Boat Shows and Photos - Tampa boat show!!!!

I Cant wait, i feel like a kid in a candy store....who is going and have you guys heard anything about what brands are going;?

http://www.tampaboatshow.com/

don't set your hopes too high. this show has gone down hill every year. you can see it all in 30 minutes. this is NOT a manufacturers show, it is a dealer show. and every year less and less dealers show up.,

We will have an Intrepid 327 Open on display at the show. Come by the Quality T-Tops booth to check it out and say hello!

I'm going to go, I'm hoping it's better than the last show at the fairgrounds. I'm in the market for a bay boat, hopefully I can see a few options.

don't set your hopes too high. this show has gone down hill every year. you can see it all in 30 minutes. this is NOT a manufacturers show, it is a dealer show. and every year less and less dealers show up.,

Exactly. The only way I'd attend is with free tickets and if someone paid for my gas to drive there! Head to Ft. Lauderdale in October or Miami in February. Otherwise save your time and money.

Exactly. The only way I'd attend is with free tickets and if someone paid for my gas to drive there! Head to Ft. Lauderdale in October or Miami in February. Otherwise save your time and money.

cool...that means there will be less @$$holes with bad attitudes there. :thumbsup: Have fun in Lauderdale and Miami.

been there , it is a great place , we go every year , and just have a fun day .

I plan on going. I got an email from a World Cat dealer that they will have three boats there. Last I heard from World Cat was they they had not been to the Tampa show for a long time. Maybe its a sign of better shows to come.

We go with the family, make a lunch date out of it and have fun. Ialways get a few ideas on what to spend $ on!

what is the difference between the manufacturer being at the event staffed by their dealers or just the dealers bringing in their boats?

I'm going to stay on my boat next door at the Marriott marina. Looking forward to the show.

Given that last year there were only about 15 boats in water it can only get better.

the Tampa boat show is a shadow of what it once was. I'll pass. Ft Lauderdale boat show for me.

wow this is a big let down for me, i never been to the tampa show just they nyc and miami boat show but thanks for your comments, maybe they see this thread and change things up for the west coast......

Given that last year there were only about 15 boats in water it can only get better.

There will be a lot more than 15 in water boats for this year. Should be a good show.

I was there last year. There were around 25-30 boats in the water.

wow this is a big let down for me, i never been to the tampa show just they nyc and miami boat show but thanks for your comments, maybe they see this thread and change things up for the west coast......

In fairness to the guys I was bashing earlier (I just get tired of everyone being so black and white on this site). This is a MUCH smaller show than what you see in Miami and NYC. BUT...it's fun to get out, see some boats, talk with the local vendors and dealers, and meet other boaters. It's something like $8 to get in, and you get a free magazine subscription. The big boy brand sellers have no issues showing you around their products and talking to you either because it's not to over crowded.

I've made some really fantastic contacts at the Tampa show that have served me well. Get out, have fun...shoot the breeze and have a few beers.

what is the difference between the manufacturer being at the event staffed by their dealers or just the dealers bringing in their boats?The difference between an industry show and a consumer show.

In fairness to the guys I was bashing earlier (I just get tired of everyone being so black and white on this site). This is a MUCH smaller show than what you see in Miami and NYC. Do you mean the show at Javits? The Javits show is a consumer show and takes all of 15 minutes to see everything there is to see. I've never been to the show in Miami but I've always thought Miami is an industry show...not in the same league as the Javits consumer show.

Anyone who has ever been to the Intermot (http://www.intermot-koeln.com/) (the motorcycle industry show in Cologne, Germany) will know what I'm talking about.

Tipsy

cool...that means there will be less @$$holes with bad attitudes there. :thumbsup: Have fun in Lauderdale and Miami.

The Miami Show is certainly the best show in the state, followed by Lauderdale. I've been to a bunch of these smaller shows Tampa, Palm Beach, Sarasota, etc. but have not been since about 2008 when they started on their downturn. I'd rather spend my time visiting one of the manufacture facilities here in the state, so many to choose from and you will learn so much more.

BTW SourDaze, have a drink and relax!!!!! Seems like you are coming off as the @sshole....

It just depends on your expectations... It's not Miami or Lauderdale; it's Tampa. It is much smaller than it was in the mid 2000's, but so are the big ones. I like it for $7 or so. Have a couple beers, check out some boats and chat with some of the other vendors. I go every year and enjoy it.

That said, I live in the Bay area and would not travel a great distance to attend this one.

The Miami Show is certainly the best show in the state, followed by Lauderdale. I've been to a bunch of these smaller shows Tampa, Palm Beach, Sarasota, etc. but have not been since about 2008 when they started on their downturn. I'd rather spend my time visiting one of the manufacture facilities here in the state, so many to choose from and you will learn so much more.

BTW SourDaze, have a drink and relax!!!!! Seems like you are coming off as the @sshole....


I'm sure that's how you see it. If I'm only "coming off" as in @$$hole, I'll definitely try harder to be more clear next time. I was certainly trying for full fledged @$$hole status to match the response from the person I was responding to.

No one is saying that the Miami show isn't the best. The topic of this thread is called, "Tampa boat show!!!!" not..."more old news about a show that's not going to be here for another few months." or "please compare one of the largest shows in the world to my local show and piss on my local show in while doing so."

Anyway, rather than discouraging comments that may keep people away from the show, I think a few people hit the nail on the head. Set expectations for a smaller, local show. Have a few beers, walk around talk to the vendors, and have some fun. It helps the local economy, it helps your local vendors, and it promotes boating. Sounds like a pretty good thing to me.

yea this doesnt do much for me. last year didnt do much either.
I dont need tackle, dont need anything but a new boat and really not looking for a sea hunt, or pathfinder..
Not sure if this was the same show or not, as I go to them all at the fairgrounds... or used to.

This isn't the one at the fairgrounds...

oh so this is the megayacht one downtown - seahunter was there last year? went to that one too, but didnt find anything shocking. mostly production CC's and some high end larger vessels.

I just got back from moving our boat into the show and it seems like it is shaping up to be a pretty good show this year! Some of the brands I saw getting set up inside were Hydra-Sports, Nautic Star, Contender, Edgewater, Everglades, Parker, Sundance, Sea Ray, Sea Hunt, Malibu, Cobalt, Pursuit and Boston Whaler just to name a few. We were one of the 1st to get in there and they had about ¾ more of the show to move in so I’m sure there is going to be a ton more come Friday morning!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/jm19356/IMAG0729.jpg

I plan on going if the EPA lets me (long story, posted in Tampa show thread in Florida section).
If you want to know who will be there take a look at the link posted on the first page, looks like a good way to spend an afternoon to me!

They are staging SOME of the boats outside of my office parkinglot so they can be brought over to the Convention Center. Here's a picture of some of the smaller boats out in the lot. I think Thunder and Sunray? are staging here. The Pursuits used to get staged here also. Don't see them this year.

The difference between an industry show and a consumer show.

so, people don't buy boats or equipment at the miami and ft lauderdale shows, dealers just go and order their inventory? I understand the difference in the two shows. but if someone is looking to buy and does not want to go to three or four dealerships or Manufacters to look at the stand on the perspective boats they are interested in, these shows make sense to me.

I just got back from moving our boat into the show and it seems like it is shaping up to be a pretty good show this year! Some of the brands I saw getting set up inside were Hydra-Sports, Nautic Star, Contender, Edgewater, Everglades, Parker, Sundance, Sea Ray, Sea Hunt, Malibu, Cobalt, Pursuit and Boston Whaler just to name a few. We were one of the 1st to get in there and they had about ¾ more of the show to move in so I’m sure there is going to be a ton more come Friday morning!

John,

Will you be at the show tomorrow? I'll be there in the morning for a few hours walking around and checking things out. I have to meet with a few vendors at the show and stop by and see some of our dealers so I thought I would stop by to say hello if you were going to be there.

Any early reports from the show?

Yeah Frank I will be there most of the day tomorrow! Stop by and say hello!

Guys,

How was the show? Any pictures or reports?

Yeah Frank I will be there most of the day tomorrow! Stop by and say hello!

Will do John! See you tomorrow.

A few asking for show reports, so here's what I saw!

Walking the Docks - Tampa Boat Show 2011 (http://walkingthedocks.blogspot.com/)

I believe Kydyn is a THT member, I think I remember his post when that Andros was new.

I went to the show yesterday,walked in when it opened. There were alot more boats there than last year,especially larger offshore models.Loved the Jupiter 38, a really well thought out design.
One footnote:please leave your kids at home or keep them on a leash, this isn't a playground,and guys try to pretend to be courteous as you practically walk over the women.Tampa has become a third world city, I feel sorry for the vendors,trying to make a living with kids jumping off the seats and slamming lockers, while Dad watches ,thinking"isn't Johnny cute."

Nice report Docks... the LS Contender was interesting.

Posted yesterday on Sea Hunt's Facebook page.

"Tampa Boat Show, oh snap! 17 units sold and 15 demo rides scheduled. Good Job Dealers!"

what is the difference between the manufacturer being at the event staffed by their dealers or just the dealers bringing in their boats?

The difference is that at a "Dealer Show" (like Tampa), display space is purchased by dealer, say "Bob's Marine", and they bring their boats/products. They may be a Pursuit/Grady-White/Cobalt dealer and bring two boats from each manufacture to their display. They may also arrange for a rep from Pursuit to be there, but the staff is from their dealership and you can buy from them right then and there.

At a "Manufacturer's Show" (like Miami), the display space is purchased by the manufacturer. So Pursuit buys space, Fountain buys space, ... and they bring the boats they want to display. The staff is from the manufacturer. With the exception of factory direct companies like SeaVee, Yellowfin, Intrepid... you cannot buy a boat from the manufacturer. However, many of them "arrange" to have some dealers there who will arrange a sale.

The Miami Boat Show is the biggest in the world. The Ft Lauderdale Show is more "big yacht" focused.

The Tampa Show was not bad considering the economy. There were a good number of boats in the water from Galati Yachts and Marine Max, Jupiter was there, BW (Marine Max), Quality Boats (GW and Pursuit), ... Saw the new Intrepid 32 -- Sweet! The one company I'm surprised doesn't show there is Yellowfin. They're just "down the street" in Sarasota and I think it'd be a no-brainer to bring a bay boat and two CC, say a 29 and 34. I guess Wiley doesn't feel it's worth it? ;?


PB

don't set your hopes too high. this show has gone down hill every year. you can see it all in 30 minutes. this is NOT a manufacturers show, it is a dealer show. and every year less and less dealers show up.,

BINGO! You get the prize for the day.

My Sentiments exactly. Total waste.

-T

Prop, I wiish Yellowfin had been present also, that way I could have seen what my 29 will look like when I can afford a used one in ten years. Unless I hit the right 6 numbers and then me and Wiley will be best buds while I camp out front waiting on the new boat to be ready.