SeaRay at the Annapolis Boat Show

B

BryanOnTheBay

Member
Oct 6, 2013
540
Edgewater, MD
Boat Info
"Havana Crush" - 1998 270 Sundancer
Engines
7.4L Mercruiser MPI Bravo III Outdrive
The program lists SeaRay corporate as exhibiting. Do we know who will be working it? Will Captain Rusty be there? (Fingers crossed) So, what is the word?

Bryan
 
Sea Ray lately has had Clarks Landing bring up whatever boats they have laying around to the show. It is a pretty weak showing typically, vis-a-vis the breadth of the Sea Ray line. But Sea Ray is not alone. It looks like Sea Ray (and a lot of other "big" manufacturers) are moving away from Annapolis and focusing more on Ft. Lauderdale which is few weeks later. For example all the major sport fish lines (Egg, Ocean, Viking, Hatteras) and most of the motor yachts and big trawlers have disappeared from Annapolis. There are a few exceptions of companies filling this void, mostly the newer Euro brands.

If you want an Euro boat, express cruiser, center console fishing boat or a new dinghy, then Annapolis is the show for you!

This is not bitching or bashing, it is what it is. And I'm sure there is evidence to support that more serious big boat buyers go to Ft. Lauderdale than Annapolis. I know I would if I were ready to stroke a check for a big, shiny new ball of depreciation I would go to Fort Lauderdale in October or Miami in February. :)

All this said, I will be there! I just can't stay away.
 
Converse48 said:
Sea Ray lately has had Clarks Landing bring up whatever boats they have laying around to the show. It is a pretty weak showing typically, vis-a-vis the breadth of the Sea Ray line. But Sea Ray is not alone. It looks like Sea Ray (and a lot of other "big" manufacturers) are moving away from Annapolis and focusing more on Ft. Lauderdale which is few weeks later. For example all the major sport fish lines (Egg, Ocean, Viking, Hatteras) and most of the motor yachts and big trawlers have disappeared from Annapolis. There are a few exceptions of companies filling this void, mostly the newer Euro brands.

If you want an Euro boat, express cruiser, center console fishing boat or a new dinghy, then Annapolis is the show for you!

This is not bitching or bashing, it is what it is. And I'm sure there is evidence to support that more serious big boat buyers go to Ft. Lauderdale than Annapolis. I know I would if I were ready to stroke a check for a big, shiny new ball of depreciation I would go to Fort Lauderdale in October or Miami in February. :)

All this said, I will be there! I just can't stay away.
Click to expand...

I've never been to FLIBS. I'd love to go just to ogle. Then I'd leave South Beach and go to the boat show!!!!:smt043 From what I understand, FLIBS takes several days to do and several boat bucks just to attend even if you don't buy anything. Obviously the players are there to buy and sell so I wonder if the expense would be worth it.
 
The SeaRays are always from Clark's Landing. The Annapolis show is their "territory" for a boat show. I looked at the list and didn't see any of their bigger boats that will be on display.

On a side note, Marine Max Baltimore invited me to see their Azimut's on display and to discuss SR as well. They technically won't be displaying SR, but they'll sell you one if you want it.
 
Miami boat show bucks are more costly than Ft. Lauderdale boat show bucks. FWIW. $6.00 bottle of water for instance....
 
As suspected, Sea Ray's showing was weak, with a capital W.

That said, however, Sea Ray--- and some of their fine yachts and sport yachts--- was very well represented at "Brokerage Cove" which, as the name suggests, was a dock away from the main dock with brokerage boats on it. You had to take a water taxi to get there, but there were several 48DBs, and several 52DBs, a 56DB and the ever-elusive 54 Cockpit Motor Yacht, which I had never seen before. Not sure what I think of that one...

There was also a bitchin' 64 Nordhavn for a cool 2.7mil. What a ship! Very proper.

The ride home on Sunday was a tad choppy (!) but overall it was worth the trip. Got to see some good friends and some great boats!
 
Converse48 said:
As suspected, Sea Ray's showing was weak, with a capital W.

That said, however, Sea Ray--- and some of their fine yachts and sport yachts--- was very well represented at "Brokerage Cove" which, as the name suggests, was a dock away from the main dock with brokerage boats on it. You had to take a water taxi to get there, but there were several 48DBs, and several 52DBs, a 56DB and the ever-elusive 54 Cockpit Motor Yacht, which I had never seen before. Not sure what I think of that one...

There was also a bitchin' 64 Nordhavn for a cool 2.7mil. What a ship! Very proper.

The ride home on Sunday was a tad choppy (!) but overall it was worth the trip. Got to see some good friends and some great boats!
Click to expand...

I found the show to be weak overall this year. Maybe it's me, but it seemed like fewer boats.
The Clarks Landing SR display was very weak and the boats they stock are very stripped down. Stop by PWM sometime and see the difference in how they stock boats.

My favorite boat of the show was a 2015 Azimut Magellano 53.
http://www.azimutyachts.com/azimutmagellano53.html
I never thought I'd like the Magellano line, but after stepping aboard this boat I really like it. It was a Marine Max boat and it was fully loaded, including almost every option and a KVH HD7 dish. This boat has the range to cruise from DC to Florida on one tank of fuel! (albeit at 8knots) The bow seating area on this boat is awesome.
 
Ryan-
I was all ready to fall in love with the Magellano... I think that is one sharp boat. The admiral vetoed it as soon as we set for on it. She said it felt "cold and impersonal". So I can scratch that one from my list. But it is a very cool looking boat.
 
Converse48 said:
Ryan-
I was all ready to fall in love with the Magellano... I think that is one sharp boat. The admiral vetoed it as soon as we set for on it. She said it felt "cold and impersonal". So I can scratch that one from my list. But it is a very cool looking boat.
Click to expand...

I've never liked the Magellano line until I got a chance to step on board. I've been on Azimut's flybirdge and S line boats up to 84', but the Magellano felt like a boat you could get on and cruise for weeks at a time.

The headroom in the staterooms was incredible for a boat of this length. I was impressed.
Now I just need to find the money to pay for this beast. ;-)
 
SR did not impress with their display. My favorite was the Princess 56 Flybridge, man that is a nice boat!
 
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jrirvine1 said:
The Fleming stole the show. No need to look at anything else.
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The Flemings are beautiful, but I see them every time I take my boat out as my Marina is across the street from the dealer, and the channel runs right in front of the Flemings.

I personally was impressed with the Vanquish offerings, especially the 24' inboard picnic boat.

My favorite at the show had to be the Palm Beach 45. I was very impressed with the design and craftsmanship, though keeping up with the teak would take a full time hand just for that.

But out I agree, the show seemed weak. I went to buy with money to spend, and came away with a clear vinyl cleaner/restorer system for $50. It did a great job on the side curtains that the PO just found, that had been stored dirty for years. We will see how it does next spring when they go on the boat.

Bryan
 
Do Over said:
care to share that restorer/cleaner system with us?
Click to expand...

Eisen Shine

http://eisenshine.com. It got a Practical Sailor Editor's Choice award, and those guys are more skeptical than Consumer Reports. They won't recommend anything unless it works for a reasonable price. That is why I took the chance on it.

Bryan
 
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