LA County Boat Show, new dates for 2025

[throttle]

Coming up fast.

January 17-19, 2025 at the Pomona Fairplex

 

[Singleton]

Coming up fast.

January 17-19, 2025 at the Pomona Fairplex

MLK weekend and very little mention of it on a large west coast boating website.
Don’t see attendance being high

 

[ChumpChange]

MLK weekend and very little mention of it on a large west coast boating website.
Don’t see attendance being high

What site is that? I’ve been looking for a boating website.

 

[RiverDave]

Last year I think they had two west coast performance mfg’s.. it’s not worth the trip for us to go.

RD

 

[CammdSS]

I miss the 2005-2017 shows. They were the best

 

[JFMFG]

Any exhibitor list?

 

[Sherpa]

Pomona swap meet is Jan19.

 

[Desert Whaler]

'Hall Shows' has really gone down hill over the last several years . . . I'm actually a little surprised it's even gonna happen in 2025.
The name was sold/ bought-out , and a bunch of legal mess happened along the way, resulting nin crappy shows and pissed vendors exhibitors . . . and ultimately attendees.
From the 'Fred Hall' standpoint both Long Beach and Del Mar, it was a very 'aged' event that had ran it's course. They didn't think outside the box or keep up with the times, and it ran it's course.
You can't breathe new life into something so established by bringing in a bunch of eel skin wallet vendors and some axe throwers and call it 'The greatest outdoor experience ever'.
Actual Ownership changed hands a few times over the course of the last few years, and I gave up trying to keep track of that mess . . . I haven't been to one in probably 10 years.

The only 'decent' show IMO opinion is the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds in March . . . . but there's no 'performance boats' that I'm aware of. it's grown quite a bit since it started . . . but I quit going to that as well . . . largely because it's all the same vendors that were at Fredf Hall.

If things were better with the economy . . . I think there could be a potential for a recreational / preformance boats / watersports show if it started from scratch by someone with half a clue . . . it's not rocket science . . . you just can't use a 76 year old business model . . . .

 

[throttle]

Last year I think they had two west coast performance mfg’s.. it’s not worth the trip for us to go.

RD

Shockwave, Cobra, Eliminator and Barron are the only ones I remember seeing.

 

[Lakerwood12]

Coming up fast.

January 17-19, 2025 at the Pomona Fairplex

Can’t find an exhibitor list anywhere

 

[Lakerwood12]

Last year I think they had two west coast performance mfg’s.. it’s not worth the trip for us to go.

RD

That’s sad

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

I think this show is at the end of there road. The Havasu show has more to see and offer

 

[JFMFG]

I think this show is at the end of there road. The Havasu show has more to see and offer

I agree I like to go and walk around it’s only 20 mins away at max. But if there is nothing to see why go.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Brings me back to my thread recently about west coast build numbers.

The market is not sustainable when you only build 500k price point boats and up. Or only build 10 a year.

Pretty crazy this seems end of an era.

The havasu boat show isn’t great either

Not like the LA shows in the early 2000’s

 

[HBCraig]

The boat shows in the early 2000's were epic. Bought my 247 in 2004 from John West. He had a Stealth with a big system that was hitting hard. That cost me 3k as I opted to take that system.

 

[Singleton]

Brings me back to my thread recently about west coast build numbers.

The market is not sustainable when you only build 500k price point boats and up. Or only build 10 a year.

Pretty crazy this seems end of an era.

The havasu boat show isn’t great either

Not like the LA shows in the early 2000’s

West coast performance boating is a dying industry IMO.
10-15 years from now, I only see DCB and Eliminator being around.
All the other guys have zero models that support your average boater.

 

[twocents]

The boat shows in the early 2000's were epic. Bought my 247 in 2004 from John West. He had a Stealth with a big system that was hitting hard. That cost me 3k as I opted to take that system.

A little perspective -- the L.A. Boat Show at the convention center downtown averaged 21 to 23 "west coast performance boat" brands exhibiting annually in the early 2000s. The Lake Havasu Boat Show averaged 12 to 14 different "west coast performance boat" brands displaying from 2012 to 2019. I doubt if that era will return anytime soon.

 

[JFMFG]

West coast performance boating is a dying industry IMO.
10-15 years from now, I only see DCB and Eliminator being around.
All the other guys have zero models that support your average boater.

I think there is some builders that you can still get a decent boat for a decent price Tahiti, Essex, advantage? I know the rest are well into the 300+ range that most people can’t afford.

 

[BHC Vic]

I think there is some builders that you can still get a decent boat for a decent price Tahiti, Essex, advantage? I know the rest are well into the 300+ range that most people can’t afford.

I would love to build another cobra but I can’t afford the new boats. Or can’t really justify it I guess even if I could

 

[OLDRAAT]

With the exception of CC's, bass boats, big bux toons, lake lice and grossly overpriced ski boats, performance boats especially those with custom designs and high-end power are rare here now. The big bux at GLOC has moved toward cruisers and yachts and large tenders.
What's discerning is many of these folks don't even have training or the aquired skill set to operate them safely.

I turn down offers now and then when someone asks me if I would part time captain for lake cruises. Not going down that legal rabbit hole.
The only thing I offer at no cost is to show them how all the systems work and how they operate, review the manuals along basic maintenance and get my ass out of there.

 

[Lakerwood12]

I agree I like to go and walk around it’s only 20 mins away at max. But if there is nothing to see why go.

I saw that Cobra Performance Boats will be there. I also emailed Essex to see if they would be there. Will let you know once they respond.

 

[JFMFG]

I would love to build another cobra but I can’t afford the new boats. Or can’t really justify it I guess even if I could

Cobra has really stepped it up in impressed with their new builds they’ve been doing. Your boat is nice Vic. Would you upgrade to a cat or just a new vee?

 

[JFMFG]

I saw that Cobra Performance Boats will be there. I also emailed Essex to see if they would be there. Will let you know once they respond.

Awesome thank you.

 

[BHC Vic]

Cobra has really stepped it up in impressed with their new builds they’ve been doing. Your boat is nice Vic. Would you upgrade to a cat or just a new vee?

More than likely it would be a cobra 260 razor so vee bottom. Really like the hallett 270s too though

 

[attitude]

The early 2000s LA boat shows were the shit, sad to see what it has turned into.

 

[Done-it-again]

I think this show is at the end of there road. The Havasu show has more to see and offer

Maybe for custom west coast builders showing off. But they usually have more production boats that are quite busy with people.

if you are ONLY looking for custom WC power boats then no.

 

[rrrr]

Boat shows in general are nothing like they used to be. One of my good friends is a dealer here in Dallas. They used to have the Viking and Crusiers lines. Those were dropped. Now it's Chaparral, Skeeter, G3, and a couple of pontoon lines I don't remember. They would bring 40'-50' yachts to the Dallas Boat Show, and about 40 boats total. Eliminator had a showroom here between 2006-2008 I want to say. The boat show was huge.

I would hit the show at least twice every year to take in all of the displays, it ran two weeks. Now it's two weekends only, and takes up a third of its former exhibition space. It's been probably 10-12 years since I've attended.

 

[JFMFG]

Maybe for custom west coast builders showing off. But they usually have more production boats that are quite busy with people.

if you are ONLY looking for custom WC power boats then no.

True. If you think about it the market is far bigger for wake boats,pontoons, and fishing boats. It’s just us RDP folk that are into performance lol

 

[JFMFG]

More than likely it would be a cobra 260 razor so vee bottom. Really like the hallett 270s too though

What would a 260 razor go for now? 110-115k or am I way off?

 

[Singleton]

What would a 260 razor go for now? 110-115k or am I way off?

Way off. I dont think @BHC Vic could build his current boat for $125k

 

[JFMFG]

Way off. I dont think @BHC Vic could build his current boat for $125k

True power package is 60k alone.

 

[BHC Vic]

What would a 260 razor go for now? 110-115k or am I way off?

I would want a 520 so I’d say closer to 180

 

[old rigger]

I miss the 2005-2017 shows. They were the best

The early 2000s LA boat shows were the shit, sad to see what it has turned into.

I know it's all relative but the shows in the 70's-early 90s were the best although to be honest I haven't been to a boat show in 25 years.

All the so cal builders and their employees all knew one another. No real egos to bruise and especially in the 70s until 1980, we couldn't build the boats fast enough. It was great, kinda like GM use to be...customers started out buying a bottom of the line Chevy, moved up to a Pontiac then an Olds and so on. There were entry level boats (built those) better boats (built lots of those) and the upper crust (those too).

So much fun, especially the after parties.

And you never knew who'd you run into...

 

[FROGMAN524]

The boat shows in the early 2000's were epic. Bought my 247 in 2004 from John West. He had a Stealth with a big system that was hitting hard. That cost me 3k as I opted to take that system.

Back then People were making $100,000 and buying boats for $40-80,000, in a lot of cases, now people are still making $100,000 and those same boats are $250,000+

 

[Joe mama]

The LA boat shows were the best. Couldn’t wait to see what DCB would bring.

 

[AFTERSHOCK RACING+]

The LA boat shows were the best. Couldn’t wait to see what DCB would bring.

I wood agree with you

 

[Flying_Lavey]

The LA boat shows were the best. Couldn’t wait to see what DCB would bring.

That is one aspect nobody here is mentioning either. Boat shows have been suffering the same way and for the same reasons as car magazines have been. Those used to be the only way to get to see or hear about the new product and/or models. Now, with the internet you get to hear about them almost instantly. New products or models are revealed whenever its appropriate for the manufacturer.

Mercury announces a new engine to be revealed at the Miami show.... no need to be there or wait for a magazine to come out 3 months later with that information, Just on ol' RDP and its all right there.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Costs a lot of money to build something by hand these days no matter what it is.

 

[NicPaus]

What would a 260 razor go for now? 110-115k or am I way off?

I asked my Buddy that works at Cobra what my boat would cost now. He said around 160k.

I think it was the 260 mold that is in ruff shape since they have not built one in a while or the 270. One needed some work if they plan on building 1.

They are cranking out Cats and deck boats. Occasionally a 230 like Vics.

 

[ToMorrow44]

Back then People were making $100,000 and buying boats for $40-80,000, in a lot of cases, now people are still making $100,000 and those same boats are $250,000+

Yeah unfortunately wages haven’t kept up with inflation. I remember hearing that Advantage would go to the LA boat show and sell 15-20 boats that week. They were well within the realm of a middle class family.

 

[LazyLavey]

Back then People were making $100,000 and buying boats for $40-80,000, in a lot of cases, now people are still making $100,000 and those same boats are $250,000+

Right... a good truck was under 20k then too

 

[Lakerwood12]

Awesome thank you.

I called Essex they will not be there

 

[JFMFG]

So what performance boat companies will be there. Trying to decide if I wanna go or take the kids to Knotts instead

 

[NIKKI WALTERS]

So what performance boat companies will be there. Trying to decide if I wanna go or take the kids to Knotts instead

Cobra will be there!

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

So what performance boat companies will be there. Trying to decide if I wanna go or take the kids to Knotts instead

Eliminator will be there

 

[JFMFG]

Eliminator will be there

I think we are gonna skip this year.

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

So what performance boat companies will be there. Trying to decide if I wanna go or take the kids to Knotts instead

Go to Knotts instead and enjoy the day with the family

 

[JFMFG]

Go to Knotts instead and enjoy the day with the family

Ya we will shoot down there around 3 when I get home. We get passes every year let them hit camp snoopy, eat and be on the way home by 8.

 

[throttle]

If you are looking for a nice new Bennington, there are some sick low prices on a few 25RX models at Sun Country for the show.

I wanted to jump on this but need to sell mine first.

 

[FROGMAN524]

I hope Dave is able to get a report and some interviews from the show