By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor)

If you’re thinking of getting into boating, here’s the next installment in our Boating for Beginners series. Last month, we started out with the important question “So, you think you want to own a boat?” This is the second in the series, and we’re going to encourage you to get out there and take a pre-season plunge to just…go look at some boats!

A couple of years ago we put out a guide to Boat Show Tactics to make the most of your day at the show, and we recommend you give that a read after this article. But today we focus on the first time show attendee and the boating-curious. Because if you’ve never experienced a show, you won’t know what to expect. They can be a little overwhelming the first time.

Don’t worry though, they’re also a lot of fun!

What’s in a Boat Show?

Any boat show will have a lot of boats. You can walk around larger boats or sit in them, getting a good sense of the space and feel of boats in a range of sizes. There will be a wide variety at most shows, so if you’re on the fence about what type of boat you want can see everything from kayaks and pontoon boats to cabin cruisers, fishing boats, and sailboats in a range of sizes. It all depends on the show.

But there’s a lot more. The marine trades people who put on the shows make them a full day’s entertainment, with lots of opportunities for family fun, learning, and, of course, buying things.

Seminars and Classes

Most shows have a schedule of free seminars and classes covering many topics. They’re usually included in the price of admission. Though some classes may have a cost or need reservations, most are first-come, unreserved, and open.

So whether you’re intrigued by blue water cruising, deep sea fishing, boat share clubs, insurance and financing, or a host of other on-the-water topics, there are plenty of learning opportunities.

Fun Activities

Vendors like to show off their wares, and they also like to engage potential customers and their families to interest them in the products. You may see anything from remote control boat pools (both power and sail) and small boat trials for kids to fish ponds and casting lessons.
Every year, marketing geniuses come up with new ways to entertain and engage, and some of them can be pretty fun. Kids love them, even kids well into adulthood.

Boating products

While boats are the big draw, there are loads of marine and boating adjacent products at shows. You can see product demos and talk to sales reps and learn about anything from inboard engines and solar panels to boat cushions and the latest gadgets to make it easier to dock or grab a tricky mooring pendant.
And if you can use it near a boat, you might see it at a show. You’ll likely see kitchenware, cooking displays, and other home goods on display. We bought a fabulous pressure cooker at the Annapolis Boat Show, which we used for years.

Food, Drink and Refreshment

Since a good show will keep you there most of the day or even multiple days, you can usually find a food court or booths set up for food and refreshments to tide you through the day. There’s usually some space to rest and regroup over a sandwich or a snack. Like any event with a somewhat enclosed audience, you may see pricing on food that feels high. It’s the tradeoff for not leaving the show to get lunch, but even not all shows are the same and you might find good values, too.

Samples and Swag

Vendors don’t like to send you away without reminding you of their brand, so expect a lot of samples, handouts, small gifts, and some pleasant treats. Bags are usually available at the gates filled with their own marketing kit, so grab one for your product literature and be on the lookout for interesting displays.

Getting Ready

To make the most of your show day, take care of a few things in advance. All shows publish lists of exhibitors, events and seminars. They also give tips about travel, parking, and staying near the show if you need to travel a distance. You’ve got all the information you need to plan for your visit.

• Buy tickets in advance. You may save a little, and some shows no longer sell tickets at the gate. Also, if you are already talking to a boat dealer, broker, or other marine vendor, they may have complimentary tickets for prospective customers. It’s worth asking.
• Look through the exhibitor and seminar list to see if there’s anything that you really want to see or do. Not all seminars are available every day, and not all events are every day either.
• Plan your travel well, and expect traffic and parking slowdowns when you get close to the show. Many shows have remote parking with shuttles.
• Think about an early start to beat the crowds. You can always leave early if you’ve seen everything you want to, but you’ll regret not leaving enough time in the day with a late start.
• Check the weather, especially for outdoor shows. Rainy days are a lot less fun, and snow and ice mean smaller crowds, but maybe dangerous travel.

If you come to a show with a list of what you’d like to see and you map it out on the floor plan, you can make sure you see everything you want to. But leave plenty of room for spontaneity, since you’re bound to see things as you walk around that draw your interest.

What to bring / How to dress

Dress comfortably. You don’t need to dress up, but you’ll get better reception from vendors if you’re casually presentable. Wear comfortable slip-on shoes with socks. Most boat vendors don’t want street shoes on their boats, so your shoes will be on and off for every boat you board.

Most shows have security, but will let you bring in backpacks and bags. Bring some refreshments and water for you and your family if you won’t want to rely on the show. There are usually coat and bag checks, too, so if you show up to a northern show in February, you won’t have to roast in your winter puffy jacket.

What to look for and do

If this is your first boat show, you’re not likely to come with a lot of specifics. But if you have anything at all in mind about the type of boat or boating you want to do, here’s your chance to see what’s out there.

• Look at any boat that catches your fancy. Don’t worry if you can’t afford it. Used boat pricing differs greatly from new show prices. If you see something you love, a used boat search after the show might find something similar but in your range.
• Check out the gear. There are a LOT of boating products, and some are more gimmicky or useful than others. There are many ways to solve boating problems, so there are always loads of clever products.
• Ask questions. Don’t be shy about talking to vendors if something catches your eye. They’re there to talk to you, and most people working in a booth are thrilled when someone comes in with genuine interest in their product.
• Don’t make any big purchases or commitments at your first show. It’s easy to get excited, but you’re literally at the ‘tire kicking’ stages of boat ownership, and you don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

Show Pricing and Signing on the Dotted Line

Trade shows always have “Show Pricing” and there are often good deals to be had if you buy right now, before the show ends. I’d caution you against that at your first show, because this early in the game you’re still figuring out what you want in a boat. Information and research are your friends, and the old saw “marry in haste, repent in leisure” certainly applies to boats, too.

Show Pricing I – the Discount

“Show Pricing” can represent a significant discount, and that’s attractive. But you can convince many vendors to extend “show pricing” a little past the show date. They want your business, and they want to sell you a boat. If giving you a week will do that, they’ll try instead of losing the sale. Unless you’re hooking that boat to the back of your car today and driving it home on a trailer, there’s no difference between buying it today and buying it next week.

Secondly…there’s always another boat show. Show Pricing for Boston might end when the New England Boat Show ends, but next month is the Fort Lauderdale show, or the Miami show, or…you get it. That brand of boat is going to be on a “show price” sale somewhere most of the pre-season, and you can always make some phone calls before the next show. Time is on the side of the discerning buyer.

Show Pricing II – the Payment

It’s a very common practice to see boats at a show priced not as a total price of the boat, but as a monthly payment. The boat price will usually be on the card somewhere, but it’s usually de-emphasized and small, with the monthly payment in HUGE BOLD LETTERS.

Like any major asset – and you can spend a lot more on a boat than a car – you want to know what you’re really paying. And that low, low monthly payment may not be the best deal for you in the end, or even the real final price. Variables like the pay period, your credit rating, the finance rates, and optional extras that you want (or not want) may not be fully factored into that payment being sold as the “price” of the boat.

In the end, the total amount of money which leaves your pocket for the boat is the actual price. That’s the big number you have to get to. Because a new boat loses a lot of value the minute you drop it in the water, and a long-term loan on a depreciating asset may not cost you what you expect.

Show Pricing III – the Secret Price

Some boats just don’t show a price. These are usually the larger boats and the most premium brands. They have a price, but you have to ask. Sales people want to qualify you as a prospect before they’ll get serious about the cost of the boat. Salespeople have reasons for not displaying prices, but if you like a boat, you must ask for the price. And it’s likely higher than most of the other boats around you.

Have a good time

Boating is supposed to be fun. Boat shows should be, too. So plan a full day and get ready to dream a little. After all, that’s what boating is about – dreaming of good times, and making them happen.