The Seattle Boat Show starts Friday, but will end a day early (on February 1st) courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks. Go Hawks! That was one tough game yesterday. L-O-B, baby. (Legion of Boom)
So it’s time for us to crawl out from our winter moss-covered rocks and wander around the Century Link Convention Center. We’ll count down the days, and be ready for Friday. Let’s start with the official Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Seattle Boat Show in 2014. In the coming days and throughout the show, we’ll shine a spotlight on some of the new products we find especially intriguing. In the meantime, here it is direct from the Northwest Marine Trade Association:
10. Make plans to attend the biggest boating party of the year! The Seattle Boat Show kicks off with Uncorked – an evening of fine wine tasting throughout CenturyLink Field Event Center on opening night, Friday, January 24, then enjoy a blend of hops and props as you enjoy craft beer tasting during Sails & Ales on Friday, January 31. Special ticket pages for Uncorked, presented by Falvey Yacht Insurance, and Sails & Ales, presented by S3 Maritime, include adult admission, souvenir tasting glass and tasting tokens for the evening all for just $27.
9. No better place to comparison shop, buy and save. With 400 exhibitors selling boats, yachts, boating electronics, gear and services, the Seattle Boat Show is the best time and place to research your next boating purchase. One show in two locations – CenturyLink Field and South Lake Union – with a free shuttle in between, makes it easy to make a smart buy at the Show.
8. Grow your nautical knowledge with the biggest selection of boating and fishing seminars in America. The 200 free boating and fishing seminars, presented by Allstate Boat Insurance, is one of the things that sets the Seattle Boat Show apart from any other in the country. Seminars cover everything from bow to stern and perfect for any new or longtime boater. View the complete schedule of seminars online, and new this year is a seminar description for each seminar offered during the show on our website.
Looking for more boating education? Check out Boat Show University, presented by Peoples Bank. These extended-length, advanced seminars are offered by the best experts in boating, including Steve D’Antonio.
7. See the world’s best sand sculptors create art during the Show. More than 50 tons of sand is being brought indoors at CenturyLink Field as sand artists carve a special Seattle boating seascape throughout each day of the Show. Visit the Show early to see the start to the art, then check in again to see what they build as their sculpture grows!
6 Buy Tickets Online and earn free food, magazines, parking and more! Purchase tickets online and receive a free cup of clam chowder from FX McRory’s restaurant, a free one-year subscription to a boating magazine of your choice, plus a complimentary ticket to the 2014 Pro Wakeboard Tour held in Monroe, WA next July! Adult one-day tickets are $12, youth (11-17 years old) are $5, with kids 10 and under free. Or if you expect to go more than one day, the 5-day Big Show Pass is only $24.
5. The Big Boats are Back at the Seattle Boat Show! Ranging from kayaks to super yachts, the Boat Show offers something for everyone and every budget. If you have big dreams, don’t miss the Prestige 50 indoors from Sundance Yacht Sales, plus a wider array of large power and sailboats than the Show has presented in several years, then tour the largest boat in the show – the 135-foot Westport – afloat on South Lake Union. Click to view a list of new boat brands on display, or a list of brokerage boats on display. A can’t-miss boat on Lake Union also includes KAHU – a 122-foot former New Zealand Navy vessel converted to a personal yacht.
4. Better Food, Beverage, and Seating Areas available throughout the Show! We know visiting the West Coast’s Largest Boat Show can make for a long day. Now you’ll enjoy more space to take a break and enjoy expanded food and beverage options, including full-service Starbucks coffee locations around CenturyLink Field, new food stations offering items such as Beecher’s Mac & Cheese, tacos, vegetarian options, plus tasty options on the Concourse Lounge featuring fresh sandwiches, salads, wraps and more. Click to view a sample Lounge menu.
Also new this year is a full schedule of high-quality food trucks each day at the South Lake Union location. Take a look at the schedule of trucks visiting the outdoor portion of the Show.
3. Seattle’s biggest summer celebration, Seafair is in its 65th year and the popular event among thousands of boaters is kicking off its anniversary year in style at the 2014 Seattle Boat Show. Wednesday, January 29 is Seafair Day at the Seattle Boat Show featuring Blue Angels pilots (the Blues are Back this summer!), the Seafair Clowns, Pirates (arrggg!), and Princesses, plus a few celebrity guests to be announced soon! Make plans to attend this special party mid-way through the Show!
2. Midweek during the Seattle Boat Show is the best time to attend. The aisles and docks are not as busy, giving you more one-on-one time with each exhibitor in the Show to learn about their latest boats, products and services. Plus, save at the box office and parking rates at CenturyLink Field. Starting at 5pm on Monday through Thursday, adult admission is $8 at the box office, and parking is reduced to $5 at the CenturyLink Field parking garage.
1. Win a new boat, or better yet, win two new boats and more! Play Boat Show Bingo presented by BoatU.S. for a chance to win a 14’ Avalon pontoon boat from Tom’s Boat Shop. Plus, while you visit the show, post a photo of ANY boat in the show to Instagram, Twitter or Google+ with the hashtag #IWANTABOAT and you’re entered to win a 21’ SunChaser pontoon boat! For a complete list of contests and giveaways, including moorage, houseboat rentals, electronics and more, click here.
