2008 Boat Shows


	Please check back for 2009 Boat Show information, or visit bestofboating.com This site is not associated with the National Marine Manufacturers Association or other boat show promoters.

Family Fun on the Water.com Boat Show Tips

Know before you go. Most manufacturer web sites offer model information so it's easy to compare designs and options before you get to the boat show. For example, if you want to research Yamaha products, you could visit www.yamaha-motor.com. Print this information and bring it with you.

Have a clear idea of how much money you can afford to spend on the boat or PWC to include yearly maintenance, insurance, storage, repairs and fees.

Pre-qualify for a boat loan before shopping. You may get a lower interest rate and better terms.

Take a day off. Plan your visit for a weekday when shows are less crowded. This makes it easier to inspect boats and to talk with manufacturers' reps.

Make notes and take a digital camera to the show with you to refresh your memory later on.

Yamaha FX Cruiser SHO

Yamaha FX SHO

Yamaha 212SS

Yamaha 212X

Yamaha 232 Limited

Boat show visitors have a lot to be excited about this year because 2008 is arguably the best model year ever for personal watercraft and recreational boats.

The most exciting news in the PWC industry this year is the much-anticipated release of Yamaha’s FX Cruiser SHO and FX SHO models. Chosen as “Best of What’s New” by Popular Science, featured in Popular Mechanics’ “Tech Watch”, and included in Men’s Health’s 2008 “Tech Guide” for its technical innovation, Yamaha’s SHO WaveRunners have already garnered global attention and showcase the world’s first ultra-lightweight nanotechnology boat hulls and decks that are 25 percent lighter than previous designs, but are also stronger and more durable.

In addition, the SHO models feature the largest displacement engine ever in a PWC. The SHO engine is more than 300cc larger than comparable high-performance models, but also 45 pounds lighter. This new ultra-lightweight hull and engine combination delivers the most exciting ride on the water today, while providing owners the best fuel economy in the high-performance category.

Yamaha’s new 1812cc, supercharged four-stroke engine not only produces class-leading acceleration, but the Super High Output marine engine is also the only design that offers electronic throttle. Electronic throttle is much more responsive than cable throttles and allows Yamaha to introduce the industry’s first Cruise Assist feature and No Wake Mode. These features deliver a level of comfort and convenience few thought possible in a PWC before the introduction of the SHO models.

Both the FX Cruiser SHO and the FX SHO are available in two color combinations starting at $11,999.

On the boat side, Yamaha introduces three new models – the 23-foot 232 Limited and the 21-foot SS212 and SX212 boats.

The 232 Limited is the most luxurious, feature-rich boat Yamaha has ever offered. Based on Yamaha’s award-winning 230 Series platform (the best-selling 23-foot boats for the past several years), the 232 Limited comes standard with flagship upgrades throughout, including a carpeted, enclosed head compartment and a freshwater shower at the stern. Starting at $40,299, which includes a premium painted trailer, the 232 Limited delivers more and is priced thousands less than comparable 23-foot runabouts.

With its eye-catching Formula Red paint scheme and low-profile tinted windshield, the 21-foot Yamaha 212SS features Yamaha’s most intense styling ever to match the whopping 320-horsepower in the engine compartment. The 212SS and the new 212X are the first 21-foot boats from Yamaha to feature twin High Output engines, delivering class-leading performance. Not only is this among the most powerful engine packages in its category, but these engines also lead the industry in fuel efficiency and cruising range.

The Yamaha 212X wakeboard boat shares many of the features of the 212SS but is the first Yamaha boat to feature an internal ballast system. The new ballast system adds 750 pounds of weight to throw a world-class wake for serious wakeboard enthusiasts. Completing the 212X is an aluminum tower with billeted accents. Both the 212SS and the 212X are full-featured boats that come complete with a premium painted trailer starting at $35,999 and $38,999 respectively.

Returning to Yamaha’s 2008 boat line-up is the AR230 High Output, Boating magazine’s 2007 Boat of the Year. The AR230’s recognition marks the first time that a jet driven boat has been awarded this honor. Yamaha’s 230 series are the best-selling models in the 23-foot runabout class, and the AR230’s success is a clear result of innovative design, internal drive technology, value and overall consumer-driven progress.

Special Yamaha Boats Boat Show Offer
Click here for more details

Special Yamaha WaveRunners Boat Show Offer
Click here for more details


	All of our lives, we have heard "Safety First!" It is no different when you are getting into boating. Learn safe boating and seamanship by taking a boating safety and seamanship course offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadron. You'll boat with confidence and reduce your boat insurance cost, too. These classes are virtually free (with the exception of the cost of materials) and are usually convenient to your home. Find a class nearby by searching these sites: US Power Squadron USCG Auxiliary These courses take place within your community at boat stores, community colleges, marinas, etc. and are usually set up over a six - ten week period one night a week. The curriculum covers such topics as basic navigation, knots, anchoring and docking techniques, state and federal laws, boating terminology, what to do in case of an emergency, and much more.