February 26 - March 6 http://www.newenglandboatshow.com/
It's been disappointing the last few years as it's scaled back, but it's still fun to crawl around and talk boats.
New England Boat Show
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Neil Gordon
- Posts: 4367
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
- Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
- Contact:
New England Boat Show
Fair winds, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
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RichS
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sep 18th, '09, 10:42
- Location: Bristol Corinthian, "Mojito"
Marshfield, MA,
Member #1213
Boat Show
Have you ever gone to the Maine Boat Builders Show as an alternative to the show in Boston. I went once and enjoyed the show and the people manning the booths seemed to be more willing to discuss product uses for those of us with "Older" boats. There just seems a different atmopshere than at Boston.
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."
-William Arthur Ward
-William Arthur Ward
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Carl Thunberg
- Posts: 1305
- Joined: Nov 21st, '05, 08:20
- Location: CD28 Cruiser "Loon" Poorhouse Cove, ME
Rich
Several of us go the Maine Boatbuilders Show. Watch this Board. As we get closer to the date, someone inevitably will post something, trying to get an informal Cape Dory group together at the show.
CDSOA Commodore - Member No. 725
"The more I expand the island of my knowledge, the more I expand the shoreline of my wonder"
Sir Isaac Newton
"The more I expand the island of my knowledge, the more I expand the shoreline of my wonder"
Sir Isaac Newton
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Joe Myerson
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 11:22
- Location: s/v Creme Brulee, CD 25D, Hull #80, Squeteague Harbor, MA
Boat Shows
This thread is rapidly getting hijacked by the Maine Boat Builders Show--which is probably a good thing. I've attended both shows for almost a decade (it was part of my job, when I had one), and here are my personal comments on each. (I don't pretend to be original in these observations.)
New England Boat Show (NEBS): Now owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, this show is primarily a venue for dealers and large-scale manufacturers to display new, mainstream boats. It's heavily weighted toward powerboats, and most of the sailboats are the kinds that you find gracing the full-page ads in SAIL or Cruising World.
The last few years have been sparsely attended, due to probably to the Great Recession. Last year things perked up a bit, with more small boats. My personal favorites have always been the smaller exhibitors, whether purveyors of gadgets or short-run, semi-custom boats. Their numbers dropped way off when the NMMA took over this show--but exhibitors told me that things were picking up last season.
It's still worth attending, just to get a whiff of salt air back into your lungs. And you can get some good boat show special deals on upgrading your electronics, etc.
Maine Boat Builders Show: This, folks, is the real thing. Real people who actually build real boats and who are willing to hold real conversations about their products. Instead of salespeople (often clad in matching polo shirts with their dealerships' logos) pushing hard for a quick sale, you're more apt to find bearded guys in faded jeans and woolen plaid shirts, happy to show you their yard (or shop's) latest designs. Upstairs you'll find all sorts of smaller exhibitors.
Do I have a bias here? Ayuh!
That said, I'll probably attend both shows.
--Joe
P.S. I actually met a number of Cape Dorians at this show, because there's usually a meet-up at the Robbinhood exhibit. And it's also a good time to chat with Dave Perry.
New England Boat Show (NEBS): Now owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, this show is primarily a venue for dealers and large-scale manufacturers to display new, mainstream boats. It's heavily weighted toward powerboats, and most of the sailboats are the kinds that you find gracing the full-page ads in SAIL or Cruising World.
The last few years have been sparsely attended, due to probably to the Great Recession. Last year things perked up a bit, with more small boats. My personal favorites have always been the smaller exhibitors, whether purveyors of gadgets or short-run, semi-custom boats. Their numbers dropped way off when the NMMA took over this show--but exhibitors told me that things were picking up last season.
It's still worth attending, just to get a whiff of salt air back into your lungs. And you can get some good boat show special deals on upgrading your electronics, etc.
Maine Boat Builders Show: This, folks, is the real thing. Real people who actually build real boats and who are willing to hold real conversations about their products. Instead of salespeople (often clad in matching polo shirts with their dealerships' logos) pushing hard for a quick sale, you're more apt to find bearded guys in faded jeans and woolen plaid shirts, happy to show you their yard (or shop's) latest designs. Upstairs you'll find all sorts of smaller exhibitors.
Do I have a bias here? Ayuh!
That said, I'll probably attend both shows.
--Joe
P.S. I actually met a number of Cape Dorians at this show, because there's usually a meet-up at the Robbinhood exhibit. And it's also a good time to chat with Dave Perry.
Former Commodore, CDSOA
Former Captain, Northeast Fleet
S/V Crème Brûlée, CD 25D, Hull # 80
"What a greate matter it is to saile a shyppe or goe to sea."
--Capt. John Smith, 1627
Former Captain, Northeast Fleet
S/V Crème Brûlée, CD 25D, Hull # 80
"What a greate matter it is to saile a shyppe or goe to sea."
--Capt. John Smith, 1627
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RichS
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sep 18th, '09, 10:42
- Location: Bristol Corinthian, "Mojito"
Marshfield, MA,
Member #1213
Boat Shows
Amen! Very well said and accurate!
"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."
-William Arthur Ward
-William Arthur Ward
