Central N.Y. Boat Show

[JAMES MOORE]

I worked the Central New York Boat show yesterday at the Syracuse Fairgrounds. Dead is all I can say for it. For a nice bright sunny day, cold just above zero outdoors, the show was really dead. General opinion I got from everyone I talked to is their scared about the current world situation and what effect its going to have on their lives and income. Since I spent the day standing next to the new 2003 Avalanche I got a good chance to look at the changes made for the new model year. They put the passenger grab handle back where it needed to be. They plated in the back compartment battery area and located the batteries in the center of the boat directly under the motor. This should better distribute the weight in the boat. They covered up the bilge pumps and aerator valves and attachements that now make it more difficult to access those items for repair but created a lot of additional usable storage space that wasn't there before. The batteries will be harder to service in the location they've put them but not an insurmountable task for the do it yourselfer. They also replaced the twin livewells with a single livewell with a divider. The divider poped out real easy, to easy to be usable during a tournament unless your buddy doesn't mind you weighing in that five pound bass he caught. Know that ones mine no it's yours!!!!!They still need to do a better job of removing metal slivers and particles before painting. Their still getting these little metal slivers and bumps in their paint. Somebodies not cleaning the vats properly, it's slivers/particles from the grinding process. They still do a miserable job cleaning the drilling shavings from anywhere they attach a piece of equipment or drill a hole. I don't know if this is dealers fault or factory but there just shouldn't be shavings all over the place.

I just don't understand how we as a society are willing to except the poor workman ship that goes into a product today. There's no pride in the workman ship or the quality of the product, only the cost and how much profit did we make today and how much more will the consumer pay if we cut a few more corners here and there. This isn't a gripe about Tracker because the same things where noted in almost every boat I took a look at the show. It's an indication of us, as a society and how we're changing.

 

[Staci Matheis]

I also took a look at the Avalanche at the St. Louis Boat Show.....



I, too, was very disappointed in the quality of the paint job. LOTS of dirt in the paint. LOTS. Looked like it had been done out behind someone's garage under a tree. Tracker should take the time to properly prepare and clean the surfaces; then do the work in a good down-draft paint booth.



Sorry, Tracker..... But the initial impression I got from the finish kept me from getting any closer.....



I am also sorry to report that I didn't see an 898 with the non-slip surface..... If it was there, I sure didn't notice it hidden behind all the NX700's..... Probably the Biggest News from Nitro this season and it wasn't out on the main isle.....



GOOD NEWS is that I did meet Shirley from The Moors Resort on Kentucky Lake! Give her a call at 800-626-5472 to make your reservations!



me

 

[Bob G.]

I don't think that the boat manufacturers will change too much in the quality of their product as long as someone is willing to buy it anyway. I wasn't aware of the shavings, fiberglass strands and foam pieces in the bottom of my boat until it rained real hard while I was trailering it with the plug out. When I got home I was wondering why the water was not running out of the drain. The bilge had quite a bit of water in it and the drain was clogged with pieces of stuff. At least it held water!! I would have thought that someone would have taken the time to vacuum up the remnants of building the boat. I will be looking at a few more items when purchasing my next new boat before writing the check!!



Bob G.

 

[Mark Hofman]

Scott -



You didn't notice the 898 because it was up on a stand near the ceiling! I looked around for it too, and didn't see it until we were walking back to the exit at the end of the day. Why didn't they stick a 901 up there, or some boat that's been in the lineup for a few years, like a PT185?



Spent too much time at the Crestliner display. Only three models were out, but a friend was working a deal on a new FishHawk 185. It will be a nice boat when he finally gets it.



From what could gather from the sales staff and pro staff members we talked to, this is a very slow year -- no, almost a stand-still year -- for boat dealers.



All except for that one big 3/4 Million yacht that had the big "SOLD" sign hanging off of it between the "tunnel" leading from the convention hall to the dome! Man, can you imagine the commission on that sale?

 

[Staci Matheis]

Ah-ha! Kinda like the deer not noticing the hunter in the tree stand!



Was it the non-skid surface, Mark, or carpeted?