Product Spotlight | Top 3 Boat Show Tips

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Top 3 Things To Remember At The Boat Show and Your Local Dealer As We Head Into Winter[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]All throughout the spring, summer and fall months, most of us are out on the water. If the weather's nice, we're boating. Every weekend, for sure, and maybe even quite a few "personal" days when the opportunity arises. But when the weather gets colder, our thoughts turn from boating to boat storage and boat shows.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Think about it. Since the boating season is over in most parts of the country, and boats have been serviced and stored during the fall, your local dealer will be wheeling and dealing with all kinds of special offers and manufacturers' incentives. If you're looking for a boat, you owe it to yourself to attend a boat show.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Whether you're looking for your first boat or you're in the market to upgrade, winter boat shows help us keep the fire burning until our glorious spring launch finally rolls around. In addition to the fun atmosphere, gleaming gel coat and new gadgets you just can't live without, there's something else that should be drawing you right through the front door. The deals![/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]To help you navigate the aisles like a pro, here are the Top 3 things to think about as the boat show rolls through your community:[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One:[/FONT]

• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Do your homework and narrow down your search before you get there. It adds to the experience if you walk in with a good idea about the type of boat that best fits your lifestyle.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Do you need seating and storage for lots of family and friends?[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Are you more into performance and styling?[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Do your kids spend most of their time tubing, skiing or wakeboarding?[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Will you spend a lot of time on big water?[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Have you always dreamed of anchoring and overnighting in a serene cove? There will be lots of terrific distractions be prepared![/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Two:[/FONT]

• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Get to know your dealer. Nearly as important as the type of boat you buy is the feeling you get from your dealer.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]They will be instrumental in helping you get a great deal. They will be delivering your boat.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]They will be there for routine service, storage and anything else you need after your purchase.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Talk to the salesperson at the booth.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Ask to speak to the owner of the dealership. Chances are, they are one of your neighbors.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A good dealer knows that your relationship begins with the sale, not ends with the sale.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Three:[/FONT]

• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Shop for value, not just price. This is a simple idea, but it's harder than it sounds.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Cheaper does not mean value.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]There are price wars at just about every boat show between competing lines. Ask about quality construction.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Ask about resale value.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Ask about financing offers.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The cream rises to the top, as they say. You will pat yourself on the back a year or two (or 10) down the line when you make quality a priority over price alone.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Good luck and enjoy boat shopping this season.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif][EDITOR'S NOTE] The Boats For Sale tool at iboats.com is a great place to start looking for a new or used boat.Article courtesy of Nautic Global Group, makers of Hurricane, Rinker, Godfrey, PolarKraft and PartiKraft boats. [/FONT]