July 8, 2025

If there’s anything to be taken away from the geopolitical tumult of the past six months, it’s that the permeability across the US/Canadian border cannot be taken for granted. For 55 years, the Annapolis Boat Shows (held in Maryland every October) have drawn a sizable contingent of Canadian boaters, dealers, and manufacturers. The Annapolis Sailboat Show, especially, serves as the annual reunion between Canadian sailors and their neighbours to the south. Now though, with the policy changes on both sides of the border, everything seems in flux— “seems” being the operative word.

From the salvo of ominous headlines, all that may amount are a few short-lived tariffs and a sense of tacit friction. It’s the latter that has the most worrying implications if left to linger. Trade and travel across the border give manufacturers a bigger customer base to rely on—allowing them to hedge their bets when the trade winds turn. What’s more, there is huge demand for Canadian-built boats in the Mid-Atlantic region. In their first year exhibiting at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, Newfoundland-based builder Coastal Vokey was met with enough enthusiasm from attendees to secure an American distributor.

“We need the Canadian boating industry at our shows,” explained Annapolis Boat Shows general manager Sheila Jones. “Not just as exhibitors, but as business leaders too. More than the proximity to an airport or being in a vibrant downtown instead of a convention center, our unique value proposition is that we offer resilient international B-to-B connections. International exhibitors are an integral part of that.”

Along with the world’s longest international border, Canada and the U.S. share something just as enduring: a deep-rooted passion for boating. The Annapolis Boat Shows showcase that passion. In uncertain times, physical presence carries weight. Beyond the business deals and dockside handshakes, it’s a chance to reinforce the connections that keep this industry afloat. And if nothing else, it’s an excuse to wear shorts in October.

Click here to learn more about the Annapolis Powerboat Show (October 2-5) and the Annapolis Sailboat Show (October 9-12).

https://www.annapolisboatshows.com