Hartford Boat Show returns in February

HARTFORD — With Evinrude/BRP and Geico leading its fleet of sponsors and exhibitors, The 49th Hartford Boat Show will be cruising into the Connecticut Convention Center Feb. 8-11. Presented by the Connecticut Marine Trades Association, the event will feature over 400 watercraft and 125 exhibitors and is expected to draw over 14,000 visitors. Evinrude has been a lead sponsor of HBS2018 for over ten years, and this year, also joining Geico as new sponsors are the Connecticut Port Authority, Renewal by Andersen and Leaf Filter of CT.

Over 20 new exhibitors are joining HBS2018 including Cabela’s now merged with Bass Pro, Lake View Marine,Connor’s & O’Brien Marine, Island Cove Marina, Essex Marine Group, North East Dock Sales, C & D Underwater Maintenance, Air Chair, Boat Locker, Click Heat, NESS, Noank Village Boatyard, Port Milford, Maritime Insurance International, 64 Solar, and skube.me.

Bay State Woodies is also a new exhibitor. As the Massachusetts chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, the group will be bringing three vintage wood boats including a notable 1932 Chris Craft.

Three boat lines will be appearing at HBS2018 for the first time. Beacon Point Marine will debut a Blackfin for fishing and leisure, Lake View Marine is bringing a new Larsen and Island Cove a Nordic Star.

More than 95 percent of HBS2018 exhibitors are Connecticut based companies, representing the vast scope of recreational boating in the state. Connecticut businesses from all regions of the state are participating, with the inland regions represented from Candlewood to Columbia, the shoreline from Noank to Norwalk and the Connecticut River Valley from Saybrook to Portland.

Welcome 2 Our Waters: Destination CT is a special new HBS2018 section sponsored by the Connecticut Port Authority, highlighting shoreside activities, communities and attractions that are destinations enhanced by their proximity to the waters of Connecticut. The arena will feature new exhibitors such as Thimble Island Brewery which will be hosting tastings, towns, chambers, other food and beverage locations and more.

Sponsored by Renewal by Andersen, the new Windows to the Future section will showcase students from Thompson Public School District’s boat building program constructing a small wood boat, boat building activities for kids,The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, New England Science and Sailing, and Cedar Island Marine Research Lab. To support growth in the boat building trades in Connecticut, Renewal by Andersen is also donating to the Thompson program. Students from The Sound School of New Haven and several of the state’s technical school automotive departments will also participate in events in this new area.

Tickets for The Hartford Boat Show are available at www.hartfordboatshow.com. Pre-show online tickets are $10 and a multiday pass is available at $18 which allows access to the show any two days. The Senior Skip’rs pass for February 9 is $8. Admission onsite at the Show will be $12. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Group sales for groups over 15 people may be arranged by contacting CMTA Show Staff at 860-767-2645.

The Hartford Boat Show will be open Thursday, Feb. 8 from 3-8 pm.; February 9 from 12-8 p.m.; Feb. 10, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For schedule details and a full list of exhibitors, visit www.hardfordboatshow.com. Follow new developments on Facebook at @CMTAboating, Twitter at @HartfordBoatSho and Instagram at ctmarinetrades.