BOAT SHOW HYPE

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              BOAT SHOW HYPE / Another year of Cookie Cutter Boats

Every year at this time I start getting requests for Boat Show Passes, and this year is no exception. I have been involved with several major Boat Shows over the years Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle and Miami. In each case I anticipate seeing something new, something exiting! The last few years I have not been thrilled about my Boat Show experiences at all. The only power boat sector that I have seen go through real engineering and physical changes have been the Wake Board Boat builders. Every one else is playing copy cat right down to the hull side windows. Some were along the line ergonomics and cost cutting have trumped usable design, and since when did boaters all become 5 feet tall. A lot of these new boats have claustrophobic spaces where sea sickness must be included in the price. Boat builders are all following the same trend slightly deeper hulls, flat decks, cramped spaces with more crap than ever crammed into theses areas. You can use the head, take a shower and wash your hands all at the same time on a forty foot yacht. All of this great (NOT REALLY) new design, comes complete with the boat builders all using the same color pallet. I think boat builders have a secrete meeting every year and decide that all the boats will be black (or green or whatever they deem the flavor of the year) so we have no choice as consumers, take the black one. Reminds me of the model A car, you can have any color you want as long as it is black.

I hope this year brings something new but I am not holding my breath. My biggest pet peeve is the Boat Show timing. I mean I get the fact that in certain climates Boat Shows generate off season dollars for dealers, but really they are selling boats! Why not an in the water show in the spring where a boat can be in it's element. A boat at a Boat Show and in the water are two different animals. A 27 foot power boat looks big when you are looking at it on land, however put the same boat at the dock and half of it seems to disappear. Hold it maybe I answered my own question, looking bigger must sell boats! As far as I am concerned the only people who do well at the Boat Show are the people who host the venue.

I know that the idea behind any show like this is to introduce new product to the consumer, however what about the non multi millionaires who are in need of a great used boat why not show some used product, hell quite often the two year old boat is a nicer design than the new one. Why not have a used product show or at least include an area for these boats at the show? Maybe Boat Nut should develop a used boat show  that wont cost the vendors a fortune to be in, what do you think?

Just remember that the boat show prices and deals are available after the show so if you feel you need time to consider the purchase you have it, don't be pressured. I had to laugh a couple of years ago I was with a client at the Toronto show to purchase a davit system. We asked for the Boat Show price (as they advertised a discount) it was hilarious to hear that the discount worked out to fifty cents. No joke a 15 thousand dollar purchase was discounted by fifty cents!! So don't buy into all the hype.

If you are thinking of buying accessories such as bow thrusters shop the boat show and make contacts but you don't have to buy one unless you are familiar with the way the system is rigged into your vessel, or you have been on a boat similar to yours with the same set up on board. Some of these new non tunneled thrusters may show well on a video but may not work in your application. A good vendor will be able to demonstrate one in the water in the spring for you, before you lay out thousands of dollars for a piece of equipment that will not fit your boat on the inside were the wires and relays are to be located.
It is important to remember that you are dealing with sales people and not installers in most cases, if there is an installer talk to them first. The vendors are there for one reason to get your money!

Boat Shows are a great place to go and get ideas and if you are committed to a purchase sometimes to get a great early season deal. However experienced boaters know the best deals are usually END OF SEASON or previous unsold model years not at the Boat Show.

HAPPY HUNTING 

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided

Author  RP

MARINE SAFETY SCHOOL JOY STICK PILOTING

                                                        

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             JOY STICK PILOTING CONTROL BASICS

                              MARINE SAFETY SCHOOL

              

                      E Mail boatnutmedia@gmail.com for your candidate application

  Boat Nut Media has created the most comprehensive new power boat technology operators course

                                      

 

 

Each candidate must prove that they hold a current boat operations card (if applicable) and fill out a form swearing that they have more than 20 hours of power boat operation.

JOY STICK PILOTING BASICS  is a complete program broken down into 36 components, due to the subject, quality and amount of material covered Boat Nut Media is unable to offer this program as a down load only. The candidate will have to complete a written test which Boat Nut Media can provide in any major language, This way we can supply you with a certificate of graduation, Which depending on what country you are in may provide you with an insurance discount. "Boat Nut Media does not guaranty an insurance discount". You can have you and your co captain take the course together.

                               

            Boats today are going through incredible transformations in 2015. We can purchase boats with multiple joy stick controls, such as Axius, IPS, Aft and Forward thrusters, Auto ride, self-leveling systems, electronic shifting and steering, self-anchoring, as well as many other up to date, and technologically advanced equipment. Boat manufacturers are spending a great deal of time and money on design and ergonomics to obtain specific performance to achieve a boat fine tuned to its owner’s needs. Perhaps wake board boats demonstrate this the best.

            This being said, It is still important much like aircrafts we understand what a boat is and how it works. The addition of joy stick piloting does not change the basics of what a boat is or how it works. In actuality some new designs will require technology to make them manageable.

Drive by wire- Boat Captains will have to become familiar with new systems such as Axius. Axius is a steering control system which allows the boat to be controlled in several modes and by joy stick. The initial change this brings is over confidence or complete reliance on these systems. That being said, the PDF file on the Axius system is 44 pages long, How many Captains and more importantly how many every day boat users will read the whole thing? How many will read, learn and practice these systems before a trip out?

The basics are still important, understanding your boats behavior and basic old school helm and stick controls must be practiced and understood as well. The differences while doing these manoeuvers will be speed in both steering and shifting, the Captain will feel rather no or artificial feedback. This change’s the way the Captain must focus and respond to his/her vessel. Joy stick control can be selected to make the vessel easier to control, which works fantastic sideways, also allowing full rotation of the vessel all at the captain’s fingertips. This system also included sky hook, when the vessel has the correct electronics to make it operate. Sky Hook, a way of anchoring allows the captain to keep the boat in one location, without having to drop anchor. It’s a great addition to an arsenal of electronic assistance, but again the Captain must understand their surroundings and the effects of prop wash and prop trenching as the motors will rev and steer on their own. The Axius system may not be appropriate in a tight marina with other boats tied up in close proximity to you. Your boat may cause damage to other boats, swimmers or environment. It is in these surrounding’s you will most often see untrained, uneducated captains lose control of their vessels. This will result in a series of unfortunate events leading to damage, as stated above, fear, loss of control over both systems, and boat, and in worst case scenarios, even death of crew or bi standers                           

Photo Provided by: Mercury Marine

 

This program is approved by MERCURY MARINE so you know that you are receiving the highest quality information available. Graduates can request one on one personal operation training on their own vessel to be sure they understand the fundamentals. 

Contact: Marine Safety School @ 416 995-6806 For More Information 

                                         "WE WILL MAKE A BOAT NUT OUT OF YOU"

Boat Nut Media will provide access to International Boaters ONE on ONE through online classes to start in April 2015, These live online class will be limited and made available over Skype or Zoom conference apps, so candidates must have Skype or Zoom access, and access to debit, credit card or Pay Pal account for payment of course.

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

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Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.