Bay Bridge Boat Show Begins New Chapter

For 42 years, Maryland spring boat shows have had many names and undergone several relocations. This year marks another change. After 26 years at the Bay Bridge Marina, Annapolis Boat Show’s spring powerboat event will move east to Kent Narrows, becoming the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point.

Located in Grasonville, the marina will host the show from April 11-13. The subsequent Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show will return to City Dock in Annapolis from April 25-27.

The new venue at Safe Harbor Narrows Point promises to retain much of what attendees love about the Bay Bridge Boat Show while offering more amenities and better parking. Attendees can explore boats, walk the docks, hang out with fellow boaters, and grab a drink at the pool bar. It’s a rare opportunity to try being a boater for a day. And, if they get a taste for it, guests can buy a boat at the show and have it on the water that weekend.

“Whether you’re here for the boats, the education, or the food and entertainment, it’s always a ton of fun,” said Annapolis Boat Shows President Mary Ewenson. “And the beautiful new venue means visitors may board even more exciting new powerboats and shop everything from gear and accessories to electronics, communication equipment, education, clubs and more.”

Attendees can climb aboard a wide array of powerboats of every style and size – from fishing boats and trawlers to pontoon boats and luxury cruisers.

Annapolis Boat Shows General Manager Sheila Jones is particularly excited about the expanded demo dock.

“There’s more room to offer hands-on experiences with the latest boating technologies, as well as added space for entertainment and educational programming,” Jones said. “If you’re a seasoned boater or a first-timer, the show will offer something new for everyone to explore.”

New Amenities

• Eight restaurants, four hotels and a nature park within walking distance
• Over 800 parking spots within a mile of the show
• Access to the Cross Island Trail

Back By Popular Demand

• Boats: Climb aboard over 250 powerboats (new and preowned)
• Exhibitors: Find boating gear, lifestyle apparel, home decor, local artisanal products, and more
• PropTalk Demo Dock: Choose from a selection of boats to take for test rides
• Food Trucks: The food trucks are back
• Poolside Bar: Enjoy live music, drinks and snacks by the pool courtesy of the Lazy Mermaid Pool Bar
• FishTalk Fishing Pavilion: Expert angling advice, kids’ activities and cooking demos
• Free Seminars: Take your boating skills to the next level with free educational boating seminars
• BoatUS On-Water Training: Sign up for an on-the-water boating course courtesy of BoatUS

For more information about the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point, or to order tickets, visit www.annapolisboatshows.com/bay-bridge-boat-show.

Spring Boat Shows Through The Years

Annapolis Boat Shows held its first spring boat show in 1983 out of Sandy Point State Park. Whereas the Annapolis Sailboat Show and Annapolis Powerboat Show (started in 1970 and 1971, respectively) were dominated by national and international manufacturers, the spring shows have always run with the intention of letting local dealers shine – allowing them to find buyers before the next model year begins and to draw boaters’ attention at the start of the season.

Following four successful years in the outskirts of Annapolis, the spring show moved to the Baltimore Inner Harbor in 1987 to become the Baltimore In-Water Boat Show. It took place in June as part of the city’s annual Harbor Expo, taking advantage of the revitalized harbor and the publicity that came with the new locale. Unfortunately, June proved too late for many exhibitors, especially charter companies that would already be booked for the season by then.

In 1991, the spring show moved again, this time to Annapolis’ Yacht Basin to become the Annapolis Spring Boat Show (held in April) and the Annapolis Brokerage Boat Show (held in May). The two would merge under the name Annapolis Spring Boats Show shortly thereafter, hosting new and used powerboats and sailboats together. The show brought as many as 200 boats and 15,000 attendees to downtown Annapolis each April for eight years.

As The Capital reported, the show offered luxury boats and smaller daysailers, like the Flying Scot 19, and fishing boats from 16 to 28 feet from Tashmoo, Sea Pro, Carolina Classic and Albin.

In 1999, the Annapolis Spring Boat Show merged with the Chesapeake Bay Yacht & Powerboat Show at the Bay Bridge Marina. The Kent Island-based show, run by the Bay Bridge Marina, brought in around 20,000 attendees and took part around the same time as the Annapolis show from 1996 to 1998. The new show, named the Chesapeake Bay Spring Boat and Yacht expo, would be held at the Bay Bridge Marina under the management of Annapolis Boat Shows. The following year, the show was renamed the Bay Bridge Boat Show.

At the time, the channel leading to the marina had yet to be dredged. That meant that boats with a deep draft — especially fixed-keel sailboats — could not get into the venue. As such the Bay Bridge Boat Show became a powerboat show. In May 2004, several Annapolis-based dealers partnered to create a sailboat show of their own, dubbed the Annapolis Spring Sales Event. This new event was described as a “traveling boat show.” Instead of having the boats in one centralized location, a shuttle was run between the dealerships. Though Annapolis Boat Shows didn’t organize the event, each of the nine founding dealers gave $2,500 to Annapolis Boat Shows to handle marketing.

The Annapolis Spring Sales Event demonstrated a demand for a spring sailboat show. So, in 2012, Annapolis Boat Shows organized the first Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show – set to take place the last weekend of April following the Bay Bridge Boat Show.