Essex Spring Boat Show Draws Strong Crowd; Organizers Eye Annual Event

At one moment during the new Spring Boat Show in Essex, Connecticut, exhibitor Jim Eastland wondered whether launching a boat show in a soft economy had been the right move. Three hours later, as the docks filled with interested buyers, his doubts were gone.

“At 1 o’clock on Saturday I thought it was a waste of time. By 4 o’clock I decided we should have one every year,” said Eastland, founder of Eastland Yachts, reflecting the upbeat mood among exhibitors by the end of the weekend.

The weekend event, organized by a consortium of Essex-based yacht brokers and local marina partners, ran April 23–25 and showcased a curated selection of new and pre-owned brokerage boats ranging from 25 to 72 feet. Organizers estimated attendance between 2,000 and 2,500 visitors for this boutique-style Connecticut boat show, and the reaction from brokers, builders and the public was overwhelmingly positive.

“The reaction from everybody involved was that the show far exceeded expectations and was an extreme success,” said Doug Domenie, vice president and general manager of Brewer Dauntless Shipyard & Marina, one of the show’s organizers. “We were very pleased by the mix and quality of boats on display — even on Sunday when it was rainy at 10:15 a.m., there were 20 to 30 people on the docks.”

Six Essex-based yacht brokerages teamed up to create the event: Boatworks Yacht Sales, Wilde Yacht Sales, Eastland Yachts, Hank Aldrich Yacht Sales, Prestige Yacht Sales and Barlow Yacht Associates. The cooperating brokers said the focus on local, high-quality inventory and a more intimate show format made it easier for both buyers and sellers to connect.

Manufacturers and builders represented at the show included American Tugs, Cabo Yachts, Grand Banks, Hallberg-Rassy, Hatteras, Hunt Yachts, Jupiter, Nonsuch, Nordic Tugs, Ranger Tugs and Sabre Yachts. With a range of styles and sizes on the docks, visitors could compare classic passagemakers, coastal cruisers and contemporary motoryachts in a relaxed waterfront setting.

Ben Wilde, president of Wilde Yacht Sales, said the event showed immediate promise. “We were slammed on Friday. It was as good as any Friday at the Newport Spring Show,” he said, noting that the decision to stage a spring event in Essex was partly motivated by the suspension this year of the Newport Spring Boat Show.

Local attendees appreciated the convenience and atmosphere of a hometown show. “It’s really great to have a show right here in town and not have to drive to Newport,” said Pat Orso of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, who visited on Sunday afternoon. “What better place than Essex for a boat show since we’re right here on the Connecticut River?”

Organizers described the Essex show as part of a growing trend toward smaller, community-focused marine events. “Big shows have turned people off and, for the vendor, it’s extremely expensive to exhibit at those shows,” said Tom Pilkington of Prestige Yacht Sales. “Small shows are the wave of the future.”

Soundings Publications served as the exclusive media sponsor for the event, helping to promote the program and the participating dealers. Exhibitors said the partnership and local marketing helped drive a steady flow of prospective buyers and generated serious inquiries over the three-day run.

By the final day, conversations among organizers and brokers had already shifted to planning for a return next spring. Although modest in scale compared with large regional boat shows, the Essex Spring Boat Show demonstrated that a carefully curated, locally promoted event can attract an engaged audience and produce strong sales opportunities — even during challenging economic times.

This article originally appeared in the Home Waters section of the July 2010 issue.