Happy 2009!

Well, a lot has happened since we laid up all the boats last winter—we have a new President, unemployment is up, prices are down, it’s a topsy-turvy world we live in today. It’s times like these that make me do a sanity check. Let’s see: in 1981 the prime rate was at over 20% and boat loans were at 14%. In 1983 unemployment was over 10%. In 1980 the inflation rate was over 10%. The Dow was still under 1,000 points. I was in college and my parents were paying my way through by running a marina and boat dealership. And you know what—Mom and dad sold boats! In 1979 there was an energy crisis as well. It was un-American to own an RV and yet mom and dad sold boats.

One of my cousins visited Dad around that time and her husband said to my father, “I can tell you haven’t done very well Paul. You’re still driving the same car you had 4 years ago.” My dad said “Yup, same car, same house, same wife, same kids, same business, same God—guess you could call me a failure.” I call him a leader.

In uncertain times we look to those who will lead us and the leadership we look for is a stabilizing kind—even though it might include innovation, the leadership is focused on comforting people and changing their outlook. It’s easy to say in times like these that you don’t need a boat—or a vacation home or an RV—if you don’t intend to enjoy life or don’t feel you deserve to for whatever reason. But that misses the point. It’s still possible to be frugal and buy a boat, there is a right way to buy a boat and we’re here to show you how. No doom and gloom from us, no sir. We’re freshening up the store right now, doing the jobs we can do indoors while it’s so cold and planning other projects for when we can work outside.

In the meantime, unemployment is not over 10%— it’s less than 8%. Inflation is not over 10%— it’s less than 5%. Our boat loan rates aren’t at 14%—they are 7.5-8.5%. Gas costs $2/gallon—not $4/gallon. The Dow is at 8,000—not 1,000. We just entered our first show at Richmond Convention Center and we sold boats! But that’s not the best part, there are lots of exciting things going on around the corner and I just can’t wait! Here are some of the reasons I’m really pumped up:

New Product
Chaparral is extending its Sunesta bow styling to the smaller bow riders and to the new
400 Premiere cruiser. This creates a huge amount of room in the bow. Now you might say “So what? Lots of deck boats get that kind of bow.” But look again because this patent pending exclusive bow design allows you to have your cake and eat it too. You get more bow storage than on any competitor with a true deep-vee hull, all the seaworthiness of a deep-vee (smooth in rough water, keeps water out of the boat), Chaparral’s extended vee plane hull (superior cornering, stability, fuel economy, and better ski/wakeboard starts). Only Chaparral has this and now it translates to the 400 Premiere as well. The bow allows you to get a queen-sized bed forward! We’ll be stocking all the new bows except for the 400 (we’ll get you a look if you need one just email us).

In the meantime Cobalt has announced a ton of new models. Hoffmaster’s will be stocking the 230 and th e 276—in fact they are already in the showroom, come in and have a look!

Great Deals
Hoffmaster’s has a combination of demo boats, carry over boats, and special purchase boats. Cash is king in slow times and Hoffmaster’s is investing time and money to get you, the consumer, the kinds of deals you demand in a slow economy. If you want the latest and greatest we’ll make you a winner and if you want a special value we’ll make you a winner too. Because you always win at Hoffmaster’s: unlimited training, unlimited free use of launch ramp, factory-certified technicians, and the best-trained staff in the business.

Great Opportunities
This is the year to go boating. Gas prices are predicted to be stable, the Potomac river
has never been cleaner and more beautiful, National Harbor is getting into full swing,
there’s a new restaurant at Occoquan Harbor and don’t forget: Old Town, Georgetown,
Fort Washington, Mount Vernon, Tim’s, Tim’s 2, Madigan’s and the Town of Occoquan public pier, Goose Bay Marina, Gilligan’s, Robertson’s, Capt. Billy’s, the swimming holes at Belmont Bay, Mattawoman Creek, Wades Bay and Fairview Beach, all won one of the top 100 Largemouth Bass fisheries in the country! All this is within a 2-hour boat ride from my marina.

In just about a month from now we’ll start summarizing out customers’ boats.
Time, as Springsteen says, to be working on a dream.

HOFFMASTER'S MARINA, INC.
Welcome to the Family—Growing Since 1954
1214 Swan Point Road • Woodbridge, VA 22192 • Phone 703/494-7161 • Fax 703/494-8786

HOURS OF OPERATION
Sunday, 12 p.m.– 4 p.m.; Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m.– 4 p.m.

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