Couple of observations from this past weekend's Lake Union Boat Show

[Chris R]

First of all...beautiful,typical September day in Seattle on Sunday- 72 and Sunny - had me believing the place would very busy. To be fair, the Sea Hawks were playing San Fran- so that may have contributed to the, seemingly sparse (compared to when I went last year) crowds. No idea what the crowds were like Friday and Saturday.

Very interesting: Olympic (Meridian dealer) was at the show under orders of the bankruptcy court. They had a full suite of boats- all with "liquidation" prices in red on the spec sheets. I looked at one brand new (I believe it was a 511) with a spec sheet of about 750K. They were selling it for 400K. A brand new 391 with upper and lower helm station was selling for 300 even.

I overheard a sales guy for another major brand dealer telling a buddy he had made only one deal all weekend.

Sea Ray display: What a nice change. Don't hold me to this, but I believe every new boat there (except the 55DA) had a sold sticker on it. As we were sitting on the 48 talking to one of the sales guys, he said the boat we were sitting on was bought by a guy that had just bought a new 310 two months before. He also told me they have a new 43 and a new 09 48 with Zeus on the way to the dealership. All seemed bright in Sea Ray land....

 

[Nehalennia]

We were in Roche Harbor, just hanging out, and met a nice guy from Victoria that has a 390DA. We were chatting with him he gave us a tour. twin Cummin's deisels in there and it's in really great shape. I forget the year but he bought it in NY and had it trucked here for a song. He's got My Admiral and I really like that boat. She said that will be a "next step up" size. She doesn't want to do the 'tufutitis' thing. So we'll own this boat for awhile.

 

[Yachtsea]

How far year over year down on attendance would you estimate?

 

[Chris R]

How far year over year down on attendance would you estimate?

Hard to say...I didn't seem like there were as many boats there this year. Again, the Seahawks game may have contributed, but compared to last year, it also just didn't seem to be nearly the same numbers of people attending as in 07.

However, I was a happy for my friends at Lake Union Sea Ray. It appeared they were having a good show.

 

[pacopico]

There was a UW game in town this weekend too...that could have been a factor for slowed attendance.

I will say there was no shortage of boat traffic on Lake Washington this weekend, and Montlake was a zoo both Saturday and Sunday...but I didn't go to the show either.

 

[Chris R]

There was a UW game in town this weekend too...that could have been a factor for slowed attendance.

I will say there was no shortage of boat traffic on Lake Washington this weekend, and Montlake was a zoo both Saturday and Sunday...but I didn't go to the show either.

If with ya on that one....my wife kept reminding me of that all day - being on the water that is.