[Rhodes22-list] Boat Show Report

[R22RumRunner at aol.com]

Mary Lou,
Thanks for the great report on the show. It was almost as if I was  there.
 
Rummy
 
 
In a message dated 10/9/2009 10:42:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
mtroy at atlanticbb.net writes:

Art  asked for a Boat Show report. So here goes. My apologies if I 
missed  someone that we spent time talking to. It was a very warm day 
and  ultimately I wilted a bit in the heat. (That's my story but in 
truth my  memory isn't great and my memory for names and faces is even  
worse)

Arrived in Annapolis around 0835 and parked in our secret  parking 
place. Had breakfast at a local hangout and had a nice chat with  the 
folks at the next table. One was a local racer and the other a friend  
who was working a booth for company from Newport RI making kevlar  
kayaks. Service was slow so we by the time we hit the bank and then  
walked over to the show it was open. We did stop on the way and  
admired Chris's Opus in the demo boat slip. Very sharp looking  boat.

Wandered around a bit hit the GB display around 1030. 3 boats on  
land. A new one, a recycled '01 and a recycled '88 with the mast 
hoist  system in place. Made for a very impressive display. # terrific 
boats. I  think it was made possible by the fact that Hunter seems to 
have abandoned  the space where it had a shoreside display. Spent some 
time talking to  Michael Meltzer. Met Mac Macready from the Magothy 
and Steve Staum from  Massachusetts. And a couple from Kansas who own 
an older boat. Can't  remember your names. Oops. Also at the display 
was Carlos Rodriguez from  General Boats.

No gathering for lunch.

In looking for a place  for lunch we did see a couple in R22 shirts. 
We followed them to their  table and introduced themselves. I didn't 
catch or don't recall their  names but they were from Montreal and 
bought Peter Thorn's Raven which  once belonged to the Kaynors and 
before that to Gary Sanford. I think  that's the only R22 where we've 
met 4 of the owners. We invited them to  join the list so you may hear 
from them something about the crazy  Americans who accost people at lunch.

We managed to hit nearly all the  land displays and a few of the boat 
displays in addition to the GB  display. I found a great deal on a 
pair of Keen sandals and bought my  nautical Christmas cards including 
elle's Santa crab.

Actually GB  was bucking the trend with a larger display. There were 
fewer Catalinas,  Hunters and Island Packets at the show than in 
recent years. There were  fewer large catamarans but there were still 
a lot. West Marine had moved  to the much larger space once occupied 
by Boaters World (and I got a good  deal on some sailing gloves). We 
spent a bunch of time talking to Garmin  trying to figure out the 
differences between their small  GPS/plotters.

Came back to the GB booth several times to see if we  could help sell 
a Rhodes or three. Chris, your boat was out on at least 3  demo sales 
one of which may have sold a boat. We may have another boat on  the 
Choptank River off the Chesapeake Bay. Overall, interest in the R22  
seemed high and Michael was working his butt off trying to be a  
pushy-in-a-nice-way New York salesman. Actually he was great and if 
he  works at the same pace tomorrow he may be worn out by the time he 
starts  his new job in Chicago.

I think overall attendance was a little light  but maybe not as light 
as last year or the year before in the rain. Rain  is predicted for 
tomorrow. Not necessarily a bad thing as serious buyers  still go.

We originally thought we might stick around and do dinner in  
Annapolis but our feet were sore and we were wilting from the heat so  
around 1800 we bid Stan, Elton, Michael, Mac and Steve goodbye and  
headed back to the car.

Stopped in Chestertown on our way home.  Highly recommend Brooks 
Tavern if you are ever there. Great food, moderate  portions and 
prices. Arrived home to 40-some email messages and the  request for a 
Boat Show Report.

Good night.

Mary Lou
1991  R22 Fretless
Rock Hall,  MD

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