posted 02-16-2004 10:10 PM ET (US)        

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Thanks Jim for your wonderful article and new Cetacea Page 77. It makes me feel like I was there with you guys. What a nice job done in "capturing the moment"!

P.S. That Yamaha guy don't look to happy; was he taking photos of those new babies?

posted 02-21-2004 02:48 AM ET (US)         

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Jay - Yes the Yamaha guy was photographing the intimate details of the engines, while the Mercury guys stood around amused, for the time being at least. It was quite pathetic, and Jim could probably not resist taking the pictures and putting the guy up on the web. I'll bet he was shocked to see himself when he got home, probably figuring Jim was just some dumb tourist. They were also all over the inside displays, with Honda and Suzuki badges too, to the point of being rude and pushy to get their photos and details. I was not impressed, nor did they care.

In a couple of years or less, they will have their own versions of Verado, you can bet on it. These 2 big auto companies have the resources to crank out a supercharged knock-off pretty fast, I would imagine. It may take Yamaha a bit longer.

posted 02-21-2004 07:55 AM ET (US)            

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Those Mercurys are pretty. Jim..for Gods sake, you where in Miami, not Detroit. Get outside and get a tan! ;).

That Yamaha guy taking pictures makes me sick to my stomach. Doing that stuff probably goes both ways though.

Danny

posted 02-21-2004 05:07 PM ET (US)            

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Update February 21, 2004:

I added another dozen or so pictures from the boat show. We really had a great time down there, and the show is just enormous. You have to spend several days there to see even a third of it. Next year we'll allot more time for the boat show.

Thanks to LHG we did get a chance to do some boating, but we try to avoid the sun as much as possible. If you see an old guy with long sleeves, long pants, a big hat, and lots of sunscreen--that's me!

I hope to get back to Florida in April for the factory sponsored Boston Whaler Owner's Fishing Tournament in Stuart, Florida being held April 16-18. Many Boston Whaler company people will be there to chat and to answer questions, and they'll also have some Mercury guys with them. If you have one of these fancy new engines you can get your engine computer software checked and updated, along with other cool stuff.

posted 02-21-2004 10:12 PM ET (US)            

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That Conquest is nice. Interesting to note the Raytheon autopilot and radio and a different brand charplotter. Considering the ease of linking Raytheon products, you would think that they would have put a RC70C in there instead.

One thing that really shocked me was the cockpit. If it wasn't for those black cowlings I would swear that it is an exact replica of the cockpit on my Tiara 31' Open. Right down to the aft folding bench seat.

Brian

posted 02-21-2004 11:16 PM ET (US)            

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The chartplotter decal depicts a Northstar, which is owned by Brunswick. That's why you don't see a Ray RC70C decal, although that might otherwise be a logical choice. I'm surprised there are no Navman VHF or fishfinder decals on the helm since Brunswick owns that brand as well.

The Whaler display looks nearly identical to the display at the NY boat show in January. I went aboard the 305 Conquest and the Pursuit 3100 which is very similar if not identical in size to the Tiara 31 Open. The cockpit on the Pursuit was huge compared to the one on the 305 Conquest. Starting prices were very similar but the finish in the cabin on the Pursuit was much nicer. I guess if you want a nice cabin and a big open cockpit, you've got to give up unsinkability.