruby red in color. And I promise no bad dealer attitude!!

If sleds are your thing... this probably isn't the boat for you. But if you're looking for something to get you offshore, across the bar into the serious deep blue... you should come take a peek at her. She is rough and tough and built for the BAD water!

The Stabi-Craft logo is flying over on the 'Salty Dog' page... if you want more info before you head to the show.

Cheers,
Dan

ps- I'm only there on the weekend... but she is in good hands mid-week. Ask for Jon or Rich.

[Redsidelover]

I thought there were several interesting things at the boat show (I went on Sunday, and yes, the jerky was for those with more money than sense)...

1) The Magnum boat that was on display was very competitively priced, and I liked the bow storage design. After listening to the 12 year old give a pretty good sales pitch, I'm half tempted to take a test ride.

2) I thought the salespeople were very good at the JetCraft, North River and Boise displays. I got offers to test drive from all three.

3) I have a fondness for those 2 ChrisCrafts that managed to find the way into the show. For those seeking the freakshow items, check out the $22,000 upgrade to a 300hp diesel power plant on the 25ft powerboat. Perhaps a harbinger of good things to come for small boating.

4) Stabiman over at the Stabicraft display chatted with myself and two friends about the virtues of ifish. The boat that he mentions is really pretty cool. Good to see you post!

5) Pacific Boatland had the best looking ocean-going salmon snagger I saw; the 22 ft Arima Legend. Swee-eet configuration. A dream boat for next year.

[fishhog1]

Just got home from the show about an hour ago.. The piper cub was cool and the wood boat exhibit was awsome but I did not see a Willie boat. Also I went there looking for the same crab rings I bought at last years show and they were nowhere to be found.I talked with my brothers who were at the show with me and we all concluded that this years show sucked. It was about 1/3 smaller than last years show. Now don't get me wrong we enrolled one of the nephews in the sea scout program and found lots of educational material like we do at all the shows but the bottom line is that this years show is smaller.

[MX man]

Captn???

Your Funny!!! And I laugh

[zipper]

I don't want this one to go away yet so I'm bringing back to the top. Again, let's hear about the highlights and lowlights of the 2003 Boat Show! Or.... is it just the SOS different year? c ya. zip :cheers:

[local_hooker]

I thought it was exactly like the show in 2002 except for one thing.


It was 2003.

[Fishplay]

[ 02-11-2003, 06:28 AM: Message edited by: Fishplay ]

[pdxkevin]

I am seriously considering getting a Magnum built out at 17' to 20'. I love the concept and ruggedness of the craft. My only real hesitation is not being able to find a history on the company, it's reputation, or any reviews (personal or not).

~~~~~~

I don't think I have ever seen an actual Willies boat other than on time. It is my understanding that they do not "do" shows. It is a factory only deal.

~~~~~~~~~

Another observation of the show is that there are no mega-boats at the show. There are a couple large charter-types, but no +50' cabin cruisers. I remember a couple years ago there being some that had walk-in cedar closets! Very cool to walk thtough and dream about winning the lottery. I guess this just isn't the town for that though.

~~~~~~

Not much in the way of accessories either.

Still had fun...