Boat Show, 2003 ...

[fish assassin]

Went to the opening weekend of the Boat Show yesterday (Sunday),
managed to get out of there only fifteen hundred smackers lighter!
That's a bit better then the last time I went ... for the 2000
Boat Show. That one caused me to have a new boat built!


Good show (IMHO). Try to make it if you can!

-assAssin-

[PeterMac]

All the info is in............... my winner is the 24' Sea Sport Explorer . What an awesome boat. I think I'm in love..... [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]
PeterMac

[Pitch Pocket]

It's been everything I expected and more....

[edsr]

O.K. FA
Fill us in on the gory details what did you get, come on fess up. Oh, does your wife know?

I went to the show Sunday but it only cost me $85.00 for a new EZ anchor puller.

I was hoping to see a larger selection of electronics stuff to get some comparison features and prices, but was a bit disappointed with the number of exhibitors. Guess I'll have to wait for the sports and fishin show.
edsr

[PeterMac]

Pitch, wow, that is low profile for such a big boat, it is hard to really tell when they're on a trailor, etc. It is amazing how much room that 24'er has. Looks like you have the extended cabin with the full head, yes?

I hope that they don't get too far out of reach by the time that I can afford one :depressed: .

PeterMac

[fish assassin]

edsr:

Gory details?? Weren't no TUNA there, so no gore!

Actually, my wife and I spent a little time at the Rodgers Marine
booth looking at radar. I've been buying my electronics from an
online store called "Premier Marine Electronics" located on the web at: http://4marine-electronics.com/search/
The Rodgers show prices were actually below the on-line catalog
prices (with shipping) on many items, so I finally broke down and
got a radar ... been wanting one for a long time.

Furuno 1712. 24 Mile. 18 inch, 2kw dome. $1512. Monochrome (kinda).
7 inch screen.

YES! My wife DOES know I bought it. She was the one that pushed
me into the purchase. Doesn't want me running blind in the
fog/low light conditions in a six ton metal box!

The added benifit for me is that I'll be able to reach out and find
TUNA town a little easier now!!

-assAssin-

The wife made it clear to me that I was *NOT* going to bring home
another boat from the boat show this year ... so I had to improvise
and came home with a radar instead!!

[Pitch Pocket]

PeterMac, yes it has the extended cabin (explorer rather than XL) with head. Wife and daughter's prerequisite.

It is lower than most cabin boats. The step down into the cabin brings the roof down. The result is less "sail" than others.

Other cabin boats I've seen don't step down as far and have rod storage under the floor, one thing the SS doesn't have.

For winter fishing, I wish I'd have added the diesel stove for heat at anchor. The cabin keeps the rain and wind off, but it is still cold and you can't run a propane heater in the cabin without fear of CO poisoning. Let's see, TR-1 or diesel stove......... I think I'll choose the TR-1 and wear insulated underware and a hat.

[Pitch Pocket]

Assassin, I have the Furuno 1722 C (same unit except with color). Did you get the heading sensor? Nice feature with the overlay (radar on plotter). It took me a while to figure out how to use it, but once I got over the learning curve, it's not so bad. I've used it more than once in Astoria in the fog.

[Tagster]

Marty, Ron said to say hi to you for him.

I made it out of the show w/o pulling the trigger. Unfortunately, the show runs through next weekend as well.

Tag

[Fishplay]

Hey Pitch,
Check out the black cat propane heater by coleman. It's designed for inside use. If your still uneasy you can pick up a 12V co detector at a RV store.
You can read the reveiw yourself here
web page

You no longer need to freeze in your caddy.

[fish assassin]

Originally posted by Pitch Pocket:
Assassin, I have the Furuno 1722 C (same unit except with color). Did you get the heading sensor? Nice feature with the overlay (radar on plotter). It took me a while to figure out how to use it, but once I got over the learning curve, it's not so bad. I've used it more than once in Astoria in the fog.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">In a word, no. I've never had any trouble getting in to anyplace
I needed to be just using my plotter ... the radar is just a toy to
me now. I'll probably upgrade in a few years when I figure out how
nice it is to have radar. That's how it's always happened for me
with electronics ... get a basic unit, figure out how to use it,
then take the next step up to the "big boy toys".

-assAssin-

[Pitch Pocket]

Thanks for the tip fishplay. I'll check it out.

Assassin, I wondered about how practical it was when buying the thing. It came clear on a trip back to Hammond from outside in absolute pea soup. Plotter would have got me there, but the overlay allowed me to watch the radar at the same time and see a boat on full step coming right at me from several hundred yards out. I moved, he didn't.

You can do the same thing by paging back and forth from radar display to plotter (plotter/radar/plotter/radar.....), or better yet having two displays (mo money, but defeats the purpose of the compact display).

Save your nickles, it's coming.

[fish assassin]

PP,

One of the reasons I wanted a stand-alone radar is so if the GPS
goes down for any reason, I've got some other reference points to go
by. I've presently got a gps/fishfinder combo and kind of wish I'd
stuck with seperate displays for these because when one goes
down (as it did this past season) they are both out.

-assAssin-

[skein]

I can't get to the show until next Saturday, but the good part is I'm going with a friend who has MONEY IN HIS POCKET! He is thinking seriously about a SeaSport, and I wonder if the boat show is the best place to deal - especially for someone ready to buy. Do you tend to get the best deals at the show or at the dealership later? Thoughts?

No, the friend isn't me in disguise.... :depressed:

Skein

[Popeye]

Skein,
I've always found the boat shows the cheapest, especially the last day or two
PS did you ever get ahold of my brother?

[ 01-07-2003, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Popeye ]

[skein]

Thanks, Popeye, and yes, we traded a couple of emails and I'm gonna stop and see him next time I'm in Reedsport/North Bend. Sounds like he's tearin' up the sand dunes. Thanks for getting him my email.

Skein

[Stabiman]

Skein-

While you're over looking at the Sea Sports... come down the steps and take a look at the 22' Stabi-Craft on the corner of their space.

I remember you were asking about the ACB a few weeks ago. Well, Stabi-Craft is the originator of this hull design and have been building them for 15 years down in New Zealand.

In addition to being a great offshore/bluewater boat that will get you out to the Tuna hole... they're also a great dive boat. Nice and stable... easy to get in and out of.

So come and have a look... I think you'll like what you see. As an added bonus, you can tow this 22' boat with a small SUV or truck... it only weighs 3000lbs fully loaded!

Cheers,
Dan

[skein]

Dan,

You can count on it! I'll be the one with the Ifish cap on.

Really, I have every intention of crawling all over your boat - and one of these days, I'll be the one with money in my pocket. See ya at the show.

Skein

[Tilla]

My wife liked the Sea Sports better than the Sea Rays!! Ya gotta like that!
As usual the Stevens guys were too busy talking amongst themselves to help many customers.