MANY NEW MODELS TO BE SPLASHED AT CIC

From pontoons to motor yachts, the Progressive Catawba Island Boat Show, April 27-29, will boast a fleet of nearly 100 power and sailboats this year.

The boats will range from 8’ inflatable dinghy’s to 50-foot-plus motor yachts. The attraction of this annual show is that visitors can climb aboard many new models that local dealers have received since the big Cleveland show last January, or were simply too large to be displayed at the indoor event.

Heading to the show with a big display of 14 models, the flagship of the Clemons Boats (Sandusky) exhibit this year will be the all-new Boston Whaler 350 REALM which is expected to arrive from the factory just at Showtime. The REALM will be accompanied by several other Whaler models including the new 345 Conquest.

For excitement, Clemons will also feature the new Bennington 25Q Tritoon powered by a 350 hp Mercury Verado! Other brands in the Clemons lineup will include Albemarle, NauticStar and Cobalt.

Happy Days Boating (Port Clinton) will be following suit when it premieres the new Chaparral 287 Bow Rider. It will be joined by the Chaparral 302 and the dynamic Robalo 302 Center Console. But there’s sure to be lots of lookers at the unique Chaparral 24 VORTEX that is powered by twin jet drives. Happy Days is also the dealer for the Parker and Sportcraft boat lines.

Queen of the Skipper Buds (Marblehead) display will be the all-new and luxurious Cantius 50-footer from Cruisers Yachts. Not far behind, in size anyway, will be the Scout’s flagship 42 LXF Quad Engine (4 outboards) Center Console. That’ll get you to the Walleye fast! Skipper Buds will also be displaying a variety of other models from bow riders to motor yachts.

A similarly large motor yacht will be shown by Sima Marine (Eastlake). It’s the Prestige 420S Coupe, designed by Garroni and featuring typical Prestige elements like an all-weather hull design, a discreetly incorporated bridge and Volvo Penta IPS 500 engine that offer exceptional maneuverability and a top speed of 34 knots. The layout of the main deck with electrically opened sunroof makes life easy with its safe side decks, its wide foredeck with recessed area for sunbathing. Still, the 420’s design offers very private spaces of the two cabins, each with separate entrance, the only flybridge boat on the 40-foot market with such a feature.

If speeds topping 60 mph are your passion, the new 28-foot Buddy Davis Center Console will be worth inspecting. Displayed by Lake & Bay Yacht Sales (Marblehead), this center console model is powered by twin Yamaha 300’s and loaded with factory options. It boasts the latest hi- tech manufacturing process with vinylester infused resin, and the Davis hull design is noted for its dry ride.

Also most notable will be the fleet of boats from South Shore Marine (Huron). Lead by the premiere showing of the glamorous new Regal 42 Grand Coupe, she’ll be accompanied by the new Regal 33 SAV powered by twin Yamaha 300’s. Indeed new models will be found throughout the South Shore display, including the new flag blue-hulled Sabre 38 Salon Express boasting twin Volvo IPS 400’s; the triple Yamaha 300s-powered Pursuit 365 Dual Console; plus the new 33 Express and 325 Freedom from Grady White.

Chris Craft is back! The famous brand has not been represented in the northern Ohio market for nearly a decade. But, visitors to the CIC show will be able to board the Chris Craft 30 Calypso being shown by South Shores Marine just named the area dealer.

CIC is located on the northwest side of the Catawba peninsula, off Northwest Catawba Road.

Show hours this year will be: Friday, 12 Noon to 6 PM; Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM; Sunday, 11AM to 5 PM. Admission and parking are FREE. For more show details, visit: www.catawbaislandboatshow.com