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Are Express Crusiers going the way of the Dodo Bird?
TonyG13
Member Posts: 1,286 ✭✭✭✭
The admiral and I went to the Chicago Boat Show yesterday and a few observations:
1. Chicago used to have two major shows, the Boat Show at McCormick Place and a week or two later the Sail Show at Navy Pier. Mixed in with the boat show was a fairly big RV show on a lower level. Now all three are combined into one much smaller show covering a much, much smaller footprint on one floor of McCormick Place.
2. The most interesting thing is the composition of the boats. Used to be mostly cruisers and yachts, but in recent years it is now majority pontoon and wake type vessels, as well as under 30' cuddy and open bows.
Definitely not Great Lakes / open water capable vessels.
3. I could count the number of classic cruisers (+30 LOA) on one hand. (If we didn't already have our Rinker 310 EC, the new Regal 33 Express would have definitely been on our list. It's sweet - and one of the few traditional cruisers at the show.) Most 30+ boats were either coupes with full glass windshields - or day boats with open bows and no cabin.
I think the only vendors there with +30 LOA traditional cruisers were Rinker, Regal, and Formula.
I like the wind in my face when boating, and the ability to throw/tie a line from the helm when needed - and I like a comfortable cabin below deck. And something that can handle Lake Michigan / open waters.
Am I now in the minority in the boating world? Anyone else feeling the same?
1. Chicago used to have two major shows, the Boat Show at McCormick Place and a week or two later the Sail Show at Navy Pier. Mixed in with the boat show was a fairly big RV show on a lower level. Now all three are combined into one much smaller show covering a much, much smaller footprint on one floor of McCormick Place.
2. The most interesting thing is the composition of the boats. Used to be mostly cruisers and yachts, but in recent years it is now majority pontoon and wake type vessels, as well as under 30' cuddy and open bows.
Definitely not Great Lakes / open water capable vessels.
3. I could count the number of classic cruisers (+30 LOA) on one hand. (If we didn't already have our Rinker 310 EC, the new Regal 33 Express would have definitely been on our list. It's sweet - and one of the few traditional cruisers at the show.) Most 30+ boats were either coupes with full glass windshields - or day boats with open bows and no cabin.
I think the only vendors there with +30 LOA traditional cruisers were Rinker, Regal, and Formula.
I like the wind in my face when boating, and the ability to throw/tie a line from the helm when needed - and I like a comfortable cabin below deck. And something that can handle Lake Michigan / open waters.
Am I now in the minority in the boating world? Anyone else feeling the same?
Comments
As I noted above, I just can't see being in either a) an entirely enclosed cockpit or b) an open bow with no cabin.
I guess times are changing...
but as a pit boss n vegas once told me its all irrelevant .
but 150k for a ski boat .. 300k + for a bow rider or cruiser.
about the only thing i can afford new = my meds and hamburger
Marketing will tell you that millennials are all about the ‘experience’. They don’t want to be tied to a certain activity.
I think the cruiser lifestyle will always be there in some capacity. But it requires some real effort in organization & competency that most peeps today aren’t willing to dedicate themselves to.
I’m sure the manufacturers are scratching their head.
I think it's because modern outboard motors have turned the boating world all catywampus. In the past 15 years, what has changed in express cruisers? Nothing. What has changed in pontoon boats? Everything! They got faster and more reliable, which led to bigger boats with LOTS more amenities. More expensive too, but they still beat ECs in terms of square feet per dollar -- IF the weather is calm.
Will the surge in toon sales lead to more boaters that eventually "see the light" and convert to cruising hulls? We'll see.
the worst thing i see is they cut my bow constantly
they zig zag the lake and when they decide to go ..they just steer that way.
seems all i do is watch out for jet skis and pontoons
getting infested on table rock
Go Steelers!!!
@TonyG13 here's another guess: the glut of inventory in the used market is reducing demand for new boats.
That looks amazing, but the open bar would probably put me in jail, in Ontario.
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
You can sleep on a pontoon if you like to camp out, you can have a gen and run a small fridge for overnight keeping the beer cold if you want and of course have a porta potty head to dispose of grilled food and aforementioned beer. But I know what is a lot more convenient in my eyes for what I want from boating and it's not an open plan and deck vessel. I prefer to take a trip to NYC or out west with something a bit more convenient and comfortable, But a day out on the river or late with friends is a great day out too - as we do with other friends with non-cruisers.
Regards,
Ian
The Third “B”
Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club
https://www.rcyachtclub.com/
I agree with this. I've spoken with our local Rinker dealer and they say that the Toronto Boat show really isn't worth it for them. The cost of getting all those boats in and out, the cost of their staff for 10 days at the show ... for a few sales ... isn't worth it.
So one by one they pull out and then the show fails.
Plus I really think that disposable income is dropping like a tank, and the market share of big boats is shrinking ...
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
Regards,
Ian
The Third “B”
Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club
https://www.rcyachtclub.com/
I go to see what rich people do ... lol. Toronto Boat show is fun, at least they have some 45' and 50' boats. Only time I'm legally able to board one. LOL.
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
The pontoon boat has horribly limited days here on Lake Mich. Add in if you want to port hop even for a day, no head and limited elements exposure are not fun.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Go Steelers!!!