The last two times I went to the boat show it cost me $32k in 2001 and my buddy $80k in 2020. No one wants to go with me anymore.

 

Boats have doubled in price since 2020. Better bring $160K.

 

That’s for down payment

 

I remember when you could buy a boat, motor, and trailer for roughly $1000 per foot.

 

And that was for a sports fisherman type boat. Boats under 30 feet were much cheaper than that. In 1971, or so, I bought a new 20 foot center console for $3500.

 

My BIL told me the cheapest center console fishing boat he saw was listed for 100k.

 

IMO.....Seems like the best thing about the boat show these days is that it merged with the auto show. All the fishing related/lure companies seemed to have bailed on the boat show and wait until the fishing show. Maybe it's always been that way, but I feel like more fishing brands used to be there. No doubt it's fun to look at the bass boats, pontoons, and ski boats; but wish there were more center console inshore focused boats there. Not sure what the ratio is, but seems to be only a fraction of JH's, Majeks, Pathfinders, etc. to the pleasure type boats. Don't mean to be petty, just stating what I've noticed! I'll still go every year to keep the tradition alive

 

I worked the boat show for years with H&H rods. NRG treats their exhibitors like cr@p, and they made it so expensive with ridiculous hours (doesn't seem to be the case now, but it used to be 9 days long).

I think most of the companies you are referencing learned that it just makes more sense to skip it and wait for the Holder show at GRB.

I used to look forward to the boat show, and now I couldn't care less to ever attend it again.

 

Same thing with truck prices. It is ridiculous!!! And don't tell me it was due to covid. The prices started going crazes 10 years ago. Buying a $100K boat and $100K truck and paying almost $2500 to $3000 per month is stupid. When enough people stop buying new trucks and boats, it will force them to lower prices or go out of business. Just down right greedy and dealers lie just like politicians and lawyers. I typically go to the boat show to use as "birth control" for buying a new boat. When I get home from the show, I love on my paid for boat and appreciate it more.

 

In 2005, a 38 fountain was about $200k ready to fish.

Compare that to the 35s and 36s rolling off the lot today at $700k+

 

I went. The auto show was really good. Boats were good too with lots of variety and all the engines of the market on display or represented. As others said - everything seemed expensive, but it’s a show not necessarily a store. Fun to look.

 

Standing next to a 600 HP Mercury outboard was a little awe inspiring! Outside of that, I concur with other comments about high pricing and less fishing boat focused.

 

Here is a YouTube made by some local folks, they pan some prices. HLF!!!