Best of Boating

Atlantic City Boat Show Goes Interactive with New Learning Experiences

bestofboating — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:15:36 +0000

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Boat Show is in full swing at Atlantic City Convention Center through Sunday featuring the latest boat models, must-have accessories, and a host of new learning experiences that are fun for the entire family.

Show highlights include:

New! Take the Wheel at the Boating Simulator: Visitors can take the helm and experience some of the most ferocious (or tranquil) sea conditions at the interactive Boating Simulator, brought to the show by the Annapolis School of Seamanship. Guests can drive boats ranging from cruise ships to coast guard vessels in lifelike boating settings and any weather condition, all shown on three giant flat screens.
New! Meet Famous Teenage Sailing Adventurer, Abby Sunderland: You may not recognize her name, but you know her story. At age of sixteen, Abby Sunderland set sail in a quest to become the youngest solo sailor ever to circumnavigate the globe, only to be thwarted by a rogue wave that left her lost at sea for two days. Visitors can meet Abby, learn the importance of training and faith, and get signed copies of her book, Unsinkable.
Try Scuba in the DEMA ‘Be a Diver Pool’: Try scuba in a heated pool! During the past seven years tens of thousands of people have been introduced to scuba diving in the DEMA ‘Be a Diver Pool.” Anyone age 10 and older can discover the fun and exciting sport of scuba diving in the comfort of the tropically-warm pool. Not only can visitors scuba dive for free, but they can test some of the latest scuba equipment and have a photo taken underwater as a keepsake of their diving adventure.
New! Power Boat Docking Challenge: Novice and veteran boaters alike can become more confident at the helm at the Power Boat Docking Challenge. Participants will compete against the clock, steering and docking a 4-ft, twin engine, remote-controlled power boat from a life-size boat helm down a 20-ft.pool into a marina and ultimately a slip, for a chance to win prizes.
Miss GEICO Race Boat: The undisputed Offshore World Champion!Visitors to the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show will have the chance to see four-time World Champion, famous offshore powerboat Miss GEICO. It’s not a boat; it’s a neon green catamaran missile!
New! Paddlepalooza: Paddle sports are taking the nation by storm, with fitness benefits and fun for all ages. Visitors new to the sensation or those looking for the latest paddle techniques, will find information on land paddling, board education, stroke techniques, and fitness paddling classes that this section of the show.
For the Little Skippers: Kids can join the fun at the Atlantic City Boat show navigating a mini lake in their own paddle boat and on Saturday, pose for photos with SpongeBob Squarepants, Bikini Bottom’s favorite resident. Inventive young boaters can Build A Boat! Presented by Sea Quest Kids, with the chance to build a life-size boat with their own hands while also learning about boating and water safety.

The Atlantic City Boat Show docks at the Atlantic City Convention Center Thursday, February 2, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday, February 3, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday, February 4, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Admission is $14 for adults (16 and older) and FREE for kids 15 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased online.

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Seattle Boat Show Opens Today at Two Locations

bestofboating — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:34:28 +0000

SEATTLE — The 65th annual Seattle Boat Show opens today and continues for 10 days through Feb. 5. The largest boat show on the West Coast with two locations, indoors and afloat, it has something for everyone. For those who wakeboard, waterski, fish, kayak, cruise or race, under power or sail, on boats small or large, or simply want to outfit their boats with new gear or hone their skills at seminars, this show’s for them.

Attractions and promotions at the show include:

If money is no object, the largest boat at the show is 90 feet with an asking price of $3,950,000. Showgoers can tour it and a host of other luxury yachts at South Lake Union.

Budget a little smaller, Yamaha returns to the show with 10 new models that include six new boats and four new WaveRunners. Yamaha is also offering special boat show pricing and financing.

1957 Restored Classic Chris Craft — Chris Craft’s are known for their style and great design and craftsmanship. This classic beauty has been lovingly restored by the local chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society.

Amazing Orca Boat — Is it a bird, is it a plane, is it a killer whale? No it’s Seabreacher. A unique submersible vessel designed to look like an Orca whale, reaching speeds up to 55mph with the ability of “jumping” as high as 16 feet. It can be viewed at CenturyLink Field along with amazing video of it in action.

Grind it Out — For those who want to know what it’s like to crew on a high performance sailing boat, the Harken ‘Coffee Grinder’ will give them an idea. The pedestal winch, just like the used in the last America’s Cup is carbon fiber and drives an 1111 winch. Showgoers can turn the handles and test their speed, strength and skill. Lowest times on the board can win great Harken sailing gear.

Kids Aqua Paddlers — Fun for the little boaters, kids attending the Seattle Boat Show can enjoy time on the water using the new Aqua Paddlers paddle boats. Life jackets will be provided. Aqua Paddlers will be available for use each day of the show.

Pitch A Fish — Fish tossing is a popular attraction at Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. At the show the Pitch-a-Fish contest will give showgoers the chance to try it themselves by tossing (plastic) fish 30-feet through the air into a target for a chance to win a new 16-foot Avalon Eagle Pontoon boat from Tom’s Boat Shop.

HOURS
CenturyLink Field:
Monday – Thursday: 11AM – 8PM
Fridays: 11AM – 9PM
Saturdays: 10AM – 8PM
Sundays: 10AM – 6PM*

South Lake Union:
WEEKDAYS: 11AM – 5PM
WEEKENDS: 10AM – 5PM*

* THE SHOW WILL CLOSE AT 4PM ON FEB. 5

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Adults: $12; Youth (11-17): $5;
Special 5-day Big Show pass: $24
Kids 10 & under: Free

TICKET DISCOUNTS (Box Office Only)
Military: $2 off single-day Adult ticket w/ ID
Seniors (65+): $2 off single-day Adult ticket

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Louisville Boat Show Opens Wednesday at the Kentucky Exposition Center

bestofboating — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:09:47 +0000

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow opens tomorrow at the Kentucky Exposition Center and runs through Sunday. The show features hundreds of the latest boats and recreational vehicles, must-have gadgets and gear, plus seminars and activities for the whole family.

“The Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow provides visitors with a one-stop shop for boats, RVs and gear for all outdoor adventures,” says Kim Muncy, show manager. “The 2012 show showcases the region’s top dealers under one roof offering some of the best deals of the year, plus we have an extensive line up of seminars and fun activities for the whole family.”

Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow dates and hours:

Wednesday, January 25: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, January 26: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, January 27: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, January 28: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, January 29: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults ages 16 and older. Children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult.

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Nautique Announces 100% Electric Wakeboard Boat

bestofboating — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:49:26 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. — Nautique announced its first 100 percent electric wakeboard boat, the Super Air Nautique 230 E. The first viewing of the Super Air Nautique 230 E will be at the Detroit Boat Show in February.

The Super Air Nautique 230 E contains two automotive electric motors. Combined, these two electric engines offer 160 kW of peak output, according to the company.

The Super Air Nautique 230 E is equipped with state of the art lithium ion batteries with an available storage capacity of up to 78 kW-hours. The company did not release the boat’s suggested retail price.

Photo: Super Air Nautique 230

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Kansas City Boat Show is a Learning Experience

bestofboating — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:28:38 +0000

KANSAS CITY — New this year at the Kansas City Boat and Sportshow are “Fred’s Shed” DIY seminars for boat owners interested in learning new techniques for taking care of their boat or boat motor. Free daily sessions cover a variety of topics, including keeping your boat “shipshape”, choosing and installing marine electronics and maintaining gas engines.

“Whether you’re a boater, hunter, angler, or enjoy hitting the pavement, the Kansas City Boat & Sportshow is a one-stop shop for any outdoor adventure, featuring the newest products from the region’s top dealers,” said Mark Adams, show manager. “The 2012 show also provides a chance for novices and experts to experience all things outdoors through a wide variety of hands-on education and family entertainment. There’s truly no better place to discover why life is better outdoors.”

The Kansas City Boat and Sportshow is in full swing through Sunday. Admission is $1o for adults. Children 15 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Photo: 19-foot Yamaha SX190, $24,999

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Minneapolis Boat Show Opens Today Featuring Indoor Surfing Attraction

bestofboating — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:34:52 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minneapolis Boat Show opens today at the Minneapolis Convention Center with hundreds of new boats and accessories on display. Also at the boat show this year is the debut of an indoor attraction that combines the look of surfing, the ride of snowboarding, and the tricks of skateboarding.

The Flowrider Mobile, or MoFlo, is open to boat show visitors more than 42″ tall (bodyboard) or 52″ (stand-up board). Visitors are invited to bring their swimsuit or wetsuit to the show, or use gear available onsite. The MoFlo can accept eight riders at a time and rides will last 20 minutes. Visit the registration desk in space 2103 to review rules/restrictions and register. The attraction free.

Admission to the Minneapolis Boat is $10 for adults 16 and older. Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

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16-time IJSBA Champion Dustin Farthing Signs with Yamaha for 2012

bestofboating — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:03:59 +0000

ATLANTA — Yamaha WaterCraft announced that multi-time IJSBA World and National champion Dustin Farthing is returning to the Yamaha motorsports family to campaign the 2012 personal watercraft racing season aboard Yamaha WaveRunners®.

Farthing is one of the most recognized names in PWC racing and is the current UWP-IJSBA National Pro Open Runabout champion. He began his professional career racing for Yamaha WaterCraft and is returning to the fold after a nine year absence. Farthing will race the Yamaha FX SHO® and Yamaha FZR® at offshore and closed course events respectively, including the UWP-IJSBA National Tour and the IJSBA World Finals.

“I’ve been impressed with what Yamaha’s accomplished on the race course over the last few years,” said Farthing. “Their 1.8L engine is bulletproof and has led to the FZR really dominating some key pro race classes. I look forward to having my team work with this engine and hull which have so much potential in the Open class and beyond. It feels great to be back with the same group I launched my racing career with so many years ago.”

Farthing has competed in top racing circuits all over the world and has won ten national and six world titles over the past two decades.

“Dustin is one of the preeminent racers in the history of personal watercraft racing and we are thrilled to have him back at Yamaha,” said Scott Watkins, Yamaha’s product manager, former freestyle world champion and IJSBA Hall of Fame inductee. “We look forward to working with him and the entire Farthing Racing team to win in 2012.”

Joining Farthing on the new Mountain Motorsports/Farthing Racing team are veterans Ryan Hardwick and Tim Neff.

Dustin Farthing (right) with Yamaha WaterCraft product manager and race director Scott Watkins at a presentation held at the Atlanta Boat Show.

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Boat-ed.com Meets New NASBLA Standards for Online Courses

bestofboating — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:54:48 +0000

ATLANTA — Boat-ed.com announced today that all of their online courses meet the new online delivery standard adopted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, which requires students to study a minimum of three hours. This change went into effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Boat-ed.com courses, which are approved by NASBLA and the state boating safety agencies responsible for boater education, were reconfigured to meet additional requirements. As a result, boat-ed.com students in every state must:

Visit every page in the course
Take mandatory quizzes at the end of each chapter
Complete the 3-hour course before taking the final exam

“We fully support and even pushed for these changes to NASBLA’s standards. In fact, we implemented them in many of our courses long before the Jan. 1, 2012, deadline,” said Kurt Kalkomey, president of Kalkomey, parent company of Boat-ed. “Boat-ed is committed to ensuring our students take the time to really learn this life-saving information.”

Students who must receive their boater education certificate to obtain a boating license pay a one-time fee, which is due only if they pass the test. Students can take the test as many times as they need to pass it.

After passing the exam at Boat-ed.com, students in most states can print out the temporary certificate and begin enjoying safe boating, though students are encouraged to read the instructions at boat- ed.com for their particular state. The state agency responsible for boater education will issue students’ permanent certificate.

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Atlanta Boat Show Mishap Delays Today’s Opening

bestofboating — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:51:07 +0000

ATLANTA — It was high tide at the Atlanta Boat Show this morning when a 200,000 gallon water tank inside the Georgia World Congress Center collapsed around 9:30 am and flooded nearby exhibitor displays. The tank was to be used for an indoor wake park attraction.

“Starting at 2 pm, the show will open as planned, celebrating 50 years of bringing the best in boating to Atlanta,” said Show Manager Larry Berryman. The show was to open doors at 11 am.

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Chicago Boat Show Opens Today with New Learning Experience

bestofboating — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:49:49 +0000

CHICAGO — New this year at the Chicago Boat Show are “Fred’s Shed” DIY seminars for boat owners interested in learning new techniques for taking care of their boat or boat motor. Free daily sessions cover a variety of topics, including keeping your boat “shipshape”, choosing and installing marine electronics and maintaining gas engines.

“Besides showcasing the best selection in boats, RVs and marine and outdoors accessories in the Midwest, we are excited to offer attendees a new and improved learning annex at this year’s Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat, Sports & RV Show,” says Keith Ogulnick, show manager. “With daily free features such as Fred’s Shed, Paddlefest, World of Scuba, Evolution of Boat Building and the RV Pavilion, there’s no shortage of education and on-the-water fun for every outdoors novice and expert.”

The Chicago Boat Show is in full swing through Sunday. Admission is $1o for adults. Children 15 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Photo: 19-foot Yamaha AR190

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