Back in the day, clubs and shows were a very key part of allowing folks of like minds to gather toge

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As we hit the the peak of boat show season last weekend, we looked back on the summer of fantastic boat shows that we have gone to date. And one thing hit us. The cost! We figured that for every show we go to, the cost came out to around $1,500 a weekend, depending on the show. Ya figure Gas, hotel, meals and more gas.. Now, if you include airfare, and car rentals, it can climb up very fast a spouse and add about 50% more. Now if you are only going to one or two shows a year, these costs are very reasonable and OK for a fun get away weekend. To be fare, the show it s self is usually west palm beach hotels 15 bucks, and if you want to enter a boat. Another $75 or so. Nothing earth shattering. It s the hidden costs that eat ones wallet. NOW.. if you are bringing a boat to the show.. you can add another chunk of change. So why do a story like this? Why remind folks that it costs them money to go to a show? Because in the end, it aint a show if there are not any boats. The truth is, it s a bitch to put on a show, lots of thankless hours of volunteer work, and preparation. But if some guy does not bring his boat to the show, it s all meaningless. Take this past weekends show in Clayton. Not one of there banner years. As one reader said, there were more boats in the auction than at the docks maybe not true, but close enough west palm beach hotels that there is a point there. So why? Are shows down this year?  Yes.. We would guess from going to the shows.. About 10%-20% down.. Is it just gas, costs as mentioned west palm beach hotels above ? Actually, we don t think so.. Maybe its all the stuff added up? Or is it that boat shows are becoming irrelevant? And yes I had to look up irrelevant! Anyway.
We noticed this year that certain shows were up surprisingly! Certain events had more action and fun associated with them. Tahoe with its extreme focus on Rivas, Lake Mohawk, and its focus on fun and visiting a new location. This was the second year of Lake Mohawk. west palm beach hotels And is about double from last year. A fun small Lake with insane high quality boats . Now, one could say the first year was small because it was new.. Right, but it grew.. LIFE! Folks like a gathering of like minded folks. west palm beach hotels So maybe its the way shows are perceived . Here is a possible explanation. And its not about age.
Back in the day, clubs and shows were a very key part of allowing folks of like minds to gather together and meet. In fact it was the only way. So a local and national event was more than looking at boats and talking to fellow west palm beach hotels classic boaters. It was the only way to meet and share information. Well.. Mr I am reading this today.. Things have changed. No longer do we need to meet in or on a specific location and date. We can sip our java and talk with chums as far away as New Zealand in a second. I can see more boats than Chris Smith did in a lifetime of making boats. So going to a show is not important anymore. It s fun.. A transference from need to fun has happened over the past 10 years. Now with that observation, I would say that the folks that are showing up are doing it to have fun! To take there boats out on the water, and not feel like they are the only ones that smell gas all time, or that the 1 gallon of water in the bilge is normal. And yes.. TO SMELL THE VARNISH! To touch and see wonderful craftsmanship in person. To be with others to test the waters so to speak. many of us, are new to this. We were 5 when our dads sold the old Woody.. So really and honestly, staring at a boat at a dock, aint why we are at a show. This isnt rocket science. It s marketing, it event planning and its promotion. Not about money or the price of fuel. We would love to know your thoughts on this. From folks that put on local shows and what you have seen succesful and not! Thanks from the team at Woody Boater.
No time to go to shows. Work comes first. The $1500 plus made at work after life s expenses goes to my annual time at The River when I can finally use my boats. Lyman Heaven. Try not to miss me while I am gone.
remember when you didnt have to regester for a show ahead of time you could just show up you cant tell what the weather will be three weeks from now and they didnt charge you 50.00 if your not a member of acbs or 30.00 if you are why the extra juist because you chose not to join their club and justify it by giving you a goodie bag full of advertising stuff they get for free local merchants used to chip in for a few awards and i think things were a lot better with this system west palm beach hotels 50.00 is not going to make or break ya but why should you have to pay to show your boat you are doing them a favor by bringing your boat to their show the acbs turns it into a business
So often, get the boat in the water and tied up at the dock by 9:00am, the. It has to stay there all day, when you get to go for a brief cruise, before the mad rush to the ramp to pull the boat out. That just isn t any fun.
It s also a lot more fun, if you can come and go all day, and provide an opportunity to take spectators out for a ride. This is a great way to introduce new people to the joys of woody boating, and grow the community. (as a matter of fact, this is how I got hooked on woodies)
Lastly, as someone else mentioned, I m more likely to decide to go to a show (with a boat) if I can make that decision at the last minute. The weather in so much of the country is just too iffy most of the time, I don t want to take the time and spend the money to stand around in the rain
The actual cost of the show is usually not significant, whether it be entry fee for a boat or a pass for a spectator. Our little show at Sicamous was down a couple of boats, but mostly because west palm beach hotels of last minute breakdowns or other unavoidable problems. The spectator count was at least what it was last year, likely more.
We went to the Sandpoint, ID. show in July and they had a record turn out for boats and the usual heavy crowds. I think people still like to get out and enjoy looking at boats, expecially the casual spectator who does not get to see them all the time, as we hobbyists do. Shows have to be fun for the boat owners though and for many of us that means on the water time.
Yes, the internet has to some extent replaced the need to get out and see boats as the only way to really look at them or exchange information with owners, but it does not replace, and cannot replace, the tactile social experience of gathering a bunch together for a show, or of gathering a bunch together west palm beach hotels and using them. Many folks are not interested in that aspect of classic boating, but many are and will continue to be.
Don t overlook another aspect of the boat shows, namely a chance to speak to the owners and hear their stories. There was a gent at the Clayton show who was exhibiting one of those 1900 s cruiser type boats with the canvas canopy and brass railings. west palm beach hotels He had two young ladies with him dressed in period attire. If you were at the show you would remember this boat; it was out on the dock that had the osprey nest.
This owner was there almost the entire day talking to the show attendees, and inviting them onto his boat to sit down out of the sun. later, I was told by one of the show volunteers that he was celebrating his hundredth birthday that evening. You don t meet people like that every day.
For me, it s mostly about getting to see and be with people their boats. I can boat at home, but I can t cruise to a floating paradise have a beer with friends from Texas, NJ Canada. Hope to see everyone west palm beach hotels at Tablerock!
Well, Bill you are not doing me any favors west palm beach hotels by bringing your boat. Just stay home. I will have more time to visit with my friends and view the show with my wife instead of working my tail off to make sure you have a nice dock, clean restrooms, decent events, and listen to you whine if you think your feelings west palm beach hotels were hurt or you feel slighted when the judging is done.
Most boat shows struggle to break even. If you think a show is free to stage you are sadly mistaken. Call your local trophy shop and price out a quality award. Call your local printer and price out a full color, west palm beach hotels high quality poster and show program. I know you want one when you come to a show. Food isn t free and when you are planning on 150 to 200 people it isn t cheap either. And if it rains and the show gets washed out who do you thinks eats the expense? The host ACBS club does, that s who.
And why should I give you all the benefits of a member by charging you the same registration fee. Then there is no incentive for you to join your local ACBS and have access to all the networking available and it lessens the value of membership to those who are members.
Two of the shows I attend in NW lower Michigan are spectator and owner friendly. Free to attend, owners can pre register west palm beach hotels or register the morning of the show. Slightly more to register for non members. I hope they keep this format.
Having been Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Algonac show for the last four years, I can second Carl s comments regarding what it takes to put on a good show. However, I would also like to add that it all seems worthwhile when the boats start to arrive on show weekend, and you see what a wonderful west palm beach hotels display of classic craft you have, and what a great group of fellow boaters have brought them to the show. I know that the web sites, blogs and internet in general have given us a communication network that we never had before. However, it does not replace th