In their quest to offer clients a stellar boating experience, the Hagadone Marine Group (formerly Yacht Club Sales & Service) has opted out of the annual Spokane International Boat Show. They will be holding a special Coeur d’Alene Boat Show and Sales EventJanuary 21^st through February 5^th at their Blackwell Island showroom next to the Cedars Floating Restaurant on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene.  This will be the first Show at the recently remodeled facility. 

“This new location will give us the opportunity to present our entire stock of 2012 Cobalt, Carver, Malibu, Axis and Regal Boats as well as our full line of pre-owned boats.” said Craig Brosenne, General Manager of the Hagadone Marine Group.  Brosenne indicated that studies show eight out of ten buyers want an on-the-water demonstration before finalizing their purchase.  Having our boat show at our Blackwell Island venue will allow our buyers this opportunity.  “When was the last time you purchased a car without driving it first?” asked Brosenne.

We will be unveiling nine never before seen models from wakeboarding, to sports boats, to yachts. This show will feature the latest innovations in marine technology.

“We still believe boat shows are important and get people excited about boating,” Brosenne said.  “By staging a free event at our 25,000 square foot indoor facility, we provide the buyer with the best selection of models to select from at one location”.

Paul Nielsen, Hagadone Marine Group Director of Sales says the 15 day Coeur d’Alene Boat Show and Sales Event will feature more than 100 new and pre-owned boats from 18 to 42 feet in length worth over 7.5 million dollars.  “Boat slips at our 3 marinas, which are constantly in short supply, will be available with the purchase of select boats.  Having everything in one location on the water will give our customers the opportunity to view and test drive every new and pre-owned boat we have.” added Nielsen.  “We’re the largest boating facility in the Pacific Northwest and this will be a unique opportunity for people to enjoy tremendous value and the finest in family boating. Our boats will be priced to sell at better-than-boat-show pricing,” said Nielsen. 

In addition to the renovated showroom, the Hagadone Marine Group will be adding a 10,000 square foot Service Center to enhance the premium service that our quality brands and our 2,500 clients deserve.  The 60 year-old Yacht Club Sales & Service recently changed its name to The Hagadone Marine Group and is located on Blackwell Island, next to the famous Cedars Floating Restaurant.

The Coeur d’Alene Boat Show is free to the public.

Did you know there are a number of Ford Model T automobiles sitting on the bottom of the lake, due to people in the early 1900s who would drive across the lake during the winter time in order to save half the distance in getting around the lake. When the ice broke, so did the chances for getting across.

In the sleek and performance driven NEW Cobalt 220, Free Space Reclamation (FSR) provides interior width beyond any other 22 foot stern drive on the market. Cobalt’s unique new interior design, the function of reduced gunwale thickness carefully engineered for optimum use of the space between interior and exterior walls means improved unparalleled room and comfort.

The fact is that you get more Cobalt from the inside - out. And the out - the Kevlar reinforced hull - knows exactly what to do. Combine the performance advantage of Cobalt’s extended running surface, reverse chines, and the legendary progressive dead-rise that has helped Cobalt earn the recognition of the “best ride and drive amongst the competition” and you might just determine that Cobalt… has no competition.

Are you ready to climb aboard the New Cobalt 220?

The exacting judges at the Antique and Classic Boat Society’s annual show never award a perfect score - but in this case, they did.

“Jefe,” a 34-foot Coeur d’Alene Custom luxury runabout built by The Resort Boat Shop, recently won a perfect first place in its class at the 36th International ACBS Boat Show held at Lake Geneva, Wis., with 160 boats in attendance.

Owners Donna and Jerry Gilbreath of Coeur d’Alene were thrilled when the boat won top honor out of 66 boats in the contemporary classic division, for boats built since 1968. The award was based on a number of strict criteria, including workmanship, design, fit and finish.

“We’re proud we could represent the city of Coeur d’Alene, The Resort Boat Shop and Hagadone Marine Group, and most importantly, the individuals that worked so hard on our boat,” Jerry Gilbreath said. “Without their devotion, we would not have the unbelievable degree of perfection that was achieved.”

The boat was made from African mahogany and Western red cedar by a team of expert wood boat craftsmen. She is beautifully finished both inside and out with 29 coats of epoxy and varnish, and shined with a five-stage buffing process.

“People just kept coming back and looking at the boat again like they couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Designed by Gilbreath, a former champion offshore powerboat racer, “Jefe” is built for smooth, quiet cruising and a wind-free cockpit, and uniquely designed so the bow never rises up into the driver’s field of vision. The extraordinary level of craftsmanship caught the eye of one show attendee in particular.

“We were told the boat earned a 100 out of 100,” Gilbreath said. “I had one retired boat show judge come up to me and say, ‘There is no such thing as a perfect score.’ I told him to go and look, and he spent an hour trying to find a flaw. He came back and told me he couldn’t find a single one.”

To get there and back, the Gilbreaths drove their beloved boat 4,000 miles round-trip on a trailer behind their Yukon Denali, with the yacht meticulously bandaged three times over in anti-chafe tape, a full towing cover and shrink wrap. They were stopped numerous times by people along the way asking about the boat. Even under the full cover, its lines drew a crowd. The extra care paid off.

“She came back as perfect as ever,” Gilbreath said.

“Our congratulations to Jerry and Donna, from the entire team,” said Craig Brosenne, general manager of Hagadone Marine Group. “‘Jefe’ has won some major awards since she was launched, but this is the grandest of all.”

The boat has been featured in international publications including Robb Report, Northwest Yachting, Yachts International, Sport Boat, Yachts France and CdA Magazine. She won awards at wood boat shows in Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Payette Lake and Tahoe, along with top honors at the 2010 Desert Storm show on Lake Havasu.

“It was an incredible experience,” Donna Gilbreath said. “Everywhere we went, when people heard we were from Coeur d’Alene, they always told us how beautiful it is here. Now they know what kind of boats we can build, too.”

Now available on the 232, 242, and 262 WSS models. This high tech Murphy Display System offers complete control over all rider settings including; ballast tanks, trim tabs, and cruise control. For the 2012 model year, this system will be offered as a Free Upgrade with the purchase of the three rider system options: ballast, trim tabs, and cruise control. The system can also be upgraded to include GPS map for an extra cost. Visit our showroom to learn more and tell us in the comments if this is feature you’ve been waiting for.

It’s time to pull in the rafts, lifts, and boats for another season. But there is more to it than just taking boats out of the water. Winterizing a boat and motor is the most important maintenance a boat owner can perform to help ensure safe boating next spring.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or have service facility do it for you, winterizing is the best way to prepare your boat for the season to come. Regardless of where your boat is stored (inside or outside), much care is needed to protect your boat engine.

The following are some basic steps to winterize your marine engine and equipment.

• Fill the fuel tanks and add the appropriate amount of stabilizer. Run the engine long enough to get treated gas into the fuel line and engine. Left untreated over the winter, gasoline deteriorates into varnish and gum, making starting difficult.
• Flush the cooling system. (Flushing kits are available from our parts department.) Also remove block plugs and drain all the water from inboard and inboard outdrive engines. This cleans out accumulated sediment and rust flakes. Pump in anti-freeze to avoid trapped ice pockets. Use an environmentally safe product to avoid contaminating the marine environment.
• Fog the engine with oil to prevent rust. Available in bulk or aerosol cans, fogging oil is formulated to stick to the cylinders and not slide down the walls. Follow the instructions that come with the product making sure to spray some of the oil into the cylinders through the sparkplug holes once the engine has cooled down. Check the spark plugs and replace them as necessary.
• Replace the oil and oil filter on inboard and inboard outdrive engines. Be sure to dispose of the used oil at an authorized recycling center.
• Change the lower unit gearcase lubricant on outboards and inboard/outdrive engines. Even a little water trapped in the gearcase can cause damage, especially if allowed to freeze.
• Check the props for nicks. Even slight damage can hinder performance. Worse yet, blade damage can cause vibration, damaging other engine parts and the drive system. Some damaged props can be repaired by marine dealers for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
• Store outboards in an upright position. Consider having the water pump impeller replaced every two or three years. The rubber legs can get stiff, reducing water circulation, or they may break off, eliminating coolant flow completely.
• Spray a moisture displacing lubricant such as a silicone product onto electrical terminals and the fuse panel. Read the label to make sure the spray is safe for use on electrical components.
• Inspect steering systems, including tiller steering friction fittings on outboards. Tighten them if they’re loose.
• Clean the backfire flame arrester on inboard engines with carburetor cleaner.
• Clean boats inside and out and cover when stored, even indoors. Allow for air circulation under the cover to prevent mildew.
• Drain water from the bilges and leave the transom drain plug out. It’s a good idea to place a reminder note in a conspicuous place to avoid embarrassment at the boat ramp next spring.
• Hang life jackets up where they can air out.
• Examine trailer tires and grease the wheel bearings, replacing them as necessary. Check bulbs and electrical contacts on the plugs as well as sockets where the bulbs screw in. Spray contacts with a moisture displacing lubricant and wrap electrical tape around the plugs to keep them dry.
• Put the trailer on blocks and remove the tires to prolong rubber life and hinder boat thieves.
• Check the owner’s manual for tips that are particular to your own brand of boat, engine and trailer.

For boaters who aren’t comfortable doing their own maintenance, all the procedures may be performed by our qualified marine technicians. Call, email or come in today to schedule your boats winterization. Taking a little time in the fall to get your boat and motor ready for winter means that you can be one of the first boaters out on the water next spring.

Regal is proud to announce the Prime Time Sales Event. This is Regal’s biggest annual promotion and the best time to save thousands on a new Regal. Come by today to see how much you can save.