Newport International Boat Show: Boater Education and New Products Mark a Safer Season

Good news arrives just ahead of this year’s Newport International Boat Show: many boat buyers are becoming better, more confident boaters. That trend matters because it directly affects safety on the water and the overall boating experience as the season moves into autumn.

From a Pandemic Sales Surge to Safer Waters

During the summer of 2020, the pandemic produced an extraordinary spike in powerboat sales, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. A large portion of those boats went to first-time owners seeking outdoor recreation, and the sudden influx of inexperienced operators contributed to a steep rise in accidents, injuries and fatalities. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that all three categories increased by more than 20 percent that year, and it noted that the majority of fatalities involved operators who had received no formal safety training.

By 2021, the picture improved. The Coast Guard’s annual statistics showed accidents, injuries and deaths all declined by at least 15 percent. That decrease is encouraging, but persistent gaps in basic boating knowledge remain an issue when incidents do occur. The Newport International Boat Show, taking place September 15–18, is responding by offering more in-water training and targeted instruction to help close those gaps.

Expanded In-Water Training at the Show

This year’s show emphasizes hands-on training for boaters across skill levels. Freedom Boat Club returns to offer powerboat sessions, and Narragansett Sailing School will join the program to provide sailing instruction for the first time. Attendees can sign up each day for courses at either the power or sail venues—or both—making it easy to add practical experience to the usual boat-show activities.

Powerboating options include a “Become a Power Boater” fundamentals class, beginner and intermediate docking courses, and women-only sessions. These courses will be conducted aboard 24-foot center consoles from builders such as Cobia and Key West, with Sailfish possibly participating. Intermediate sessions will be customized to tackle the specific challenges boaters are encountering on the water.

Sailors will find beginner and intermediate sailing classes, plus women-only versions of both levels. Registration is open now, and the boat show’s official materials will publish additional course details as the event approaches.

Boater Demand for Real-World Training

Tim Wordell, Northeast events coordinator for Freedom Boat Club in Newport, reports strong demand for these hands-on sessions. That demand reflects a wider trend at Freedom Boat Club: not only newcomers, but boaters with a season or two of experience are seeking more education. Many who entered boating in 2020 have since encountered challenging conditions—3- to 5-foot waves, tough winds and situations that made returning to harbor difficult—and have realized they need additional instruction.

“We’ve had people ask to go out on a nasty day so they can learn to position the boat more comfortably to the waves,” Wordell says. “They say, ‘OK, I won’t be white-knuckled anymore.’”

Wordell adds that training at the Newport show is designed to build confidence at the helm for boaters beyond the novice level. “People are taking advantage of the additional training sessions,” he explains. “It’s not just, ‘Get me trained enough to take the boats out.’ Now, they’re coming back and wanting advanced-level training.”

New Leadership and Fresh Product Innovation

Lisa Knowles, who became director of the Newport International Boat Show in January, says returning attendees will still find new boats, accessories and a concurrent brokerage show. Despite ongoing supply-chain issues in midsummer, exhibitors have planned a surprising number of new products—particularly in eco-friendly cruising technologies.

“Just when you think there’s no more innovation to be had, these companies are coming out with amazing stuff,” Knowles says. She emphasizes that longtime visitors will see familiar names and products but will also discover new brands and solutions on the docks.

Who’s Exhibiting and What to Expect

Expected exhibitors span multiple categories, from inflatable makers such as Inmar, Williams and Zodiac to established builders of larger boats: Beneteau, Bluegame, Grady-White, Grand Banks, Jeanneau, Kadey-Krogen, Nordhavn, Scout and Vicem. Popular product and service brands are also on the list, including Awlgrip, KVH, Fairclough Sailmakers, Sunbrella, Dockwa, Yamaha and Seakeeper.

Many exhibitors are requesting expanded presentation spaces known as “display docks”—10-by-20-foot areas that allow brands to spend more time with visitors, entertain clients and provide shelter from sun or rain. Knowles notes that display docks are becoming more common at Newport, mirroring the hospitality-focused setups seen at larger shows.

Planning for the show has remained “very fluid” as builders finalize which boats and products they will bring. Show organizers encourage prospective visitors to check the event’s website for the latest exhibitor lists and schedule updates.

More Than Boats: A Sanctuary for Attendees

Knowles describes the boat show experience as a kind of sanctuary: a place where attendees can leave daily frustrations behind and reconnect with the boating lifestyle. “The boat show is like a sanctuary,” she says. “It’s a way to be out on the docks and surrounded by the vibe. Many of our attendees know they’ve left that world behind when they arrive. They’re in a happy place.”

—Kim Kavin

This article was originally published in the September 2022 issue.