Time for another Navagear feature at MadMariner. This time, I talk about the Seattle Boat Show and what it might mean for the recreational boating business.

Take a look, if only to spot my daughter’s first nationally published photograph!

Great coverage by my friends Deborah Bach and Marty McOmber over at Three Sheets Northwest:

Showgoers loosen grip on wallets

Seattle Boat Show organizers and exhibitors reported a strong start to the region’s premier annual boating event, with higher attendance and showgoers who were not just looking, but actually buying.

Attendance was up 23 percent over last year for the first four days of the show at Lake Union, while the indoor portion of the show [Full Story]

And another one:

Dealers hope to entice price-conscious buyers

Seeing the big yachts moored at marinas around Puget Sound, it’s easy to assume boating is only for those with deep pockets.

But boat dealers at the Seattle Boat Show are hoping to convey a different message to showgoers: that boating is more accessible than they might realize.

“I think that there are people who pass off boating without really understanding the access and affordability of it,” said Mark Helgen, vice president of sales for Lake Union Sea Ray. [Full Story]

Thanks to Lisa Samuelson for getting me set up with WiFi at the the Seattle Boat Show. Let’s see what we can discover today…

[This is a really great idea! Perhaps something like this should be offered at the Seattle Boat Show. I know I’d like my family to attend such a session. Onward with the press release…]

It’s never too early to learn about safety on the water. That’s why Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, along with its partners Sea Tow Services International and the Sea Tow Foundation for Boating Safety and Education are offering simulated VHF radio mayday call and radio operation instruction for children at the Miami International Boat Show. Those interested in participating can stop by Sea Tow’s booth #S40 or Cobra’s booth #1610 anytime during the show, February 11-15.

"We aligned ourselves with Sea Tow to help make waterways safer by enabling effective communication," said Tony Mirabelli, Cobra’s senior vice-president of marketing and sales. "Now, we’re taking it one step further and showing the next generation of boaters how to help in an emergency."

The Seattle Boat Show team has done a great job, as far as I can see. It’s been a tough year for the entire industry, of course, but this year’s boat show really feels like a beacon of light. “Light at the end of the tunnel” light? Could be…who knows? Anyway, it’s a good show, worth a visit. I caught up with my friends at Rose Point Navigation and Krill Systems today, for instance, and then took my daughters down to the Lake Union part of the show after picking them up after school.

Anyway, here’s today’s press release, about some weekday promotions they’ve got scheduled…

Thousands of boaters visited the opening weekend of the Seattle Boat Show, Indoors + Afloat, on now through Saturday, February 6 at Qwest Field Event Center and South Lake Union!

Seasoned Seattle Boat Show showgoers know that weekdays and weeknights are the best time to visit the show. It’s not as crowded, making browsing easier, and exhibitors and dealers have more time to chat. If that weren’t enough, this year there’s an extra incentive to attend the show after work. We’ve created a series of special weekday and weeknight promotions.

AFTER 5 AT THE SEATTLE BOAT SHOW
Buy a ticket at the Qwest Field box office for only $8 (that’s $4 off) starting at 5 pm on Monday through Thursday, and then enjoy guest appearances, giveaways and promotions each evening.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1: Women’s Day at the Boat Show
Sponsored by KOMO-4 and Star 101.5 FM
Women get in FREE all-day with a special pass from www.SeattleBoatShow.com, plus enjoy a slate of seminars designed specifically for and by women boaters. And at the Boat Show Gallery – the place for beautiful art work for your boat, home or office – all False Bay Boxes – one-of-a-kind art boxes carved from San Juan Island driftwood by local artist Richard Nevels – will be 20% off. Starting at 5 pm, women can pamper themselves with free massages from Three Cedars Day Spa, plus take your photo with firefighters from the 2010 WSCFF Firefighter Calendar! It all takes place in the Seafair Logboom Lounge at Qwest Field.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2: Fishing Night at the Boat Show
Sponsored by 94.1 KMPS and Outdoor Emporium
Hooked on Fishing? Then stop by Fishing Night at the Seattle Boat Show. The first 500 anglers through the door after 5pm receive a Silver Horde fishing lure three-pack from Outdoor Emporium. While at the show don’t miss the opportunity to enter these great contests: Win a 5-Day Fishing Trip from BAMF Boats and Big Blue Charters: this 5-day/4-night fishing trip includes three days of fishing on a BAMF Boat. Enter to win this priceless package valued at $4,500.
Catch the Big One and win an 8 Classic Engine from Honda Marine and West Coast Marine Services: Make a voluntary contribution to C.A.S.T. for Kids and "catch the big one" using a fishing tournament simulator. The top 10 anglers each day will be entered to win an engine that’s ideal for fishing boats, sailboats, and small utility boats. This clean, reliable 2-cylinder four-stroke OHC engine has the power you need for you waterborne fun.
A complete list of boat show contests, including a giveaway a day from Kenmore Air on South Lake Union, is at:http://seattleboatshow.com/contests.html

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3: Cruising & Sailing Night at the Boat Show
Sponsored by West Marine
Kick back and relax at Cruising & Sailing Night at the Seattle Boat Show. The first 500 boaters through the door receive a West Marine tote bag, perfect to carry aboard new boating gear. Then grab a drink in the Seafair Logboom Lounge and enjoy the sounds of Tropical Rock musician Dave Calhoun. Be on the lookout for the Seafair Pirates!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4: Guys Night Out at the Boat Show
Sponsored by 102.5 KZOK FM.
Attention men: With giveaways all night, local sports legends, and more, you don’t want to miss Guys Night Out. Say hello to KZOK’s Spike O’Neill and have your picture taken with a pair of Hooters girls, who will be at the show handing out free stuff. Meet hydroplane legend Chip Hanauer and top female driver Kayleigh Perkins in the Seafair Logboom Lounge.

HOP THE FREE SHUTTLE TO SOUTH LAKE UNION FOR ALL-DAY HAPPY HOUR
For many, an afternoon or evening at the show is simply not enough time to take the BIG show in.
For those folks, we’ve created the new 5-Day BIG Show Pass for only $24 (includes one day free parking). This allows showgoers to take it all in at their leisure and come back again and again and again.

The best strategy:
Park at Qwest Field, take the free shuttle to South Lake Union, browse the on-the-water and shoreside displays, refuel by enjoying an all-day happy hour with a free appetizer at Joey’s, Chandler’s Crabhouse or Daniel’s Broiler (simply show admission wristband or hand-stamp) then head back to Qwest Field for more fun.

Tickets online at www.SeattleBoatShow.com include free parking, a free boating magazine, and a free cup of clam chowder at FX McRory’s.

Thanks to our official sponsors ACE Recreational Marine Insurance and Northwest Buick-GMC dealers.

I hope you enjoy the show!

George Harris
President
Northwest Marine Trade Association
georgeh@seattleboatshow.com

Find us on Facebook (http://Facebook.SeattleBoatShow.com) and Twitter (http://Twitter.com/SeattleBoatShow)

* – The free boating magazine subscription is only available to U.S. residents.

My kids are trade show swag aficionados. They’re practically swag dowsers, I tell you, divining the presence of swag from two aisles away. I don’t really understand how they do it.

But I do appreciate their mystical ability at the Seattle Boat Show, especially when it yields treasures such as these:

Kenmore Air (booth East 813 at Qwest Field, and Tent 303 on Lake Union) has cool balsa gliders while supplies last. Even my wife wanted one of those.

And of course there are tide tables galore from a huge variety of sources. However, may I suggest that you stop by the public service agency grotto at the far south end of the East Hall (East 1515, to be precise)? There you’ll find the USCG 13th District, Washington State Parks and Recreation, the Power Squadron, and the Recreational Boating Association of Washington.

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I can’t remember which of these booths had the Puget Sound Pilots 2010 Current & Tide Tables booklet, but I think it was the RBAW. All I know for sure is that the PSP booklet is a VERY comprehensive tide table booklet, with a lot of extra information many recreational boaters will appreciate.

For instance, do you need the local number for Maersk, K-Line, or Holland America? That’s in there, on the page listing “Vessel Agents & Operators.” How about an after-hours port security phone number for, say, the Port of Everett, or a phone number for the Ballard Locks? That’s in there, too, along with lots of reference information for pilots and commercial vessel operators. Handy! 

The only thing missing, from a pleasure-craft perspective, is a set of current tables for Deception Pass. Apparently big ships requiring pilots don’t generally use Deception Pass. Go figure! So you’ll have to track down another free tide table from one of the other booths at the show.

Saw several familiar faces at the show today, and made a few new friends as well.

The Feathercraft folks were visiting from Vancouver, BC, set up in the “Canadian Corridor.” They were showing their excellent skin-on-frame collapsible kayaks, as well as the super-compact BayLee inflatable dinghy.

I tested the BayLee last year, and was extremely impressed with it. Glad to see them back again this year.

I was also pleased to see the SeaSucker folks back again. They’ve got a few new items in their line up. Perhaps the most impressive item, though, is a suction-cup bicycle mount for automotive (or, one supposes, marine) use. I’ve been using the SeaSucker cup holder I picked up last year, and it’s earned a permanent spot aboard Two Lucky Fish.

Also back were the Get Storganized bunch, with many familiar items, and a few new ones as well. Many of their products live aboard my boat nowadays, too.

All three of the clever folding crab traps we’ve discussed in the past are still present and accounted for, as well:
Stow-B-Low Crab Pod
Flex Fold Crab Trap
Jolly Good Folding Crab & Shrimp Traps

I didn’t notice any new folding traps to report on, but if there are any, we’ll report on them here. Navagear is your one-stop information source for folding crap traps, after all!

I’ve also made some new friends…but I’ll save them for next time.

Besides climbing around making the Hinckley Picnic Boat people nervous, there are lots of other, more appropriate activities for children at the 2010 Seattle Boat Show.

In particular, kids of all ages will enjoy a tour of the Worlds Largest Toy Boat Collection.

In fact, this is only about 20% of the collection, which includes over 5000 boats in all. There are “only” about 1000 boats on display at the show. I overheard lots of people—of all ages—say things like “I used to have one of those!”

And the Center For Wooden Boats is once again hosting an activity that kept my younger daughter busy for at least an hour last year, sailing model boats across a tiny “pond”, using plain old household box fans to create artificial wind. It’s amazing how smoothly the models sail across, back and forth. I found myself yelling “Starboard boat!” lots of times, but those burdened-vessel port-tackers never seemed to steer clear.

I hate…HATE…parking down around the south Lake Union mess. It really is a mess right now, what with all the construction and whatnot. So I figured I might as well see if it’s possible to get to the “Boats Afloat” portion of the Seattle Boat Show BY BOAT.

Nice day for it, anyway…

You can follow my progress on Twitter as I make my way along the shore, looking for a spot to tie up. Wish me luck!

UPDATE: Well I’m tied up to…um…well, maybe a set of floats they didn’t need for the show? Hard to tell what these floats are doing out here.

Anyway, I figured I would take this opportunity to upload some photos I’ve just taken.

UPDATE: The CORRECT way to attend the Lake Union part of the show and avoid the parking hassle is to park at Qwest Field and take the shuttle, as John Thorburn of the Seattle Boat Show explains in the comments! They’ve even got a tent to keep the rain off while you wait.

This is what I like to call the “seamy underbelly” of trade shows. Maybe I’m nuts, but I’m kind of fascinated by this sort of thing. How DO they transform a big empty concrete box into a fabulously opulent TRADE SHOW?!

Anyway, here are some pictures I took today.