On Jan 28, 11:31�pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

...





SARASOTA, Fla., January 28, 2008 - � Last fall, Hydra-Sports
introduced its biggest boat ever with the 3500 Vector Express. �This
year, at the Miami International Boat Show, Hydra-Sports is going even
bigger with its new 4100 Vector Sport Fish. �Measuring a full 41 feet,
6 inches overall with a 12-foot beam and 23 degree dead rise, the 4100
takes its place at the top of the Hydra-Sports line.
The 4100 features the same Kevlar-reinforced, hand-laid fiberglass-
laminated all-composite hull utilizing a premium gel coat finish as
its smaller Hydra-Sports Vectors. �The Integrated Structural Grid
system, built of finished fiberglass bonded to the hull with
methacrylate adhesive and injected with urethane foam is the backbone
for the famous Hydra-Sports ride.
As a serious offshore fisherman, one can expect nothing but the best
from fuel capacity, range and cruising comfort. �Ten different power
options in triple or quad outboard configurations, powering up to
1,400 hp, from Yamaha, Evinrude or Mercury and a 600 plus-gallon fuel
capacity.
Engineered, designed, and inspired by a long history of competitive
fishing, �the 4100 comes standard with six fish boxes, a 60-gallon
tournament live well, plenty of rod holders and more than ample rod
storage, a bait prep area with freshwater sink, tackle/gear storage
and a pullout cooler. �An optional Pro Package offers a 55-gallon bait
well, two tuna tubes and a tackle center in place of the bait prep
station, among other offerings.
Other options offered for the 4100 Vector Sport Fish include a premium
electronics package up to twin 17 inch screens, bow thruster, and six
color choices: Gravity Black, Platinum Gray, Glacier Blue, Atlantic
Blue, Midnight Blue and Fishing Lady Yellow.
For more information, check this whale of a boat out at the Miami
International Boat Show, in the water, at the Sea Isle Marina from
February 14 - 18, 2008 and see it for yourself.

Must not be seeing a recession ahead. �As to snow, got snowed on today
coming over the Grapevine on I-5 when returning from the kids in L.A.
Younger one's B'day and the older ones wedding anniversary. �Hills around
Los Angeles were gorgeous yesterday when the sun was out and they were
covered in snow. �Walked on the beach at Venus Beach Saturday. �Nice sunny
day between rain storms. �No wind, that came later, and the surf was large
and well formed waves.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Snow in LA has to be extremely rare. Weird weather we're having
lately, but then again that's a pretty old cliche so weird weather has
been with us for a good long while.

Recession in the boat business? I think it will depend on the sector.
The business cycle in the boat business is normally two years up,
three years down. We've just completed the first "down year", with two
to go. Because the industry is coming off one heck of a *boom* during
the last up cycle, the downtick looks worse than it is when compared
to recent activity. Some of the old-timers are remarking, "Things are
off, but really they're just about back to normal."

Look for those boats sold to family-wage earners putting a minimum
amount down and stretching the payments over 15 years to fall off
some. My horseback conclusion so far from the Seattle Boat Show is
that families are still interested in getting into boating, but there
will be fewer 34-footers and more 24-footers sold to people just
starting out.
There is still plenty of money at the top, as always. Even so, I
understand the "waiting list" for delivery of one brand of new boat
(that sells for $400k to $1mm plus) is now somewhat shorter than the
20-24 months it had been.

Every manufacturer is counting on hitting a few home runs with their
top of the line products to carry them through the next two years. If
history can be used as an indicator- some will and some won't sell
enough high end product to those "insulated" from economic conditions
to weather the normal business cycle.

The bull in the crockery shop could be fuel prices. I noticed a "Go
RVing" ad on TV the other night, urging families to buy a motor home.
The ad was sponsored by the RV trade association. I had seen the same
spot once or twice a year or so ago, but I wouldn't be surprised to
learn that the state of the RV business is not that different from the
boat business. Maybe people are still buying at the upper end of the
product range, but there isn't enough volume there to go around. Maybe
folks just starting out are settling for more modest rigs. If so, the
obvious common link would be recreational consumption of fuel at a
time when fuel is expensive by almost any standard.