Following the 2008 economic recession, few people were in the market for a boat — let alone a second or third boat — even in Greenwich, where a certain level of affluence was never lost.
So, rather than continue competing for business that didn’t exist, area boat dealers banded together to form the Greenwich Boat Show. Eight years later, the show has more than doubled in size as the recreational boating industry has recovered and the economy improved.
“It started out really local because so many businesses were affected by the financial crisis,” said Karen Piscitelli, director of marketing for the Greenwich Boat Show. “They came together and that’s how the boat show started. Since then it’s still the original group and it just keeps growing.”
Set to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, at the Greenwich Water Club, the eighth annual Greenwich Boat Show will welcome 19 regional boat dealers, as well as one land dealer — Manhattan Motor Cars, Lamborghini.
The boat show is free and open to the public, and will once again offer the show’s signature free sea trials as the only in-water boat show in the area. Piscitelli said the sea trials (which are just like test driving a car) were a part of the original boat show, and have been a key component to the show’s ongoing popularity and success. The trials give prospective boat buyers the opportunity to test out multiple boats on the open waters of Long Island Sound — and with 110 boats representing 43 brands, they have a lot to choose from. Featured boats range from fishing vessels to luxury yachts.
More Information
Related:backless wedding dresses
For more information on the Greenwich Boat Show, visit www.greenwichboatshow.com, or contact Karen Piscitelli at 203-661-4033 or kpiscitelli@greenwichwaterclub.com.“Going back to the original roots of the show, the whole idea was you take the boats head to head and test drive them,” Piscitelli said. “This is the only show where we encourage you to test drive multiple boats … and they like to drive boats hard. You actually want to be able to drive it in the worst of circumstances; if it’s rainy and it’s windy you want to know how it handles before you buy it.”
Piscitelli said the show does take place earlier than most other boat shows due to the sea trials, which wouldn’t be possible once the recreational boating season gets started in April.
“We actually have it so early that you can actually have a sea trial, get a good deal, get that boat show price and get it in time to enjoy it for the season,” Piscitelli said. “With the later shows, you often won’t even get it until the next season.”
Depending on the weather, Piscitelli said the show is expected to draw anywhere from 800 to 1,400 attendees, including serious boat enthusiasts and first-time buyers alike. The not-for-profit show is also one of the most affordable in the country for boat dealers, costing just $3,500 for registration compared to more than $30,000 for bigger shows. As a result of the laid-back nature and affordability of the event, Piscitelli said she’s already started a waiting list for dealers looking to get into the 2017 show.
“It just keeps getting bigger, which is a really good thing,” Piscitelli said. “I’ve been here all eight years, and it’s nice to be a part of something that’s grown so much.”
image：mermaid wedding dresses
