Friday, February 12, 2010

Miami Boat Show

We boarded the bus at 6:30 AM here in Punta Gorda bound for the Miami Boat Show. Two hours later we entered stop & go traffic in the Miami metro area. Two more hours of creeping bumper to bumper, stop & go travel elicted comments all around to effect of "why we live in
Punta Gorda."

Guess What? The boat show wasn't crowded. We talked to vendors without shouting. A Kato representative provided us a quote for davits and patiently described the multi-step process for purchasing and installing them. She even offered a boat show discount. Maybe next year. Standard Horizon demonstrated a new VHF radio that receives AIS information as well as the normal VHF channels and DSC calling. The AIS targets are visible on the RAM mike as well. I bought a VHF radio at a 25% discount to replace the one damaged by lightning last summer.

We also got weighed down with lots of free stuff like plastic bags, catalogs and "Go anywhere toilet kits", the later from the Florida Department of Enviromental Protection.

Sailboats were mostly missing at the Strictly Sail portion of the show but we enjoyed boarding a few of the bigger boats for a look-see. Joanne had lots of fun talking to the brokers as if she were going to buy one, a boat not a broker that is. Look at the slide show below to see what one guy will do to get his girl to look at a boat.



After the show, Joanne & I walked down to Lincoln Ave, a very trendy pedestrian mall with outdoor cafes, European style, for dinner before boarding the bus for a sleepy ride home.

No comments: