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Luxury Beckons At Boat Show

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2008

TAMPA - From 8-foot kayaks to cabin cruisers 70 feet and longer, everything gleamed Friday at the opening of the annual Tampa Boat Show.

The Tampa Convention Center's second-floor showroom is packed with vessels of all shapes and sizes. The really big ones were docked out back.

Will any of them sell in this sagging economy?

"Absolutely," said Jason Lozeau of Galati Yacht Sales, speaking from inside a luxurious Marquis, with kitchen, couch, three staterooms, an 18-foot faux bearskin rug and artwork sprinkled here and there. "We sold one of these at the boat show in St. Petersburg last year."

This Marquis would run you $3.26 million, out the door. Lozeau said he sells two or three every year.

The economy has torpedoed some families' budgets, but the market for yachts costing $700,000 and more is holding its own, he said.

Galati recently sold three boats, he said, the least for $1.3 million.

In the market for one?

Organizers say there are more than 700 boats of all kinds at the convention center, along with vendors hawking all sorts of accessories.

Bass boats, performance boats, personal watercraft, sailboats, engines and more are scattered throughout the center.

Prices start at $1,000 and top out at more than $5 million, organizers say.

Luxury and cruising yachts are available for inspection outside, but you have to take your shoes off to go aboard, and some are off-limits unless there's a salesperson present.

The event will include appearances by John and Andy Hillstrand, co-captains of the boat Time Bandit from the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," and features Miss Geico, the world's fastest offshore-racing boat.

The weekend will bring seminars on boating and fishing, along with information on charting and plotting courses. Attendees can sign up for free boat rides, too.

Rob Creemers, who owns Caribe, a boat sales company in St. Petersburg, rolled out his collection of rigid inflatable boats. The line is green because the vessels are lighter and burn less fuel than standard Fiberglas boats of similar size.

He said he expects to sell as many as eight boats during the weekend show and many more in the coming year to people who see them at the convention center. Many of those customers are wealthy boaters who buy the inflatables as tenders for their yachts.

"The economy is so weird," Creemers said. "But the people with money still have money."
TAMPA BOAT SHOW
Where: Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

Admission: $9 for adults, $5 13- to 15-year-olds, free for those 12 and younger

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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