What a difference a day makes ...

We should have had these guys in charge of Hurricane Katrina evacuation in NEW ORLEANS.

During a Show Management press conference on Thursday morning, a slide-show was presented to the media spanning the 49 years leading up to this year's 50th Anniversary Show. They also put together a time lapse photography clip on the days leading up to premiere day. It boggles the mind to see what Show Management accomplishes in a very short period of time, then turns around and dismantles in 2-3 days.

I overheard a few comments about carpet not being laid in a few areas prior to show opening, but that's really not a big issue. The show goes on and it's doubtful any patrons noticed, none-the-less cared. That said, there is something that is more concerning for this show and others like it; attendance. In speaking with a friend who has been in the industry for years, he made the comment "No matter what numbers show promoters claim, all you had to do was look at the vacant seats in the food court, or the lack of lines to bathrooms"

The general consensus voiced by a few people on the docks concluded the Internet has a boat show going on every day. Until a buyer is serious and ready to make a purchase, the need to visit the show is reduced because now shopping and comparisons can be done from home.

I think there's some truth to this. In less than a week, 25,000 people have followed our coverage of the event. Contrasting points of view are welcome. I'm trying to figure it all out too.

Intersting comments about boat shows, attendance, etc. In my part of the world, boat show attendance has been a bit less than previously, but all vendors I have spoken to say that the quality of attendees has been high. That is, people went to the show to buy, rather than just kick the tires. By all reports, a good number of boats were sold - big and small. Of course, our boats show pale in comparison to those like FLIBS.

In my own case, I wanted to buy a new dingy and outboard. I had done all the research on the net, but the final decision rested with a physical look, feel, touch, smell. The boat show was the best place to do that, and in the end it confirmed by earlier research and a deal was done.

One thing I really enjoy at the moment as a consumer, is that vendors really want to help you. They answer questions and help you make the right choices for the right reasons. That is refreshing.

My late Aunt was a broker for over 30 years and she said, if you can't touch it, feel it, smell it; no matter how good a salesman you are, there's nothing like getting a buyer on board.

Virtual web-sites may sell loads of bow-riders on a trailer for $13,000 a go but on bigger boats, you need to feel 'It'.

'It' is a very personal thing.

The Internet is a great “tool” for research, study and comparative due diligence.
Luckily for consumers there is no shortage of “new” production boats that are available for boarding and taking for a spin.
At the same time, if a ground braking design comes along from a reputable builder/designer, there is no shortage of pre-orders just based on a conceptual drawing and the credibility of the yard.

This type of purchasing is evident in any marketplace, billions of dollars in Real estate is sold based on a model of a building, glossy brochure and a floor plan drawing. I bought my last car based on a concept drawing, eight months prior to delivery and there was a line up behind me if I bowed out at delivery.

Many of the large yacht builders fill custom orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars based exclusively on their solid track record and innovative design.

I agree 100% with dainisk and FISHTIGUA: the vast majority of Yacht purchasers will ultimately need to pay a personal visit to the object of their dreams, if for no other reason than to ascertain that the vessel in question is all she's cracked up to be. There are lots of boats out there with "fatal flaws", e.g., stateroom entrances that should be festooned with Bang Head Here labels, crew areas designed for long-legged midgets, salon seating that offers great outside views...if you're Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and so on.

As an added bonus, the boat show offers a superb comparo venue to take one last look at Choice #2, 3 & 4 to prevent future buyer's remorse.
Sophisticated yachties understand, when doing their due diligence on the 'net, that photographs....lie: there's no substitute for eyeballs up-close-and-personal. Ergonomics, 'flow', joinery with sharp corners--important stuff over the long haul that all the pretty pictures don't show.

The usual Big Day at FLIBS '09--Thursday--was noteable by the lack of anything remotely resembling 'busy'. In fact, the burgeoning local A1A traffic that normally occurs a few days prior to the Show did not burgeon at all.

"Internet boatshow shopping"? Nope. The present state of the economy (OZ excepted, dainisk), plus the uncertainty & dread of what the political class has in store continue to weigh mightily on even those with the means but whose pursestrings are tightly shut right now.

Loren, I think your referring to the local "second hand" market.
As based on Global stats, the Industry looks to be doing quite well. Interesting enough, Italian Yachts are still the most popular.
__________________________
courtesy of Triton...

The majority of growth in the 2009 Global Order Book is in orders for yachts between 80 and 200 feet, with orders up over 10 percent from 2008.

The magazine called that level of increase remarkable considering markets for vessels under 80 feet showing declines.
For example, U.S. recreational boating sales have shown a nearly 30 percent drop in the past three years, with more declines expected in 2009, the magazine reported.
The largest single-category increase in orders was 16 percent for yachts 150 to 199 feet. The 80- to 99-foot segment saw an almost 10 percent increase and the 100- to 119-foot group saw orders grow 6 percent.

Italy once again tops the list of countries with the most new yachts on order with 523.
Although No. 2 on the list of countries, yachts built in the United States paled in comparison with just 113 orders.
The average length of vessels built in the United States were larger than those in Italy by about 15 feet (130 feet compared with 116).
Although Germany finished fourth in number of projects (32), it had the largest average project length at 270 feet, a bit smaller than last year’s first-place finish at 294-foot average.
The Netherlands placed third on the countries list with 77 projects, but second on the list of largest average project length at 174, a bit larger than last year’s 161 feet.

As for builders, Azimut-Benetti, Feretti Group and Rodriguez Group finished in the top three positions based on total length on order, the same order as last year.
Azimut-Benetti reports 13,030 total feet on order (3,972m) in 111 projects averaging 117 feet.

I agree, without question, that prior to making a buying decision you have to look, touch & feel. There is no better venue than having multiple products in one place for comparisons. In many cases, it makes an outstanding product really stand out. Not to mention that boat shows are a spectacle for the senses. No matter how crowded, how hard to park, it is a candy store for those who have an interest.

That said, in year's past most of us went to boat shows to see the latest and greatest. But now, new products hit the Net in hours, usually with extensive images, specs, etc. The need to visit a show for this purpose is somewhat reduced and maybe this is playing a role in reduced attendance.

There's also the subject of accessibility, or lack thereof at the shows. For most, getting onboard the big boats, short of being a celebrity with quantified financial means, rarely happens. Throughout the years, the closest most of us have come to boarding these boats has been flipping the pages of magazines. And even then, it was a limited tour.

Today, through online reviews or builder websites, anyone can take a virtual walk-thru a superyacht. It's not my intent to tout. Like I said, I'm trying to figure it out too. Certainly the economy pays a role, as well as perception.

I read an article online today with a statement made by Show Management that attendance was only off by a small percent. My immediate reaction was "by whose count?" And therein 'lies' the answer.

........

This morning, Chuck Gnaegy forwarded a video to me. Sony played this at their annual shareholders meeting this year. It's amazing! We’re in the midst of the single largest informational paradigm shift in history. Check this out...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Over 27,000 people have followed our FLIBS coverage to date. This might be half the attendance at this year's show? Not sure how to interpret this, but it must account for something.

Hi,

I can't view it owing to geographical restrictions :-(

Hi K1W1:

Google & You Tube don't have a monopoly on that vid. Try Yahoo vids and do a search on 'Did You Know'-------

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4819968/12859248

Here is the wiki that Karl Fisch started on it which was the root of "shift happens" (his project to begin with that went viral)

http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/

Other vids, updated numbers, etc. can be found there.