Boat sales during the first quarter of this year were strong enough to make brokers tentatively optimistic that the region’s marine industry was finally heading upward. But sales took an alarming plunge during the second quarter, underscoring the slow economy recovery being felt nationwide. Total boat sales in Washington were down 13.6 percent – or 2,081 [...]

If you thought the Seattle Boat Show at Shilsole Bay Marina is only about walking the docks, checking out boats and accessories, you’d be mistaken. The show, running from Thursday to Sunday, will indeed have boats and marine gear for sale. But its attractions also include demos by professional wakeboarders, free sailboat rides, paddleboard lessons, live [...]

If the Seattle Boat Show is any indication, the recovery the region’s boating industry has long been waiting for seems to finally have arrived. The nine-day show, which ended Saturday, was marked by bigger crowds than last year, enthusiastic showgoers and most importantly, sales. Exhibitors reported boats selling in categories ranging from dinghies to luxury [...]

Seattle Boat Show organizers and exhibitors reported a strong start to the region’s premier annual boating event, with higher attendance and showgoers who were not just looking, but actually buying. Attendance was up 23 percent over last year for the first four days of the show at Lake Union, while the indoor portion of the [...]

Seeing the big yachts moored at marinas around Puget Sound, it’s easy to assume boating is only for those with deep pockets. But boat dealers at the Seattle Boat Show are hoping to convey a different message to showgoers: that boating is more accessible than they might realize. “I think that there are people who [...]

As final preparations are carried out for Friday’s opening of the Seattle Boat Show, organizers are cautiously optimistic that this year’s event may finally herald a turnaround for the region’s beleaguered marine industry. George Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA), said there’s been strong interest from consumers leading up to the show, [...]

As early as November, George Harris starts getting the phone calls. What seminars are being offered this year? callers ask. Who will be speaking? “It’s really amazing,” said Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association. “We just can’t ever seem to get the seminar schedule up on the website soon enough.” The broad offering [...]