Shane Murphy, second-in-command aboard the ship seized by Somali
pirates this month, is happy to be home. But he's not happy to be
sharing turf with land-lubber Rush Limbaugh, who politicized the
pirate affair by referring to the pirates as "black teenagers."

"It feels great to be home," said Murphy in an interview with WCBV in
Boston. "It feels like everyone around here has my back, with the
exception of Rush Limbaugh, who is trying to make this into a race
issue...that's disgusting."

Limbaugh made the remark to suggest why President Obama might have
appeared preoccupied at church on the day of the operation to rescue
the ship's captain, who was taken hostage by the pirates until Navy
SEAL snipers shot them in a daring rescue effort.

"He was worried about the order he had given to wipe out three
teenagers on the high seas," Limbaugh said. "Black Muslim teenagers."

"You gotta get with us or against us here, Rush," Murphy said. "The
president did the right thing...It's a war.... It's about good versus
evil. And what you said is evil. It's hate speech. I won't tolerate
it."

It's a buyer's market at Bay Bridge Boat Show
By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer
Published 04/25/09

The faltering economy has walloped their industry, but boating
salesmen gathered at the annual Bay Bridge Boat Show on Kent Island
hope this weekend's summerlike weather, combined with discounted
prices on most of the 300-plus boats at the show, might help turn the
tide.

Colleen Dugan — The Capital David M. Stanton, left, president of
American Sail Inc., provides Robert Rose with a few tips on equipping
his boat Friday at the 27th annual Bay Bridge Boat Show, which runs
through tomorrow at the Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island.

With banks slow to float loans for boats and just about everything
else, the economy has sunk many players in the boating industry. Many
manufacturers have stopped building boats until the storm clears, and
some may never recover.

Nevertheless, marinas and powerboat representatives aren't quitting.
They've shown up in droves at the show with used and new boats of all
sizes, docked in the water and spread across the grounds of the Bay
Bridge Marina.

Anyone who is in the mood or has the scratch to buy should know this:

It's a buyer's market.

"If you are into buying a boat, this is the best time," said Ben
Killino of Riverside Marine Inc. in Edgewater, one of the company's
four locations.

Riverside has about 30 boats at the show, mostly new. All the price
tags on their boats have a black X through the suggested retail price.
They are ready to deal.

The spring season has been slow so far, but there are some glimmers.

"There have been peeps, that's a good word for it," Killino said. "But
the true buyers are out there."

The company has new 2007 and 2008 boats at the show. Riverside is also
selling a few rare 2009s, rare because manufacturers have mothballed
operations until the economy improves.

National sales figures compiled for industry insiders report
fiberglass boat sales were down 40.2 percent in the fourth quarter of
2008.

West Marine, which supplies boat owners with most of the materials
needed to keep a vessel shipshape, saw first quarter sales dip 10.9
percent this year.

So, prices at the show are cut. Besides Riverside's X'ed out prices,
others are offering discounts, too.

Clark's Landing, with four Maryland locations including Shady Side and
Kent Island, has "signing bonuses" up to $100,000 on a 48-foot
Sundancer model from its Sea Ray line.

Some of the price tags, however, can take a working man's breath away.

A Sea Ray Sedan Bridge model, normally $750,000, will cost a mere
$675,000 at the show.

And the Outer Reef 63-footer? Well, if you have to ask ...

On the other end of the spectrum is The Dink, an 8-foot dinghy-looking
craft with a sail. David Stanton is selling them via his American Sail
Inc. out of Charleston, S.C., at a cooler $1,999.

There is also a workmanlike 16-foot Seaway skiff, made in Maine, with
a little Honda outboard on it for $14,500, including trailer.

With all the high-priced boats for sale in this low-ball economy, the
show is also featuring a slew of smaller, car-top craft.

Backyard Boats had a slew of kayaks on display, some with pedals for
the paddle-challenged. A 14-foot one of those that will hold up to 550
pounds goes for $2,499.

If you already have a boat, there are plenty of gizmos and
accouterments on display. How about a boat lift on your boat for those
who don't want to drag a dinghy behind? Or a portable floating hot tub
that you can tie to your tug and heat up to 200 gallons of water in an
hour using onboard gas or electric?

Some might indeed take advantage of the boat show sale prices and take
the plunge. But many will just be dreaming or shopping for the deal.

"Kicking some tires, that's a good way to put it," said Cliff Butler
of Brookeville, who was looking at a few boats with his wife and son.
He's in the market for a 50- to 55-foot sport fisherman boat to keep
at his getaway place near Charleston, S.C.

But he's biding his time. "The way the economy is, these boats will be
on sale next year. too."

The Bay Bridge Boat Show runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children
age 7 to 12, and free for children 6 and younger. The Bay Bridge
Marina is located on Kent Island; take Exit 37 off Route 50 and follow
the signs to the marina. Parking costs $2. For more information, visit
the Web site at www.usboat.com.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/new...Boat-Show.html

On Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:25:28 -0700, jps wrote:

Shane Murphy, second-in-command aboard the ship seized by Somali
pirates this month, is happy to be home. But he's not happy to be
sharing turf with land-lubber Rush Limbaugh, who politicized the
pirate affair by referring to the pirates as "black teenagers."

"It feels great to be home," said Murphy in an interview with WCBV in
Boston. "It feels like everyone around here has my back, with the
exception of Rush Limbaugh, who is trying to make this into a race
issue...that's disgusting."

Limbaugh made the remark to suggest why President Obama might have
appeared preoccupied at church on the day of the operation to rescue
the ship's captain, who was taken hostage by the pirates until Navy
SEAL snipers shot them in a daring rescue effort.

"He was worried about the order he had given to wipe out three
teenagers on the high seas," Limbaugh said. "Black Muslim teenagers."

"You gotta get with us or against us here, Rush," Murphy said. "The
president did the right thing...It's a war.... It's about good versus
evil. And what you said is evil. It's hate speech. I won't tolerate
it."

Limbaugh sometimes does what many of you liberals continuously do -
step on his dong with stupid comments.
--

John H

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government
results from too much government."

Thomas Jefferson