| Last week's much hyped event at Pittsburgh - the | | | | boats and skipper launches making them effortlessly |
| Pittsburgh Boat Show finally concluded and contrary | | | | available to those concerned. There were other local |
| to popular anticipations, it was not as big a hit as | | | | businessmen from in and around Pittsburgh who |
| expected. Firstly, the show was devoid of its | | | | gained a lot of knowledge about the most recent in |
| promised glamour, adventure and magnificence. The | | | | naval gadgetry and were happy with their time not |
| same expo by the same people was more happening | | | | being wasted. Sadly, the expo failed to pull many |
| and exciting last year. Even though they had the | | | | buyers from the usually popular areas of the country |
| latest in what the marine industry had to offer, the | | | | where boats and boating is a way of life. |
| boat show failed when it came to attracting vast | | | | To add to it, the boat show also lacked on the fun |
| crowds and doing a profitable trade. Most say it was | | | | and adventure quotient as a result of which |
| because of their poor advertising campaigns and lack | | | | youngsters were few. Only limited group activities |
| of awareness in nautical circles. Even boat clubs were | | | | had been arranged so children were also few. Stress |
| poorly informed. However, even with the decreasing | | | | was laid upon lots of talks and seminars which |
| visitors, the overall sales of the exhibits managed to | | | | continued throughout the day. This was well received |
| cross a whopping 40 million dollars over a total of 5 | | | | by the serious boating enthusiasts. One of the most |
| days. Perhaps the few who came meant serious | | | | visited and appreciated attraction was the "Swinging |
| business. | | | | Ship". It was actually a giant movable enclosure in the |
| The products on display included the usual modern | | | | shape of a cruiser containing the expo's hottest deals |
| shipping equipment ranging from ships, fancy boats | | | | in boats and boating equipment. Accessories ranging |
| and ferries, house boats, hovercrafts and many | | | | from life jackets to fishing rods were also displayed. |
| others. Industrial ones included trawlers, oil shippers. | | | | Kayaks, canoes, rafts and even fancy gondolas were |
| This was mainly visited by the sheikhs from the | | | | exhibited in the "adventure sport" section. There was |
| Middle East and few Russian businessmen. Jose de | | | | also a particular raft which was priced at an unusual 5 |
| Silva, Texan based oil businessman was particularly | | | | million dollars and it certainly was the talk of the |
| impressed by this section of the boat show. Even | | | | show. Even imported products, mainly from the |
| though he attended for a day, he said that he learnt | | | | United Kingdom, Russia and China were also brought |
| so much about oiling vessels which he could not have | | | | to highlight and compare global and American |
| in a year. | | | | technologies. This was a unique feature which |
| Interestingly there was a luxury and lifestyle section | | | | attracted many buyers. |
| which exclusively housed luxury yachts, high end tug | | | | |