Manta Display at Miami Show 2008, why I was turned off

[Turnone]

At the show, Manta had 42 there but limited access to those who would fill out form of name/email/phone. Then get dorky yellow sticker to wear on board. We walked around topside of boat and then when we tried to go below, we were informed that the people sitting topside were in queue to go below. We just got off and left. The people sitting topside were being forced to listen to some sales pitch, or something.

I thought sailors are free spirits and don't like waiting for something simple. There were many cat's to see, so I wasn't in the mood to sit in queue getting the 'spill' first before moving below.

I really wished Gideon / FastCat was there, otherwise we really enjoyed the show. Weather was perfect (assuming you like 80F/sunny/breeze).

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by Turnone

At the show, Manta had 42 there but limited access to those who would fill out form of name/email/phone. Then get dorky yellow sticker to wear on board. We walked around topside of boat and then when we tried to go below, we were informed that the people sitting topside were in queue to go below.

Based on my experience at the Annapolis show - I've been going for 20+ years - this is pretty much standard operating procedure and I expect it's the same at Miami. Definitely not a Manta thing nor a multihull thing.

Dave

[Turnone]

I guess i should have added, that they were the only ones that did that of all the CAT's that I went on.

[2Hulls]

Not even Lagoon?

I recall I've had to provide name, address, favorite color of underwear to get a Lagoon color coded boarding sticker. The colors mean something to the vultures on board. I mention Lagoon only because they seemed to have the most sophisticated "system."

Dave

[Turnone]

I didn't board every Lagoon, but spent plenty of time on Lagoon 440 w/o any prerequisites.

[Latitude9.5]

Last time i went to that show they wanted you to fill something out at pretty much every vendor.

[David M]

Ewww..... I hope this cattle treatment does not come to the West Coast! When pigs fly will I give out my personal information and listen to an infomercial in order to board a boat that I am considering purchasing. Can you imagine a car salesman or a real estate agent doing the same? Hey, its Joe Isuzu. He sells boats now!

Gideon...all the better for your boat sales. Don't become like them.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Turnone

We just got off and left. The people sitting topside were being forced to listen to some sales pitch, or something.

That is too bad.
We went aboard several times on Thurs and Fri. I have to do that to "update" the "pictures in my head". I was probably on board for almost 2 hours on Thurs. No sales pitch. Just company owner giving his ideas and current owners/6mos liveaboards telling us what they think. Biased........yup.

On Fri there were a lot more people and we had to wait for some to leave the inside so more could fit. No different than other crowded boats for us though.

But then Manta is first choice for me. For some reason I keep coming back to it. It seems to have more of the "little things" I / we like.

The other bests are Broadblue and Leopard for second place. Third is Seawind 1160.

WOW!

I am just one lotto ticket away from ordering one....................

<Edit>
As it turns out after asking a few questions and being shown some ot the "under" and "behind" things - which is why I wanted to go to the show anyway - we filled out info sheets for all the above boats and a couple more. No biggi for me. I was honest with them all by telling them my work had slowed and the wife's company was not doing as well as we had hoped for so far. Oh well.........

[Brandywine]

We flew out too Miami from CA just to shop for a cat and I had the opposite impression on the manta, very friendly and professional and wiling to spend time talking about the gauge of wire etc...

After the show, we would list the top three as Voyage, Broad Blue, and manta...

We also liked the lagoon 440 but we ruled it out as well.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Brandywine

After the show, we would list the top three as Voyage, Broad Blue, and manta...

.

The salon seat / freezer on that baby was awsome!!!!

[redtwin]

Which model of Broadblue did they have there? Any pics?

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by redtwin

Which model of Broadblue did they have there? Any pics?

385 sport rig.
Broadblue | Cat range | 385

[Turnone]

I definitely don't mind sharing the info, I just don't like being forced to before you can even step aboard. This is a SHOW after all. If they don't want people to have access, they shouldn't be there IMO. But it is there boat, so I guess they can do what they want. I really wanted to check the Manta out, b/c I hear good things about it.

I would also have liked to see a Dean 441, African Cats 435.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Turnone

I really wanted to check the Manta out, b/c I hear good things about it.

I would also have liked to see a Dean 441, African Cats 435.

The Manta really has some nice features.

I wanted to see a Dean and I think all of us want to see a 435.

[ty135]

I was at the Miami show also, and the Seawind 1160 has definitely moved to the #1 spot on my list. I am close to pulling the trigger on it and would appreciate any advice on why I should take another look at a different boat before I do. Any shortcomings of the Seawind that I may have missed, or factors that rule it out of your personal cat searches?