2023 Seattle Boat Show

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

So 2023 cruising season begins!!!

https://seattleboatshow.com/

[slowgoesit]

Wow, all those exhibitors, and I could only come up with 4 that I was remotely interested in checking out . . .

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Well, save you entry fee then. It is also about atmosphere and just having fun....

[soin2la]

Originally Posted by slowgoesit

Wow, all those exhibitors, and I could only come up with 4 that I was remotely interested in checking out . . .

I've never understood the concept of paying to enter a place where everyone tries to sell you something.

[tiltrider1]

You are paying a small fee so you can gather information in two hours that would otherwise require days and gallons of fuel to acquire.

[GoneFarrell]

I remember going to the Seattle Boat Show in the Kingdome. That was a big deal back then.

Saw my first Sam Devlin Boat there: Czarinna. I was hooked, new drug. Was like first fusion ignition reaction.

[slowgoesit]

Yep, times have certainly changed since the KIngdome shows!

[CharlieO.]

Originally Posted by soin2la

I've never understood the concept of paying to enter a place where everyone tries to sell you something.

Sometimes the cost of entry is worth the access to the "boat show specials", also known as significant cost savings on equipment. And they have stickers!!

[KnotYet]

For this crowd, Anacortes is a better fit just 3 months later:
https://anacortesboatandyachtshow.com

[kthoennes]

Originally Posted by soin2la

I've never understood the concept of paying to enter a place where everyone tries to sell you something.

I think the same thing every time I got to a county or state fair.

[Ron Stevenson]

We don’t sell anything! I speak as the voice of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. We are fortunate to get a “leftover space”, usually in front of a loading door, we usually display a couple mahogany runabouts. This year you will see a 1958 Chris craft “silver arrow “ , their first adventure with a fiberglass decked boat, and tail fins! We will have our kiddy boat there, “Bobber “. Do you remember the one out front of the grocery store that you put a nickel in? Bring your grandkids for a free ride!

[drblank1]

Originally Posted by soin2la

I've never understood the concept of paying to enter a place where everyone tries to sell you something.

I've never paid to get into a boat show. Sign-up on a lot of email and/or VIP lists. Inquire about buying boats from exhibitors prior to the show and they send you free tickets. The wife and I have also been to many after hours private parties.

We don't buy. But its just good FUN.

[Pau Hana]

Originally Posted by tiltrider1

You are paying a small fee so you can gather information in two hours that would otherwise require days and gallons of fuel to acquire.

Exactly! It’s also a voyage of discovery for new products to the market as well as for stuff you didn’t know you needed.

[sjisailor]

Some (including Seattle Boat Show) also have an in-water aspect with new and for-sale boats. Last time we went on many fascinating boats either confirming that they were not for us ... or that we wished we hadn't seen LOL (new Fleming). Great way to tour many real vessels and meet many brokers and manufacturers with virtually zero expectation or pressure.

[Sababa]

I’ve visited both the docks and the exhibit hall now and there wasn’t much to interest me from a trawler perspective.

Most of the boats afloat are go-fast pleasure palaces, many of them with cheesy euro-style interiors full of shoddy join work and sharp corners with no hand holds and lots of fabric upholstery that you know is going to look ratty in a few years. There were boats I just couldn’t figure out like the Greenline and the Apollonian with two big engines and tiny fuel tanks that wouldn’t get you past Nanaimo at their advertised cruising speed. I literally couldn’t get an answer about range from the Greenline rep.

The North Pacific guys had a nice boat for its target use and there was a pretty ten year old Krogan that wasn’t for sale. The Aspen cats are clever and the way Ranger managed to shoehorn a basement with a laundry and a freezer under the hydraulically lifting dinette in their new 43 was impressive, though not impressive enough to overlook the iffy fit and finish and the IPS drives.

The exhibit hall was 95% devoted to ski and fishing boats, personal watercraft, and related kit. Very little to interest a long range cruiser. I see more cool new stuff for our set on an average trip to Fisheries Supply than I did at the show. Latest stabilisation tech, solar and power systems, nav and comm electronics, pick any product category that people tend to chat about on these forums, mostly wasn’t there.

Despite the overall disappointment, I was glad to have the opportunity to make a late entry in the “most creative uses for Mantus rail clamps” that their rep told me about. (See my rescue block and tackle setup below). And I did pry out of the Aspen Cat guy that they have some preliminary drawings for 45 and 50+ foot versions floating around, though no current plans to move to production. So not a completely wasted trip.

[sjisailor]

I went to the floating exhibits today and agree that there was very little for trawler folks. Two American Tug 49s and that was about all (well, and a Fleming 65). Much less than some other years and events. I did enjoy seeing Aspen's new semi-catamaran dinghy.

On the other hand, I also somewhat take that as good news about the strength of the trawler market. There's nothing to show!

I remember in 2019, I think, when the Nordic Tug rep had no boat to show, just a table -- and they haven't been back since, as everything is selling so well. Similarly for KK, Selene, Nordhavn, American Tug, Helmsman, etc -- seems that if they are there at all lately, they have a brokerage boat or an off-market vessel just to be there. I do respect the ones who show up somehow, because it's nice to meet folks.

Still I feel ok about going. Good reason to look forward to Trawler Fest

[Sababa]

I forgot to mention the American Tug 485. I love that boat. Got a tour of one from a couple tied up across the dock from me at Baranof Warm Springs in the summer of 2021. They had a new Nordhavn building and I told them to call me when it was time to unload the tug, but sadly they didn’t follow through. The rep who was on board the show boat knew who I was talking about and said that boat sold within thirty minutes of hitting the dock. Sigh.

[sjisailor]

Agreed about AT 485 (and all their boats for that matter). And one of the two 485s there today was particularly nice in my opinion, with custom finish work and details all around.

One bit of news I got talking with Larry Graf at Aspen is that one of the (thankfully few) remaining supply issues is stainless tubing (rails). Delayed, much more expensive, and also almost all produced outside the US now.

[Sababa]

I think one was actually a 49 and the other (the one I think you liked) was a 485. The 485 has the step up from the pilot house to the boat deck with seating up there aft of the stack. But for this and maybe a few small other nice touches they are the same boat.

[sjisailor]

Oh, right! Got lazy on the models. Specifically one of them said "49 Limited" if I recall (don't know what the "limited" part means, all their boats are more or less made to order, I think. Sounds nice, though )