It’s showtime for the region’s outdoor enthusiasts and a sure promise that, indeed, spring is coming.
Boat show
Starting Jan. 18 is the highly anticipated Cleveland Boat Show. This is a four-day showcase of sale-priced boats, and all things associated with boating, such as fishing seminars and navigation skill instruction, safety and comfort gear, electronics, surface and underwater sports, destinations, and more.
Officially, it is the annual MidAmerica Boat Show, better known simply as the Cleveland Boat Show. Note that because of scheduling conflicts, this boating showcase is just four days long this year, running Jan. 18-21.
As always, the show will be held at the IX-Center, located next door to the Cleveland airport. And yes, the deals made at the Cleveland Boat Show are all in the buyer’s favor.
New boats
Impressive factory rebates plus aggressive dealer incentives make attending the show well worth it for serious shoppers.
Interestingly, the new lineup of boats will include some very impressive northwest style fishing boats that are clearly the most rugged aluminum fishing boats available and should really interest Lake Erie anglers.
Another growing interest area this year are recreational boats that are designed for those who seek group creature comforts, such as those associated with pontoon boats plus the ability to enjoy water sports such as performance skiing and tubing.
Instead of owning and maintaining two boats, this group should look at deck boats that do it all and do it well.
Great deals
But is buying at Cleveland really a good deal?
Keep in mind that this show, unlike most boat shows, is actually what is known far and wide as a regional consumer event and probably ought to be called a sale rather than a show.
Factories depend on pre-season sales like this to crank up production lines and plan building schedules to meet demand.
Rebates are not controlled by dealers, who have no control over the rebates, and in many cases, factory rebates decline in coming weeks.
Shoppers will be amazed at the wait time required this year, a reflection of how participation in recreational boating has grown in the last couple of years.
Sportsman show
The mid-winter Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show is set for a three-day run at the new Mount Hope Event Center, in Mount Hope, Ohio.
Beginning Jan. 18, this outdoor show is one of the best in Ohio and possibly the very best in northeast Ohio.
Lots of good stuff here including great deals on fishing and hunting destinations, how-to seminars, gear, and great deals overall.
