Has anyone been to this? I think it is at McCormick Place on the 19-21st. My husband really wants a boat and I am dead set against it. But someone told me that going to one of these shows will likely result in him no longer wanting a boat. If you've been to this event, did you like it? Can we bring kids?

I remember as a kid when my Dad would take us to look at campers (we never bought one) and we'd run all over the place, climbing, until the salesman would politely suggest we get the heck out of there. Ah, memories. So, if you've been, thumbs up or thumbs down?

Be aware that the boat show will have long long line waiting to get on the boats. We have had three Lake Michigan boats. The two best days for boat owners is the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it. 'nuff said!

Depends what kind of boat the hubby wants. I've had a few boats and still own three (pontoon, jet ski and ski boat) with the latter being by far my favorite. All of them are used on a small lake in Michigan. I would have to agree with Hell and Back about the bigger Lake Michigan boats. Except for a few times at the start and end of a season, I've never trailered my boats. I think putting them in, pulling them out and storing them after each use would be a royal pain in the arse.

I am going to try to go to the boat show as I've done for the past few years. Bring the kids but try to go right when it opens, know what you want to look at closely and then just take a lap around and leave.

You might want to go to the in the water boat show in Michigan City during the summer. It really helps to see how the boat rides on the water so you buy the one with the best configuration for you.

If you do not own a second home on water, do not buy a boat. It will become a driveway ornament that will piss you off year after year as you use it less and less. Make his day buy telling him he can buy an old Camaro SS or Porsche 356 instead. At least those things have a decent chance of appreciating in value.

The best thing about boats (unless you can carry them with you ) is having friends that own them...like Fish.

We've been. It's a good show. WE have a sailboat that is dry-docked now and in the harbor downtown during the summer months. It's nice but would be much better if we lived downtown and could get to it without it being a major commitment of our time. We had a powerboat before that and barely used it. I get seasick so if it were up to me, we wouldn't have one but my husband LOVES to sail so, I go along with it. Don't buy with any of the dealers at the show - go E-Bay. That's what we did and got a much, much better deal. We are NOT independently wealthy but on E-Bay we got a lot of bang for our buck.

I agree, a boat is a huge commitment. He wants a sailboat. His theory is we'd keep it downtown. I guess since we lived downtown for so long I am sort of 'over it.' I don't look forward to schlepping the kids downtown on the weekends, and of course there is the work involved with the boat itself. That said, the concept of a small boat used for pulling skiers sounds great. But that would need to be attached to a small HOME on a lake, as suggested. There is no way I am going to put a boat in our driveway! We already compromised and he will go with one of his buddies (and our oldest kid) which works for me.

Don't you think he has it backwards? The time for a boat was when we lived downtown in a high-rise and had no kids! You could say he "missed the boat" on that one. Ha ha. Can you tell I am back to drinking wine again?

Hey Fish, how far away is your Michigan home? Does your family spend a lot of time there?

The concept of enjoying boats, like summer homes, falls to pieces once your kids enter high school. They will want nothing to do with you...or your boat...or your summer home...at that point in their lives. They would rather die than miss a weekend hanging out with their boy/girlfriends.

Get to know someone with a boat and/or a summer home in Michigan. I can supply you with Fish's phone number (work or home) if you'd like. They are very generous people.

When Tony was 15, I made him spend the whole summer up north with me. I even made him get a job.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
If you do not own a second home on water, do not buy a boat. It will become a driveway ornament that will piss you off year after year as you use it less and less. Make his day buy telling him he can buy an old Camaro SS or Porsche 356 instead. At least those things have a decent chance of appreciating in value.

The best thing about boats (unless you can carry them with you ) is having friends that own them...like Fish.

Gee...one of those pictures looks very familiar! I remember that day fondly.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
If you do not own a second home on water, do not buy a boat. It will become a driveway ornament that will piss you off year after year as you use it less and less. Make his day buy telling him he can buy an old Camaro SS or Porsche 356 instead. At least those things have a decent chance of appreciating in value.

The best thing about boats (unless you can carry them with you ) is having friends that own them...like Fish.

Gee...one of those pictures looks very familiar! I remember that day fondly.

ROTFLMFAO!

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
If you do not own a second home on water, do not buy a boat. It will become a driveway ornament that will piss you off year after year as you use it less and less. Make his day buy telling him he can buy an old Camaro SS or Porsche 356 instead. At least those things have a decent chance of appreciating in value.

The best thing about boats (unless you can carry them with you ) is having friends that own them...like Fish.

Gee...one of those pictures looks very familiar! I remember that day fondly.

Exactly. Many people remember their first encounter with me fondly. You are not alone.

quote:

Originally posted by motherof3inGE:
Hey Fish, how far away is your Michigan home? Does your family spend a lot of time there?

About 150 miles and if traffic is behaving itself it's about a 2 1/2 hour trip. During the warm months we use it almost every weekend. We have used it a lot in the winter. In past winters we have cleared off a rink to go skating in our backyard, gone skiing (Swiss Valley Ski Resort is 5 minutes away), and used the hill our house sits on to sled down to the lake. There is also a tube hill a few miles away. We love it. Obviously this winter has not yet cooperated with cold enough temps and snow, so our use is down. Our kids both compete in gymnastics and Dec. through March is gymnastic's competitive season. I'm not sure how much use we'd be getting now even if the weather cooperated given that we only have two open weekends between January 2 and March 31.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:

quote:

Originally posted by motherof3inGE:
Hey Fish, how far away is your Michigan home? Does your family spend a lot of time there?

About 150 miles and if traffic is behaving itself it's about a 2 1/2 hour trip. During the warm months we use it almost every weekend. We have used it a lot in the winter. In past winters we have cleared off a rink to go skating in our backyard, gone skiing (Swiss Valley Ski Resort is 5 minutes away), and used the hill our house sits on to sled down to the lake. There is also a tube hill a few miles away. We love it. Obviously this winter has not yet cooperated with cold enough temps and snow, so our use is down. Our kids both compete in gymnastics and Dec. through March is gymnastic's competitive season. I'm not sure how much use we'd be getting now even if the weather cooperated given that we only have two open weekends between January 2 and March 31.

Fish, thanks for letting us know your schedule!

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
The concept of enjoying boats, like summer homes, falls to pieces once your kids enter high school. They will want nothing to do with you...or your boat...or your summer home...at that point in their lives. They would rather die than miss a weekend hanging out with their boy/girlfriends.

Get to know someone with a boat and/or a summer home in Michigan. I can supply you with Fish's phone number (work or home) if you'd like. They are very generous people.

The dynamics change, but I think I would have rather had my high school friends as guests at the cottage than staying home and hanging with them (of course there was no lake house in Fish's upbringing and I didn't hang with any kids whose parents had one either). I thinks it's the sports that get in the way the most. But as I often remind myself, is my 11 year old daughter going to suffer because she attended only 16 of the 20 hours of practice each week?

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:

quote:

Originally posted by motherof3inGE:
Hey Fish, how far away is your Michigan home? Does your family spend a lot of time there?

About 150 miles and if traffic is behaving itself it's about a 2 1/2 hour trip. During the warm months we use it almost every weekend. We have used it a lot in the winter. In past winters we have cleared off a rink to go skating in our backyard, gone skiing (Swiss Valley Ski Resort is 5 minutes away), and used the hill our house sits on to sled down to the lake. There is also a tube hill a few miles away. We love it. Obviously this winter has not yet cooperated with cold enough temps and snow, so our use is down. Our kids both compete in gymnastics and Dec. through March is gymnastic's competitive season. I'm not sure how much use we'd be getting now even if the weather cooperated given that we only have two open weekends between January 2 and March 31.

Fish, thanks for letting us know your schedule!

I'll be waiting for some type of invite from the Fans on my open weekends.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
The dynamics change, but I think I would have rather had my high school friends as guests at the cottage than staying home and hanging with them (of course there was no lake house in Fish's upbringing and I didn't hang with any kids whose parents had one either). I thinks it's the sports that get in the way the most. But as I often remind myself, is my 11 year old daughter going to suffer because she attended only 16 of the 20 hours of practice each week?

LIAR!!!!! I know one of your high school friends...and he makes Daddy Warbucks look poor.

Fish is no slouch, either. I know the guy that lives directly behind him and he tells me of opulent parties that occur on a weekly basis.

Leads me to wonder if he really does go to Michigan that often...or does he just want us to think he does so he doesn't have to invite any of us to Gatsby-like parties.

The unfortunate truth is that I'm really boring. Fan can attest or ask my wife.

And Fan you're right....I forgot about the 8 bedroom, 14 bathroom, built in pool, full time kitchen staff, 4 boats, fully stocked bar, un-chaperoned house my friend had on Green Lake. Come to think of it.....for some reason I don't clearly remember any of the times I spent there......I wonder why?