Boats To Go Afloat Again in Lake Union and Anacortes This Spring

It’s time to head for the docks and do some float shopping. Mark your calendars for the returns of two major boat shows to ring in the 2023 season: the April Boats Afloat Show in Seattle and the Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show happening in that aforementioned locale in May.

Boats Afloat , the region’s largest exhibition of boating stock on the water, has been a treasure among Pacific Northwest mariners since it first launched in 1978. Starting on April 27 this year and continuing for four days, Boats Afloat will showcase a wide variety of power and sailing yachts, as well as the latest boating equipment and technology to fit all budgets.

This year will mark the second time the show’s host organization, the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA), will be holding two Boats Afloat shows in the same year—the spring show next month and a fall show (September 14-17). Both will be located along the newly renovated Lake Union Piers development, formerly known as Chandler’s Cove, in the southeast corner of the lake.

Dozens of brokers and dealers from the Northwest and Western Canada will be on hand to show off more than 225 of their latest yacht models, while attendees can mingle and network on the docks. For more details about coming highlights this year, visit: boatsafloatshow.com (and also be sure to read this month’s Expert Take on pages 60-61).

Farther north, the Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show (May 18-20) anticipates boat aficionados to view hundreds of new yachts from more than 75 exhibitors. The main portion of the in-water displays will be located at Cap Sante Marina, but additional boats can also be viewed on-land in nearby boatyards and dealers. A free shuttle service will run between locations during the show. Attendees can also visit shoreside displays of boating accessories, services, and trailerable boats adjacent to the Cap Sante Marina main entrance.

This year, the Anacortes show will again be teaming up with TrawlerFest, a well-regarded series of educational seminars that will begin two days earlier on May 16. With prices starting at $65 per seminar, the TrawlerFest sessions, led by some of the leading experts in the maritime industry, will include topics such as weather, maintenance, electrical, communications, engines, electronics, navigation, destinations, and many other marine subjects.

For more information on the show, hours, TrawlerFest registration, and other planned events, please visit: anacortesboatandyachtshow.com