Best of Boating

Field & Stream Announces Their Choices for Best Fishing Gear

Field & Stream magazine gave top honors to the world's best new fishing products today, announcing 14 winners in the magazine's annual "Fishing Best of the Best" round-up.

Field & Stream's list of the best fishing equipment touches on every type of tackle: bait casting, spinning, and fly fishing. The list also highlights the best fishing accessories, from electronics and lures to tackle boxes and outerwear.

The expert panel testing the gear was comprised of Field & Stream editors who collectively have more than two centuries of fishing experience. The panel used that knowledge to rigorously test each product, grading each on performance, ability to deliver in the field, reasonable and fair pricing, design, and usefulness to anglers.

For more on Field & Stream's "Fishing Best of the Best," visit www.fieldandstream.com.

FIELD & STREAM'S 2010 FISHING BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS:

• SPINNING REEL- Shimano Stradic C14, $200
• SPINNING ROD- TFO/Gary Loomis, $100
• FLYFISHING REEL- Waterworks-Lamson Guru Reel, $179-$249
• FLYFISHING ROD- Orvis Hydros Fly Rod, $495-$525
• FLYFISHING BAG- Fishpond Storm Mountain Gear Bag, $195
• FLYFISHING FLYBOX- Umpqua Feather Merchants Professional Guide Flybox, $25-$40
• ELECTRONICS- Minn Kota I-Pilot, $400
• OUTERWEAR- RailRiders Extreme Adventure Pant, $95
• OUTERWEAR- Simms Streamtread Wading Boot Soles, $120-$220, with HardBite Star Cleat Studs, $40
• OUTERWEAR- Cloudveil Hellroaring Jacket, $200
• BAITCASTING ROD- G. Loomis Deep-Flex Crankbait Rods, $245-$275
• BAITCASTING REEL- U.S. Reel Supercaster 1000 Pro, $250
• LURES & ACCESSORIES- Leatherman Freestyle CX, $70
• LURES & ACCESSORIES- Yum Money Hound, $7.35 for 4

New England Boat Show Knee Deep in Great Deals for Boaters Ready to Buy

BOSTON, MA - The New England Boat Show is in full swing at the Boston Convention Center and the show is knee deep in great deals for boaters ready to buy.  The boat show, which ends Sunday, includes a huge variety of powerboats, personal watercraft and hundreds of the newest accessories and gadgets.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is an example of a company that is pulling out all the stops at the show, debuting a new 24-foot runabout, the 242 Limited S, that has already won Trailer Boats magazine's Excellence in Design Award; and three new WaveRunners priced under $9,000.  In addition, the company is offering special boat show promotions that can save you more money.

When:         February 20-28, 2010

                    Saturdays, 10am–8pm

                    Monday–Friday, Noon–8pm

                    Sunday, February 28, 11am–5:30pm

 

Where:       Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02210

 

Tickets:      $13 for adults

                   $7 for youth ages 6-12

                   Children 5 and younger get in FREE

                    *Included with ticket purchase is a 1-year subscription to Yachting, Cruising World, Motor Boating or Ski magazine (value $10).

Customer Satisfaction Across the Boating Industry on the Rise

Despite challenging economic conditions, overall customer satisfaction and quality across the new-boat industry has increased considerably since 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Boat Competitive Information Study.

Now in its eighth year, the study examines the sales, service and product experience of new-boat owners.

The study finds that customer satisfaction across the boating industry has increased considerably—up from an index score of 813 on a 1,000-point scale in 2008 to 830 in 2009. While all boating segments improve in 2009, the express cruiser segment (up 38 points) and large runabout segment (up 25 points) primarily drive the overall satisfaction increase. In addition, the average number of problems new-boat owners experience has declined by 33 problems per 100 (PP100) boats in 2009.

Annual Top Ten List of Most Popular Boat Names Announced

Boat names can reveal much about the personality of a boat owner.  Or, they can also serve as signposts of the modern era.  With the release of the annual Top Ten List of Most Popular Boat Names by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), one newcomer to the list stands out.

“Bail Out, the number five pick, clearly speaks volumes about what’s on boaters’ minds,” said BoatUS President Nancy Michelman. “With today’s economic uncertainty, naming a boat Bail Out could indicate that boating is a survival mechanism for the family that will keep them afloat,” she added.

The list is assembled each year by the BoatUS Boat Graphics service which offers a free library of over 8,500 boat names and also allows boaters to easily select, custom design and preview boat names online – without having to pay up front.  For more information or to view videos on how to install a vinyl boat name, visit the online service at www.BoatUS.com/boatgraphics.  A list with the annual top ten boat names — starting from 1991 — can also be found at the web site.

Here is the Top Ten List of Most Popular Boat Names:

1.             Second Wind

2.             Seas the Day

3.             Lazy Daze

4.             Jolly Roger

5.             Bail Out

6.             On the Rocks

7.             Pegasus

8.             Serenity Now

9.             Namaste

10.          Comfortably Numb

Barefoot Water Ski National Championships Returning to Kansas

The nation's top barefoot water ski athletes will be heading to Maize, Kan., July 22-24, to compete in the 33rd Barefoot Water Ski National Championships. More than 100 athletes are expected to compete in the three-day tournament, which will be held at Mystic Lakes for the second consecutive year.

Barefoot athletes in 24 age divisions  ranging from 9 and under to 80 and older  will compete for national titles in wake slalom, tricks and jumping. Athletes competing in all three events will be eligible for the prestigious overall titles.

The wake slalom event consists of athletes crossing the boat wake as many times as possible in two 15-second passes. Tricks competitors perform as many tricks as possible in two 15-second passes. Jumpers, who are each allowed three attempts, go for distance while leaping off an 18-inch ramp. Competitors reach speeds of up to 43 mph on their bare feet.

Feds Unveil Strategy to Reduce Threat of Asian Carp in the Great Lakes

WASHINGTON, DC – Federal officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Coast Guard today unveiled a strategy that outlines over 25 short and long-term actions and $78.5 million in investments to combat the spread of Asian carp. 

The draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework is an effort to control the invasive species, unifying Federal, state, and local action, and introducing a multi-tiered defense of the Great Lakes to prevent Asian carp from developing self-sustaining populations while longer term biological controls are being developed.

In the near term, the Framework focuses on keeping carp from establishing populations in the Great Lakes.  It calls for reduced openings of Chicago’s navigational locks to prevent carp movement.  In addition, Federal agencies will deploy enlarged field crews for physical and sonar observation, electro-shocking and netting operations within the waterway.  Turnaround times on eDNA verification will be expedited and testing capacity will be doubled to 120 samples per week.  

In March, 2010, a $13.2M contract will be awarded for construction of barriers between the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Des Plaines River, which will prevent fish passage around the electric barrier in the event of flooding where the two water bodies mix.  A $10.5M contact will also be awarded for construction and operation of a third electric barrier (IIB).  The Framework expedites a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ study of the feasibility and impacts of permanent lock closure, the effectiveness of lock closings to block carp movement, the risks and costs associated with closure, and a discussion of alternatives.  
    
The Framework identifies a variety of longer term Asian carp management techniques for the duration of 2010 and beyond.  This includes $3M in funds for commercial market enhancements and $5M for additional chemical treatments in the case of barrier failure.  It also puts forth over $1.5M in new research funding.  Several research efforts will receive significant funding in the coming months to help inform decision makers of additional tools that might be available for Asian carp management, including development of biological controls like Asian carp-specific poisons, methods to disrupt spawning and egg viability, sonic barriers, and assessment of food sources and potential habitats.  

The Framework also identifies educational and enforcement tools to prevent Asian carp from being sold or purposefully transferred, and an investigation of Asian carp transfer in ballast and bilge water.  The Framework will be updated as new partners and new action options are identified to help stop the spread of Asian carp.  Federal agencies will continue to work together and in collaboration with state and local agencies to fight the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.  The entire Framework is available at www.asiancarp.org.

Sperry Top-Sider Shoes Launching New Retail Stores

LEXINGTON, Mass.- Sperry Top-Sider today announced that it is launching new retail stores that will feature all the newly expanded Sperry Top-Sider seasonal products for men, women and children in an authentic nautical shopping environment designed to fully bring the brand to life for consumers.

The new stores will also allow Sperry to test new products, as well serve as a powerful vehicle for the brand to more deeply and directly connect with its broadening communities.

The first three stores will open in Florida, with locations in Tampa, Orlando and Boca Raton in the coming weeks, as well as store openings planned in Dallas and Kansas City next month. 

Los Angeles Boat Show Offers California Boaters Best Deals of the Year

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Some of the boating industry’s most exciting innovations of the new decade will be unveiled at the 54th Annual Los Angeles Boat Show beginning today through Sunday, Feb 21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The annual event is one of the largest and most prestigious boat shows in the western United States, having drawn nearly 4 million attendees from across the nation over the last 53 years.

Highlights of the Los Angeles Boat Show include:

A rare opportunity to view the new Icon A5―an award-winning amphibious sport aircraft on display in the Los Angeles Convention Center Lobby.

First look at Yamaha's new 24-foot 242 Limited S boat that received Trailer Boats magazine’s 2010 Zenith Award – the magazine's top honor for Excellence in Design. In addition, the 242 Limited S also was named a Best Boat by Boating magazine.

The Kona Concept Catamaran Deck Kit―a zero emission solar electric boat that has the speed, range and sea-worthy attributes that allow cruising between harbors in the open ocean, as well as protected waters. The award-winning boat can be assembled at home in less than a day. 
 
The Los Angeles Convention Center is located at 1201 S. Figueroa Street. The four-day show will open Thursday and Friday from noon to 9 pm, Saturday 10 am to 9 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. Admission prices are $10 for adults, with children 12 years or under, free.

Grand Rapids Boat Show Returns for 65th Year Featuring 300 boats and PWC

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Nearly two dozen dealers, representing some 80 manufacturers of new fishing boats, pontoons, cruisers, ski boats, deck boats and runabouts, will be a part of the 65th Annual Grand Rapids Boat Show, Feb. 17-21. Michigan’s longest-running boat show, which began in 1946, will showcase more than 300 new boats as well as personal watercraft, kayaks and other family-fun boats – set up in DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

“The 200,000 square-foot show floor – that’s nearly five acres – will be loaded with new boats, docks, lifts, electronics, accessories and so much more, giving attendees their once-a-year opportunity to compare styles, features and prices, side-by-side, under one roof,” says Henri Boucher, ShowSpan event producer. “This is and has always been a buying show, so patrons can expect to see some amazing pre-season deals.”

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is an example of a company that is pulling out all the stops at the Grand Rapids Boat Show boat show, debuting a new 24-foot runabout, the 242 Limited S, that recently won Trailer Boats magazine's Zenith Design Award; and three new WaveRunners priced under $9,000.  In addition, the company is offering a special boat show promotion that can save you even more money.

Grand Rapids Boat Show Hours are:

Wednesday, February 17 (3-9:30pm)
Thursday, February 18 (3-9:30pm)
Friday, February 19 (11am-9:30pm)
Saturday, February 20 (10am-9pm)
Sunday, February 21 (11am-6pm)

Admission: $9 adults, $4 for children 6-14 and free for children 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.

Detroit Boat Show Reporting Strong Sales Results

DETROIT, MI - Management of the Michigan Boating Industries Association, the producers of the 52nd Annual Detroit Boat Show, stated there was an upswing in boat sales during the opening weekend of the nine-day event as a result of improved attitudes by consumers about spending discretionary dollars. The show continues through Feb. 21.

"We are very pleased with the first two-days of the show.  Serious buyers are coming to the Detroit Boat Show as they realize this is a perfect time to buy a boat while interest rates are low and great buying opportunities exist," stated Van Snider, Show Manager.