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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Toronto Boat Show This Week

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/09/2009 : 11:57:53

Make it if you can!! I'll be wearinga yellow jacket and a Mount Gay Rum Ballcap. The Toronto show is all indoors, so I may lose my jacket after a while. Our Sailing club is meeting at "The Dockside Bistro" for lunch between 2 and 3.

Since I managed to harangue free passes for the family, I got more budget for shopping, but it still could be a spendy weekend.

I'll try to take a camera to get pics to share, but I'm not very good at remembering these things.

Here is the link to the show: http://www.torontoboatshow.com/Default.aspx

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 12:18:39

I forgot my camera... sorry guys.

So while I was thre I picked up a new handheld, the charts for Georgian Bay, and toured all the sailboats I could handle.

My vote for "next boat that I can't afford" goes to Hanse. I really liked them and thought the quality showed in the details. Too bad they cost more than my house.

Vote for "boat I don't think I'll buy anytime soon even if I can afford it" goes to the Lagoon 46 catameran. It just didn't feel "right" I can't explain it, but I don't think its for me. I also didn't like that they set a sales rep in every quarter of the boat to tell you what its great features were.

Vote for nice boat that I may be able to afford if someone has to sell in a hurry goes to Adelphia Yachts of Poland. I was impressed by them last year, and thought they looked even better this time around.

My vote for biggest rip-off at the show - Lunch. $30 for 3 sandwiches, 3 bottles of water and 3 bags of chips. Next year we are bringing a bag lunch.

Noticeably missing at the show was Island Packet. I may just not have looked hard enough for them, but I don't think they showed up this time. Also interesting was that the smallest "cruiseable" boats that showed up were all 30+ feet. Last year there was a smattering of 25-30 foot boats around. The only exception to this was that this year the Catalina dealer showed up with a 22. They parked it wedged between a couple big boats. I think they were using it to make the big boats look bigger.

I missed the Hunter display. By that time it was getting late in the day and SWMBO and the kids were getting cranky. I don't think I missed much there.

In the shopping zone, deals were harder to find, but I did buy a couple sacrificial boathooks for $10 ea. There wasn't much other stuff that made you want to pull out your wallet on impulse though.

I should have bought the fishfinders that were there for $60. Then I could take back the one I got for $80 from Bass Pro Shops. The $60 one actually looked a lot better too.

The biggest surprise of the show came from the "Performance Sails" rep though. I stopped by his booth to ask about getting some reconditioning done our sails, and as he was taking down our info to stop by, he named the boat before I did.

Him: "Iris, right?"
Me: "Yeah, how did you know"
Him: "You're racing a Catalina 25 on Lake Simcoe"
Me: "Yeah... ?"
Him: "I've had a few people comment about your boat. You must be doing pretty well out there. You made a couple sales for me."

Either he is a good salesman, or I really am doing well. Turns out our Tape-Drive Genoa is famous for delaminating, but there may be a cure. Additional repairs can be done to make it run at least a couple more seasons.

Overall I'd rate the show at about a 7/10, last year I think was a little better. Still, its worth going to. I wish they had a "Brokerage" section so you could see the deals on used boats while you were there.

Edited by - Prospector on 01/12/2009 12:37:49

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 13:17:51

Which fish finder did you buy from Bass Pro? I'm using a Eagle Cuda 168. They're on sale here for $70.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 13:46:33

DMPILC - That sounds about right (Eagle). Prices in Canada tend to be a little higher. I haven't installed it, and really wanted one with a transponder you could hang over the edge of the boat.

The one at the boat show (not sure of the manufacturer) was just that. I want it to be able to scout accesses to anchorages from the dinghy. In order to use the one from bass pro, I would have to get a second transponder and mount it in the dink.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 14:43:48

I'm going to the Cleveland show soon. They'll have Beneteau, a couple of Hunters, maybe a Tartan and more stinkpots than can be counted. They'll have a few vendors selling great stuff like micro-fiber towels!!!! Lot's of marinas and not much else. I'll go anyway. Not really sure why. I'll renew my BoatUS towing insurance and maybe get a free tote bag!

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 14:48:12

John, sounds to me like you should come up to Toronto instead - at least we have 4 or 5 sailboats represented. I think Tartan was there as well as the others mentioned. Its not THAT long a trip from Cleveland. I know people who have driven that far to buy their boats!

If you do come up - get me one of those fishfinders!

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2009 : 15:34:37

I should but, it's the drive through NY that would kill me. I like Toronto the one week I visited there several years ago. I stayed at an old Railroad hotel whose name I don't recall and walked to the office underground everyday. Loved it.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.