Marina Sponsor
The Bristol Marina, is downtown Charleston's newest marina, offering convenience to all areas of the city and waterway.
Soundings, a magazine for pleasure boat owners and those interested in the marine environment. Features analyze business and legislative decisions and their impact on boating and general water recreation.
Tideline is Charleston's Premier Maritime Publication offering a variety of articles on Wind, Water, Salt and Sand.
The Charleston Angler is Charleston's premier saltwater fishing and fly fishing tackle shop, with three locations serving the Lowcountry.
OtherBrother Entertainment is a Southeastern agency located in Charleston, SC. Representing a wide variety of artists makes OtherBrother the premier choice for special event entertainment.
Thank you to Pearlstine Distributors, Inc. for their support by making Bud Select the Official Beer of the Charleston In-Water Boat Show.
Proximity - Where is Charleston?
Conveniently located between New York City and Fort Lauderdale, Charleston’s coastal location and world class marine facilities makes it one of the country’s most popular boating destinations. Charleston County offers over 2,500 wet slips and 2,000 dry slips for area boaters and visitors alike. Also, Charleston is less than a two hour drive from South Carolina’s 7,000 plus coastal county slips, as well as the Georgia and North Carolina borders. The city’s easy accessibility makes Charleston both a strong regional and national choice.
Total Registered boats in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia*:
15’ - 24’ Outboard: 494,119
15’ - 34’ Stern/Inboard: 155,465
25’+ Outboard: 19,042
35’+ Cruisers/Yachts: 4,830
35’+ Inboard Sportfish: 970
15’+ Sailboats: 20,800
*Statistics provided by Info-Link Technologies, Inc.
Drawing Power - What attracts boat owners to Charleston?
Charleston is a top North American destination that hosts millions of visitors each year. For individuals traveling to make a purchase decision, Charleston offers something for the whole family. A few of Charleston’s 2007 accolades include:
- Motorboating Magazine’s #2 “Port for Recreational Boaters”.
- Only city honored in the TODAY Show’s “America the Beautiful” top ten list.
- Southern Living’s “Favorite City” and “Best Shopping” destination.
- Named a “Top Food Destination” by Travelocity.com.
- Conde Nast Traveler’s #3 “Top Travel Destination in the U.S.”
- Travel + Leisure’s #6 “Best City in the U.S. and Canada”.
The Facility - Is there show space amidst the history, culture and charm?
The answer is yes. Charleston’s Brittlebank Park offers boats for sale on 10 acres of land connected to over 180 boat slips at The Bristol Marina. Parking is next door at the Charleston RiverDogs’ Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park (Minor League Baseball) and the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) commuter lot. There are also 25 hotels within a two mile radius of the show for out-of-town guests.
Show Layout
The Charleston In-Water Boat Show’s festival style layout holds the attention of potential boat buyers and offers exhibitors more qualified leads. Show visitors can visit exhibits in the order and fashion of their choice resulting in a comfortable flow and increased visitation time.
Show Management
The Charleston In-Water Boat Show is operated by Maritime Events, LLC, an affiliate of The City Marina Company, and features a full-time staff dedicated to show achievement. Maritime Events currently manages the annual HMY-Viking MegaDock Billfishing Tournament and the Sailfish Slam Billfishing Tournament, and has a proven track record of success and charitable giving. As an industry leader in South Carolina, The City Marina Company’s other affiliates include the Charleston City Marina, The Bristol Marina, The City Boatyard, and Marine Fuels at The Harborage at Ashley Marina.
Marketing
The Charleston In-Water Boat Show’s marketing schedule reaches 100% of the Charleston County Market and is highly targeted at boat owners throughout the East Coast. A researched mix of print, outdoor, direct mail, online, radio, and TV advertising will deliver a large and qualified number of attendees.
A Boating Lifestyle Event
Boats and accessories for sale combined with location, attendees, and local amenities makes the Charleston In-Water Boat Show the Southeast’s “Boating Lifestyle Event”. The show is designed to maintain boat buying interest throughout the weekend by offering premium new boats and accessories, special events, the Lowcountry Cuisine Dining Area, local entertainment, hospitality areas, and official after parties each night. It is the place for boat owners and potential owners to see and be seen.
Pre-Show Support
Boat Show inventory and layout is updated daily at www.charlestonspringboatshow.com beginning on March 1. Updates are communicated via email and advertised in conjunction with the show. This gives buyers an opportunity to research vessels prior to the show to expedite the purchase decision.
Show Times
Thursday, April 17, 2008: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Friday, April 18, 2008: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday, April 19, 2008: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday, April 20, 2008: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Exhibitor Information
Please call (843) 278-4920 to request an exhibitor packet or visit www.charlestonspringboatshow.com to download information.
