Set to start on January 24, the 2014 Seattle Boat Show, Indoors + Afloat, will be hosting 1,000 boats as well as yachts indoors and on the water, and more than three acres of accessories, electronics and boating gear. But as popular as shopping is at the event, equally popular for Northwest boaters is the opportunity to choose from hundreds of seminars by some of the world’s top experts during the 10 days of the show.
No other show in North America matches the Seattle seminar schedule in terms of the quality, variety and number of seminars offered. There are more than 200 FREE seminars at CenturyLink Field Event Center and advanced training classes for a fee through Boat Show University. The complete schedule of seminars can be viewed at the website of the Seattle Boat Show.
Boating Seminars presented by Allstate Boat Insurance
There’s something for everyone and all skill levels. The information ranges from enlightening to entertaining. Some of the seminars can even save your life. The seminars run the gamut from beginner topics (Introduction to Marine Radar, Boat Buyers University: Which boat is right for me?, Docking Techniques and Anchoring Basics) to advanced topics (Unlocking the Asymmetric Spinnaker, How to get your Captains License) to the esoteric (Early Exploration, Inland Washington Waters – Tracing the Route of the Spanish expeditions of the 1780s and early 1790s). And for those planning an offshore cruise or dreaming of cruising there is no shortage of advice and seminars to choose from. Close to home, seminars cover cruising South Puget Sound, the Marine Parks of the San Juan Islands, the Central and North Coast of British Columbia or all the way to Alaska. For those dreaming about going further afield, there are seminars on the Coho Ho Ho or Baja Ha-Ha, cruising from Mexico to Australia, and Comfort Afloat in the Heat of the Tropics.
New seminars for 2014 include:
• Cruising Mexico: Paperwork Requirements
• Dreamspeaker Sails South to Puget Sound
• Boat Buyers University: Which boat is right for me?
• Cruising With Kids 101
• WA State Marine Parks
• Coho Ho Ho Sailing Rally 2014
• How to choose your fabric and foam for your boat, and how to take care of them.
• Cruising to Fitz Hugh Sound
• Port Townsend Varnish (An overview of the tools, techniques, products, safety and short-cuts to help boat owners produce a satisfying traditional varnish finish)
• Mexico to Australia – A Two Year Plan
• Waggoner Cruising Guide’s 2014 Favorite Destinations
• I’ve Never Owned a Boat But Have Sailed the World – You Can Too
• Fog- Tools to Observe and Forecast Weather Patterns
• Using the iPad and Tablets for Marine Weather and Navigation
Fishing Seminars presented by Allstate Boat Insurance
The 2013 Seattle Boat Show will also feature the best of the best northwest saltwater fishing seminars in the region. Learn how to target on saltwater salmon fishing, along with lingcod, albacore tuna, Dungeness crab or catching fish out of a kayak.
Boat Show University presented by Peoples Bank
The experts are returning for the 2014 Seattle Boat Show University, with a program of 18 informative seminars to help make cruising safe and fun. With courses on weather, cruising to Alaska, and new technologies and the iPad (the most popular session two years in a row), the popular Boat Show U. program features well known nautical experts such as Lee Chesneau, Captain Linda Lewis, Mike Beemer, Mark Bunzel and others who annually present extended three hour nautical training seminars and full day seminar programs.
New this year will be classes by Steve D’Antonio. With nearly 25 years of experience as a marine mechanic, electrician, consultant and boatyard manager, Steve D’Antonio ranks as one of the most knowledgeable boating experts in the country. He is Technical Editor of both PassageMaker Magazine and Professional Boat Builder magazine and a monthly contributor to Cruising World Magazine. Because of his unique ability to explain highly technical information on a wide array of boating topics in a clear, easy to read and easy to use manner, he has become a widely read and widely sought after voice in the marine industry. Steve is presenting an all-day course an on Friday, January 31 and 2 3-hour courses on Saturday, February 1.
The three hour programs are priced at $39 each with a special package including four courses and boat show admission for $149. All day expert training sessions during the week cover topics such as Offshore Cruising, Marine Weather and Cruising in the Northwest and others for $195. All courses are available for advanced registration on the Seattle Boat Show web site. Register now as many classes fill to capacity for this popular program.
Know Before You Go
When: Friday, January 24 – Sunday, February 2, 2014
Where:
CenturyLink Field Event Center
800 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle
South Lake Union
901 Fairview Avenue N, Seattle
Free shuttle running continuously between both locations
Hours:
CenturyLink Field Event Center
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 8 pm
Fridays: 11 am – 10 pm
Saturdays: 10 am – 8 pm
Sundays: 10 am – 6 pm*
South Lake Union
Weekdays: 11 a.m. – 5 pm
Weekends: 10 am – 5 pm*
* The show will close at 3pm on Sunday, February 2nd
Tickets:
Adults: $12; Youth (11-17): $5
5-Day BIG Pass$24
Monday – Thursday after 5pm: $8
Kids 10 & under: Free
