Where are the best boat shows? Good question and hard to answer with appearing to biased. Unfortunately most of us are limited by where we live and some of us are fortunate to be able to fly about and visit some of the truly big and famous boat shows. My main interest is sailing yachts, and I enthusiastically attend shows which feature these. Another attraction is visiting the myriad of marine equipment manufacturers and checking out the latest technology and marine innovation. Why not visit the Newport International Boat Show, a really great boat show.
There are some other great shows to visit and explore. One of my absolute favorite shows is in picturesque and historic Annapolis. Besides being a destination in itself the US sailboat show held at the Annapolis Boat Show is well worth the effort. It is on very soon so check out the show offerings and try and beat the Covid blues by looking boats and boating equipment, it’s very therapeutic. Right before the Sailboat Show is the National Powerboat Show. Spend days checking out everything from cruisers and deck boats, to center console boats to bowriders and pontoon boats There also power catamarans to cuddy cabins and every bit of marine electronics kit and fishing gear you could possibly want. If they don’t have enough shows in Annapolis in the Fall, they also have a Spring Sailboat Show.
Over in the Midwest is the St Louis Boat Show and this primarily a power and fishing boat show for obvious reasons. You can check out some of your favorites including Azimut, Bennington, Barletta, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Cobalt, Chaparral, Crestliner Four Winns, Lowe, Lund, Malibu, Ranger, Skeeter, Sea Ray, Triton and Yamaha to name just a few.
On the East Coast is the Atlantic City Boat Show in New Jersey, always a popular show to visit. Down south in Texas I have visited the Houston Boat Show but well worth checking out if down that way is the Dallas Boat Show. Back up in the North East then you really have to visit the New England Boat Show and the Boston Boat Show.
Back up North then visit the Detroit Boat Show. I also have visited and given some marine electrical talks in Seattle at the Seattle Boat Show, one I have really enjoyed going to. Besides that, this town surely has the best seafood going, so many restaurants and so little time. Slip over the border to Canada and the Vancouver Boat Show is well worth a few days. Last but not least it’s down to sunny Florida are the Miami Boat Show. Visit the best boat shows in North America.