Wednesday and Thursday were my primary “coverage days” this week for the Miami International Boat Show. I devoted Wednesday to the Miami Convention center exhibits and Thursday to the Mercury Racing Demo event in Grove Harbour.
Today I stopped by the CP Performance / Hardin Marine trailer and then headed to check out Angle Of Attack Marine’s new offices at Miami Beach Marina.
Set in its traditional spot outside the entrance to the convention center, the CP Performance / Hardin Marine display always is its typically aftermarket-product-loaded self with everything from Bluetooth-enabled electronics to ECM upgrade kits for outboard engines to steering wheels.
And I mean a whole lot of steering wheels, which may well provide the biggest bang for the buck when it comes helm-station updates.
I spent about 20 minutes just watching people stop and stare at those wheels. The attention I saw paid to them blew my mind. Steering wheels don’t cost a fortune, and that may help explain their popularity among update-minded go-fast powerboat owners.
Having already stopped by Miami Beach Marina yesterday—Nor-Tech dealer Raymond Roberts gave my friends and me a late-afternoon ride back from the Grove Harbour in 4000 Roadster catamaran—I knew what to expect. Time was not on my side, so I didn’t have enough of it to check out the newly completed Angle of Attack Marine sales offices.
Last time I saw that space was in December, and it was anything but ready to show off for the public. But company representative Adrian Fernandez assured me they would be ready in time for the Miami event, and he was good to his word. The first-level lounge area is spacious compliment to the offices themselves.
Next up for Angle of Attack Marine is tomorrow’s night’s open house at its Doral concierge and storage facility. Of course, I plan to be there, but before that I have to join Florida Powerboat Club head Stu Jones and 300 to 500 friends for our shared Florida Powerboat Club/Speed On The Water South Beach Bash tonight at the Sagamore Hotel.
And the wheels of fortune continue to roll in Miami.