Seattle Boat Show, Opening/VIP night

[Chris R]

Wow, Lake Union Sea Ray did a masterful job of getting almost every boat they have into Qwest Event Center. They even brought all the big boats in, including the 55DA and the 60 foot Meridian (they now carry that line as well).

I have to say, the Meridian bridge boats are very well done- and priced very well to boot.

I have mixed feelings about the 43. It is a very well built boat with tons of quality and detail. Open the small cabinets throughout the boat, and other related small details, and it is all very high quality. All the wood work is over the top, thick heavy and finished to perfection. I'm just not a fan of the layout, especially when compared to the 48.

All in all, a very nice evening.

A few photos:

Overview of the Sea ray display:

The 43 DA:

43 DA Zeus drive as viewed though the mirror on the floor

43 DA

43 Helm Seat in fully raised position (note how high it is):

"DougBB" from CSR and his wife in the 48DA

55DA

55DA

 

[The Bill Collector]

Looks great Chris.... Thanks for the scoop, we are headed to the show next Wednesday.

 

[999ghosts]

Thanks for the photos! I'm looking forward to experiencing the show next weekend. Does attendance seem down compared with last year? Attendance at the Portland OR show was down -- very few lines to view boats + several boat manufacturers were not present.

 

[Nehalennia]

Hey Chris,
It was great to meet you and your wife Trisha.
I also liked the 430DA and the 480DA. Since the 43 has the Zeus and the 48 has inboards the 43 was priced slighty more than the 48 hovering the $750,000 mark. Both beautiful boats.
I really liked the space on the 48 and Mo really liked the 2 twin beds in the mid-cabin.

Well either way, that's way out of our price range and we're hoping that Nehalennia will get us out there a few more years.

The 340DA has always been a perenial Dream Boat.. but since it's no longer...oooo dare to dream. The 350DA I also really liked, and feel replaces the 340DA nicely....but either way....a lot o' $$$$

 

[Chris R]

Good meeting you as well Todd! Trish and I went back to the show today to see all the vendors, since they weren't open on Thursday night. We were about to climb aboard the 43 whenI said, "hey, I know that face." Of course, it was from Todd. The only place I've ever seen "that face" was here on CSR. Our wives chastized us both for being "addicted" to CSR.

Anyway, by the time we left the show today around 2:00 it was getting pretty busy. One of the guys from Lake Union said they have had a lot of traffic and made some sales already. This is day two. I did see one couple signing a deal on the 350. I had to wait for them to finish up before I could talk with the guy I know from the dealership. Rumor had it there were two more orders for the same, similarly equipped boat.

All in all, a nice show.

 

[Nehalennia]

Good meeting you as well Todd! Trish and I went back to the show today to see all the vendors, since they weren't open on Thursday night. We were about to climb aboard the 43 whenI said, "hey, I know that face." Of course, it was from Todd. The only place I've ever seen "that face" was here on CSR. Our wives chastized us both for being "addicted" to CSR.

Anyway, by the time we left the show today around 2:00 it was getting pretty busy. One of the guys from Lake Union said they have had a lot of traffic and made some sales already. This is day two. I did see one couple signing a deal on the 350. I had to wait for them to finish up before I could talk with the guy I know from the dealership. Rumor had it there were two more orders for the same, similarly equipped boat.

All in all, a nice show.

That couple I believe was the ones looking at the 310 when we went aboard and I told them they needed to look at the 350DA.
Steve T, was working with them I believe.
I want a commission.

 

[999ghosts]

So, compared with last year, is attendance down?