A Trio of Boat Shows

This weekend will be a big one for boat shows on the West Coast. The Seattle Boat Show Indoors + Afloat will start on Friday and run through February 1, with boats on the water on South Lake Union and indoor displays and seminars at CenturyLink Field Event Center. We’ll have more on that show in Friday’s ‘Lectronic Latitude.

The Progressive San Francisco Boat Show starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday. Sailboats on display range in size from the Beneteau 20 to the Hanse 505. Paddle sports equipment, nautical gear, and a seminar program will be there too. Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center offers free DIY clinics on boat maintenance and repair. Space is limited at Discover Boating’s Hands-On Skills Training, so register for those in advance. If you want to get yourself, your kids, or your friends into sailing visit the SailSFBay booth #308, where volunteers from various Bay Area sailing programs will be helping show-goers find a path to sailing.

Parking will be available at Pier 48, and a free shuttle will run between Pier 48 and McCovey Cove. Food alcoves at AT&T Park near the entrance to McCovey Cove will offer ballpark-style fare. Food trucks will be lined up outside Pier 48; head inside the pier to find the full bar.

The San Diego Sunroad Marina Boat Show will also run January 22-25, at Sunroad Resort Marina located at Harbor Island. More than 100 new and "pre-cruised" boats on display range in size from 30 to 110 feet. Free boat rides on San Diego Bay will be available for all ages. Marine vendors, kayaks, inflatables, interactive seminars, food, "crafty" beers and steel drum music will round out the show.

No matter which show you attend, we recommend wearing shoes that are easy to slip into and out of, as many of the boats you’ll want to board have a no-shoes policy.