Take Me Out to the Boat Show

I grew up in Florida, and as the daughter of a fishing guide, my dad took me to the Miami Boat Show nearly every year, just for fun. I would follow him around from boat to boat, with occasional stops for more soda or popcorn, while he talked to the dealers about all the latest and greatest technology and gadgets. Now, as an adult who is an avid boater, boat shows have taken on a whole new meaning. They’ve become a good place to figure out which boat I’m buying next. 

If you’re in the market for a new boat – and are a beginner or avid boater – boat shows are a great place to get special deals and incentives on new boats, meet dealers and manufactures and explore many different makes and models.

The primary boat show season is winter (January through March). But there are a good number of fall boat shows too, like the U.S. Powerboat Show in Annapolis and the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. So, get out to the shows in your area! The more you know, the more you can narrow down your field of possible new boats.

Not sure what kind of boat you want? TakeMeFishing.org offers a few different tools to help you figure it out. Learn how to choose the right boat for you based on your favorite boating activities and use the Boat Explorer Tool to help you compare different types of boats online before you go to the shows.

Discover Boating keeps a good list of upcoming boat shows online. Good luck and happy boat shopping!

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Stephanie Vatalaro

Stephanie Vatalaro

Stephanie Vatalaro is vice president of communications for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and its Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar campaigns where she works to recruit newcomers to recreational fishing and boating and increase awareness of aquatic conservation. Stephanie grew up in the Florida Keys as the daughter of a flats fishing guide. Outside of work, you can find her fishing and boating with her family on the Potomac River in the Northern Neck of Virginia.