The Seattle Boat Show is Still Going Strong
By Arnie Hammerman and Norris Comer
The 2025 Seattle Boat Show, January 31 to February 8, is the largest boat show on the West Coast. It features two locations, one inside at Lumen Field and the in-water show at Bell Harbor Marina on Seattle’s recently revamped waterfront. For those of us in the Pacific Northwest, it’s almost impossible to miss.
Our editorial director Norris and I visited the 2025 show on the opening weekend, and it really is an impressive display of great boats, equipment, and things to do on the water. Some boat shows may be faltering but the Seattle Boat Show run by the non-profit Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) is a lot of fun and continues to thrive. Total attendance numbers are not available at the time of this writing, but the 2025 show boasts over 800 boats, 150 free seminars, and over 290 exhibitors.
Arnie’s Take – Good Old Days Meet Today’s Goodies
Walking around the show with Norris brought back fond memories of all the Seattle Boat Shows I have attended. Back in the 90s the show was in the Kingdome, and I remember walking the circular mezzanine until I had completed a lap then heading down the steep concrete steps to the floor to check out all the boats. I sold marine electronics at the time, and we moved a lot of product by offering boat show prices that couldn’t be beat. Times may have changed but the show continues to flourish.
While some shows are known for looking, the Seattle Boat Show is a buyer’s show and there are still plenty of good deals to be had. When the show moved to its current location at Lumen Field, my wife and I bought our Cutwater 26 there. At that time our boys were young, and we really wanted a more substantial boat to be able to go cruising on with them. We didn’t realize we could afford that type of boat but were able to get financing at the show that helped make it happen. That boat, which we named Rover, allowed our kids to grow up on the water and to understand all the great things boating offers. Fluid Motion, the builder of the Ranger Tugs, Cutwater, and Solara brands, still has one of the largest displays in the show.
One of the great things about the show is the variety of new boats on-hand for potential buyers to walk through and really see how they might work for the type of boating they want to do. Since Seattle is not known to have great weather in the winter, the convenience of checking the boats out inside is really nice. For those willing to brave the elements the In water show at Bell Harbor Marina also offers substantial cruisers and there is a free shuttle so you can go to both shows to see even more boats.
Everyone, whether they are a powerboater, sailor or just interested in getting out on the water, can find interesting new boats and products at the show. It is not just about big boats either: day boats, runabouts, fishing boats, wake board and water ski boats, inflatables dinghies, tenders, kayaks, and inflatable paddleboards are all on display. All types of equipment, accessories, electronics and fishing gear are offered, and the deals are still really good.
Charter operators, yacht clubs, marinas, and resorts are at the show too to help people figure out where to go and what to do on their boats. I highlighted several categories here but there really is too much to list and too many brands to mention. You really have to go check out the Seattle Boat Show yourself to appreciate all this show offers. You don’t have to buy anything to enjoy the show but bring your wallet just in case. If you are like me, you won’t go home empty handed.
Norris Thoughts – The Human Element
There’s always a lot of good buzz, and wine night, on the opening weekend. Vendors are fresh off the bench before the nine-day marathon ahead. Industry folks reconnect, sometimes for the first time since last year’s show, and the first wave of attendees explore with wide eyes. There’s a nice balance between that Pacific Northwest casual vibe and more products, special sales, seminars, and expertise than one could reasonably ask for.
As an author, I naturally gravitated to longtime show fixture Captain’s Nautical Books & Charts in their oversized display near the parking garage entrance. The store was driven from the Ballard location to online during the pandemic, but the in-person experience is still felt at the show. Local nautical authors like Wendy Hinman (Sea Trials and Tightwads on the Loose) are posted up with their wares while boaters load up on cruising guides. Captains’ bread and butter are top-of-the-line, print-on-demand NOAA, Canadian, and British Admiralty charts. No matter how space age modern navigation gets, there will always been some kind of market for paper charts and cruising guides.
The human element can be pretty special. Subjects of my published writing roam at-large throughout the show as fellow attendees, from Sail like a Girl sailor Jeanne Goussev to the owners of the forestry service-yacht conversion Teal. One gets hailed regularly for friendly chats. I’m really struck by how ‘boating’ isn’t purely about business. There’s a culture hidden in plain sight that’s full of stories and surprises. I keep a notebook handy for all the sparks of ideas that tend to fly.
The head turning, 61-foot tall “Mamma Duck” is a star of the show this year. The symbol of fun and positivity is part of a Ranger Tugs sponsored charity giveaway inside the show. A Ranger Tugs 20 is filled with 2,000 rubber duckies that participants can pluck from as a raffle for prizes. A reported 15% of the ducks have prize codes for rewards ranging from ice cream to wake boards. The duck pluck is manned by volunteers from Salmon for Soldiers, a nonprofit that takes US veterans and active-duty military fishing in the spirit of mental health and support. Donations to the organization are greatly appreciated at the pluck.
The final days of the show are before us. Check it out if you can, Friday night is Sails & Ales Craft Beer Night, feast your eyes, fire up your imagination, and pluck a duck.
Free Boating & Fishing Seminars + Boat Show University Classes
The boat show also offers some exceptional on all kinds of interesting topics related to boats and the water. These boating and fishing seminars help boaters expand their knowledge and provide crucial information for want-to-be boaters that are just getting involved. Sponsored by the Port of Seattle, seminars at Lumen Field Event Center typically run in one-hour segments and are free with admission to the show.
Boat Show University classes
These longer, and more in-depth classes are hosted by Boat Insurance Agency. They offer detailed information and all kinds of cruising destinations and other topics of interest to boaters. The classes are at Lumen Field Event Center and require a paid ticket, that can only be purchased online but includes boat show admission too.
For more information, tickets, and schedules visit https://seattleboatshow.com/
