“I don’t think the Dayton market can support a boat show,” said Rob Lynch, a promoter who tried for several years to put on a boat show at the Airport Expo Center. “With Cincinnati so close and shows all around at Columbus and Indianapolis, there’s just too much established competition.
“People aren’t going to support a small show in Dayton when they can go south to Cincinnati, west to Indianapolis and east to Columbus to large, successful shows.”
The economy, as we all know, has not been kind to the Dayton area. That has been one reason there are only two boat dealers left in the metro area, Eagle Creek Marine on Poe Ave. and Stampers in Miamisburg. That, in itself, makes it difficult to put on a show. Even if you call it a sportsman’s show and include hunting and fishing, boats still have to be there. You might say boats are the backbone of every outdoor show.
“I think there are signs that the economy here is getting better,” said David Friedman of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the volunteer organization that acts as the U.S. Coast Guard’s arm to support safe boating. He and his mates are present at all area shows to offer boating courses and promote safety. “You have to have the right promoter, though. And the problem now is the public is skeptical about shows in Dayton.”
According to the CGA there are approximately 51,000 registered boats in the Dayton area.
Hague Atkinson, the Cincinnati-based promoter who put on last year’s show and had planned to put on the one scheduled this weekend, said he doesn’t think the Dayton market can support a show, especially with the lack of local boat dealers. He said he had commitments from three boat dealers, but that wasn’t enough.
Chad Taylor of South Shore Marina at Cowan Lake said one of the problems is boat dealers from Cincinnati no longer feel it necessary to spend the money to go to Dayton.
“We are seeing the same people,” Taylor said. “If we see them in Cincinnati and Dayton, it doesn’t make much sense to spend the money to do both shows. And they are generally going to go to Cincinnati because it’s a better show.”
Mike Choate, owner of Eagle Creek, said he sees two scenarios: a sportsman’s show that includes boats like the one promoter Jody Witzky put on two years ago or a consortium of southwest Ohio boat dealers putting on their own show.
“If either of those things happens, we plan to be part of it,” Choate said. “Boat shows are expensive for dealers, but we feel they are important for us.”
Boating courses: Two safe boating courses will be offered in the coming weeks by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. First will be a Boating Skills & Seamanship Course, set for 13 sessions on Tuesday nights at Fairmont High School. The starting day is yet to be determined. Then, a one-day, eight-hour course will be held March 21 at Indian Lake. For information or to sign up for a course, call David Friedman at 937-293-4131 or email him at davidboat@woh.rr.com.
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