February 28, 2004
Looking For A Hot Tub
We spent the day looking for a hot tub. We took a drive over to the Home & Garden Show in Chantilly and looked at the multitude of hot tubs. They came in every size, shape, and color. Originally, we discussed the Softub and the benefits of that option. It is actually a nice compromise if you don’t want to get a full-sized hot tub. It comes in various colors and three different sizes. And the price isn’t that bad. We joked about the size and portability and said it would be perfect for the boat. The boat? Can’t you just see us putting a hot tub in the cockpit? Talk about being the popular boat at Georgetown.
We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at the more traditional options. They came with an assortment of options and gadgets and gizmos. We saw ones with wet bars and stereos. We saw a few with integrated televisions and mood lights. If you can think of an option, it is probably available. Personally, I don’t like the idea of having my electronics so close to the water. Still, it was an enjoyable day and we were able to compare the various types and discuss the pros and cons.
After a full day of walking and talking, we decided it would probably be best to wait and to see what other options were available. Besides, we have to get the boat first. We are still visiting the online sites and hope to find something soon – boating season is just around the corner.
Posted by Jerry on February 28, 2004 05:13 PM
February 21, 2004
D.C. Boat Show
The Captain and I decided to attend this year's boat show in Washington, D.C. It was held at the new Washington Convention Center. The show sported both power boats and sail boats. While the sail boats ranged from the personal size all the way up to 50 feet, the power boats had very few entries above the 35 foot mark. This was probably due to the fact that it is difficult to move large power boats through the city. Sea Ray did manage to bring in a couple of large boats, including the 390 Motor Yacht.
Sea Ray was the star of the show and the lines were proof of that. We waited in line for about 45 minutes to view the 390 and finally gave up. The logistics of the viewing wasn’t very well thought out. The bottleneck was due to visitors having to remove their shoes (and put them on) on the platform leading to the stern of the boat. It wasn’t a smart plan. What amazes me at boat shows is the amount of women that wear high-heeled shoes or boots. Maybe the managers of the convention hall should pass out disposable slippers at the door, much like the airlines due whenever to take a transpacific flight.
The Silverton lines were much more convenient – not sure if it was due to less demand or that Silverton decided to put their boats in the back of the hall. Our intent for the visiting the show was to view the Silverton 453 Motor Yacht and the 410 Sport Bridge. Since the large boats were a rarity, we struck out on both versions. Silverton’s largest boat of the show was the 330 Sport Bridge. It gave us a glimpse of the 410’s layout and allowed us to preview the quality of the Silverton line. Still, it was a shame not to see some larger boats.
The show wasn’t in comparison to an Annapolis show or Miami Boat Show, but it was a good show to visit on a cold, winter day.
Posted by Jerry on February 21, 2004 05:12 PM
