HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW BUIILDS EXCITEMENT FOR UPCOMING BOATING SEASON

With a range of well-received features including a live mermaid and a series of topical seminars, the 2014 edition of the Halifax International Boat Show was a winner!
 
Reports from many dealers indicate that sales at the show were excellent:
 
“We are thrilled to have sold our Beneteau 34 at the show and are working on numerous quotes with other qualified buyers,” said John Roy of Ocean Yacht Sales Ltd., a long-time exhibitor at the Boat Show. “With 100 local brokerage boats in our stable, our pre-owned activity was awesome. The offers are rolling in and new listings are brisk,” he added.
 
“As a first time exhibitor of Avalon Pontoon Boats we were extremely impressed with the quality of the show,” said Brian Hubley of Hubley Auto, Marine & RV. “The sales and prospects surpassed our expectations, show staff were great to deal with, and we are looking forward to next year!”
 
"This year’s show saw four days of nice weather, combined with good attendance at the show,” said Angus Buchanan of North Sails Atlantic Ltd. “With a wide range of products on display and the spring-like weather on the weekend, people were very upbeat and looking forward to getting back on the water as soon as possible. On Monday morning I spoke to a few of the dealers who conveyed that the show will produce some good sales numbers and that they were very pleased.”
 
Similar sentiments were echoed by Wayne Hoskin of Schooner Cove Marine: “The show was a tremendous start to the 2014 boating season for us and we thank all of our existing customers along with the new customers that we met at the show.” as well as David Trott of Seamasters Services Ltd.: “We were very happy with the outcome of the 2014 Halifax  
International Boat Show. It was a busy and successful weekend for our company and a great kick off to the 2014 boating season!”
 
Patricia Nelder, Executive Director with Atlantic Marine Trades Association, owner of the Halifax International Boat Show, remarked that once again the recreational marine industry of Atlantic Canada transformed Exhibition Park into a welcoming environment for boaters and folks who want to be boaters. “It was great to see long term exhibitors and new exhibitors welcoming the crowds and managing to watch the Canadian Olympic hockey teams at the same time!” she added.
 
Congratulations to Carlton Lunn of Marion Bridge, Cape Breton, winner of a $19,000 prize package including a Glastron GTX 160 fiberglass bow-rider boat, a Mercury 60 horsepower ELPT four stroke motor an a custom-matched Glastron trailer, all courtesy of our generous door prize sponsor, Iron Wind!
 
“We were very excited about being the major door prize sponsor and giving away a sporty Glastron boat package,” said Kathryn Newwell of Iron Wind. “The Halifax International Boat Show has provided a strong start to the boating season and we are looking forward to having fun on the water!”
 
A huge thank you goes to our media partner for the Halifax International Boat Show, Q104. The team from the radio station did a great job promoting the show and doing live broadcasts onsite! We also thank our sponsors Discover  
Boating; Action Car and Truck Accessories; and our stage sponsorCarroll Bridgewater Honda Power House.
 
Congratulations to the winners of our second annual Facebook Photo Contest, where entrants could submit photos via the Halifax International Boat Show Facebook page and fans could vote for their top choices. Thanks to everyone who submitted photographs for the contest! A panel of judges made the ultimate decision on the winning entries, which included:
 
•         First place: Christian O'Neill, with a photo of his pups. Christian won a Jensen Boat Stereo.
•         Second place: Lauren Catherine, with her photo 'Magical'. Lauren won a Helly Hansen inflatable PFD.
•         Third place: Adam Hayden, with his photo ‘Maqtaquac Morning Mist’. Adam won a Helly Hansen inflatable PFD.
•         Honourable Mention went to Hilda MacDonald, with her photo ‘Christina Lynn in the Mist’ as well as Malcolm Mann, with his sky cam picture.
 
The winning photos can be viewed on the Boat Show Facebook page.
 
The wide range of informative seminars were well attended, with topics including boat buying, offshore racing, power boat cruising, navigating with smart phones and tablets, and more. Visitors also enjoyed interacting with Raina the  
Halifax Mermaid as well as the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation’s saltwater touch tank.