From the 1980s through the early to mid-2000s, production high-performance boat builders hosted meetings for their dealers across the country. The purpose of those late-summer-to-early-fall happenings, hosted by well-known brands such as Donzi Marine, Formula Boats, Baja Marine and Wellcraft/Scarab was two-fold: To showcase new models and, more important to their hosts, collect orders from dealers.

The success of its center console models has propelled Nor-Tech to host the second dealer meeting—this first was in 2017—in the company’s 19-year history. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix/Florida Powerboat Club.

Dwindling in the mid-2000s, dealer meetings—as did production go-fast powerboat dealers themselves with the exit of most of the major lending institutions from the floor-plan financing business—all but died in the aftermath of the recession in 2007. With most dealers gone, there simply was no need for dealer meetings.

So this year’s Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Powerboats meeting, the second such event in the 29-year history of the Fort Myers, Fla., center console, V-bottom sportboat and catamaran company, is—in and of itself—noteworthy. The company currently has 16 dealers, including American Custom Marine, Double R Performance, Erickson Marine, Marine Unlimited and SoFlo Boats, at the weekend-long event in Cape Coral, Fla.

Representatives from all those dealerships and more were on hand Thursday night at the Cape Coral Westin Resort for the event’s opening. Nor-Tech vendors including Garmin, JL Audio, Mercury Marine/Mercury Racing, Seakeeper and more, as well as Nor-Tech factory representatives, made presentations during this evening’s casual cocktail reception.

Tomorrow’s events include an early morning photo shoot, more vendor presentations and at least one question-and-answer session with Nor-Tech’s production personnel. On Saturday, Nor-Tech representatives and their dealers will head out on the water for a lunch/fun run.

In terms of new models, dealers on hand will get their first look at Nor-Tech’s 34 Club Sport offering.

Editor’s note: Speedonthewater.com will report on scene throughout the weekend from the 2018 Nor-Tech dealer meeting. Chief photographer Pete Boden is on hand to chronicle the event.

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