Saturday, January 15, 2005
Think warm, dream sun; boat show's back in town
Dealers set up at convention center

By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

It's that time of year again when the area's winter-logged residents
indulge their summer dreams by visiting the Cincinnati Travel, Sports &
Boat Show.

With the spotlight on waterside travel destinations as well as on boats
and aquatic toys, water is the show's prevailing theme, a fact that some
may find odd as they skirt flooded roadways and attempt to dry out after
heavy rains. But regardless of conditions outside, blue skies will reign
indoors for the show's 10-day run.

A sunny optimism prevails among the 20-some boat dealers this year, said
Chip Hart, president and show manager of Hart Productions, which produces
the show.

"The mood on the floor with the marine dealers is the best I've seen for a
long time," he said. "It is probably due to the improving economic news,
to the remodeling we've done here, which has changed the atmosphere, and
to the unified effort that boat dealers are making, nationwide, to promote
recreational boating."

Industry figures indicate that sales of recreational boats have been flat
or slightly down for the past several years. Hart, who tracks these
trends, said that, overall, the market in Northern Kentucky and Greater
Cincinnati has probably been flat.

"Last May and June - prime sales months - we had a lot of rain and high
water, which tended to cause sales to go flat," he explained.

"A national election also tends to put the brakes on purchases of
big-ticket items."

That was the case with Plapp's Pro Outdoors, which moved to a much-larger
location in Florence last summer.

Plapp's anticipated strong sales throughout the fall, but "September and
October were not as big as we expected," admitted Matt Plapp, the
company's vice president and general manager. "But once the election
ended, people started spending again. Our December sales were triple last
year's, and we sold 15 boats this week, before the boat show even opened."

Sharing Plapp's blue-skies projections is Sea Ray of Cincinnati, which is
rebounding after slower sales after 9/11.

"We're not optimistic, we're realistic," said general manager Cliff
Oppenheim. "We have added a new yacht line, Meridian Yachts. We saw it
coming back in the summer, the fall, and early winter. We had a record
July."

Sea Ray's major lines are manufactured by Brunswick, whose stock is near
its 52-week high, Oppenheim said.

Neither precipitation nor politics cut into sales at Bethel Marine Center
this past year, according to Kent Frye, general manager of the Batavia
Township company.

"We've heard 'flat,' but, honestly, we've done real well," he said. "But
our boat lines are not overpriced. For instance, our Rinker boat line,
which is definitely our No. 1 seller, is very well built and value-packed.
Recently we took on Chris-Craft, which hasn't been represented in this
city for over 10 years. We've just gotten our first two Chris-Craft boats,
which we're introducing at the show."

The Cinergy Center's renovation has resulted in a tighter floor plan this
year. The Travel Show shares first-floor space with the Boat Show, while
an expanded Golf Show occupies the center's third floor through Sunday,
giving way to the Hunting & Fishing Show, which opens Wednesday.

"It gives us a whole new look, and puts boating-destination travel and
boat sales right side by side," Hart said.

Visitors Terri and Craig Lampman of Green Township and Cheviot resident
Howard Wiehe found a lot to like.

"I come for the travel; my husband comes for the golf; and my brother,
Howard, comes for the boats," Terri Lampman said as Wiehe inspected a
powerboat at the Hern Marine display. "Howard likes to know what's out
there."

"I like to golf, so I get good ideas from the golf show," said Craig
Lampman. "We come here every year. We're always looking for new places to
go on vacation."

"We walk out of here with at least three pounds of brochures and
booklets," said his wife.

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What: 47th annual Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show

When: Daily through Sunday, Jan. 23

Whe Cinergy Center, Fifth and Elm streets

Admission: $9 adults, $3 children 13 and under; discount tickets available
at Kroger stores

Attractions: Country music singers Trent Willmon, Andy Griggs and Jeff
Bates will perform.

Details on hours and attractions can be found at www.hartproductions.com