For Immediate Release: 

The decade’s best boat deals are at the
Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit
January 7 to 10 at Rock Financial Showplace

NOVI– Area boat dealers will be trolling for buyers when they bring scores of new boats, all rigged for angling, to the Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit, January 7 to 10 at Rock Financial Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.  

Major boat and motor manufacturers will offer incentives that include cash rebates, extended warranties, special discounts and easy dealer financing.  Hoping to get a jump on New Year sales, many of the dealers will offer aggressive deals on trade-ins.

“Customers will find a huge range of new fishing boats at used-boat prices,” said Jim Hodde, sales manager at Wilson Marine in Brighton and Howell.  “Because of ‘factory buybacks,’ the deals this year are unprecedented.”  Factory buybacks occur when manufacturers take back unsold inventory from dealers.  Other dealers enjoy the reduced prices, which they then pass through to customers.  

At press time, the engine manufacturers had not released 2010 factory rebate programs and other special buying incentives.  Dealers at the show will have the latest news.  

The current economic climate has produced an unprecedented opportunity for fishermen wishing to buy their first boat or upgrade to the next.  

New boats coming to Novi include specialty bass and walleye rigs, pontoons, offshore trolling models and runabouts — more than 40 brands in all.  Factory experts will be on hand to answer questions and help anglers.  

Here are the boats, along with some of the bargains, the major dealers will offer:        

Anderson Boat Sales in Waterford will present Alumacraft’s line of fishing boats, including the nationally-advertised 165 Classic with custom paint, galvanized trailer, trolling motor, depth finder and choice of a 50 hp Yamaha or Mercury motor.  Normally $16,000, the tricked-out Classic package sells for only $12,700.  Alumacraft is also expected to offer rebates up to $2,000 on select models.   The dealer will present sport and fishing boats with walk-through windshields, deluxe side-console and tiller-steering, bench-seating V boats, and modified Vs for bass fishing.  

Bee’s Sports in St. Johns unveils Sylvan’s new line of Mirage pontoons.  Built on the redesigned Sunchaser platform, the fleet of 16- to 24-foot pontoons affords high-end luxury like Berber carpeting, reclining high-back helm chairs, and a deluxe dashboard at entry-level prices.  The dealer is also bringing 14- to 18-foot Lund and Sylvan fishing boats that include dual-console models packaged with trailer;
 
Mercury, Evinrude or Yamaha outboards; MinnKota trolling motor and Lowrance graph.   “We stepped up and bought big again this year,” said Sales Manager Tyler Munger, “the manufacturers are also offering major incentives.”  Boat fishermen, for example, can buy a 16-foot Lund Rebel with trailer and 50 hp outboard for under $13,000.    

Chapman’s Sport Center in Lapeer is bringing more than two dozen new Crestliner, Lund and Starcraft fishing boats.  Exciting new Lund models include the all-fiberglass Pro V 208, and the Rebel 1825XL, a full two feet longer than Rebel’s best seller of 2008.   The dealer will unwrap Starcraft’s new 16-foot Pro Camp.  Tricked out with a trailer and 40 hp Mercury 4-stroke engine, the package sells for only $9,995.  Also coming to Novi are the all-new Starcraft Star Weld models in 18 and 19 feet.  

Freeway Sports Center in Fenton plans to display about 25 fishing boats, including the new line of XL all-welded modified V, utility fishing boats from 14 to 18 feet and several new Polar Kraft Outlander utility, deep V models from 16 to 20 feet.  Steal of the show, however, could be the new MirroCraft 1685 Troller EXP, an 85-inch-beam model with rod storage in the bow area.  The nationally-priced package includes a trailer, trolling motor, depth finder and 50 hp Yamaha—all for $13,995.  War Eagle fishing and duck hunting boats, and Gator Trax mud boats are also coming.  In pontoons, the dealer will unveil Gillgetter’s Model 716 Outfitter.  It comes with a trailer and 25 hp Mercury 4-stroke engine for an out-the-door price of $10,995.   

Wilson Marine in Brighton will present more than 35 fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats ready for the water.  Several new 2010 Crestliner models from 16 to 18 feet are equipped with Mercury fishing packages.  The dealer mix includes 20- to 25-foot Bennington fishing model pontoons and a fleet of offshore Trophys from 17 to 25 feet.  Also coming are Bayliner Discovery bow riders and cuddy cabin models with removable seats for more stern-end angling space, and several 15- to 19-foot Smokercraft aluminum V-bottoms in single- and dual-console.  Further, look for Smokercraft entry-level utility packages from 12 to 15 feet.  

Wonderland Marine—West in Howell will pack their exhibit with more than 30 fishing and family-fun boats, including Suncruiser pontoons.  New angling models include Ranger’s Z522 bass boat with redesigned hull and Sea Swirl offshore fishing rigs from 21 to 26 feet.  Stratos bass boats and Yamaha jet boats and personal watercraft are in the mix.   The dealer expects to have buying incentives that include cash rebates from Sea Swirl and Ranger factory savings up to $2,000 per boat.  
If there was ever a time to buy a boat for fishing, that time is now.  

Show hours are Thursday, 2 to 9:30; Friday, Noon to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; Sunday, 10 to 5.  Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 14 with no charge for children 5 and under.  More info:  www.UltimateFishingShow.com or 800-328-6550.