The 44th annual Tampa Boat Show docks September 11-13 at the Tampa Convention Center, offering the largest selection of boats and marine accessories in the Bay Area, on land and in-water, from top manufacturers at the best deals of the year. Jump aboard and join the thousands of boating enthusiasts to view, board and buy everything needed for fun on the water. When not shopping the show, visitors can find a variety of new and popular features, including the new Affordability Pavilion and, back by popular demand, an appearance by the Hillstrand brothers, co-captains and stars of Discovery Channel’s hit show, Deadliest Catch.

“In its 44th year, the Tampa Boat Show continues to provide visitors with the opportunity to experience all the marine industry has to offer,” said Larry Berryman, show manager for the Tampa Boat Show. “Whether you come to view and buy the latest products, or take advantage of the variety of features, this three-day event showcases hundreds of retailers and manufacturers offering the best bargains of the year, plus fun for the entire family.”

In addition to hundreds of boats and a wide selection of the latest marine accessories, visitors to the 2009 Tampa Boat Show can find a variety of special features, including:

Affordability Pavilion (NEW!) – Premiering at this year’s show is the Affordability Pavilion. This featured area will showcase boats for those with smaller budgets, highlighting pricing options and boats that visitors can finance for $250 or less per month.

Pre-Show Shopping (NEW!) – Tampa Boat Show’s newest online offering allows attendees to pre-shop the 2009 show for the greatest deals on the newest boats by visiting TampaBoatShow.com.  Show goers can plan ahead and search boats by brand, model and more, in addition to scheduling dealer appointments.

Deadliest Catch’s Hillstrand Brothers – Back by popular demand! Co-captains and brothers Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, owners of the 113-foot house aft boat Time Bandit, fish the Bering Sea for king and opilio crab. The exploits of the Time Bandit and its crew are featured weekly on the Discovery Channel’s hit show, Deadliest Catch. The Hillstrands will be on hand September 11-12 to meet attendees and sign autographs.

Fishing Seminars - Get tips on the latest fishing techniques and local hot spots from the Bay Area’s best captains and fishing guides. Free hourly seminars covering a wide variety of topics are a must see for fishing enthusiasts. The Fishing Center is located in the far right corner of the exhibit hall.

Free Boat Rides – Experience what it’s like to discover boating with free boat rides offered by Bay Area Watersports, Tampa’s exclusive Mastercraft Dealer. The boat rides are held daily from 1:00–4:00 p.m. (weather permitting) on the Demo Dock. Boat rides are 30 minutes in duration and run from the Tampa Convention Center to Hillsborough Bay.

Live Music on the Foster’s Party Barge – Take a stroll outside and stop by the Foster’s Party Barge for live music and cold drink specials from Foster’s. It’s a great place to meet up with other boaters and enjoy the view. Catch your favorite local musicians perform each afternoon from 4 – 7 p.m. and 2 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Foster’s Party Barge is centrally located on the in-water floating docks.

Miss GEICO – Miss GEICO, the world’s fastest offshore racing boat, is a catamaran poised for performance and can reach upwards of 185 mph. The 40-foot, twin-engine 1,500 turbine-powered offshore racer demolishes records and awes those unfortunate enough to race against her.

Show details include:

When:           Friday through Sunday, September 11 - 13, 2009
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday:  10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where:          Tampa Convention Center
333 South Franklin Street
Tampa, FL 33602

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 August 2009 )