Annapolis Sail and Power Boat Shows – October 2011

The Annapolis Sail and Power Boat Shows have always been one of the top shows in the country.  It is an outdoor venue with a series of large tents, and a whole bunch of smaller and individual tents spread all over the quaint and historic downtown harbor area.  The weather can be a serious problem to everyone at the show, especially the vendors who are not in one of the larger tents.  Last year it rained so hard that most of the outside vendors actually packed up and left the   show…..with nothing to show for their investment but some soggy displays.   However, the attendance is usually very good and the boaters in that area are serious boaters who seem to know what they are looking for.  Many of them have either taken their boats out of the water for the season, or are planning on sailing south toward the Bahamas for the winter.  It must be nice!  I gotta work, so no tropical islands for me.  The booth costs keep going up and the number of vendors selling “non-boating” products keeps going up as well.  I certainly hope that the show promoters don’t allow this premiere boat show to turn into a flea market!  No one needs to be selling rain gutters, home siding or cars at any boat show.  We’ve got to maintain some integrity, especially with the marine industry struggling as it has for the past several years. 

http://www.usboat.com/us-sailboat-show/home