Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Any advice to attending a boat show? What to look for? Is it the best time& place to buy? Any advice how to get the best deals? Or is it best to wait and get a test drive? other than

A boat show can be a great way to see all the different models in one place. And typically, the dealers have "Boat Show" specials, so one can save a few $$.

You should be able to narrow your choices at the show, make dealer contact, and then still receive the "BS" price after a test drive.

I have never done it, but I have heard stories about those who bought one of the boats at the show. Supposedly, they saved even more since the dealer didn't have to drag it back home.

My suggestion is to set your budget before you go and maybe even see what financing you can get from your bank, etc. If your budget is lets say $30,000 then don't look at $50,000 boats. It will only entice you to blow the budget! I went on a Friday when it opened looked at all the boat styles I was interested in, fishing quality a must, then got brochures and posted prices. Went home and did research on the boats and dealers and even called a few. Narrowed it down to a couple dealers and models. Went back Sunday told them what I wanted and how much I would pay and that I wanted to buy now. I got $2500 knocked off the boat we wanted based on if I liked it after a test ride. Make sure any promises are in WRITING! Test drove the boat a week later and ordered the way I wanted it equipped. Been happy with it ever since.

I can't help much, every time I go my wife just keeps saying NO and come on.
but sounds like some good advice from the guys above

Don't be enticed with the This is a boat show price only, tomorrow this price is gone. If he can sell it for that one day surely he can sell at the same price next week or month. The vendors have to pay for space plus the cost of getting their their rigs there.
doc

Yup!
Dont fall for the Banana-in-the-tail-pipe!


Ive only gone to a couple shows and mainly went for 'education' and fun, not to buy....
I saw some 'good' deals and some 'bad'.... had fun though!

We throughly enjoyed the boatshow of Roanoke, Virginia. We had the opportunity to sit in most of the big brands. Manitou & Suncatcher were among the absent, but we wouldn't buy anything that didn't have a local dealer anyway. Most said 3 days after the show they could honor the 'show' price, where some said 10 days. We sat in a JC (nicest I think but at $32K), we found Suntracker to be not as comfortable as others, and in the end liked Slyvan and Sweetwater as nice looking, simple and comfortable. Now to decide if the best time to buy is now or midseason and if anything of our liking would come up on the used market.

ylojelo wrote:We throughly enjoyed the boatshow of Roanoke, Virginia. We had the opportunity to sit in most of the big brands. Manitou & Suncatcher were among the absent, but we wouldn't buy anything that didn't have a local dealer anyway. Most said 3 days after the show they could honor the 'show' price, where some said 10 days. We sat in a JC (nicest I think but at $32K), we found Suntracker to be not as comfortable as others, and in the end liked Slyvan and Sweetwater as nice looking, simple and comfortable. Now to decide if the best time to buy is now or midseason and if anything of our liking would come up on the used market.

Once you decide on a model, ask when the new models come out. That is when you can really get a deal. Working off the inventory. The only downside is you may not be able to get all the options you want. Think I bought about three months before the new model came out, so the boat became a year old in three months.
doc

MANDATORY PIC: my wife in a JC

now just imagine water all around you at the helm just putzin enjoying the day now that sounds fun

We went to the Dallas boat show several weeks ago. If you were in the market there were some really good deals there. I guess a sign of the times was one of the "booths" there was a dealer with about 12 repo'd boats all two years old and less at smokin' prices.

I bought two new Yamaha Waverunners last month and got a 5 year factory warranty instead of the usual 1 year. The local dealer honored the offer for the show and the week after.

Dont know if Yamaha might do something like that on their outboards at the boat shows.

I bought two new Yamaha Waverunners last month and got a 5 year factory warranty instead of the usual 1 year. The local dealer honored the offer for the show and the week after.

Dont know if Yamaha might do something like that on their outboards at the boat shows.

Guess it all depends alot on just "when" your buying. I bought my boat in October of last year. The normal warranty period on the yamaha 75 hp 4 stroke was 3 years, but just by chance they were doubling the warranty to six years as long as the purchase was made before the end of the month. Didn't plan it that way but it worked out well for me.

Roland
Bennington 20 SFi
Yamaha 75 hp 4 stroke

On my Benny the Yamaha motor was 3 years but till end of March it is 6 yrs warranty. Bill