2023 LA Boatshow report

[Sharp Shooter]

So we have concluded the “performance hall” only to goto the next hall and find hotboats!! As well Brad from SoCal Jetboats had a large booth there, NJBA and Place Diverter as well! I thought it was cool these guys showed up and it added a lot to the show if you ask me.

That was "The Show". The rest was just fluff.

Thanks for the show coverage Dave!~

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

They by far have the best manufacturer merch out there. I wish I could find some Magic Boats apparel.

Feels like Magic brand is in rear view mirror at present.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

And finally the “Belle of the Ball” as they say.. this was by far and away the most talked about boat in the performance hall and it drew such crowds that eventually they pulled the steps away from the boat to try and minimize so many people getting up on it and not leaving.. lol (seriously). It’s definitely different and everyone I talked to absolutely loved it.

I believe they have approximately 30 on order now and I know the wait list is approaching two years if it isn’t past two years.

[email protected]
909-465-3419

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Thanks for covering the ChaseToon... thats a lot of orders which is fantastic.... It'll be interesting to learn where they mostly end up. I could see applications far and wide in the states beyond Havasu.

 

[DWC]

First water test it ran flawlessly. Hopefully this week we will conclude final water testing with more props

Assume it’s faster? Any other benefits from the new bottom? Pretty cool to see the evolution.

 

[RiverDave]

Assume it’s faster? Any other benefits from the new bottom? Pretty cool to see the evolution.

I'm assuming they provided more transom lift (somehow, whether that's filling the notch or adding lifting strakes etc.) to account for the outboards..

RD

 

[Englewood]

Am I the only one who has their OCD going off from this picture?

The circles on the sea deck don't line up...

I have ocd but I don’t see what your seeing

The circles on the sea deck

 

[clarence]

View attachment 1192275

Did you happen to take a look at the Yamaha boats?

 

[Havasu Rehab]

Feels like Magic brand is in rear view mirror at present.

Yup… hopefully Horizon can bring it back and put some new products out there. Or just start selling some swag

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Yup… hopefully Horizon can bring it back and put some new products out there. Or just start selling some swag

I know the River folks were fans of the brand back in their day. I just think thats a very crowded space for that sized performance boat. Looks like the present active builders have market covered. Still hoping for Sosa Performance to drop freshness on it some day.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Ha Ha... look at em selling those monthly payments.

Yeah I got a good chuckle out of the monthly payment on this one. Makes it sound SO much more affordable (From ATL boat show).

 

[hallett21]

So what’s the AZ builder’s excuse lol.

I was taking to Jerry Barron one day...

He was telling me how all the CARB regulations have pushed the price of boats into the stratosphere.

Old days? Fuel tanks? A few hundred bucks and your done.

Today? Total EVAP systems are Expensive to design, and install!!! We are well beyond hundreds and into the thousands. And fuel tanks are just ONE aspect...

I don't think most people realize how much CARB regulations have pushed up the price of the sport we all love.

And it affects Everything being sold in CA.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Yeah I got a good chuckle out of the monthly payment on this one. Makes it sound SO much more affordable (From ATL boat show). View attachment 1192498

You'd think by now they'd understand we're all Ballers and only pay cash

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Soooo, I see a lot of these boats have some form of suede interior, how does that hold up? Seems problematic to me.

I know a guy that says these interiors don’t hold up. Either they seperate from the backing or they fade until they are no longer the as built color. Better to stick to regular upholstery, unless you got the bucks to keep replacing it.

 

[rivermobster]

So what’s the AZ builder’s excuse lol.

Well...

Years ago the big 3 had CA cars and Other cars. They dropped that program decades ago.

Why?

Cause most other states eventually adopted the CA standard anyways, and it got too expensive to build different cars for different states!

I don't know this for a fact, but I'm gonna guess all the boat builders have done the same?

 

[hallett21]

Well...

Years ago the big 3 had CA cars and Other cars. They dropped that program decades ago.

Why?

Cause most other states eventually adopted the CA standard anyways, and it got too expensive to build different cars for different states!

I don't know this for a fact, but I'm gonna guess all the boat builders have done the same?

I shoulda put a smiley I was half screwing around. Prices only go up

 

[FlyByWire]

The green cobra is a friends boat, I know what they paid and let’s say it’s a pretty boat lmao

200?

It’s my dream boat. Pre covid build with a 565 was going to be 140 and I kick myself for not building one now.

 

[rivermobster]

I shoulda put a smiley I was half screwing around. Prices only go up

You are correct.

 

[HNL2LHC]

The circles on the sea deck don't line up...

The circles on the sea deck

This is what I see…..

 

[LHC Kirby]

@RiverDave was Nordic there ?

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

@RiverDave was Nordic there ?

No.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

I know a guy that says these interiors don’t hold up. Either they seperate from the backing or they fade until they are no longer the as built color. Better to stick to regular upholstery, unless you got the bucks to keep replacing it.

Have heard the same, they don't hold up. The black is especially terrible because it fades and then looks pinkish. If I was building a new boat, I would do what the wake guys do and put the cool touch interior in.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I was taking to Jerry Barron one day...

He was telling me how all the CARB regulations have pushed the price of boats into the stratosphere.

Old days? Fuel tanks? A few hundred bucks and your done.

Today? Total EVAP systems are Expensive to design, and install!!! We are well beyond hundreds and into the thousands. And fuel tanks are just ONE aspect...

I don't think most people realize how much CARB regulations have pushed up the price of the sport we all love.

And it affects Everything being sold in CA.

Remember, just because some fringe group calls for something, does not mean they will get it…

And yet they did, and they already have

 

[Bpracing1127]

200?

It’s my dream boat. Pre covid build with a 565 was going to be 140 and I kick myself for not building one now.

This one is a bit more than that. Closer to 300 than 200

 

[curtiej10]

This is what I see…..

View attachment 1192581

That is the Gatorstep design that plays off the lines on the side of the boat

 

[HNL2LHC]

That is the Gatorstep design that plays off the lines on the side of the boat

Not to be overly critical but if they play off the lines on the sides they should line up in the rear. Then the line coming to the back should land at the same heights. These are not so the angles could be off……But now that I think about it maybe the panel that we are looking at are two different lengths and causing it to look off. Either way that is a good looking pontoon.

 

[RiverDave]

Did you happen to take a look at the Yamaha boats?

Well I'm straight... so no.

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Not to be overly critical but if they play off the lines on the sides they should line up in the rear. Then the line coming to the back should land at the same heights. These are not so the angles could be off……But now that I think about it maybe the panel that we are looking at are two different lengths and causing it to look off. Either way that is a good looking pontoon.

It might be the angle of the photo.. I usually notice stuff like this, and I didn't notice it in person.

RD

 

[stonehenge]

Amazing write ups and photos!

With Howards new owner are they still sticking to their legendary quality crafts? And do you know if they offer any kind of billet seat bases on the 255vtx?

thanks again for this thread

 

[curtiej10]

Not to be overly critical but if they play off the lines on the sides they should line up in the rear. Then the line coming to the back should land at the same heights. These are not so the angles could be off……But now that I think about it maybe the panel that we are looking at are two different lengths and causing it to look off. Either way that is a good looking pontoon.

Thank you, in person it looks a lot different and we played with the idea of the lines wrapping around which just was too busy.

 

[clarence]

Well I'm straight... so no.

RD

Yamaha:

 

[RiverDave]

Amazing write ups and photos!

With Howards new owner are they still sticking to their legendary quality crafts? And do you know if they offer any kind of billet seat bases on the 255vtx?

thanks again for this thread

The seat bases on the 288 and the 255 are tooled into the floor of the boat, so they would not be offering billet seat bases. Curious why would you want a billet seat base over what's there right now? You actually get a little storage under the seat with the current configuration.

RD

 

[Cole Trickle]

Thank you, in person it looks a lot different and we played with the idea of the lines wrapping around which just was too busy.

I wonder how it would looks with just a 5" toe kick around that back pod.

 

[RiverDave]

I am kinda surprised that nobody liked those 360 cam vids I put up on the last page.. We edited the camera angles to just kinda give a quick tour of the boat, but again we can put the actual footage up so you can spin it around etc..

I honestly thought that would be the next "big thing".

RD

 

[Gelcoater]

Well I'm straight... so no.

RD

 

[stonehenge]

The seat bases on the 288 and the 255 are tooled into the floor of the boat, so they would not be offering billet seat bases. Curious why would you want a billet seat base over what's there right now? You actually get a little storage under the seat with the current configuration.

RD

I like the idea of a drop-down option on the seat cushion, allowing the driver and or passenger to stand if they want to, in addition I like the openness and look of the billet base. However, I did not know they were tooled into the floor, nor did I know they had storage underneath, kinda cool.

 

[RiverDave]

I like the idea of a drop-down option on the seat cushion, allowing the driver and or passenger to stand if they want to, in addition I like the openness and look of the billet base. However, I did not know they were tooled into the floor, nor did I know they had storage underneath, kinda cool.

Can you get a swivel option for the passenger perhaps? or even the driver?

Both those boats are way too low freeboard to be standing up in them.

RD

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Both those boats are way too low freeboard to be standing up in them.

RD

I think he’s seen Titanic too many times.

 

[stonehenge]

Both those boats are way too low freeboard to be standing up in them.

RD

Ratts, then I guess my fat ass will have to learn to sit. thx for the knowledgeable info

 

[QC22]

I am kinda surprised that nobody liked those 360 cam vids I put up on the last page.. We edited the camera angles to just kinda give a quick tour of the boat, but again we can put the actual footage up so you can spin it around etc..

I honestly thought that would be the next "big thing".

RD

I think the issue is there is no preview color for click bait. They almost look like dead links on the page.

Once clicked they are pretty cool. I wouldn't give up on the concept yet.

 

[DiamondDave]

I think the issue is there is no preview color for click bait. They almost look like dead links on the page.

Once clicked they are pretty cool. I wouldn't give up on the concept yet.

This

 

[havasu5150]

Thanks for the report on the show Dave. very informative.

 

[Cole Trickle]

The new Essex with the built in swim step looks great!

 

[riverroyal2]

I cant afford any of this stuff anymore... $1300 boat payments must be normal

 

[Cole Trickle]

I cant afford any of this stuff anymore... $1300 boat payments must be normal

Boats......you can't even afford your original screen name anymore

 

[RiverDave]

Ranger Pontoon for 121k!

Compare to Bennington at 200k!

Bennington RX Sport twin 300’s

Let me know what ya think!

RD

 

[RiverDave]

Dek X and introduction to the first hall of the LA Boatshow

 

[Singleton]

Ranger Pontoon for 121k!

Compare to Bennington at 200k!

Bennington RX Sport twin 300’s

Let me know what ya think!

RD

These are what you leverage to increase advertisement $$ from manufacturers
Quick independent reviews, highlighting key features you like, etc

 

[RiverDave]

 

[RiverDave]

 

[RiverDave]

The price tags on these aren’t for the faint of heart but they are bad ass