SARASOTA – The largest and longest running boat show on Florida’s west coast made its way to the Sarasota waterfront this weekend.
“You can see anything from a jet ski here, to a center console, all the way up to I think our biggest boat is an 82 Viking this year,” said Suncoast Boat Show Sales Director, Dean Fillichio.
The show brought more than 200 boats to the Bayfront.
“We’ve got three tents, three exhibit tents with all the vendors, all the marina accessory products, and then we have our land displays, where all the boats that are on the smaller ends that don’t show as well in the water are out on trailers in the parking lot,” said Fillichio.
Quality Boats had the largest display at the boat show this year
“We’ve got about 22 boats from our three manufacturers that we have here at the show,” said VP of Sales and Marketing of Quality Boats, Chris Spindler.
Spindler says all 22 boats on display provide a wide variety of boats for those attending to see.
“We’re fortunate, this year has been tougher than most to be able to find boats because the demand has been so high and inventory level has been so low, but we’re fortunate that we have from tiara pursuit and regal and they helped get us product here to show,” said Spindler.
Several safety measures were also in place including mask requirements and temperature checks at the entrance
“We have announcements going off every half hour with all the regulations and reminders to be safe as well as the hand sanitizing stations throughout the show as well,” said Fillichio.
Although the boat show was cancelled last year, attendance was steady throughout the weekend
“People want to get out, people want to do something, their sick of sitting inside, this is a 100 percent outdoor event, all of the tents are opened up, so we have seen a strong attendance over the last three days,” said Fillichio.
For more information on the Suncoast Boat Show you can visit their website here.