Take the helm of your dreamboat at the 2008 Tacoma Dome Boat Show, March 27-30

TACOMA—Throttle up for Northwest fishing, cruising and watersports during the last major show before boating season at the Tacoma Dome Boat Show™, March 27 – 30.

With ample free parking in the Tacoma Dome parking lots, scores of boat dealers will display more than 500 of the latest models throughout the easy access, indoor venue. Boats on display range from coastal cruisers, family runabouts and inflatables to jet boats, personal watercraft and pontoon boats that can pull skiers!

New this year is the “priced-to-sell” pre-owned boat display, featuring used boats handpicked by participating dealers to sell at the show.

Show visitors will find boats and accessories marked for ready sale and available for opening day activities. Look for a full array of vessels from the 39-foot Larson Sport Cruiser and Arima’s new 24-foot family fishing model, to tough Apex tenders and Walker Bay’s new inflatable kayak that fits in a backpack.

Making its first appearance in the Northwest, the 48-foot semi trailer that houses the Crownline Mobile Learning Lab will be parked near the entrance to the show. The public is invited free of charge to walk through the display, which shows how the popular family boats are designed and constructed.

In addition to the season’s best deals, the Tacoma Dome Boat Show brings a tsunami of accessories, equipment, marine services and destinations under one roof. Look for the latest in marine electronics, water skis, wakeboards, motors, trailers, fishing tackle and hardware. This is also the place to plan your escape with representatives on hand from many of the Northwest’s top marinas and most attractive boating destinations.

Admission to the show is $9.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (62+, weekdays only) and free to children 12 and under. Weekday discount coupons good for $2.00 off are available online or this March at your local Puget Sound KeyBank locations at www.otshows.com

Show hours are Thursday (March 27) 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday (March 28, 29) 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday (March 30) 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Parking in the Tacoma Dome lots is free throughout the run of the show.

The Tacoma Dome Boat ShowÔ is produced by O’Loughlin Trade Shows. For more information, call (253) 756-2121 or visit the company’s website at www.otshows.com

The largest vessels at the show are perfect for a couples’ weekend or a week in the San Juans. Day Island Boatworks of Tacoma will feature the Larson’s luxurious, new 37-foot day cruiser that is powered by the new-style Volvo IPS drive engine.

Lake Union Sea Ray of Fife promises to make waves with Boston Whaler’s largest model, the new 345 Conquest. This 34-footer is designed as both a luxury cruiser and a serious fishing boat and features triple 250 HP, super-charged, inter-cooled, Mercury Verado engines.

Olympic Boat Centers invites showgoers to enter-to-win a Bayliner 205 Bowrider as well as peruse as many as 65 Bayliners that range in length from 17 to 39 feet.

Northwest Marine & Ski, Inc. of Lake Tapps, Wash., plans to showcase three Rinker Boat cruisers including the 35, 28 and 26-foot models. “The 11’ 4” wide 35-foot cruiser is like driving your living room around the Sound,” observes Owner Jon Flinchbaugh, who adds Rinker includes lots of options as standard features, such as a generator and air conditioning.

Gino Monetti of Checkerboard Flag Marine, Inc. of Mt. Vernon, Wash., will highlight Stingray’s 25-foot cruiser and 22-foot cuddy cabin models. He says the 25-footer is a new, fresh-looking family cruiser that promises both speed and fuel economy.

Several vessels at the show are best described as family fishing boats. Presented by Boondocks Boats & Motors of Bellingham, Wash., SeaSport’s 26-foot line falls in that category. Sporting a new, deeper V-hull design for a softer ride, the Aleutian, Kenai and Kodiak models promise full fishing features in combination with overnight amenities.

The third largest Honda dealer in the nation, King Salmon Marine, Inc. of Tacoma, will feature the latest crossover family fishing boat, the new 21-foot Arima Explorer Series. A well-respected Northwest builder, Arima introduces fishing cruisers with an extended hardtop enclosure, stand-up head, sink and dinette.

King Salmon will also introduce Northwest Jet Boats’ new 26-foot Offshore. According to Owner Tyler Anderson, this aluminum jet boat with a 9-foot beam, big cabin, huge fish lockers and twin engines is geared for tuna fishing off the Washington and Oregon coasts. Anderson classifies this fishing cruiser, “It’s high end, at the top of the food chain!”

In keeping with its history for selling great fishing boats, Master Marine Services of Mt. Vernon will introduce the new 28-foot Osprey, which features a flush deck, stern drive, 9.5-foot beam, roomy fish boxes and tons of storage.

The Tacoma Dome Boat Show will also feature versatile runabouts that cruise, fish and serve as a platform for watersports. Sport Boat Northwest, LLC of Seattle, will present a full line of Crownline boats (18-feet--34-feet) as well as introduce a new line of 25-foot Crest Pontoon boats that sport a wakeboard tower and run up to 50 mph.

Lake Union Sea Ray of Fife invites visitors to celebrate Boston Whaler’s 50^th anniversary and come see one of its special edition 13-footers. One of only 100 special edition runabouts to be built, the Whaler will feature a retro look with blue gelcoat interior. Also look for Sea Ray to show its new, Northwest Executive Edition sport boats, which include the 230 SEL, 250 SLX and the 270 SLX. These sundeck and sport cruiser models come with a Vacuflush head.

Verle’s Sports Center & Marine of Shelton, Wash. plans to showcase a number of Triumph runabouts (15’ - 23’). Utilizing proven Roplene technology, several 21-foot Triumphs have been purchased by the Mason County Sheriff’s Department. Says Verle’s owner Gary Schreiber, “While Triumph has utilized the plastic, one-piece construction method for a decade, it is finally recognized as a superior family utility boat that has become famous for the “Bubba Test.”

With its patent-pending hull and introduced by Seattle Water Sports, Chaparral’s Sunesta Wide Tech 224 will impress family boaters with its roomy interior and socializing amenities teamed with wakeboard capabilities.

Deck and pontoon boats are the latest rage on inland waters. Taking advantage of the trend, Northwest Marine & Ski, Inc. will highlight the 24.5-foot Rinker deck boat (19-feet to 26-feet), which features V-hulls and a bow large enough for six. “These deck boats are so much more versatile and family-oriented than ever with a head and smooth-riding pontoons,” says Flinchbaugh. “They run up to 50 mph, fast enough to pull tubes or even skiers!”

Auburn Sports & Marine, Inc. will headline the redesigned SunChaser (18-feet – 24-feet) pontoon boat and the new Sylvan RPT Pontoon. According to Darren Largent, the RPT is a self-rising, self-planing boat that has the ability to run like a V-hull, “New this year, the Sylvan hull is patent-pending and revolutionary!”

The active watersports crowd will discover a full range of attractive toys at the show. Tacoma Motor Sports Owner Bruce Burwell plans to exhibit Sea-Doo’s new, high performance models, including the RXP-X (double) and RXT-X (triple); both are equipped with 1,600 cc engines and 225 HP. Tacoma Motor Sports will also display the Yamaha FX-SHO (Super High Output) with electric cruise control. It is the fastest accelerating PWC in the industry with a 1,900 cc engine.

Skidog Sports Owner Dave Waller says the Auburn Company will bring the latest Tige models. Considered the premier wakeboard boat in the industry, the new 24-foot Tige RZ4 with signature picklefork bow promises a smooth ride and lots of room for family and friends. The 21-foot Tige Z1 provides families with a fully equipped wakeboard boat with a traditional V-hull.

Named the third ranked dealer in the nation in 2007 by Boating Industry Magazine, Seattle Boat Company plans to bring a fully dressed Cobalt 222 wakeboard boat. To celebrate Cobalt’s 40^th anniversary, the company will also display the $40,000 value package, consisting of a Cobalt 202 and trailer.

According to Matt Radich, Active Water Sports, Inc. of Beaverton, Ore. plans to exhibit several Sugar Sand Boats (16-feet to 23-feet). He says these jet drive boats are similar to jetskis, but they are custom-built of hand-laid fiberglass in Fargo, ND.

“We will also bring the hottest toy around, the new WakeKite Superfly,” says Radich. “You pull a WakeKite behind the boat with a wakeboard and glide through the air!”

A variety of inflatables, tenders and kayaks will also be available at the show. Northwest Inflatable Boats of Portland, Ore. plans to display a range of Apex inflatables (8-feet to 38-feet) that serve as great yacht tenders. A perennial favorite after 35 years in business, Porta-Bote International of Mountain View, Calif. will exhibit its new 14-foot, folding tender that reduces to the size of a surfboard. In addition, Dave Kruse of Cap Sante Marine in Anacortes, Wash. plans to bring a stable of Rigid Boat fiberglass tenders (8.5’ – 17’), which come with a five-year hull warranty.

Be sure to checkout Alki Beach Boats’ display of Walker Bay Boat’s Airis inflatable kayaks (8-feet to11-feet). Sold in a backpack carrier, sturdy Airis kayaks weigh up to 20 pounds and are designed for easy storage. Says Alki Beach Boats Owner Chris Cowman, “They make great little dinghies or the perfect, carry-in-your-trunk watertoy.”