Toronto International Boat Show

[Jaws]

The Toronto show was very well attended today (Saturday) as it winds up on this extremely cold weekend. Things were a bit quiet on Friday but there seems to be lots of interest, and in speaking with several vendors it appeared to be a positive tone both in sales and interest. There were also a surprising number of "sold" stickers, but who knows if that's part of the sales ploy.

Sea Ray had quite a few models with the largest ones being the 52, 48, 43 and 40 Sundancers. No bridge boats. It was interesting to note that the 52 'Dancer was within a hundred feet of the competition, the Regal 5260, the Cruisers 520 Sport Coupe, and three 50' Marquis models.

James

 

[spimik]

We missed the show- had planned on going, but took a last minute trip to Orlando. Glad we did, missed a power outage and near record low temps here.

Would have liked to have spent some time on board the 40 and 43, but that would have just made me nuts trying to figure out how to talk the wife into trading up! Better in the long run for me to stay away from those shows!

 

[steviep53]

What was your impression of the 43 if you managed to get on it?

 

[Jaws]

The 43 Sundancer is a very different boat in some ways but closely resembles the 48 in others. I've been on the boat three times now and watched it dock in September. The Zeus drives are pretty impressive in moving the boat laterally. (I drove the 330 with Axius and was similarly impressed)

What I like about the 43 is this: The sunroof is great; salon and aft stateroom are nicely done, and the Zeus drives result in almost as much cabin space as in the 48. I like the cockpit arrangements of these boats over the 52, which is big but a little bare like my 460.

But: it's almost the same money as the 48. The helm is a bit tight and the aft bench that splits for a sunpad is strange. You definitely wouldn't put a full camper on the 43.

Basically the 43 and 48 are quite similar and you have to like the idea of a separate aft stateroom. (Take a look at the mid cabin arrangement in Regal's 4460) If you like a more open concept as in the 42/44, 450, 460 and last generation 55, then you're out of luck. Sea Ray is compartmentalizing everything because that's what we want,....they think.

James