Feb 13, 2024

For those of us in the boat business with a “dealer” mindset, we see the boat shows as a special and unique in-person opportunity to reach a wider audience and the boat shows are big this year for sure. Toronto wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, Vancouver last week, Halifax and Montreal this week.

Shows are also going on across the United States. We have team members in Miami this week and there are lots of new product introductions and events happening all over.

At the Toronto International Boat Show just three weeks ago, we had an opportunity to meet with Matt VanGrunsven from Cruisers Yachts aboard their Cantius 46 model. It was the biggest boat in the show. The team at Crates Lake Country Boats were showing the Cantius and other high-end models. There was an all-day line-up for show visitors to get an opportunity to come aboard the Cantius. Luckily, we got a few minutes to interview Matt about this boat, their future plans and the new Cruisers Yachts 55 Fly that we will review at their spring dealer meeting. Here is the video with Matt and me.

We know that setting up and tearing down a show display is a big undertaking, and so is moving all your key people to staff the shows. Cruisers Yachts recently sent out a digital public invitation to see their displays and meet their dealers at many shows. For a high-end line of big yachts, I was impressed to see how much show exposure Cruisers Yachts is supporting.

They attended Toronto and also were exhibiting at shows in Detroit, Coeur d’Alene, Seattle, Grand Rapids, Kansas, Port Clinton, Palm Beach and across Canada at Halifax, and the Martin Motor Sports displays in Calgary, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Kelowna. This week Matt VanGrunsven and the Cruisers Yachts team will be mounting a major display at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. They keep up a gruelling travel schedule!

Let’s all hope that the significant marketing investments we make in the shows, pays dividends well into the future!

Andy Adams – Editor