I went to the Pacific Marine Expo yesterday, and golly did I learn a lot. This show is oriented toward the commercial maritime industry, so it lacks a lot of the goodies you find at the Seattle Boat Show: No ski boats with 10,000-watt stereo systems. No 6-person jet-skis. No “new and improved” anchor designs you’ve never seen on an actual boat.

Instead, though, you can learn a lot about netting, about the latest in cutting-edge ice-makers, and about plumbing of every kind. If that’s not enough, there are really big engines, really big bilge pumps, and really big insurance policies! Honestly, it’s really fascinating…this is a different world.

But there’s a lot here that’s relevant for the recreational crowd, too. The latest safety and navigational gear, for instance. So look for some new product profiles here in the days to come.

But first…let me show you the single show feature that captivated me for the longest time.

Remote-control model boats! Yeah, THAT’S why I came to this show! Actually, I’m heading back this morning, with my children a contingent from Navagear’s crack team of “youth consultants”.