BOATERS BLOG
January marks the beginning of a busy few months for the NBOA crew and many others in the boating industry, as the winter and spring boat shows fill the calendar. We’re on the road hoping to see our current customers and members, and meet some potential new ones.
Not only do boat shows offer us a great opportunity to meet customers, but they also offer you the chance to comparison shop and learn general to complex information about the boating industry. This information comes through a variety of sources including vendors, exhibits and seminars. Some exhibits will be featured at multiple shows while others will be exclusive to one show. Visit the website of the show nearest to you to see what vendors and exhibits will be featured. However, before you do check out some of the best of the 2013 boat shows across the country.
Fred’s Shed-Interactive Learning Center will be featured at boat shows across the country. The do-it-yourself craze has finally come to the boating industry. This interactive learning center will educate boaters on maintaining, repairing or upgrading their boats. The learning center will consist of free daily seminars and clinics, which will incorporate demos and question/answer sessions. Topics will include: maintaining a gas engine, installing and maintaining a marine battery, basic Fiberglass repair, etc. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer or just interested in learning some basic repair skills, then you’ll want to attend one of the many seminars available at Fred’s Shed.
Another highlight that will be featured at multiple shows throughout the country is the Power Boat Docking Challenge. This exciting radio-controlled boat docking game let’s you test your navigational skills and compete for a chance to earn the Power Boat Docking Champion title. You race against the clock using an actual full-size boat helm to steer your craft down a 20-foot “lake” to the marina and into a slip. The best time will win, but be careful as any contact with the slip counts against your time.
If you’re new to boating, then stop by the Welcome to the Water Center presented by Discover Boating. It’s a great resource for unbiased advice on the boat that best suits your lifestyle, straightforward answers for all your boating questions, and local resources to help you get started. Attendees can register for an assortment of daily courses on a variety of topics including close-quarters handling, offshore cruising and boating safety. Pre-registration is recommended for all courses as each fills up quickly.
You don’t need to buy a boat to enjoy boat show season. There are plenty of exhibits and vendors to keep the whole family entertained.