All stations, all stations...

I made my annual pilgrimage to the Toronto Boat Show last month and I’m pleased to report that the show was hopping.

There were lots of exhibitors and lots of people looking at everything under the sun that had anything to do with boating. It has been a couple of years now that the show was somewhat under-visited, but that was no longer the case this year. Joe Public was back with a vengeance and the boating industry was ready.

While there was a good representation of mid to large cruising vessels in both the power as well as the sail categories, it was plain to see that 18- to 26-foot sport boats were the over-riding theme on this year’s show floor.

It seemed like every manufacturer had something in this range and let me tell you, these boats came dressed up for the occasion. Beautifully appointed dashboards, bucket seats and walk through sterns were the special of the day.

Design lines covered everything from retro ‘60s to more the modern Euro-sport look, and let’s not forget about horse power. These sweet peas have plenty of ponies ready to pull the grand kids up onto their boards and lots of creature comforts so that Grandma and Grandpa can enjoy the day as well.

Did I say grandkids and grandparents out loud? Yes I did. In fact, I was surprised that Grecian Formula and Revlon didn’t have booths at the show. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m a proud grandparent with plenty of graying follicles, too, but let’s just say the tilt of our nation’s changing demographics was supremely evident. Everything from the silver hair walking around the show to the bevy of boats that were obviously designed to make our collective mouths water, reminded me who the boat builders were aiming for. We were the dominant players at the boat show this year and the manufacturers were ready for us.

I have to admit that even though I’m an avowed sailor, I was tempted to cross to the dark side. These boats are slick. The designers and manufacturers have done an incredible job of wrapping form and function into packages, resembling what some of the motorcycle manufacturers have done to re-establish their products into the sights of the aging baby boomer demographic. These boats are beautiful toys, available with all the accessories and they have an audience.

Sport boats have definitely become the new cool.

I would suspect that we will be seeing these boats on the water soon because the sales people were smiling. From what I was told, this year’s show was a hit, not just for those who were looking but also for those who were selling. From my position the prices seemed reasonable and the sales people were ready to deal. That always makes a good combination for a successful show.

Next month I’ll be sending in my article from the British Virgin Islands where we will be chartering with friends. So until then, this is Capt’n D returning to channel 16.

Dennis Centis is a member of the Little Current Yacht Club, and has chartered bodies of water around the world, including the Mediterrenean, the Bahamas and Caribbean, as well as the North Channel and Georgian Bay.

Posted by Laurel Myers