February 9, 2025 • 13 mins
Host Phil Tower speaks with Ben Nielsen, Show Manager, in this episode.
Now in its 80th year, the Grand Rapids Boat Show, February 12-16, at Devos Place is launching into an era where it will show our broadest array of power boats ever...over 400 boats, especially for the Great Lakes and inland fishing.
Ben noted that boat show attendees will see yachts, cruisers, runabouts, fishing boats of all sizes, and ski and surf Inboard boats.
Ben said Pontoon Boats also continue to excel in new designs, features, and cruising abilities.
Online: Online: Grand Rapids Boat Show,
Now in its 80th year, the Grand Rapids Boat Show, February 12-16, at Devos Place is launching into an era where it will show our broadest array of power boats ever...over 400 boats, especially for the Great Lakes and inland fishing.
Ben noted that boat show attendees will see yachts, cruisers, runabouts, fishing boats of all sizes, and ski and surf Inboard boats.
Ben said Pontoon Boats also continue to excel in new designs, features, and cruising abilities.
Online: Online: Grand Rapids Boat Show,
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlighten on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hey, it's West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. Once again. Welcome
back to the program, and thank you for tuning in
all across West Michigan and whatever iHeartRadio station you're listening
to and as our podcast as well. Real pleasure to
dream about warmer temperatures and summertime in West Michigan. Well really, spring, summer,
(00:39):
fall voting is almost a year round sport in the
Great Lake State. And it is my real honor and
pleasure to welcome Ben Nielsen, show manager for the gr
Boat Show, which is you guys. The Boat Show is
just around the corner. It's Wednesday, February twelfth through Sunday,
February sixteenth at Davos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Ben
(01:02):
Nielsen is chopping at the bit for the doors to open.
The boats are being staged. You ready for a great show.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Ben, Absolutely, We're ready for a great show. It's it's
going to be another really packed show this year. We're
super excited about that. And you know, the boats are
going to get all moved in in place and shined
up and ready to go. And you know, once we
get everything open, we actually do you know, account every
year just to see how many. But every year we're
well over that three hundred mark, which is just incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That's a lot of boats and boats from the big
cruising yachts to you've got pontoons, you've got fishing boats,
you've got runabouts. You've also got wakeboard skiing, surf boats,
which are very very popular. Five acres of boats is
what my notes tell me. Here. It's a lot of
(01:54):
It's a lot of boats. And I will tell you
we spent on your your team member and I Don
Baker spent a lot of time at the International Auto
Show just recently and the crowds were the crowds were great,
So I know you are. You're gonna have a lot
of people at the boat show. A hint for those
who are interested in going, there are really easy hours.
(02:17):
You can go early, for instance, for those of you
who may have days off because you're retired to working
flex hours. Boat show opens Wednesday at two goes to
eight pm Thursday noon to eight, Friday noon to nine,
Saturday ten to nine, and Sunday ten am to five pm.
So been lots of opportunities to get in to the
Voss place and see the boats.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah. Absolutely, And you know the boats, they're the start
of the show. It's a grand aft at the boat show,
right and you were touching on it earlier. I mean
anything from you know, a paddle board all the way
up to the motor yacht and everything in between. And
you know, boats right now are doing very well. But
one thing that has changed over the last couple of
years in that area is that it is a buyer's market.
(02:58):
If we looked back a couple of years ago, it
really hard to find boats. You know, they were selling
really quick and it was really hard to get them.
These dealers have a lot of inventory, they're sitting on
a lot of inventory, and they're ready to make deals.
So this is definitely a good year to get down
there if you're interested in getting into it boat.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah. I'm glad you said that, because a lot of
people forget or aren't aware that you can actually wheel
and deal on a boat. You can buy a boat
and then have it in the water by the time
the ice is melted and it's ready to enjoy the boat.
And I got to tell you, Ben, there's nothing better
than a boat to get the family together, to enjoy Michigan.
(03:35):
There is nothing better than being on a water a
watercraft and inland Lake, maybe the big lake. For me,
it's just it is the tops and this is a
great way to dream, even maybe if you're a couple
of years away from replacing that twenty five year old pontoon.
And speaking of that, I mean the technology in boats
all across the board, Ben Nielsen, is really it's just
(03:57):
amazing and comfort features technology, the boats that you grew
up with, your grandfather's boat or your father's boat, they're
not like they used to be.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
No, they are not. There's no doubt about that. And
you know, although it may seem from a distance that, okay,
that's the boat, right, you know, they're they're pretty standard.
When you get up and look, they have changed dramatically.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Obviously the one common feature that they float, But other
than that, interior designs are all different, engines are all different,
electronics are all different. There's a ton of things to
see and you know, let's say you're you know, interested
in the boat right now, that's fantastic, like you were
saying earlier, maybe it's a couple of years away. This
is a great place to come because all the West
Michigan dealers are under one room. So rather than driving
(04:40):
to all these places and talking, you can talk to
these guys and really kind of figure out what exactly
am I looking for? What kind of boat should I
be getting, you know, and this is the place to
do it. And you know the other side of it is,
if you are in that market to look for a boat,
ordering that boat right now, that you were saying this earlier,
it really doesn't sure that you're going to get that boat.
You know by our normal like Memorial weekend when everything
(05:01):
kind of kicks off, right, If you wait till April
number one, you're kind of stuck with what they have
left on their lot and ordering a boat, you may
not get it till June or July in the summer's
half over. And who wants to miss out on any
part of Michigan's summer. So you know, it really is
a great place to come and look at them well.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And the great thing about the boat show Ben is
that you can actually get on the boats, you can
sit in the boat, you can check it out, you
can ask questions what I like about the boat show.
There's always some kind of signage explaining the boat, and
oftentimes you've got prices financing, so you know exactly what
you're getting into. It's very informative as you walk through
(05:37):
the hundreds of boats on display inside the Voss Place.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yes, yes, there's no doubt about that. You really can learn.
And you know, even for somebody that maybe has never
had a boat that wants to come down there and
just kind of you know, maybe they've been interested in
it but are a little bit reluctant because they just
don't know what they need. This is a great place
to come and learn, you know, about boats in the
different styles and oh okay, you know, maybe I thought
I this kind of boat, but after I really think
(06:01):
about it, this type of boat really suits me better. Right, So,
just a really good place to come and learn about
voting and the boating like set.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Ben Nielsen is with a show manager for the Grand
Rapids Boat Show at de Vos Place, Febry twelve through Sixteens.
Can folks get tickets out of the show through the
gr boat Show website. What's the best way for people
to get tickets early, Ben, Yes.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
You absolutely can. Grboat show dot com is the place
to go. You can purchase them advance. We do sell
a discounted weekday ticket in advance of the show, so
you can save a little bit of money to the
weekdays on that, and it also really helps you to
save on you know, having to go to the box
office or waiting any kind of alignment. You've got that
ticket in advance, you just kind of walk right in,
(06:43):
which is fantastic. So definitely encourage that. But you also can,
like I touched o on that. You know, we do
have the box office. You can get them there as well.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
You know what I love about how you plan the
boat show. You make it entertaining. It's you know, beyond
the boats. You've got a Stingray Encounters display. You've got
all kinds of things there, Key West Crabshack. I want
to talk about the antique and classic boat display. I'll
get to that in a moment, but I want to
speak to moms and dads, grandpa's and grandma's. If you've
(07:12):
got a youngster who's interested in taking the Voting Safety
Certification course. You can take that at the GR Boat Show.
That's Saturday, February fifteenth from noon to five, and you
can do your own research online to find out what
ages are qualified. But there's no fee to attend the
boating safety class at the gr Boat Show and you
(07:33):
just need to gather in De Vos Place before noon
that day to get signed up for the Boating Safety
Certification course. This will save you several days of driving
your kid to that boating Safety certification course, so check
that out. The other thing I want to mention real quickly,
grboatshow dot com is where you'll find that information. You've
got the Water Wonderland chapter of the Antique and Classic
(07:56):
Boat Society. It's a mouthful, but these are beautiful class boats.
Span a really terrific part of the show to kind
of look at some of the boats that have been
preserved and just truly loved by the people who have
these classic antique boats.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
They are pieces of art, there's no doubt about that,
and they're they're just a joy to look at, you know,
and kind of see, you know, obviously some blasts from
the past there and these guys are you know, passionate about,
you know, restoring these boats and keeping them in pristine condition.
And it changes every year. You know, it's not the
same antique boats every year either, so I'm kind of curious.
(08:31):
I don't even know, you know, exactly which ones I'm
going to see this year. So, you know, the Water
Wonderland Chapter does a fantastic job and it really is
a great, you know club. If I have any interest
in that, I'm sure they'd love to talk to me
about that as well. But the display that they have
down there is you know, really second to none.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Grboat show dot com. Grboat show dot Com is how
you can learn more. You've got a feature called Stingray Encounters.
This is the the only traveling, self contained ding ray
exhibit in the world, Ben Nielsen, this is why, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, And you know it's the first time it's been
at this show, so we're excited to have it here.
And you know, we touched on this a little bit.
But you know, the Boat Show. One of the wonderful
things about it that when you step inside of there,
it reminds you of some in the warm set goes
with it, and it even smells like it inside of there,
and so this kind of sting ray exhibit so kind
(09:25):
of goes along with that, right, And it's a great
place to bring the kids and you know, even an
adults and actually see a singer. You can touch them
at them and they'll have them on display there where
you can actually see that. And that's not something we
get to see in Michigan a whole lot. Obviously, they're
typically in the oceans and we don't have that. So
something really cool that you can kind of encounter as well.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Ben Nielsen, show manager for the gr Boat Show, is
with us. And I am one who loves to fish.
Sometimes I'm good at it, mostly i'm not. But if
I know, if you know anything Ben about about people
who fish, you are always looking to upgrade your Boat's
very rare you find a fisherman or woman who is
satisfied with their boat. And this is the place to
(10:05):
view all kinds of fishing boats. Tons of dealers there,
and it's just you know, a fishing boat is a
super versatile boat. It can be a pleasure boat just
to make a picnic and go out on the lake.
But this is the place to see them. They come
in all shapes and sizes and You've got several dealers
who will be there. I'm just I'm looking at the
(10:26):
dealer list. It's huge, and this is really exciting. I mean,
you guys really are packing this.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, it is full. I mean we have packed every
square inch of the Voss place full of boats and
you know, all different styles, right, so you know, fishing
boats and wait surf boats and you know, everything you
can think of is going to be there. So it
really is an exciting place to come. And you know,
on the fishing boat side of things, you are correct
about that, right. We are never satisfied and always looking
to upgrade, or even if we're not upgrading the boat,
(10:55):
maybe we're looking for new throlling motor, or we're looking
for you know, a new fish finder for the boat,
or you know, all all of those things you can
find at these great dealers that are going to be
at the show as well. So you know, really a
good place to kind of really cover anything when it
comes to boating.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Ben Nielsen with us show manager for the gr Boat
showgrboat show dot com. And I should mention before we
run out of time here, pontoons are super popular. They
have dramatically improved from the days of old trytuons are
very popular. You've got all kinds of pontoons available, all
different sizes, all kinds of technology, all kinds of configurations.
(11:30):
There is no better place to see them than the
gr Boat Show. You're going to have a lot of
them there.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Ben, Yeah, there's no doubt, and you are right about
the fact that they've changed. I don't remember the year
this was. It was several years back, but I was
sitting out there fishing and I have a bass boat myself,
and I'm cruising along and I'm doing, you know, pretty
good speed. I'm not going full full speed, but I'm
going pretty quick. Those things go fast. And all of
a sudden, out of my peripheral vision, I look and
(11:56):
there is a pontoon boat passing me, and I thought,
what in the world is going on. You know, we've
always thought of pontoon boats is just kind of cruising
around the lake, going slow with the family and having
a good time. And they certainly still do that, but
these things have big engines on them now. They really
are more than just cruising around the lake. You know,
when it comes to skiing and wakesurfing and you know,
(12:18):
all of those things, These pontoons are doing that, and
one of the latest features the last couple of years
has really been the interior design of them. They're changing dramatically.
Bars on pontoon boats now bathrooms, which is something else
that pontoon boats have typically never had, right, Okay, now
all those things are now becoming present on pontoon boats
as well, and so there really are a ton of
(12:38):
changes on that. It's kind of fun to see them
and look at them, and you know, maybe time to
upgrade the pontoon.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Whether you're dreaming or you're ready to buy, or just
want to look around get some ideas. No better place
to do it than the Grand Rapids Boat Show grboat
Show dot com. Grboatshow dot com. You can get tickets
there February twelfth. That's this coming Wednesday through the sixteenth
at de Voss Place. Ben Nielsen's show manager, Hey, thank
you for being with.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Us, absolutely, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
You've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan
Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and iHeartRadio
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlighten on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hey, it's West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. Once again. Welcome
back to the program, and thank you for tuning in
all across West Michigan and whatever iHeartRadio station you're listening
to and as our podcast as well. Real pleasure to
dream about warmer temperatures and summertime in West Michigan. Well really, spring, summer,
(00:39):
fall voting is almost a year round sport in the
Great Lake State. And it is my real honor and
pleasure to welcome Ben Nielsen, show manager for the gr
Boat Show, which is you guys. The Boat Show is
just around the corner. It's Wednesday, February twelfth through Sunday,
February sixteenth at Davos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Ben
(01:02):
Nielsen is chopping at the bit for the doors to open.
The boats are being staged. You ready for a great show.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Ben, Absolutely, We're ready for a great show. It's it's
going to be another really packed show this year. We're
super excited about that. And you know, the boats are
going to get all moved in in place and shined
up and ready to go. And you know, once we
get everything open, we actually do you know, account every
year just to see how many. But every year we're
well over that three hundred mark, which is just incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That's a lot of boats and boats from the big
cruising yachts to you've got pontoons, you've got fishing boats,
you've got runabouts. You've also got wakeboard skiing, surf boats,
which are very very popular. Five acres of boats is
what my notes tell me. Here. It's a lot of
(01:54):
It's a lot of boats. And I will tell you
we spent on your your team member and I Don
Baker spent a lot of time at the International Auto
Show just recently and the crowds were the crowds were great,
So I know you are. You're gonna have a lot
of people at the boat show. A hint for those
who are interested in going, there are really easy hours.
(02:17):
You can go early, for instance, for those of you
who may have days off because you're retired to working
flex hours. Boat show opens Wednesday at two goes to
eight pm Thursday noon to eight, Friday noon to nine,
Saturday ten to nine, and Sunday ten am to five pm.
So been lots of opportunities to get in to the
Voss place and see the boats.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah. Absolutely, And you know the boats, they're the start
of the show. It's a grand aft at the boat show,
right and you were touching on it earlier. I mean
anything from you know, a paddle board all the way
up to the motor yacht and everything in between. And
you know, boats right now are doing very well. But
one thing that has changed over the last couple of
years in that area is that it is a buyer's market.
(02:58):
If we looked back a couple of years ago, it
really hard to find boats. You know, they were selling
really quick and it was really hard to get them.
These dealers have a lot of inventory, they're sitting on
a lot of inventory, and they're ready to make deals.
So this is definitely a good year to get down
there if you're interested in getting into it boat.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah. I'm glad you said that, because a lot of
people forget or aren't aware that you can actually wheel
and deal on a boat. You can buy a boat
and then have it in the water by the time
the ice is melted and it's ready to enjoy the boat.
And I got to tell you, Ben, there's nothing better
than a boat to get the family together, to enjoy Michigan.
(03:35):
There is nothing better than being on a water a
watercraft and inland Lake, maybe the big lake. For me,
it's just it is the tops and this is a
great way to dream, even maybe if you're a couple
of years away from replacing that twenty five year old pontoon.
And speaking of that, I mean the technology in boats
all across the board, Ben Nielsen, is really it's just
(03:57):
amazing and comfort features technology, the boats that you grew
up with, your grandfather's boat or your father's boat, they're
not like they used to be.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
No, they are not. There's no doubt about that. And
you know, although it may seem from a distance that, okay,
that's the boat, right, you know, they're they're pretty standard.
When you get up and look, they have changed dramatically.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Obviously the one common feature that they float, But other
than that, interior designs are all different, engines are all different,
electronics are all different. There's a ton of things to
see and you know, let's say you're you know, interested
in the boat right now, that's fantastic, like you were
saying earlier, maybe it's a couple of years away. This
is a great place to come because all the West
Michigan dealers are under one room. So rather than driving
(04:40):
to all these places and talking, you can talk to
these guys and really kind of figure out what exactly
am I looking for? What kind of boat should I
be getting, you know, and this is the place to
do it. And you know the other side of it is,
if you are in that market to look for a boat,
ordering that boat right now, that you were saying this earlier,
it really doesn't sure that you're going to get that boat.
You know by our normal like Memorial weekend when everything
(05:01):
kind of kicks off, right, If you wait till April
number one, you're kind of stuck with what they have
left on their lot and ordering a boat, you may
not get it till June or July in the summer's
half over. And who wants to miss out on any
part of Michigan's summer. So you know, it really is
a great place to come and look at them well.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And the great thing about the boat show Ben is
that you can actually get on the boats, you can
sit in the boat, you can check it out, you
can ask questions what I like about the boat show.
There's always some kind of signage explaining the boat, and
oftentimes you've got prices financing, so you know exactly what
you're getting into. It's very informative as you walk through
(05:37):
the hundreds of boats on display inside the Voss Place.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yes, yes, there's no doubt about that. You really can learn.
And you know, even for somebody that maybe has never
had a boat that wants to come down there and
just kind of you know, maybe they've been interested in
it but are a little bit reluctant because they just
don't know what they need. This is a great place
to come and learn, you know, about boats in the
different styles and oh okay, you know, maybe I thought
I this kind of boat, but after I really think
(06:01):
about it, this type of boat really suits me better. Right, So,
just a really good place to come and learn about
voting and the boating like set.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Ben Nielsen is with a show manager for the Grand
Rapids Boat Show at de Vos Place, Febry twelve through Sixteens.
Can folks get tickets out of the show through the
gr boat Show website. What's the best way for people
to get tickets early, Ben, Yes.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
You absolutely can. Grboat show dot com is the place
to go. You can purchase them advance. We do sell
a discounted weekday ticket in advance of the show, so
you can save a little bit of money to the
weekdays on that, and it also really helps you to
save on you know, having to go to the box
office or waiting any kind of alignment. You've got that
ticket in advance, you just kind of walk right in,
(06:43):
which is fantastic. So definitely encourage that. But you also can,
like I touched o on that. You know, we do
have the box office. You can get them there as well.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
You know what I love about how you plan the
boat show. You make it entertaining. It's you know, beyond
the boats. You've got a Stingray Encounters display. You've got
all kinds of things there, Key West Crabshack. I want
to talk about the antique and classic boat display. I'll
get to that in a moment, but I want to
speak to moms and dads, grandpa's and grandma's. If you've
(07:12):
got a youngster who's interested in taking the Voting Safety
Certification course. You can take that at the GR Boat Show.
That's Saturday, February fifteenth from noon to five, and you
can do your own research online to find out what
ages are qualified. But there's no fee to attend the
boating safety class at the gr Boat Show and you
(07:33):
just need to gather in De Vos Place before noon
that day to get signed up for the Boating Safety
Certification course. This will save you several days of driving
your kid to that boating Safety certification course, so check
that out. The other thing I want to mention real quickly,
grboatshow dot com is where you'll find that information. You've
got the Water Wonderland chapter of the Antique and Classic
(07:56):
Boat Society. It's a mouthful, but these are beautiful class boats.
Span a really terrific part of the show to kind
of look at some of the boats that have been
preserved and just truly loved by the people who have
these classic antique boats.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
They are pieces of art, there's no doubt about that,
and they're they're just a joy to look at, you know,
and kind of see, you know, obviously some blasts from
the past there and these guys are you know, passionate about,
you know, restoring these boats and keeping them in pristine condition.
And it changes every year. You know, it's not the
same antique boats every year either, so I'm kind of curious.
(08:31):
I don't even know, you know, exactly which ones I'm
going to see this year. So, you know, the Water
Wonderland Chapter does a fantastic job and it really is
a great, you know club. If I have any interest
in that, I'm sure they'd love to talk to me
about that as well. But the display that they have
down there is you know, really second to none.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Grboat show dot com. Grboat show dot Com is how
you can learn more. You've got a feature called Stingray Encounters.
This is the the only traveling, self contained ding ray
exhibit in the world, Ben Nielsen, this is why, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, And you know it's the first time it's been
at this show, so we're excited to have it here.
And you know, we touched on this a little bit.
But you know, the Boat Show. One of the wonderful
things about it that when you step inside of there,
it reminds you of some in the warm set goes
with it, and it even smells like it inside of there,
and so this kind of sting ray exhibit so kind
(09:25):
of goes along with that, right, And it's a great
place to bring the kids and you know, even an
adults and actually see a singer. You can touch them
at them and they'll have them on display there where
you can actually see that. And that's not something we
get to see in Michigan a whole lot. Obviously, they're
typically in the oceans and we don't have that. So
something really cool that you can kind of encounter as well.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Ben Nielsen, show manager for the gr Boat Show, is
with us. And I am one who loves to fish.
Sometimes I'm good at it, mostly i'm not. But if
I know, if you know anything Ben about about people
who fish, you are always looking to upgrade your Boat's
very rare you find a fisherman or woman who is
satisfied with their boat. And this is the place to
(10:05):
view all kinds of fishing boats. Tons of dealers there,
and it's just you know, a fishing boat is a
super versatile boat. It can be a pleasure boat just
to make a picnic and go out on the lake.
But this is the place to see them. They come
in all shapes and sizes and You've got several dealers
who will be there. I'm just I'm looking at the
(10:26):
dealer list. It's huge, and this is really exciting. I mean,
you guys really are packing this.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, it is full. I mean we have packed every
square inch of the Voss place full of boats and
you know, all different styles, right, so you know, fishing
boats and wait surf boats and you know, everything you
can think of is going to be there. So it
really is an exciting place to come. And you know,
on the fishing boat side of things, you are correct
about that, right. We are never satisfied and always looking
to upgrade, or even if we're not upgrading the boat,
(10:55):
maybe we're looking for new throlling motor, or we're looking
for you know, a new fish finder for the boat,
or you know, all all of those things you can
find at these great dealers that are going to be
at the show as well. So you know, really a
good place to kind of really cover anything when it
comes to boating.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Ben Nielsen with us show manager for the gr Boat
showgrboat show dot com. And I should mention before we
run out of time here, pontoons are super popular. They
have dramatically improved from the days of old trytuons are
very popular. You've got all kinds of pontoons available, all
different sizes, all kinds of technology, all kinds of configurations.
(11:30):
There is no better place to see them than the
gr Boat Show. You're going to have a lot of
them there.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Ben, Yeah, there's no doubt, and you are right about
the fact that they've changed. I don't remember the year
this was. It was several years back, but I was
sitting out there fishing and I have a bass boat myself,
and I'm cruising along and I'm doing, you know, pretty
good speed. I'm not going full full speed, but I'm
going pretty quick. Those things go fast. And all of
a sudden, out of my peripheral vision, I look and
(11:56):
there is a pontoon boat passing me, and I thought,
what in the world is going on. You know, we've
always thought of pontoon boats is just kind of cruising
around the lake, going slow with the family and having
a good time. And they certainly still do that, but
these things have big engines on them now. They really
are more than just cruising around the lake. You know,
when it comes to skiing and wakesurfing and you know,
(12:18):
all of those things, These pontoons are doing that, and
one of the latest features the last couple of years
has really been the interior design of them. They're changing dramatically.
Bars on pontoon boats now bathrooms, which is something else
that pontoon boats have typically never had, right, Okay, now
all those things are now becoming present on pontoon boats
as well, and so there really are a ton of
(12:38):
changes on that. It's kind of fun to see them
and look at them, and you know, maybe time to
upgrade the pontoon.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Whether you're dreaming or you're ready to buy, or just
want to look around get some ideas. No better place
to do it than the Grand Rapids Boat Show grboat
Show dot com. Grboatshow dot com. You can get tickets
there February twelfth. That's this coming Wednesday through the sixteenth
at de Voss Place. Ben Nielsen's show manager, Hey, thank
you for being with.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Us, absolutely, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
You've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan
Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and iHeartRadio
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