Times are tough, so the Miami International Boat Show is going overboard to make it easier to buy a boat.
The 68th Miami show, which runs today through Monday at three sites, will have an Affordability Pavilion to help people find boats that can be financed for $300 or less per month.
The pavilion, which has appeared at other boat shows, will feature fishing boats, runabouts and personal watercraft such as an Angler 173F ($250 per month), the 20-foot Carolina Skiff 218DLV ($219), a Polar Kraft Bass Series TX175 Pro ($125) and the Yamaha VX Cruiser and VX Deluxe PWCs ($59).
Those in the market for a boat should find good deals at the show…Â More info
SubAviator Systems has designed a new two seater submarine designed for advanced marine exploration. Made from a lightweight composite and designed like an underwater airplane complete with wings, the SAS Aviator submarine uses electric power to travel up to 5.2 knots and descend up to 1,000 feet deep in sea water. The Aviator can make up to four one hour training dives in a single day or stay underwater for up to five hours at a time on a single longer mission. …Â More info
Retailers across the country are yanking shoes, toys, Valentine’s gifts and other children’s goods from shelves to comply with a strict lead law that took effect Tuesday.
The repercussions of the hotly debated Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which bans the sale of children’s products containing dangerous amounts of lead and chemicals called phthalates, began rippling through the industry as manufacturers realized the law wasn’t going away…. More info
The L.A. Boat Show opened on a high note considering the challenging economic times. On the whole, exhibitors reported more interest that far exceeded expectations.
“We’re happy and making sales at the show,” commented Scott Driesbach, Advantage Boats COO with factory headquarters in Lake Havasu City, AZ. “It’s been a long six months, but after this Saturday and Sunday, we’re feeling much better about what 2009 holds in store. We closed several deals the first day and the introduction of our new 34 XFlight model created a lot of consumer buzz and plenty of quality leads that we’ll be following up in the weeks and months ahead.”
“This was pretty much the sentiment expressed by the majority of exhibitors at the show,” said SCMA Executive Director, Dave Geoffroy. “What was very encouraging…Â More info