SPORTS SHOW BOASTS SOME STATE-OF-THE ART TOYS

The newest and most innovative features to be had were on display at the Cape Girardeau Spring Sports Show held Saturday at the Show Me Center.

The three-day event featuring outdoor sports equipment land and water play continues today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Whether they were selling family boats or motor homes, tree stands or camouflage clothing, dealers claimed to have top-of-the-line products with state-of-the-art features.

Take, for example, the Mariah 214 Jubilee, a 21-foot family boat boasting features which sounded more like those of a luxury automobile than a water cruiser. Power seats, multispeed windshield wipers, a window defogger and a patented nonwood hull that comes with a lifetime guarantee were just a few of the features that set the boat apart.

"This is literally the Cadillac of family boats. They've actually taken the new Cadillac Escalade design and integrated some of its features into the Mariah design," said salesman Tim Pulcher. "It's definitely not an entry-level boat."

The full-sized motor homes and various campers on display also carried features designed to catch the potential buyer's attention. Several display models featured slide outs, a fairly new method of adding closet space and seating to motor homes, or sleep space in smaller campers.

"They didn't have these when we had our family," said Maryann Martin of rural Carbondale, Ill. "They've made camping a lot easier."

Martin said she liked the multitude of features being offered on the motor homes, because "when you get into that size you want anything they'll put on it." Appearance and storage were the most enduring features, Martin said, although she said her husband was more interested in gas mileage and motor size.

"These are things women look for," she said of her priorities.

David Brandt of Murfreesboro, Ill., said he has noticed a major shift in how motor homes are designed. A more durable exterior and more aerodynamic design has resulted in motor homes that are lighterweight, easier to clean and a better buy for people looking for the most features and best value for their money.

"These are really designed for people who are planning to live in these things or do extensive traveling, so the features are very important," Brandt said. "They've really done a lot work on these."

Even seemingly simple products were given revolutionary spins at the event. Fishing lures costing as little as $1 promised to change colors and be the easiest to change on the market.

And two types of camouflage clothing were available Saturday. One type, called scent lock, was supposed to be able to block a hunter's scent by providing an additional layer in its woven design. The second type, saddle cloth, has been on the market several years but is only just beginning to gain popularity with hunters.

"A lot of people are looking at it now because the material is rain-resistant, extremely durable, doesn't tear as easy as the more denim-type fabrics, and it's wind-resistant," said Andy Sherrill of Artic Outdoors. "It's a higher-priced item basically because it is such a durable product.

Not even tree stands were immune from technological advances. One vendor pitched a tree stand that he said was unique because it could be adapted to fit crooked trees.

"Most tree stands are stationary: They have to be put on a straight tree or else they don't work," said Herb Winschel of Buckeye Field Company. "Ours is made of lightweight aluminum and will fit on a tree with up to a 25 percent tilt. It's made to fit crooked trees, because how many trees do you know of that grow straight?"