South Lake Union has turned into a floating showroom this week, as the Boats Afloat Show kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday with more than 120 boats tied up along the docks for browsing, and in many cases, buying. The show brings together powerboats, sailboats, day boats and long-range cruising yachts in one of Seattle's most walkable waterfront neighborhoods, giving would-be boat owners a chance to compare options side by side before winter sets in.
The event is presented by the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, which has organized the show since 1978, according to boatsafloatshow.com. Beyond the boats themselves, organizers have packed the schedule with free seminars, live music, food and drinks, and activities for kids, per the same source. Monica Blum, the show's events and membership manager, joined ARC Seattle co-anchors Steve McCarron and Holly Menino to talk about what sets the event apart from other boat shows, discussing the range of yachts and sailboats on display as well as new features added to some of the boats this year, as reported by KOMO News.
What Makes This Show Different
Unlike a typical showroom visit, many of the boats floating at South Lake Union are actually available for purchase, and shoppers can start the buying process right at the docks, according to go.seattleboat.com. Many exhibitors are also offering special pricing found only at the Boats Afloat Show, per the same organizers. One thing shoppers shouldn't expect, though, is a spin around the lake: test drives aren't available during the show because of limited space at the docks, the site notes.
Hours for the opening two days were set at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18. Families can bring the kids without worrying about the gate, since children 12 and under get into the show for free.
Free Tiki Boat Rides Close Out The Weekend
Sunday brings a bonus for visitors willing to wait in line: complimentary Emerald City Tiki Boat rides, with anticipated departure times at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., according to the show's schedule page. It's a playful capstone to a weekend built around browsing, and organizers describe the event as the largest floating boat show in the Pacific Northwest.
For anyone looking to compare notes, the region's other major boat showcase, the Seattle Boat Show, takes a different approach entirely. That event, held at Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina, features hundreds of new and brokerage boats from hundreds of different boat brands and draws nearly 300 exhibitors, according to learn.seattleboat.com. That show even runs a free shuttle between its two venues, per the same guide, a contrast to the single-site, dock-to-dock layout at South Lake Union.
Segment details on Blum's appearance came from ARC Seattle, which airs weekdays from 7 to 8 a.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. on KUNS and The CW Network, per KOMO News. With the Boats Afloat Show running through Sunday, this weekend marks the last chance for browsers and buyers alike to walk the docks before the show wraps.
