HARTFORD BOAT SHOW OPENS THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 WITH A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT

The Hartford Boat Show, powered by Evinrude, will dock at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, January 28 through January 31, 2016. Produced by the Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA), the Show will feature over 125 exhibitors and 250 boats and watercraft. The 47th annual event has expanded, and will cover the entire Convention Center.

Safety instruction, fishing seminars, personal craft demonstrations, new weather apps, kid’s activities, and personality appearances will augment the exhibits throughout the show. Several book author appearances are scheduled, including that of author Michael Tougias of The Finest Hours, the book on which the Disney movie is based. And while The Finest Hours movie will open in theaters on January 29, Tougias will be meeting and greeting visitors, and presenting details of the Coast Guard’s most daring rescue at The Hartford Boat Show that day, at 6:00 pm.

Evinrude is the Official Sponsor of the 2016 Hartford Boat Show, The CT Buick GMC Dealers are the Official Vehicle; Helly Hansen, the Official Apparel; and NBC CT the Official Media supporters of the event. Throughout the show, visitors will find the newest boats on the market such as center consoles, fishing boats, luxury cruisers, deck and pontoon boats, sport and ski boats, personal watercraft, inflatables, kayaks, paddle boats and boards in addition to motors, fishing gear, marinas and boatyards, other marine services and boating accessories such as slip rentals, electronics, sanitation, air conditioning, real estate, attire, décor, decking dock building, winter storage and financing.

The Hartford Boat Show will be open Thursday, January 28, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Friday, January 29, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Saturday, January 30, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm; and Sunday, January 31, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Over 12,000 visitors are expected to attend The Hartford Boat Show. Visit www.hartfordboatshow.com for specific event schedule details.

“With the show’s expansion, it truly does reflect the diversity of recreational boating in Connecticut, whether on the sound, lakes or rivers, and the types of products that go into outfitting and servicing all types of boats and watercraft,” says Kathleen Burns, Executive Director, CMTA.

In addition to viewing the expansive fleet assembled and exhibits, visitors will be able to watch on-going demonstrations in the new Paddler’s Paradise Demo Pool; test their skills at the Get Hooked UP: Dish/Frontier Virtual Fishing Tournament, learn about the National Coast Guard Museum’s plans for its proposed new site in New London, play the HBS Movie & Trivia Contest and qualify for drawings. Junior skippers will have the opportunity to contribute to the Monster Mural and meet roving characters such as the Minions, Floatie, SpongeBob, Chewbacca, Chompers & Chew Chew from the Yard Goats. The Hartford Power Squadron and Port Niantic are scheduled to present several helpful safety and maintenance sessions and the Annapolis School of Seamanship will help boaters broaden their skills.

Burns went on to say that “This year’s show really has something for every type of boater in Connecticut, from those who fish in our rivers or enjoy skiing on our lakes, to those who cruise or sail the sound, and even those who want to charter a boat.”

A Boating Career Fair will be held on January 28 from 4:00 pm to 8:00pm. Fifteen exhibitors with open positions, both seasonal and full time, will be available to meet applicants. To register, email name, address, phone and email address to info@hartfordboatshow.com. For those pre-registering for the Career Fair, tickets will be available at Will Call.

In addition to Tougias, several boating and media personalities and authors will be making appearances, including “The Diving Fisherman” author, photographer and videographer Mike Laptew; United States Coast Guard Certified Master Captain and sport fisherman, TJ Karbowski; Blackhawk party boat Captain Greg Dubrule; and authors Paul Krantz (“Riding the Wild Ocean”), Kevin Saulnier (“Bart & The Compass Rose”) Jeremy Pallai (“Fish on the Move”) Lisa Saunders (“Mystic Seafarers Trail”). WTIC personality Ray Dunaway who wakes up Connecticut each morning will be a special guest of Senior Skip’rs Day on January 29, greeting guests and Pam from “Chaz & AJ in The Morning” will be making a “PAM-demonium” appearance during the Boat Row Happy Hour that evening. On Saturday, January 30, NBC CT’s on-air personality, First Alert Meteorologist Kaitlyn McGrath presenting a Weather App Demonstration. Visit www.hartfordboatshow.com for schedule details.

Over 30 new exhibitors have joined the 2016 show, including: Budsin Electric Boats, Blackhall Outfitters, Rex Marine Center, Paddleworks@Harborside Marina, Farmers Insurance and the Boat Locker.

Hartford Boat Show tickets may be purchased at www.hartfordboatshow.com. Pre-show online tickets are $10, a new $18 Dual Day Pass has been introduced which will allow access to the show any two days, and a Senior Skip’rs Day pass for Friday, January 29 for admission 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm is available for those over 60 at $8. During The Boat Show, general admission will be $12, with children under the age of 12 admitted free.