The 2013 Annapolis Sailboat Show

 “Why go to the boat show when you do not have a boat or plan to buy a boat?” That was the question I heard several times before Jan and I attended the 2013 Annapolis Sailboat Show. Well, for us it is not about the boats for sale on display. There were many on display to be sure, but most of the boats were large catamarans destined for the charter trade. We did board the Tartan 47 which was listed at close to a million dollars. It was large and well laid out, but it was after all--a Tartan and for a million dollars?? There were three Alerions on display—the 28, 34, and 41. These are gorgeous boats, but pitched towards the day sailor. We caught the scuttlebutt that Tartan had cut C&C loose and Alerion/J Boat had picked up the trademark. There is no word yet on what will happen, and no new boats have been announced. It is another sorry chapter in the saga of the once glorious name C&C. For my money the pick of the show was the Gun Boat, a futuristic 60 foot catamaran made out of carbon fiber.

We had come to meet friends. We rendezvoused with Don and Sue Engler, our cruising buddies from 2011 in Georgetown, Bahamas. They own a sister ship C&C 41 (but not keel/centerboard) and they base out of Delaware. We also had the kids with us—Kristi, Layla, and Pat. We all had the traditional lunch of large and rare roast beef sandwiches at the Fleet Reserve Center. This is a boat show tradition that is not to be missed. Also at the lunch at the Fleet Reserve Center was Bob Bitchen. He has relaunched his publishing business with “Cruising Outposts” after the collapse of “Attitudes and Latitudes.” I was able to introduce him to Pat. Bob was as gracious as ever.

We also came to see the vendors. This was actually the principal reason to go at all. Jan meet a Facebook friend , Dinnen, at the Mantus booth, and I bought a Mantus chain grabber. I had been eying it for several months in the magazines, and think it will serve nicely as part of the anchor system. Just around the corner at the Spade Anchor booth, I saw an innovative anchor stabilizer that will fit very nicely on the tip of the anchor roller. The White Pepper's bow roller is too small and the anchor chair often jumps off the roller. Hopefully, this will help. I got advise from the Map Tech vendor about problems with the program I bought 5 years ago. We picked up a Nautical Almanac at the Celestaire booth. I had a long and informative discussion with the Yanmar distributor about a possible re-power. Also at the Yanmar booth was Chuck, an old friend from Deltaville Boatyard in Virginia. Jeff Coxwell, an old friend of Jan's from Rockport, Texas was there selling his very successful C Cushions for boats. I picked up some invaluable insights from the Edson dealer about instrument mounts.

So you see, I hope, that the boat show is not just about boats. It rained off and on all day, but we were sad to see the show close at 6:30. Like so many cruisers, for us the Annapolis boat show marks the start of our cruising season. The next Monday we headed for Florida --via I-95 this time and not the ICW. Next up the Sadler Marina Boatyard and all of the 2013 upgrades to the White Pepper.

The pics show how rainy is was.  But as one attendee said.  There is no bad weather only bad foul weather gear. Also shown is the Gun Boat, my new gadget for the anchor bow roller and "too many multihulls."