Friday, December 16, 2011

2012 Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show, Jan. 19-22, Sets Sights on Family Fun

     Baltimore, Md. -- Maryland’s longest running and largest indoor boat show cruises into the Baltimore Convention Center, January 19-22, 2012, providing novice and experienced boaters a chance to shop the newest boats and cutting-edge gear and accessories while enjoying summer fun and learning more about the boating lifestyle. Visitors dreaming of warmer days have the unique opportunity to board and compare hundreds of boat brands and models while taking advantage of big sales, participate in nautical activities for all ages, learn from the region’s top boating instructors, and meet a national water-ski champion.
     “There’s no better place for area boaters to get their boating fix in the off-season,” says Tara Davis, show manager. “Serious shoppers can take advantage of exhibitor specials while those looking to improve their on-the-water experience can participate in free, hands-on boating and fishing courses and other family-fun activities.”
     Highlights of the 2012 Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show include:
SHOP AND LEARN:
     Boats and Equipment for All: The Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show will fill 175,000 square-feet of the Baltimore Convention Center with more than 200 boats from the area’s top dealers. From luxury cruisers and family runabouts to fishing boats and personal watercrafts for action-packed days on the Bay, there are boats available for every budget and lifestyle. In addition, dozens of exhibitors will showcase state-of-the-art equipment from the latest navigation systems and fish finders to water-sports gear including stand-up paddleboards and water-skis. Trailers, vacation destinations and boating services such as financing add to the show’s reputation as a boater’s shopping paradise.
     Learn from the Experts: The 2012 show provides the highest quality educational boating experience in the area with hundreds of hours of daily, free seminars and classes. New and experienced boaters alike can choose from dozens of VIP classroom seminars to suit their needs and interests, including seminars for water sports, fishing, emergency management, and navigation. Beginners’ classes will prepare new boaters for life on the water, while a two-day Maryland Safe Boating class will ensure that every trip out is both enjoyable and responsible. From Thursday through Sunday, the show floor will host free DIY seminars for visitors on everything from line-tossing and docking to navigation and captain’s license workshops. (Produced by Annapolis School of Seamanship and Chesapeake Bay Magazine).

FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT:
     Four Days of Family Fun: Boating fun is not just for grown-ups at the boat show. Children’s activities include:
     Young boaters can join in on the fun by learning nautical knots, boat navigation, and other boating skills through daily, free hands-on sessions.
     New! The Welcome to the Water coloring contest allows little ones to show off their creative skills. The winning picture will be printed in Prop Talk Magazine and all pictures will be on display throughout the show.
     The Baltimore Orioles Bird, Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jack Sparrow (impersonator) and Crew,and Aang from The Last Air Bender will stop by the show, and visitors can pose for photos.
Kids who aren’t afraid to walk the plank can enjoy story time with Blackbear the Pirate.
Interactive games like the new Boat Show Bingo and Scavenger Hunt will keep the family entertained. Prizes will be given daily.
     Win Big: Dreaming of future boating outings is fun, but winning one is even better! From year-long boat club memberships to winter weekend getaways, prizes at the show will appeal to everyone in the family. Visitors can enter for a chance to win a family water-ski adventure in North Carolina with boat show headliner, April Coble, and the Fisherman’s Dream Getaway, which includes a full-day fishing charter, dinner, and hotel accommodations for six at the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa. Contests include:
2nd Annual Crab Pickin’ Contest. In true Maryland style, contestants can "pick" for great prizes fromCrab Shanty in Ellicott City and more. Interested participants can visit the show office onsite.
      Power Boat Docking Challenge. New and experienced boaters can become more confident behind the helm at the Power Boat Docking Challenge. This interactive experience pits show participants against one another, as they compete against the clock, steering and docking a 4-ft, twin engine, remote-controlled power boat from an actual life-size boat helm down a 20-ft.pool into a marina and ultimately a slip, for a chance to win a host of prizes.
      Meet a Champion: April Coble. Coble, a professional water-skier, 26-time US National water-ski champion, and Owner and Head Coach of the renowned Coble Ski School, will be on hand to meet and greet fans and teach free, daily dry-land water ski lessons, gear sizing, and water safety.
      Welcome to the Water Center: Visitors can get started in boating or learn how to make the most of their time on the water at the popular Discover Boating Center, a one-stop resource for boating information and advice with straightforward answers to all boating questions, expert, unbiased advice on finding a boat that best suits visitors’ lifestyle and budget, and local resources to help new boaters get started.

SHOW INFORMATION AND DETAILS:
     The Baltimore Boat Show docks at the Baltimore Convention Center Thursday, January 19, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday, January 20 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, January 21 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; and Sunday, January 22 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
     Admission to the 2012 Baltimore Boat Show is $10 for adults (16 and older) and free for youth 15 and under. Advance tickets can be purchased online. Group discount tickets can be purchased by contacting Mary Steen at 800-225-1777 or msteen@nmma.org.
     For show news, discounts, and giveaways, visit www.BaltimoreBoatShow.com. Be a part of the Baltimore Boat Show conversation on Twitterand Facebook.
      About the Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show:
The Progressive Insurance Baltimore Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows and the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories, and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.

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