Show Time

At Soundings, we dig into the fun work of plotting a course through the major boat shows that take place along the East Coast in the fall, from Newport this month, the Connecticut Fall Boat Show (put on by Active Interest Media), then Annapolis in October and eventually Ft. Lauderdale.

By Jeanne Craig

August 14, 2023

As the New England summer wanes, I don’t look forward to shorter days, cooler weather and less time on the water in Cappy, but I do like the prospect of what comes next: the chance to geek out on plans to travel the boat show circuit.

At Soundings, we dig into the fun work of plotting a course through the major shows that take place along the East Coast. We’ll start in Newport this month, then work our way down to Annapolis and eventually Ft. Lauderdale in October. These exhibitions are big and busy, and they give us the opportunity to preview the newest, coolest boats and technology in the world. The experience is always exciting. And yet, those national events are just some of my favorite shows. There are great regional events too, including a relatively new one that’s close to my home.

The Connecticut Fall Boat Show will soon set up at Safe Harbor Bruce & Johnsons in Branford, Connecticut. Presented by Active Interest Media—the parent company of Soundings and its sister publications Angler’s Journal, Passagemaker, Power & Motoryacht and Sail—the show is in its second year. Our company is excited to produce it once again for boaters in the Northeast. Last year, we put together a great weekend on the docks for attendees, who were able to tour new and used power and sailboats, check out gear and equipment from top manufacturers, and spend time talking with like-minded enthusiasts, including the editorial staffs of our magazines.

One of the things I liked best about the show we hosted last year was the variety of well-made and relatively affordable boats on display. The selection made me think of the Soundings motto, “real boats for real boaters.” Sure, there were some pricey yachts in the mix (a Tiara 5200 express and Sabre 42 sailboat come to mind), but there were also a number of hard-working, compact rigs with solid, salty reputations. Those boats included a Blackfin 232 dual console that was done up in a pale green gel coat, a sweet 20-foot Aquasport center console, and a 23-footer from Key West Boats. A crowd favorite was the pre-owned Formula PC27 express cruiser, which was in mint condition, from the gleaming stainless rail forward to the rebuilt 5.7L 300-hp Volvo Penta engine. I personally enjoyed a walk through a beautifully maintained 1961 Pearson Arendal 37. That one was special.

This year, we’ll have another great selection of interesting boats, each built to handle the coastal conditions here in the Northeast and turn heads in local marinas. I hope you’ll join us on the docks. For more information about the Connecticut Fall Boat Show, go to ctfallboatshow.com.