'Tis the season

Boat show season, that is!

Tomorrow marks the unofficial kick-off of boat show season with the opening of the 48th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (www.flibs.net for info). Dubbed "The World's Greatest Boat Show", this year will feature over $2,000,000,000 (yup, that's NINE zeros) worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, and all things nautical. Not advertised but also prominently featured will be hundreds of middle-aged guys with spray-on tans, gold chains, and enough hair gel to rival the Exxon Valdez. Gotta love Miami.

But seriously, folks, I think this might be one of the best years yet for getting a great deal at a boat show. It is no secret that a lot of manufacturers and dealers are against the ropes financially, a they'll be looking to give away the house to shrink their inventories. Show up to the show with an open mind and a sharp pencil.

Here's another bit of advice from a former dealer going into boat show season. Dealers will do almost anything to make a sale at the show. A week later back at home, not so much. But if you're willing to cut a check at the show, you can get them to bend over backwards for you.

Now that boat show season is here we can look forward to St. Pete, New Orleans, Palm Beach, Miami, and St. Aug.