Tropicana Boat Show | 3/15

I took my son down to the boat show at Tropicana Field on Saturday to have a look around and see if there was anything extraordinary. I had my hopes on getting another good look at the Parker boats but unfortunately there weren't any represented.

Much of the show was the typical fare; booths selling everything including the kitchen sink, most of the established boat manufacturers and the fishing clinics. A couple of surprises were the new manufacturers, or at least new to me... and there seemed to be a bunch. As none made a full transom, all euro transoms, we mostly just bombed around and had a look at some general prices.  I was glad to get a look at the new Egmont boats and meet the owner. I have heard a lot about the hulls, all good, and a number of local captains have signed on for their custom rides. I looked at the Egmont 23' and loved everything about it, especially the full transom, except the low gunnels. For fishing I'm sure it would be perfect but carrying the shorties around you'd like something for them to bump off of before hitting the drink.

The boat that they had displayed was fully loaded and had tons of storage and fishing space. It was obvious that it was designed by fisherman, for fisherman.

I looked a bit at the Twin Vee's as well. I'm sure that they are a great boat but when you get on one it doesn't feel like a fishing boat. I'm not sure exactly why... but it didn't work for me.

I was impressed with the new E-Tech 300 and there were more than a couple of boats outfitted with trip 300's. It's never going to be in my budget but they were cool anyway.