Fort Myers Florida Weekly

43rd annual Fort Myers Boat Show coming to downtown




 

 

The 43rd annual Fort Myers Boat Show will take place Nov. 19-22 at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe Street, and the City Yacht Basin, 1300 Lee Street.

New this year is the “Be A Diver” pool located in the boat ramp area. This unique, interactive display allows show visitors to get in the 20-foot by 30-foot, 15,000-gallon mobile pool with certified instructors and experience the basics of scuba diving. Dressing rooms, towels, the newest diving equipment including wetsuits and fins, air compressors and a registration pavilion are included in this new attraction.

“This has been a very popular attraction at water-related events across the country, so we are very excited to bring it to the Fort Myers Boat Show,” said John Good, show manager for the Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association. “While the Internet is a great tool for research, there is no substitute to see and feel marine products up close and actually talk to industry experts about your interests and needs. This is just about the perfect setting for a show with a unique combination of indoor, outdoor and in-water display areas.”

More than 500 boats, 160 accessory booths, 100 different boat lines and a variety of how-to and boating information displays will be present at this year’s show.

Boat types will include inflatables, personal watercrafts, skiffs, bay boats, flats boats, center console boats, pontoon boats, deck boats, cruising boats, performance boats and more. In water at the City Yacht Basin will be both ne and brokerage boats of every description to nearly 80 feet in length.

“We are seeing bigger displays with bigger boats from many of our major dealers,” Mr. Good said. “The Fort Myers Boat Show is much more than just boats. Both inside and outside of Harborside Event Center, are displays of engines, electronics, docks, boat lifts, all types of marine services, clothing, nautical gift items and just about everything else you need on a boat.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron, Homeland Security, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Lee County Marine Task Force will also have displays and be sharing information on boating safety, regulations and how to make the most of one’s time on the water.

In Centennial Park, the expanded “Fishin’ Frank’s Fishin’ Village” will have its own mini-fishing show. Highlights will include tackle displays with factory representatives on hand, a seminar area with local charter captains talking about inshore and offshore fishing, a casting tank and the popular fishing simulator, which gives visitors a chance for a virtual battle with everything from bass to marlin.

Numerous food and drink options will also be available throughout the show from barbecue and seafood to the “Yacht Basin Pub.” Each paid admission to the show includes a “Buy One, Get One Free” drink coupon at one of five different downtown restaurants.

“This show is so consumer and family friendly with a unique combination of indoor, on land and in-water space,” Good added. “I’m often asked if boat shows really are a good place to buy a boat. You bet they are. A major show like this is a great place to buy and a great place to see and compare. This show will have every major local dealer and many more from all throughout Florida.

Hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, and children younger than 16 are free with a paid adult admission.

The Fort Myers Boat Show is owned by the Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association.

For more information, call 656-7083, email info@swfmia.com or visit http:// goboatingflorida.com/fort-myers-boatshow/.


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