Cd'A boat show begins today
<p>Shannon Estlund, of Lewiston, browses a row of boats Tuesday during a walk along the Coeur d'Alene Resort Marina boardwalk. The annual Boats A Float boat show, hosted by Yacht Sales and Service, runs Thursday through Monday.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Seasoned boating enthusiasts seeking something different, and those thinking of becoming boaters, can take a close look at what's available for them today through Monday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort boardwalk.
Boats Afloat 2010, a floating boat show and sale, runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and offers an array of cruisers, yachts, sports and wake boats.
"We've got $5 million worth of inventory to look at," said Craig Brosenne, Hagadone Marine Group's general manager.
People can compare boats and find something that meets their needs, he said.
The show's flagship vessel is the A25 Cobalt, a model that's been earning high marks from reviewers.
Boating Magazine's Randy Vance called development of the A25, "totally offensive, like an 80-yard touchdown pass or a half-court shot at the buzzer. In one fell swoop, Cobalt changed the standards for dramatic design, function and style in luxury boats."
The A25 features the new Volvo joystick stern driving system.
"We also have Regal boats, new this year," Brosenne said.
Hagadone Marine Group's Yacht Club Sales and Service is now the Inland Northwest's exclusive dealer for Regal, the first-place J.D. Power and Associates award winner for "Highest in Customer Satisfaction" for the past three years.
Other product lines featured at the show include Carver, Malibu and Axis.
It's the largest inventory of 2010 boats in the Northwest, said Brosenne.
The largest boat at the show is a 44-foot 2010 Carver Sojourn yacht. Smaller boats from 20 feet up will be on display also.
The Hagadone Marine Group, recently named No. 40 in the Boating Industry's Top 100 dealers in North America, consists of the Resort Boat Shop and the Yacht Club Sales and Service companies as well as three marinas on Lake Coeur d'Alene: Boardwalk Marina, Blackwell Island Marina and the Silver Beach Marina and the Stateline Boat Storage Facility.
Some special deals and financing offers will be available during the weekend event.
New boat purchases come with a "Delivery Captain," who spends time with the new owner until he or she feels comfortable.
For anyone thinking of becoming a boat owner, Brosenne said it's a way to spend quality time with your family.
There aren't many places to go where people aren't distracted by Blackberries, iPods and Wii systems, he said.
"When you own a boat, all four of you, or five of you, are there together," Brosenne said. "I think people want to get back to that."