Central Ontario Boat Show Reports Attendance of 23,887

The Central Ontario Boat Show & Sale is celebrating yet another success. The show ran Family Day Weekend, February 17-20 at the newly renovated Careport Centre in Hamilton.  This year’s show expanded by 25,000 sq.ft .  Overall attendance was 23,887, a drop from 2011’s record gate however crowds were still strong ranking this show as one of the top 5 boat shows in Canada.  Dealers reported to show management that a combined total of 105 boats were sold on the show floor.

The show featured nearly 3 football fields of boats and over 60 different boat brands were represented including the re-introduction of the Canadian made Naden Boats.  Naden Boats co-sponsored the exhibitor breakfast which was open daily 2 hours prior to show.  Show exhibitors were delighted with the opportunity to fuel up and mix and mingle.

Provincial dealer representation was good this year with dealers coming from as far east as Fenelon Falls and Peterborough, as far north as Bracebridge and Temagami, as far west as Chatham, London and Sarnia and as far south as Lake Erie. 

Results from the online surveys conducted by Microspec showed that 74% of respondents had a household income of $75,000 or more.  Over 37% of respondents said they were coming to the show to buy a boat; 54% said they were coming to buy boating accessories and 36% said ‘yes’ when asked if they would be buying a new boat in the next 6 months.

New this year were the COBSS Boating Seminars sponsored by BoatGuideCanada.com.  'Online surveys indicated that 12% of show attendees come for more information on boating and to attend seminars" stated show manager Dwayne McKillop.  "We hosted 19 seminars over the 4 days and 114 people participated in at least one seminar, some people had chartered their show visit around attending a couple of different seminars."

2012 Show Awards were presented to Don Hyde Marine of Hagersville who won Best of the Show, Bay City Marine of Hamilton won Best Bulk Award and Clearwater Boat Service Centre from Stoney Creek won Best Booth Award.

"We are extremely pleased with the show and with the support from the industry" stated McKillop.  “From the consumer end of show surveys, we have been asked by our visitors to provide them with more of 3 main categories a) larger cruisers, b) sailboats, c) canoes/kayaks.  So for 2013 that is exactly what we will be focussing on adding to the show mix.” 

Boat show roots run deep in Hamilton. Last year Continuum Productions, owner of COBSS revitalized the show and brought the first boat show back to Hamilton since 1987.  The Central Ontario Boat Show is now ranked in the top 5 boat shows in Canada nestled in Canada's 7th largest marketplace.

Next year's show is February 15-18 in Hamilton. 2012 show photos are now live on the website www.boatshowandsale.com