Tampa Boat Show - 2011

This weekend marks the 46th annual Tampa Boat Show at the Tampa Convention Center.  I had the opportunity to visit the show yesterday with the rest of the Landmark Yacht Sales team, and went back today to snap a few photos and see how the turnout was on the first day of the weekend.  The Tampa show gets mixed reviews every year from both exhibitors and attendees, but if you're looking for an inexpensive, local show with a pretty good lineup of boats to see, it's a great way to spend a few hours.

The show takes place at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa each year.  The venue is split between the indoor portion, and the in-water / dockside portion.  The indoor portion always features a nice variety of boat dealers and manufacturers, along with displays from local vendors and service providers.

SHOW FLOOR; TBS 2011

The show does a good job of exhibiting boat models of many different varieties:  Ski boats, kayaks, flats boats, technical skiffs, offshore boats, bowriders, and cruisers.  I tend to favor the bigger boats, so here's my highlight reel:

JUPITER 38' CC

CONTENDER 28' TOURNAMENT

Everglades had a few boats at the show this year, including their biggest model, the 350EX:

EVERGLADES 350EX

EVERGLADES 320 CC

The local Sea Hunt dealer had a new 27' Gamefish here this year, and I have to admit I'm impressed with their new lineup.  In the past few years, they've really dialed up their fit and finish, but still offer the boat at an attractive price point.  The "Show Price" on this 27 center was just under $90,000.

SEA HUNT GAMEFISH 27

SEA HUNT GAMEFISH 27

Gulf-coast manufacturers like Andros and Intrepid always stir up a good amount of interest from local attendees.  Andros Boatworks had a few different models here this year, including a few of their Panga style boats, and one 32' offshore that was really impressive.  The level of fit and finish on this boat is top notch, and the thoughtful design is exactly what you'd expect from the guys at Andros.  They've been making it for a few years now, but if you haven't seen the 32' in person yet, it's definitely a "must see" this year.

ANDROS 32 OFFSHORE

ANDROS 32 OFFSHORE

Intrepid boats had their 327 center console here this year, which was a great representative of the Intrepid fleet.   Their center console lineup features boats from 24 to 40', all of which are second-to-none in quality and design.  They're built right here in Largo, FL, which is only half an hour from the show venue.

INTREPID 327 CC

Out on the docks, there was a nice mix of brokerage offerings this year.  My trip was cut short by the rain today, but we did get the opportunity to walk around yesterday and see what they had to offer.  Plenty of 30-50' cruisers lined the docks, along with some of the larger center consoles.  Contender had their new 39LS there, which was an interesting new model for Contender with more "comfort" features than most of the other boats in their fleet.

TAMPA BOAT SHOW 2011 - TAMPA, FL

IN-WATER EXHIBIT; TAMPA BOAT SHOW 2011

The highest-dollar piece on the dock this year was a 2011 Marlow 97E called "Irish Rover".  At 100'11" LOA, this is the largest of the Marlow fleet.

MARLOW 97E; Irish Rover

Overall the visitor turnout for the show wasn't that impressive, but it was still early and the threat of bad weather might have scared off the Saturday crowd.  It's good to see a number of manufacturers represented at the show this year, and there is enough to see to make the trip well worth the price of admission.  The NMMA also does a good job of putting on seminars for new boaters about safety, operation, and ownership.  If you're new to boating, or just enjoy spending the day checking out some of the new models, the Tampa show is definitely worth a look!

On our way back across the bridge to lunch at Jackson's, I saw my personal favorite boat of the day, which wasn't even part of the show!  A 1983 Rybovich 55'...what a beauty. 

1983 RYBOVICH AND SONS 55'

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

"Can you send me more pictures?"

"Got any better photos?"

"Do you have any pictures of the...?"

If you've ever tried to sell something online, I'm sure you've heard some variation of the above questions.  In the global boat market, these are common questions as buyers in other states, and sometimes other countries, try to make major purchase decisions based largely on photographs.  The ability to reach buyers across the world is one of the biggest advantages to using a yacht broker, and it's the broker's job to make sure your boat is as attractive as possible.

When looking at dozens of possibilities, buyers are much more apt to be drawn toward a nicely photographed listing as opposed to one that's carelessly snapped with a point-and-shoot.  When poor photos are taken, it can make even the nicest boats look dingy or dirty.  A good quality photograph will show more detail, better color, and give the buyer something to get excited about!

I've taken a few photos showing the difference between a Nikon DSLR and a Nikon point-and-shoot.  The DSLR is even one of Nikon's more basic models, but the jump in quality is amazing.  The boat is one of my newest listings, a 2004 Meridian 381 Sedan.

DSLR  /  P+S

DSLR  /  P+S

DSLR  /  P+S

The photos on the left were taken with the DSLR, and the photos on the right were taken with a point-and-shoot.  The first thing you should notice is how much better the color quality is.  In the photos on the left, the wood looks brighter, the lighting is good, and the upholstery looks much nicer.  You'll also notice how much wider the field of view is in the DSLR photos.  This gives the buyer a much better idea of the space inside the boat, as opposed to narrowly-focused pictures of key areas.  It's nearly impossible to photograph some of the tight spaces on boats, like head compartments or engine rooms, with a point-and-shoot camera.


They say there's no second chance at a first impression, and it's important to have your boat represented by a broker who understands that.  Take a look at my listings to see other examples of how a nicely built ad can help make that first impression a good one!

Calcutta Boats

In early May I had the opportunity to list a Calcutta 263 for a client here at the Tampa Harbour Yacht Club and really developed a liking for the boat.  It's always exciting to represent a new boat because I get the chance to learn more about the manufacturer and their products.

2005 Calcutta 263 - Tampa Harbour Yacht Club
SOLD June 2011

Having seen Calcuttas before, this was the first time I had been on one, and I was really impressed with the performance and design of this versatile boat.  The cockpit space is huge, and the boat is incredibly fishable.  The SeaGate transom door is a nice feature that looks like it would be great for diving or hauling in big fish. Our boat was equipped with twin 115 Yamahas and ran 38mph easily.  The 263 is also available with twin 90's which provide incredible efficiency without a huge performance sacrifice.

Cockpit View

After listing the boat I was amazed at how much interest there are in the 263s.  Being built locally, there is quite a following for them, and the fact that there are very few available on the used market makes them an even better find for a potential buyer.  We sold the boat in a little over a month to a gentleman from South Carolina.

Another point that I was pleasantly surprised with, was how receptive Steve Ellis, the owner of Calcutta Boats, was to providing information during the sale.  Steve helped answer all of the technical questions we had, and even insisted that the new owner of the 263 bring the boat by the factory in order to go through the systems with him. He set me up with Jeff at Owens and Sons for a custom 263 Calcutta trailer that turned out perfectly.

I had the opportunity to visit Steve down at the Calcutta facility this week, and got to see the 360 that they have in progress.  I was absolutely dumbfounded at how huge that boat is, and how innovative the team at Calcutta has been with it's design.  For more information on the 263 or the 360, you can visit http://www.calcuttaboats.com/.

Calcutta 360 in Progress, Palmetto, FL

If you're considering a cat, Calcutta should definitely be on the short list of possibilities.  I'll be representing my second 263 Calcutta in the next few months, and am looking forward to increasing my experience with these incredible boats. For questions about Calcutta boats, or if you have a Calcutta you're looking to list, feel free to contact me at 727-422-3914 or rob@landmarkyachtsales.com

Testimonials and New Listings!

To begin my post, I'd like to announce the newest section of Walking the Docks, the client testimonials page. It speaks volumes when someone is pleased enough with our brokerage services to go out of their way to write a nice "Thank You", so rather than let them go un-noticed I've decided to start posting them on my blog. Take a look at what some of my past clients have to say about their experiences and see why repeat business is higher than ever!

In brokerage news, we've had a big increase in boats being listed in the past month, which is great for Landmark Yacht Sales and our clients as we approach the summer months and the accompanying rise in sales. I'll be representing ten new listings since my last post, and you can see some select vessels below:

Cheryll Ann, 2006 Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge
Tampa, FL

Forty Licks, 2005 Luhrs 41 Convertible
Key West, FL

Bella Vista, 2005 Pursuit 3100 Offshore

Tampa, FL

Starting 2011 with a Bang!

We've had a busy January, which is a pleasant surprise in a month that has historically proven to be one of the slowest of the year. On the sales side of things, we surpassed our January 2010 figure on the 19th and have over three-times that under contract with closing dates set before the 31st. If January is any indication of the rest of 2011, I think we're all in for a great year!

In addition to healthy sales, we've also seen an increase in boats being listed. I'll be representing six new listings as of this month, the most notable being a 1987 Bertram 46 Convertible and a 2007 Sea Ray 360 Sedan Bridge:

Four Corners, 1987 Bertram 46 Convertible
Tampa, FL

The Hutt 5, 2007 Sea Ray 360 Sedan Bridge
Tampa, FL

Along with these two I'll also be working with a few new clients at the Tampa Harbour Yacht Club, so take a look at my Active Listings to see what else is new!

As we move into the new year and things continue to pick up, it's a great time to put your boat on the market if you're thinking of selling, or to start your search if you're thinking of buying.  Either way, consulting a knowledgeable and well-informed broker is a great way to get the process started.  Drop me a line, or stop by our Tampa office to let me know what I can do for you.

You can reach me directly at 727-422-3914, or email rob@landmarkyachtsales.com. 

NEW LISTING: 2007 Wellcraft 30 Scarab Tournament

2007 Wellcraft 30 Scarab Tournament
Tampa, FL

Wellcraft does a great job striking a balance between a boat that's well-equipped for both fishing and family cruising.  The Scarab has all the options you need for trips offshore, including oversized fishboxes, extra rod holders, and lots of livewell space.  The addition of a large console head compartment, forward seating, and aft bench seat give the 30 Scarab the utility to double as a cruising boat for days on the water with family.

This vessel includes a nice dual axle Float-On trailer (pictured), and is in great condition.