The 40th annual Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, the West Coast’s largest floating boat show, gets underway on South Lake Union at 11 am on Thursday, Sept. 13 and continues through 6 pm on Sunday Sept. 16, 2018. For the newbie looking to get into boating, or the boater just back from a summer of cruising and lusting after a bigger boat, Boats Afloat is the place to kick some anchors. With more than 225 new and used boats on display there are plenty of anchors to kick. Some 50 shore side exhibitors with professional services from marine finance and insurance to electronics, marinas, shipping, gear and yacht maintenance will also exhibit at the show. Additional attractions include toy boat building for the kids, free sailing and power boat rides, seminars, adult sailing lessons and women’s docking classes.
Boats of Note: Power
· On display from Alexander Marine USA and making its international debut will be the Ocean Alexander 88. This new model was created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ocean Alexander and features an improved and larger galley, more voluminous dinette, a hi-low swim step, and ample flybridge aft seating.
· Emerald Pacific Yachts will be displaying a 2019 Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht featuring nearly 360° view windows, wide walkaround side decks, raised bulwarks for safety and a tender garage for up to an 11-foot tender and outboard.
· Among the Hampton Yachts offerings on display will be the Endurance 658, one of their most popular in the long-range cruising series and lauded as “80 feet of yacht in a 65-foot hull” by BoatTest.com. It is the only yacht in its class to boast a day head on the aft deck, internal staircase from salon down to the crew quarters, and sunroof on the hardtop. Also of note is the newly-widened 19’2” beam.
· Inside Passage Yacht Sales will be displaying the 2018 Lindell 42 Navigator from Camano Island-based Lindell Yachts, a boat that according to NW Yachting magazine has “accomplished its goal of marrying the comforts of yachting with the performance and utilitarian emphasis of comparably-sized fishing boats.”
· Lake Union Sea Ray is excited to premier the all-new Boston Whaler 350 Realm, a whole new series from Whaler that features the open-cockpit versatility of a center console and the comfort-minded amenities of a cabin cruiser. It is one of the first released and the only one in the Northwest.
Also, on display will be the Sea Ray L-590 Fly luxury yacht, featuring triple Cummins Zeus drives with joystick piloting, custom moonglow color with matching Sat-TV towers, night vision, full camera system, tablet-controlled entertainment, full bridge hardtop enclosure with heat and AC plus a hydraulic swim platform for easy tender launching.
Lake Union Sea Ray recently added MasterCraft Boats to their line up and will be bringing the all-new X24 and the 22 NXT to Boats Afloat. The recently introduced X24 wake/surf boat has the latest technology – including the new intelligent Switchback ballast tank – and seating for 18.
· North Pacific Yachts will be featuring a 2014 North Pacific 49’ Pilothouse, a solid and capable long-range cruiser, well equipped and designed specifically for the Pacific Northwest. With two staterooms, two heads, a spacious salon and pilothouse, the NP49 has the interior volume of much larger boats in an easier-to-manage package.
· A 2019 Cruisers Yachts 42 Cantius represented by Silver Seas Yachts will be making a Pacific Northwest debut. It boasts lots of “big boat features” in a 42-foot more compact and sporty package including: up and aft galley, two heads with separate showers, salon opening up to the cockpit for entertaining, one-piece windshield and hydraulic platform.
All you need to know to get there:
What: South Lake Union Boats Afloat Show
When: Thursday Sept. 13 – Sunday Sept. 16, 2018
Hours: Weekdays 11am – 6pm
Weekends 10am – 6pm
Where: Chandler’s Cove, South Lake Union
901 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Tickets:
Purchase your tickets online — www.boatsafloatshow.com — and be entered to win two round trip tickets on Kenmore Air to Victoria or the San Juan Islands, valued at $800.
$14 for adults / $5 for kids 12-17 (kids 11 and under are free)
$25 for All Access Pass – Good for all days of the show
Weekdays 4-6 pm: $7
Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/BoatsAfloatShow