New York Boat Show - The ‘Big Apple’ goes boating

by Bob Wonders on 9 Jan 2011 New York Boat Show - All is set for the 106th staging of the New York Boat Show, which opens at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre next Wednesday (January 19) on West 34th Street, right in the heart of the 'City that Never Sleeps.’

I don’t know of the New York Boat Show rates as the world’s oldest recreational boating exhibition, but I for one certainly don’t know of one that’s been around longer.

For those ‘friends’ of mine who reckon I’m getting on in years, the answer is NO, I was not present at the inaugural show in 1905!

As usual, the New York Boat Show presents a broad range of attractions in addition to the hundreds of luxury motor yachts, sport fishing vessels, performance cruisers, sailboats and all manner of smaller craft.

The attractions include an appearance by Russell Newberry, who has racked up a score of fans worldwide starring in the Pay TV show ‘Deadliest Catch.’

One unique show within the show is an ‘Affordability Pavilion’ where prospective buyers can finance a boat for less than US$250.00 per month.

There’s a Boat Handling Clinic where show visitors can practice a wide range of boat handling skills.

One attraction sure to create interest is a History of American Boating, an educational display which will include some of the earliest electrically-powered boats used in the early years of the 20th century.

Owned and organised by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the 2011 show when I last checked has attracted 323 exhibitors, among them the leading names in recreational boating.

NMMA president Thom Dammrich, a good friend of mine who in May last year attended the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, said recent research undertaken had shown that of visitors who had attended a boat show, 57 percent said that visit had the most influence on their boat buying decision.

'Nearly six in every 10 boat buyers attended at least one boat show in the 12 months prior to their purchase,' Mr Dammrich pointed out.

Other findings from the NMMA research revealed that 20 percent of new boat buyers were first introduced to their eventual dealer at a boat show.

The NMMA said it was not 'too concerned' at the current blast of winter and heavy snowfall in New York (at time of writing)

'We have long known that winter boat shows remain the best way to compare boats, features and prices, allowing prospective buyers to board the boats they have under consideration and to spend quality time with their dealer of choice,' Mr Dammrich added.

A statistics which may surprise many Australians was also revealed by the research undertaken by the NMMA – it revealed that 95 percent of boats on US waterways today are 26’ (7.92-metres) or less.

Jon Pritko, New York Boat Show manager, suggests show visitors this year will find a 'renewed boating industry.'

'People who are keen to join the boating lifestyle or those looking top upgrade their present vessel will find the New York Boat Show is the perfect place to plan their next move,' he said.

'With sales and special show pricing on hundreds of new products, plus nautical attractions and education for all ages, the New York Boat Show is the best place to get into boating or enhance your current boating lifestyle,' he added.

The five-day show is set for Wednesday, January 19 to Sunday, January 23.

Show hours vary; 12 noon to 9pm , Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 9pm on Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.

Admission charges are $12 for adults; children under 15-years admitted free when with an adult.

For further information visit the show website