All Aboard! What to Expect at the Annapolis Boat Show

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Culture

Anyone living anywhere close to the Chesapeake Bay is probably familiar with the full-throttle fun of spending the day cruising or sailing around on the water. You either own a boat yourself, know a friend who owns a boat, have chartered a boat, or are potentially thinking about getting a boat. In any case, two of the region’s big events of the year—the Annapolis Boat Shows—have everything you need and are coming up in early October. 

The Annapolis Powerboat Show is October 2–5, followed by the Annapolis Sailboat Show the next weekend, October 9–12. Both shows run 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and all four days of each weekend offer a chance to learn, shop, tour new boats (and try them out), and comingle with your fellow boaters and boaters-to-be against the backdrop of Annapolis City Dock.

“What makes this really fun is miles of docks with boats,” says Mary Ewenson, president of Annapolis Boat Shows. “We bring in two miles worth of floats to build docks and line all the boats up. All the boats are open for people to get aboard, go down below, check it out…It’s not like going to a car show at a convention center where you stand behind a velvet rope and look at the boats from far away.”

In fact, that’s one of the biggest draws of the boat shows. Attendees always love getting aboard the boats to tour them, check out the amenities, and even take them for a demo run out on the water to get the full experience. All the dealers and manufacturers will have reps on hand at the boats to answer questions.

Because the boat shows have been traditions in Annapolis for more than 50 years, each year means a mix of longstanding traditions with new and exciting additions to the activities. As in years past, there will be a VIP barge with refreshments and an open bar, tents full of exhibitors with the latest boating gear and attire, and education opportunities through daily seminars (including topics like “Using a Navigation App,” “Solo Racing Around the World,” “Weather 101,” and more). There will even be a first sail workshop for people interested in learning to sail for the first time.

First time at the Annapolis Boat Shows?

Ewenson has some valuable tips and advice for getting the most out of your time and having as much fun as possible:

  • Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Some of the boats won’t allow shoes (they might scuff the deck), so you’ll need to take them off when you go aboard.
  • Look through the show guide in advance so you can decide which boats you want to tour, exhibitors you want to visit, or workshops/classes/seminars you want to take. You can’t do it all in one day, so you’ll need to prioritize.
  • Dress for all weather. It might be a chilly fall day on land, but you’ll be standing next to warm water, but then the wind may shift, and it could start to feel colder. It never hurts to bring a jacket.
  • Plan to shop. You won’t be able to resist some of the newest products on the market, and you’ll love the good deals that a lot of vendors offer, especially on the end-of-season gear.
  • Don’t forget your refillable water bottle. In an effort to cut back on single-use plastic, the show will have refillable water stations. 

One last bit of advice: Don’t be afraid of the boat show if you’re a local. Sure, traffic in downtown Annapolis might be a little heavier than usual, but that’s just because it’s an event that’s worth attending—plan to be there for at least one day, and spend some time downtown socializing with your fellow boaters. 

“It’s fun that our town welcomes all these boaters to the area,” Ewenson says. “Don’t avoid it. Embrace it.”