January 31, 2023
Sailing into town on Friday, February 3, 2023 and running through Saturday, February 11, 2023, the 76th annual Seattle Boat Show will feature nearly 300 exhibitors with more than 800 new and brokerage boats—indoors at Lumen Field Event Center and on the water at Bell Harbor Marina — and the latest in marine accessories and technology.
The Port of Seattle will be hosting the in-water portion of the Seattle Boat Show at Bell Harbor Marina as well as exhibiting at Lumen Field’s East Hall booth #720. Stop by and visit with Port staff throughout the show days and meet our featured guests who are maritime organizations chosen by the Port for providing diversity-forward recreational boating programs:
- Sisters in Action Sports (SAS) inspires, encourages, and empowers females through participation in action sports, creating affordable opportunities in the water and outdoor recreational events throughout the year. These opportunities draw hundreds of sisters of all ages and abilities and provides opportunities for progression and support to first-timers who are looking for a welcoming inclusive female community. SAS offers scholarships and support to aspiring young athletes to achieve their goals.
- Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC) – The CYC Junior Sailing Program offers sailing opportunities for youths of all abilities — from beginning sailors to advanced racers. CYC has the equipment, location, coaching, and attitude to help children explore their independence while learning sportsmanship, building character, and making new friends in a fun and safe environment.
- Anacortes Waterfront Alliance (AWA) began with a need for serving the small boating community and has grown into an inclusive and comprehensive program encompassing waterfront programs, enhanced water access, and unified purpose in a quickly growing maritime community. They exist to not only serve the established body but to foster the development of new individuals and groups – which inspired their new summer program “Juguemos en el agua!” (let’s play in the water!) to encourage the Latinx community to participate in waterfront activities.
The boat show is not only a great place to shop for the boat of your dreams, it is a celebration of boating and a place for boaters to rendezvous with friends, plan for summer adventures, and have some fun. The 76th show will be no different, with many features and promotions including:
Youth Boating Center
Young sailors and their families are invited to stop by the Youth Boating Center to start their boating adventures. An introduction to sailing, STEM, and the marine world, the staff at the Youth Boating Center will educate kids and families on the wind, propulsion, local sailing opportunities, knot tying, and more through daily fun hands-on activities.
Boating and fishing seminars
Entertaining and educational, the seminars are always one of the most popular features at the show. For 2023 there will be 110 hours of seminars, 25% of which are new. The boating and fishing seminars can be attended in person, and, with a special Seminar Package ticket, viewable online for three months post show. Boat Show U webinars are available in person and online for those who purchase a Seminar Package ticket.
Massive Rube Goldberg-inspired boating machine
Over the course of the nine days of the show, Zach Umperovitch, the world’s leading authority on Chain Reaction Machines,three-time Guinness World Record holder, and co-host of Discovery Channel’s “Contraption Masters,” will invent and construct a Rube Goldberg-inspired machine for boaters. The final machine will measure more than 100 feet in length and, when completed, it will be the longest spanning machine Zach has built in his 30-year career. Zach’s contraption will use kinetic energy and audience participation to string, couple, and join together boat parts, fishing rods and reels, crab pots, life jackets, and other random boating-related items to launch a kooky succession of chain reactions, culminating in the launch of a boat.
Women’s Day
On Monday, February 6, women can attend the show for free and enjoy a slate of seminars designed specifically for women, by women boaters. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet, learn and get inspired by some of the most talented women boaters around. The special Women’s Day pass is available on the show’s website.
On-water rescue dog demo
Water rescue dogs from the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue — a nonprofit organization that breeds and trains dogs to perform water rescues—will be at Bell Harbor Marina at 3: 00 p.m., Wednesday February 8 with Newfoundlands Oakley and Angel to demonstrate their impressive cold water rescue skills. These specially trained dogs can tow up to 5,000 lbs. and are trained to jump from search and rescue helicopters.
Before or after watching Oakley and Angel perform, stop by Anthony’s Bell Street Diner for a free cup of their award-winning creamy clam chowder. It’s also available weekdays from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m .to all ticketed show attendees.
A free shuttle runs continuously between both show locations and there is a special $5 parking promotion at the Bell Street Parking garage right next to Bell Harbor Marina.
