Boat show flop!

limeydal · 10 January 2009, 03:54

Ok,I get tired of white plastic really quickly

After temping articles in the local paper,I headed out with anticipation to the San Diego boat show (with it's expanded inflatable section)
However just more of the same stuff

Lines of tenders and variations on the same theme. Nothing to indicate the RIB's usefulness and versatility as a primary boat.
Get some color in there/get some pod seating and decent consoles/get some decent hull shapes and layouts

The only decent RIb( the Raider I chased around the other week) was wedged in almost as a second thought with no literature or rep to speak to (not that I could ever afford one, mind you) That 300HP suzi on the back,alone is around the $25,000 mark.
At least Caribe had a good range of craft on view,and even Avon made an effort. (Anyone want a Seasport SE490DLX ?) Think I saw the same one here last year

However Zodiac had a disapointing show of a couple of open -pro's and that was about it.

Seems they still havn't got the idea of how to sell the product over here!

cheers Dal

limeydal · 10 January 2009, 03:55

More white stuff

Stoo · 10 January 2009, 20:37

The Toronto Boat Show is on next week. It tends to be about the same... Girlie Ribs I call them! The local Hurricane dealer will have a booth though, and last year Zodiac had a CZ7.. or maybe that was two years ago.

Anyway, I'll make the trip down if the highway's open (been a little snowy here lately) and file a report!

Thanks for the pics...

limeydal · 11 January 2009, 06:45

Really Peeved now!

Just looked at the London boat show pics put up by JK.
Now thats a boat show

Damn, wish I could afford the airfare for a vac back home.
Although 80' here at the moment , so maybe not

Stoo,hope you thaw out long enough to make the trip. Grab some shots if they have the CZ7 again. I always play that zodiac video when I have not gone on the water for a while
cheers Dal

codprawn · 11 January 2009, 20:26

Looks like a drastic shortage of RIB porn over there!!!

engarom · 12 January 2009, 01:57

I also went to the San Diego show. $10 to get in and,
BORING!!
Its almost as if they dont know that Ribs exist. Seems the only way you are gonna see any thing around here is to try and get chased by the US Navy! They have all the best toys.
I wont even bother to upload any pics, as Limeydal has shown you everything already, and I do mean everything! How sad for me

jyasaki · 12 January 2009, 04:59

Sorry for the disappointment, but thanks, guys, for trying.

jky

Stoo · 12 January 2009, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by limeydal

I always play that zodiac video when I have not gone on the water for a while

I trust you have seen this baby?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wKFsgbX60s

Hawley Marine · 12 January 2009, 15:42

Thanks to everybody for the input! Everest Marine is the new Avon/Zodiac dealer in San Diego (Hawley Marine is their local division for sales and service). We agree that there was a lack of excitement and innovation on display at the show.

We attempted to have a CZ7 and/or military rigged Hurricane on display, but we have been the dealer for less than a month and had to pull a rabbit out of the hat just to show what we did. We did have a military F470 on display that was appreciated by many who stopped by the booth, but it was mainly for the kids to beat-up on. Let us know what your "dream show" would look like and we will work towards finding a happy medium.

On a good note, RIBs are getting more press, people are asking more probing questions and taking a fresh look at the product. The NMMA is spending substantial time and effort looking at the economy and realized that RIBs are a viable alternative for anything you want to do on the water. I hope this focus continues.

Please continue to give us the good, bad and indifferent on how we are doing. Everest has just opened three dealerships in San Diego, Las Vegas and Idaho. Many more throughout North America will follow. While we are a company focused on bringing a good product to market for the consumer, we also need to do so in a economically responsible way.

I enjoy the excitement and energy of the ski and wake-board crowd, but many of those companies spend all their money on their marketing and forget how to follow up on the customer service side.

This weekend we showed you exactly what Everest Marine is: A new company more interested in meeting your needs than presenting smoke & mirrors. We have plenty of blemishes to work on and will look to RIBnet and other consumer groups to help guide us in bringing you a better boating experience. That is our commitment to the RIB community!

Again, thank you for taking a critical look at us and please continue to give us any feedback you feel would be useful. We are looking forward to RIBnet members being our "secret shoppers" moving forward, but stop, talk and say hello once in a while as well.

Take care and safe boating,
Roy De Vault
Everest Marine
619.895.2265

p.s. An ancient Chinese proverb states that the best looking restaurant may not have the best food because they spent their money on appearances and not their product...food!

Thanks

jyasaki · 12 January 2009, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoo

I trust you have seen this baby?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wKFsgbX60s

Did I see that the entire console is mounted on shocks? (didn't watch the entire vid, if it was shown. But it looked like the console was moving in the second or third scene.)

jky

Poly · 12 January 2009, 18:49

Hawley Marine - welcome to RIBnet, I am sure you will continue to get full and frank feedback from our cousins on your side of the pond on how you, and the US rib supply chain in general, are doing.

Hawley Marine · 12 January 2009, 23:41

Thanks for the support. I look forward to future posts and feedback.

limeydal · 13 January 2009, 00:43

JKY,
yes , i got the impression also; as the deck and tubes were "stationary" while the console appeared to have a shock mitigating system.

Roy, glad you posted your side,as I must say it's always been a wash for the last several years.
We hear all the time of the RIB market expanding in the US and yet see very little of that on the west coast.
Ribcraft are doing their thing north East and I actually contacted them when I wanted to purchase my last RIB. (However the $3,000 shipping cost put me off )
I hear in Florida that Caribe and Apex are supplying the "fun Scene" down there.
Here in Southern CA ,I see more of the expensive Raider/Aquapro boats showing up,but way out of the price range of the average boater.
Same for the Hurricanes I'm afraid.
They fullfill the specialized needs of the " yacht clubs' - Vessel assist etc but way over priced and over spec'd for the casual weekend user.

In my opinion what is needed here is a mid size boat around the 5.5m range with a 90 to 115 on the back,but kitted out as a primary boat and not a tender. And made affordable! not in the $100 K + region.
Stick some pod seating (at least for the helm) and show people what fun/versatile /safe/economical and adaptable these boats can be.
Then you will start to build a confident customer base interested in upgrading.
I use mine as a photoboat/fishing/diving/tubing and generaly messing about

and is a great all around boat to tow.

Seems they can do it in the UK (where i ended up getting mine from ) but not over here.

Did you check out the London boat show photos by JK yet??

By the way, if you ever want some photos on the water;I would be more than happy to help out

I love anything inflatable(just dont tell the missus

)
cheers dal

Left Coast STi · 14 January 2009, 01:50

limeydal, I was looking in to the Yachtsman boats that Trade Wind Marine in Costa Mesa before I got my Nautica. I guess it's a Aquapro Hull but built in China. It seems very well made. I got a quote and for under 40K it was a full kit 6m RIB with 150 Yamaha and trailer. Stop by if your in the area I think they have a 6m and a 5.5m in stock last time I was there.

Matt