The boat show season begins with the Northern California Fall Boat Show in Oakland (September 11-19) and ends in Seattle with the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show (May 21-23). In between are mammoth East Coast indoor and in-the-water shows in Miami, New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Annapolis and Newport, RI.

Exhibitors at these shows sell everything from inflatable kayaks to 100-foot yachts, from boat shoes to solid gold jewelry, but the focus is on boats, boats and more boats. Aiming to entertain, inform and whet the appetite for a new boat, most shows feature seminars by well-know sailors, powerboat racers and anglers.

Discover Sailing demos, Boating Basics courses for women and “Kids-Aboard” boat-building programs offer hands-on opportunities designed to draw newcomers to the sport.

There are also dozens of smaller shows, some of which focus on specific types of boating, like bass fishing, waterskiing and houseboating. These tend to be more eclectic than traditional sail and power shows. They embrace the outdoor lifestyle as a whole. So, between checking out the latest bass boats at the Michigan Sportfishing Boat & Travel Show in Lansing March 3-6, 2005, you might test yourself on the rock-climbing wall or watch bird dog demonstrations at the Los Angeles International Sportsmen’s Exhibition January 13-16, 2005. Bass-O-Rama held in Richmond, VA, is another show that draws crowds of anglers and outdoorsmen of all stripes.

For many who are traditional power or sail boaters, the Newport (RI) International Boat Show, September 16-19, is Mecca. Located in what is arguably the birthplace of recreational boating in the U.S., the show features both power and sail on 14 acres in downtown Newport. Show director Nancy Piffard says exhibits will run an uninterrupted half-mile along the waterfront streets and into the harbor.

Friday is the show’s “Women in Boating” day with a special Boating Basics Course for Women being offered by Genmar along with a Shake-A-Leg Benefit Fashion Show in the afternoon. All weekend long, there will be free sailing instructions in Newport Harbor by Discover Sailing, using demo boats from the show.

A number of new models will debut, including pricey beauties like Hinckley’s new 55 ft. Talaria and what the show’s marketers call a “high end lobster boat style yacht” built by Jock Williams.

Can’t get to Newport to see their trawler exhibit? No worries, mate. It’s going on the road and can be seen at the U.S. Powerboat Show in Annapolis, October 14-17.

If Newport is all about tradition, Annapolis has developed a reputation for the innovative. Not so long ago, catamarans came only in sail flavors. As in previous years, Annapolis will feature a huge exhibit of new power cats ranging in size from 16 ft up to 64 ft., along with more traditional monohulls from the major manufacturers, as well as some one-off boat builders. Among the expected 500 or so models exhibited will be some new designs, including the 300, 400 and 500 Express models from Cruisers, a 410 Rinker, 38 and 43 Silverton Sport Motoryachts and Cobalt’s new 343.

Multihulls, the sail kind this time, will also be on hand in Annapolis at the U.S. Sailboat Show, October 7-11. Maxim Yachts’ new 380 catamaran and Maine Cat’s 41 High Performance multihull will see their first light of day in Annapolis, which is the site of the oldest sailboat show in the country. The show usually draws spectacular ocean-going racers, which, although they are not for sale, whet the appetite to test the waters. Models more accessible to the rest of us will include Jeanneau’s new 49 DS, the Gozzard 43 and even the Porta-bote Extreme. All in all, about 250 sailboats will be tied up at the Annapolis City Dock.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 28-November 1, bills itself as the “world’s largest boat show,” a claim that would be hard to dispute when the city devotes over 3 million square feet of indoor, outdoor and in-water space to boats and the stuff that goes with them. If it’s not on display in Fort Lauderdale, it probably doesn’t exist. Everything, from the simplest dinghy to the most awesome megayacht, is for sale.

Boat Show Strategies

Getting the most out of a boat show means doing some homework before you hit the decks.

• Check out boat manufacturers’ Web sites (for list of boat manufacturers’ Web sites, check out the Boat Manufacturer Directory for new model information. This will help you comparison shop, especially if you print out each model’s specs to bring along to the show. If you’re a serious buyer, contact the builders beforehand to set up an appointment at the show. You’ll have more time to tour boats and talk with builders if you go to shows on VIP days or during the week.

And, boat show veterans recommend mapping out the exhibits you plan to visit — before the show. It’s easy to get distracted! Bring along a camera and notepad.

For many boaters in the north, indoor shows are the only option. But in-the-water shows give serious buyers the opportunity to sea trial new models, a must before making a purchase decision.

• Comparison shop for warranty coverage. The manufacturer’s guarantee can be a lifeline if problems occur once the boat is delivered.

• Have a budget and stick with it. Be clear about how much boat you can afford to buy and maintain. The boat’s price tag and interest on a boat loan are foreseeable costs, but don’t forget to figure in one-time fees, like sales tax, and recurring ones, like storage, personal property taxes, slip rental and insurance.

With slip and boat storage space at a premium in most parts of the country, find out in advance what accommodations are available.

• Pre-qualifying for a boat loan may yield a lower interest rate and better terms than you can get by negotiating a loan with a dealer.

• Even though boat show “special” prices are tempting, think twice about buying a boat from a dealer that’s not close to home or from one that doesn’t maintain a service shop. Most dealers are reluctant to provide warranty service for boats they didn’t sell.

• Protect yourself by making any purchase agreement contingent upon a specific delivery date, as well as an inspection and sea trial of the boat you will actually buy. Most dealers require a 10% cash deposit to write a contract.

• Walk away from any deal that requires you to pay in full or begin making loan payments before the boat is delivered. Holding onto the final payment gives the buyer leverage to make sure repairs and commissioning work is completed at the time of delivery.

• Speaking of walking, boat shows are big, often covering acres of waterfront or indoor arena space. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to spend big bucks on refreshments. Pack some bottled water and snacks to keep up your strength.

• Buy boat show tickets in advance to take advantage of discounts. Tickets are on sale at www.BoatUS.com/tickets.

• Plan your winter by visiting the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Web site, www.nmma.org/calendar. The year’s schedule of shows is available to download. Many shows have their own Web sites, which makes it easy to figure out the logistics of parking and travel arrangements.

(c) Copyright BoatU.S. Magazine, September 2004