[Southsider2k12]

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1434307&spid=18042

30TH ANNUAL MICHIGAN CITY IN-WATER BOAT SHOW CHARGES FULL STEAM AHEAD, AUGUST 27-30!



Time to sail-abrate! Summer family fun is knot but a hop, skipper and jump away from downtown Chicago! The 30th Annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show will make waves Thursday, August 27th through Sunday, August 30th at Washington Park (200 Heisman Harbor Rd.) in Michigan City, Ind.

Lake Michigan’s biggest lake-side floating boat show will feature hundreds of powerboats and sailboats, including many NEW 2010 models on public display for the first time anywhere; big tents showcasing everything from marine electronics and trailers to nautical clothing and sailing accessories! Purchase Tickets Here!

WLS Insiders, enter to win a Family 4-pack of tickets to the Michigan City Boat Show in Michigan City now! (Tickets are good for any day from Thursday, August 27th - Sunday, August 30th).
Complete Details: michigancityboatshow.com OR call Lake Erie Marine Trades Association at 440.899.5009.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=36494.93

In-Water Boat Show next week

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City In-Water Boat Show, set for Aug. 27-31, marks its 30th year at this location.

The show is organized by Norm Schultz and Ken Alevy, of the Lake Erie Marina Trade Association, in partnership with the Port Authority, now celebrating its 50th year in operation.

In recognition of the event organizers' dedication to Michigan City's boating industry, the Port Authority board voted Monday to declare Aug. 27-30 "Schultz and Alvey Days."

[Tom Burns]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=36494.93

For the 30th year WEFM will broadcast live from the show and will provide updates on newscasts.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49853.29

Getting ready for the In-Water Boat Show

Laurie Wink and Deborah Sederberg

MICHIGAN CITY - Preparations were well under way Tuesday for the 30th annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show, set for Thursday through Monday, one of the largest and longest-running in-water shows on the Great Lakes.

More than 100 of the latest power and sailing boats will be displayed in the harbor in Washington Park for the big event. Booths on land will have available gifts, accessories and equipment for boats and boaters.

On Tuesday, boats large and small were arriving at assigned slips, numerous tents were up and wait staff at the Harbor Grill were gearing up for banner business from boat show visitors.

Sara Belue, Michigan City, has been a server since May and said the restaurant was stocking up for brisk business during the well-attended event. Belue has heard about last year's heavy turnout and was sure the restaurant will be busy again this year.

"When the Nina and Pinta were here, we were busy for lunch and dinner," she said.

Belue was setting up tables on the Harbor Grill deck, which features a prime view of the Michigan City harbor and the boat show festivities.

Produced by the by the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association of Westlake, Ohio, the show this year is under the direction of In-Water Show Manager Ken Alvey.

Over the years, the Michigan City Port Authority and show organizers estimate the boat show has pumped about $68 million into the community.

What's more, the Michigan City Exchange Club, which sells snacks and foods at the event, puts its earnings back into the community, especially into child abuse prevention programs.

Eight exhibitors have been a part of the show from the very beginning - B&E Marine, Avalanche Jewelry, Larsen Marine Service, North Shore Marine, Smuggler's Cove (formerly House of Gold), Spring Brook Marina, Star-S Industries and Tiara Yachts.

[Southsider2k12]

They are advertising this pretty heavily in the predominantly middle aged males media centers. I have heard/seen ads on both Comcast Sportsnet and WSCR 670 Am in the last week.

http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=10999289

It's how Michiana boating enthusiasts cap off a great summer!

The 30th annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show will take place in Washington Park this weekend!

The event is not only a place for boaters to celebrate,but it's also serves as a showcase for dealers.

Organizers say if you're in the market for a boat. you need to come to Michigan City this weekend.

"I can't stress enough that it's going to be a great year to buy. I mean, we never seen boat prices like this in probably the last 10 years or so," said organizer Mike DiLorenzo

The show begins Thursday and runs through Sunday.

And yes, Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel will be back!

For more information on the show go to www.michigancityboatshow.com

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/55705522.html

'Buyer's market' at Michigan City In-Water Boat Show
By Alyssa Rossomme (arossomme@wsbt.com)


MICHIGAN CITY — Boat lovers will not want to miss the 30th annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show.
Related Content

Visitors will see new innovations in boating. For example, even inexperienced boaters will be able to dock the craft with new joysticks that guide it forward, backward, from side to side, or in rotation. Some boats also have a new inverted propulsion system. The propellers are rotated and pull the boat through the water instead of pushing it.

Dealers say the economy has hurt the boating industry. It has become more difficult for potential buyers to secure boat loans. But for those who can afford the purchase, the lag in sales is good news.

“The discounts and incentives that are on boats right now are unprecedented. I have not seen it in my 25 years with the company,” said Pete Braun, Midwest sales manager for Formula Boats.

“So if you've ever had even an inkling of looking to buy a boat, this is going to be the year,” added Mike DiLorenzo, Boat Show Advertising/PR Manager. “We haven't seen boat prices like this in years. So this is definitely a buyer's market.”

Used and non-current models are also for sale at rock-bottom prices at the show’s brokerage pier. The Michigan City In-Water Boat Show runs through Sunday at Washington Park in Michigan City. The cost is $10 for adults. Kids 12-and-under get in free.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39915.43

Talking shop at the Boat Show

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - Shopping for a boat is like shopping for a car in only one aspect - you want to know how fast the thing will go. Otherwise, you've got a lot to learn.

At the Michigan City In-Water Boat Show on Saturday, hundreds of boat owners took the opportunity to talk shop with salesmen from dealers like B & E Marina of Michigan City.

"Which is this?" one man asked B & E salesman Rene Richmann.

"This is the 35 Sovereign, it's more of a cruising boat," Richmann replied. "You can get her in either gas or diesel, depending on what you need."

"What's the price?"

"On this one, with all of its features, oh, I think it's about...$357,000."

"How big is the draft?"

"Thirty-eight inches, not much different from the smaller boats."

"What about the drive system?"

"It's got IPS. A cruise ship uses the same joystick propulsion system, but it's got pods underneath."

Draft refers to how deep the water needs to be to keep the boat afloat. And IPS is an Inboard Performance System, what boating aficionados like Richmann call the "biggest news in boating" in decades - it basically does for boat maneuverability what front wheel drive did for cars. The technology is only a few years old.

Clearly, these people know what they're talking about. But what does a beginner really need to know about a boat before they buy?

It boils down to three things, said veteran boat owner Mike McGrogan, Long Beach - dependability, safety and functionality.

"Especially if you're boating on Lake Michigan, you need to have something that won't take on water when there are 8-foot waves," McGrogan said. "Also, you need to know what you want to use it for. We used to have a boat with a galley, which is like a kitchen, but we decided since we have a lake home we decided to trade it in and get something a little faster. A family with young kids might only need something 20 feet long, but when you've got three 20-year-old sons you might need a 30-foot boat."

You can shop around on the Internet for the best prices, but finding a reputable dealer to bargain with is crucial to an owner's happiness, McGrogan said.

"This one here was discounted to $299,000, but it's already down to $239,000, and you can probably talk them lower," he said. "The best dealers will know what else is out there and get to a price you can afford. The customer service afterward, though, is what you really need."

Like McGrogan, Bob McDowell and his wife, Ann, already own a boat, but they came to check out the newest models B & E had to offer.

"You need to realize there's a huge cost involved in maintaining and docking the boat before you get into it," said Bob McDowell, St. Joseph, Mich. "Spread out, you'll be spending at least $200 a month to dock it, put gas in it, simple stuff like that. Smaller boats it's not so much."

Over the course of the boat show, B & E captain Darrell Nichols said they may only get an average of 12 commitments to purchase a boat, none of which are finalized until after the test drive following the show. In a high-cost market such as theirs, the show can eventually bring in more than a few million dollars. That means they do some scoping of their own among the crowd.

"You have to pay attention to their body language, see if what they do on a boat and once they get off, if they stand there and look at it longer," Nichols said. "Most of the people here already own a boat and they're just looking for what's new. But you never know."

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25479

Boat show
In-Water Boat Show in 30th year

Editorial

The Michigan City In-Water Boat Show has become an enduring tradition here, having returned this summer during a recession that halted a number of other boat shows in the nation. Now in its 30th year, the boat show is a tribute to its director for the first 29 years, Norm Schultz, local organizers like Ron Bensz, and the Michigan City Port Authority.

They all recognized that Michigan City and its harbor provide a first-class location for a boat show where more than 100 boats can be put on display on temporary docks. In turn, the boat show has made Michigan City the place to be for those interested in a new boat or nautical equipment, and the thousands of people who come here give the city an economic boost.

The history of the boat show is one of overcoming challenges, starting with persuading Norm Schultz to bring his Lake Erie Marine Trades Association here to put on the show. At the time Schultz didn't know where Michigan City was, but persistent efforts by the local boat dealers got him interested.

Like this year, the first boat show in 1980 was held during an economic recession, but it nevertheless survived and continued year after year, growing into a boating industry fixture in the Midwest. It even weathered storms two years in a row, in 2006 and 2007, including the 2006 lashing of the harbor with 106 mph winds.

It also has spawned a new tradition, the popular Smooth Jazz at South Shore concert on the Saturday night of the boat show weekend, now in its third year.

The boat show and jazz concert make Michigan City one of the coolest places to be this weekend. They also bring a lot of visitors to the city. The boat show estimates that over the 30 years visitors have pumped $68 million into the local economy.

Let's hope the annual boat show continues full speed ahead.


Our Opinion:
The Issue:

Local leaders persuaded Norm Schultz to bring his boat show here.

Our Opinion:

The event has become a tradition, bringing visitors and money.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/499641-...s-heavy-turnout

Organizers pleased with Michigan City show
Posted on September 01, 2009
ShareThis Attention: open in a new window. Print

Despite the slow economy, organizers of the 30th annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show say the event fared well last weekend.

About 16,000 people attended the four-day event, held Aug. 27-30. The Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, which produces the show, reported Saturday's attendance was higher than it has been in the last few years and that many buyers showed up Sunday despite early rain.

"Attendancewise, quantity is still important, but I think we saw an increase in quality this year," said show manager Ken Alvey, in a statement. "Nobody really knew what to expect leading up to the show, but the good number of sales was encouraging and proved the show is a great place to get your product in front of serious buyers."

Much of the buying activity was found on the Brokerage Pier, where dealers reportedly talked to customers from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.

"People will come a long way for a deal, and there were deals all over the show," said Alvey. "We were very happy with the amount of out-of-state visitors and think a lot of boats will be sold through contacts made."

On opening day, show management presented the Michigan City Port Authority with a ship's bell honoring the port's 50th anniversary.

Boat show founder Norm Schultz praised the organization for its hard work and commitment to keep the event strong at a time when other cities are losing their shows.

"The last 30 years have been great, and I'm confident we will be here 30 more," Schultz said in a statement.

The 2010 show is scheduled for Aug. 26-29.