Serious buyers, hull kickers and daydreamers on a holiday walked among the aisles packed with water craft as small as wake boards and johnboats and as large as 24-foot cabin cruisers.
Rick Smith, president of the Central Texas Marine Association, said the show has 20 exhibitors this year. Of those, six are boat dealers. And, organizers are planning for big crowds.
“We’re expecting more than 6,000 over the weekend,” Smith said.
Every dealer will be making extraordinary deals because of the general economy, he said.
“This is a perfect time for the serious boat buyer,” Smith said. “Dealers bought most of this inventory before a price hike in the industry so they can offer buyers the very best opportunity.”
Smith said good financing is available and the best deals will be made on the Expo floor this weekend before dealers pack up their inventory to go back to their showrooms.
Buyers on the floor Friday said they liked what they saw.
Tom and Laura Parr, military retirees from Copperas Cove, said they thought the show was bigger and better than last year.
“We come every year with the idea of trading up,” Mrs. Parr said.
Her husband said some great deals would be made because of the general economy. “They are dealing with a sharper pencil.”
1st Sgt. Wayne Denson and Tricia Denson said they were definitely buying a new boat to replace one they currently own.
Denson, who is in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, said he is going back to Afghanistan in two weeks. He said he wants to make a deal at the Expo this weekend and maybe on a new wake board.
U.S. Navy retired Master Chief Machinist Mate James W. Warnock of Killeen said he found the perfect salesman in Cliff Brown with Texas Boat World of Harker Heights.
“I met him three hours ago,” Warnock said. “He had no idea I was actually going to buy a boat from him. I just told him. Brown knows his product and that’s why I’m dealing with him.”
Warnock said he is buying a Stingray cruiser to share with his daughter, Sgt. Sonia McGee with the 4th Infantry Division Aviation Combat Brigade. Sgt. McGee said she deploys to Iraq in two weeks.
“He’s offered to take us out and show us how to operate it,” Warnock said.
Brown said that is a standard offer he makes with all first-time boat owners.
Sales manager Billy Ray with Marine Outlet in Temple said a buyer could get a 12-foot long johnboat with trailer and motor for less than $5,000. Powerboats for pulling a wake board are priced in the $60,000 to $70,000 range but deals are on the table.
“Cabin cruisers with kitchens, bathrooms, sinks and stoves are priced in the $90,000 range, but we will be making deals in the $60,000 range,” Ray said.
Exhibitors for fishing rods, reels and tackle filled the Expo arena.
The Heart of Texas Bass Anglers Association is holding a $2 drawing for a Paragon rod and Curado reel valued at $570.
Children as young as 3 and 4 tried their luck at the Kid’s Fish exhibit. About 100 hungry bass swam in a huge aquarium while tikes with baited hooks hauled them in.
“It’s a catch and release,” said Molly Dugan. “These kids get so excited when they catch a fish. They scream. And sometimes they scream and then take off running.”
She said it’s $2 to fish, and $10 to fish and win a trophy or a T-shirt that says, “I’m hooked on Kid’s Fish.”
