Boat Shows

[skinautique]

Post pics, stories, location, etc. Fill all of us in on what is happening.

[NautiqueChick]

I went to the Portland boat show. I didn't take a camera so I don't have any pictures. I got to see the new 211, I wasn't a big fan of how it looked, but I saw a lot of people looking at it and they seemed to like it. I also saw MC X-80, that thing is a monster. I couldn't believe how big it was. I wish I would of taken a camera, I really like the SAN the dealer had there. It was black and grey, really nice looking.

[882001]

yeah it was an uneventful show in houston. didnt like the 211 or 226 much. 210s are always cool. i also didnt take a camera. out of the whole show , i was most impressed with the new x star. im sure i will be condemed for saying that but it is true. in pics i thought it was lame. but in person that thing rocks. but for the money im gonna hang on to the 88. tiges look real cheap. x80 was big, and pretty cool. malibus were pretty nice execpt for that ugly new tower. moombas and supras look better than they have in the past. im gonna be hated by all. oh well. i dont mind

[skinautique]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. What didn't you like about the 211 and 226?

[NautiqueChick]

I really liked the Mailbus also, but I'm not a fan of those backwards towers. They look horrible. What I don't like about the 211 and the 226 too is the way they are shaped, it just doesn't look very attractive to me. Plus the 226 is way too big in my opinion...

[882001]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. What didn't you like about the 211 and 226?

just dont like the way it doesnt have the classic ski boat shape. it looks like a i/o. the int was ok except for the hall way. looks well built just think they are ugly

[skinautique]

I think (but could be wrong) that they are trying to move some of their boats away from the "traditional" look to spark some different enthusiasm in their boats. I did a poll to see why other people bought different brands of boats and many of them said that CC had the ugly old man styling to them. Have any of you looked very closely at any of the nooks and crannys in all of the boats or seen how the different boats are constructed, etc? Just curious about opinions there too.

[lcap]

I spent two days climbing in, over and around of all kinds of boats --from Calabria to the Tige and I can say (without brand loyalty) none compared to a Correct Craft in terms of fit and finish or aesthetics.

I did not find any manufacturer's (except CC and MC) instrument panels that have made it out of the 1980's GM look--black faces with orange letters. Others (MB) have no idea what instruments are for. MB uses a 4 in 1 gauge in the center of the dash.

CC could delete all the warning stickers and add a clock.

Come on guys higher an industrial designer--or at least go to a car show and look at some dash panels that look good and most importantly are functional. Esquire last month published a pictoral of the best car dashes of all time.

Stickers and tribal flames oh my. Hot rod flames are also an option oh my. Towers that do not collapse so you can build a shop with a special door or let that $50,000 Malibu sit outside in the weather oh my.

The boats (excepting CC and MC--and I do have issues with these also) actually had me daydreaming about manufacturing my own.

I challange anyone to think of the most beautiful object man has ever created; car, boat, building, bridge, etc. Afterwards ask yourself why its the best, most will find the essence of its beauty lies in its simplicity.

I will post some pictures of my 04 SANTE when it comes in and after its completed.

[LargeMetalFan]

I went to the Clevenland boat show this past weekend. Quite impressive. If you get the chance, I recommend it. I visited mid-Ohio nautiques, which now includes Ron's Marine, and bumped into Ralph Meloon Sr. (Chairmain Emeritus of Correct Craft). I had a great conversation with him about the history of Correct Craft and water skiing in general. They had 5 mastercrafts (x-80, 197, 209, and others), 5 nautiques (196, 206, sport, 211, and one other), 10 malibus and tiges. I'm going to the Pittsburgh boat show in a few weeks and will give an update to that one as well.

[NautiqueChick]

That's the big reason I like Nautiques so much its because they look good. Those other boats like MC just don't like very good, they look really bulky to me and they lines of the boat aren't right. I really hope that CC doesn't move away from the looks they have now, because the 211 and the 226 aren't something I would ever buy.

[882001]

NautiqueChick,
right on sister

[FixerOstuff]

If you look a bit closer at the 211 you will realize just how different it is. The deck on that boat is a work of art. Unfortunately it is a fiberglass repairman's worst nightmare. It is completely rounded, has multiple compound radii. Now I'm not so sure about the little trash bag holder behind the driver's seat, but after I drove one of the first three on the west coast, it made me a believer. Solid boat, and smoooooth!

[Onthewater]

Chicago Boat Show, Erik Ruck and Emily Copeland in attendance. Mike Seipel was there too. All the inboard manufacturers were pushing the "wakeboard" boats heavily. Nautique only had one boat there without a tower and no 196. Tige, MC, and Malibu also had only one or two without towers but they had much more floor space. I just walked around and dreamed of a new boat. It was a nice break from the recent cold and snow.

[skinautique]

I was very dissapointed in the sales pitches from almost every boat company. The mastercraft guy told me that they look better on the internet and then walked away. Was not impressed with Malibu or MasterCraft for numerous reasons. Kind of had to laugh at Tige's concepts too but they are trying. By the way, I am VERY partial to Nautiques!

[Hollywood]

Might as well have called it the Chicago Yacht and Wakeboard boat show. Far less PWCs this year than the past, as well as fishing boats. I will be going to the Indy show at the end of February, hopefully it won't be as big of a dissappointment as the Chicago one was.