Find a New Boat for Less Than $300/month at the Boat Show
The "Affordability Pavilion" showcases a variety of boats that can be financed for $300 or less per month.

Posted Sunday, February 8, 2009

 


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MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Feb. 5, 2009 – As the official kick-off to the boating season begins with the 68th annual Miami International Boat Show, February 12-16, the industry expects to find consumers closely watching their budgets. In an effort to help boating enthusiasts uncover budget-conscious ways to get on the water, the 2009 Miami International Boat Show is premiering the Affordability Pavilion, which showcases a variety of boats that can be financed for $300 or less per month.

While recreational boating in the U.S. is perceived to be an activity for the affluent, it actually attracts mostly middle-class participants. Approximately 75 percent of boat owners have a household income under $100,000 and an estimated 95 percent of boats on the water today are 26 feet or less.

“The Affordability Pavilion is one of the many things we’re doing to provide visitors with access to some of the best bargains in the country so they can continue creating memories on the water, ” said Cathy Rick-Joule, vice president of southern shows and Miami boat show manager. “The timing could not be better to purchase a boat with many manufacturers offering the best deals we’ve seen in years.”

Even in the current credit crunch, financing is still available for boat owners, and show organizers hope that the new area will help boaters understand that there truly is a boat for every budget and lifestyle.

Some of the boats featured within the Affordability Pavilion include:

• Achilles LSI290 with the world's best high-pressure air floor tenders can be financed for less than $200 per month.
• Angler 173F Center Console can be financed for $250 per month.
• Atlantic Fishing Machines 195CC can be financed for $240 per month.
• Carolina Skiff 218DLV, 20-foot fishing boat, can be financed for $219 per month.
• Huricane FunDeck GS201 can be financed for $225 per month.
• Monterey will display both the Monterey 214FS and the Monterey 180FS, two sport boats that can be financed for $239 per month.
• Polar Kraft Bass Series TX175 Pro, equipped with everything you would expect in a tournament-ready boat, can be financed for $125 per month.
• Pro-Lite 17CC a new affordable alternative from Pro-Line that is “lite” on weight, fuel and price. This fishing boat can be financed for $190 per month.
• Rinker will have two models that fit this category including the Rinker 226BR and the Rinker MTX210. This bowrider and cuddy can each be financed for $299 per month.
• Sailfish 206 CC is just as much at home in the bay as it is in the ocean and can be financed for $299 per month.
• Sweetwater Tuscany Special 2086, the all-in-one family fun pontoon, can be financed for $145 per month.
• Yamaha will showcase two waverunners that can financed for as low as $59 per month, the Yamaha VX Cruiser and the Yamaha VX Deluxe.

Show visitors will also have the opportunity to talk with experts at the Discover Boating Center to learn about the kinds of boats best suited to fit their budget and lifestyle.

Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami hours are Thursday, Feb. 12 (Premier Thursday) from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Monday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The marinas close at 6 p.m. daily. For advance tickets and more information, visit MiamiBoatShow.com.

About Miami International Boat Show

The Miami International Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows. NMMA is the leading association representing the $37.5 billion per year recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in North America. For more information about the NMMA, visit www.nmma.org.

About Strictly Sail Miami

Strictly Sail Miami is endorsed by Sail America, the sailing industry trade association, in cooperation with NMMA. For more information about Sail America, call (800) 817-SAIL or visit www.SailAmerica.com.