Anchors Aweigh! Discover Boating® Norwalk Boat Show Returns to Norwalk Cove Marina September 21-24, 2023

WHAT: The 2023 Discover Boating^® Norwalk Boat Show, inpartnership with Progressive Insurance^®, returns to the Norwalk Cove Marina September 21-24, 2023, with more boats to shop, free boating lessons & rides, paddle sports demos, and tons of nautical activities for the whole family. The Northeast’s favorite fall boating eventprovides four days of waterfront fun and the chance to relax and soak up the end of summer on the beautiful Long Island Sound. 

With more than one million first-time boat buyers taking to the water in the past three years, the Discover Boating^® Norwalk Boat Show is ready to welcome thousands of boaters and local water lovers to discover the newest and best in boating!

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• More boats, more brands, more gear, more fun – See & shop the most comprehensive selection of boat brands and types in the tri-state area this fall, from offshore fishing boats to family cruisers. The boat show is the perfect place to browse, compare and place orders for your first or next boat, plus gear upon the newest boating accessories, marine electronics and on-the-water must-haves from the best brands in the business.
• Tour the Queen of the Show & her Court of Beauties – Boat Show tradition dictates that the largest boat at the show is named the Queen. 2023’s innovations deserve a look at the Queen and her Court.
  • CLB72 – Fusing stunning design with impressive performance, the sleek and modern CLB72 features an outdoor kitchen, flybridge deck, retractable sunroofs, and every available tech & lifestyle amenity.
  • Fairline Squadron 68 – Packed with the latest technologies and made in England, the Fairline Squadron 68 has a gorgeous glass-bridge helm and generous layout for a stylish experience.
  • Grand Banks GB60 – Enjoy lavish amenities and a phenomenally smooth ride on the GB60 – featuring a proprietary V-warp hull inspired by ocean racing yachts.
  • Palm Beach GT60 – The GT60 is a stunning combination of power and beauty, engineered to efficiently perform at high speed, with a chic and airy design perfect for entertaining.
  • Prestige F-Line 590 – With a dynamic design and refined elegance, the Prestige F-Line 590 features a stunning upper deck, powerful new tech and a new mobile app to put yacht life in the palm of your hand.
  • Tiara EX60 – See the Northeast debut of the Tiara EX60, a spectacular 60-foot yacht that combines luxury and adventure at every turn, including hullside terraces that put you even closer to the water. 
• Free paddle sports demos & boat rides at Try It Cove – Kayak and standup paddle your way around the boat show to get a different view of hundreds of boats (ages 10 & up), and take a cruise with free boat rides for all ages! 
• Kids’ fun including Touch Tanks with live tidepool creatures, paddle boating in a mini pool, and toy boat-building workshops. Plus, get ‘hooked’ on the new Claw Game, presented by Progressive®, where show goers can take the helm at a mega claw machine for a chance to win seaworthy prizes.
• New! Super Thursday – Enjoy 50% off regular admission after 4pm.
• New! Say Ciao to Life on the Water with Barone Fini wines – Starting at 4:00pm on Friday, the first 300 ticket holders who enter the show will receive a complimentary glass of Barone Fini wine. Plus, every day of the boat show offers the chance to take your tastebuds on an Italian getaway with the Flight of Fini virtual reality experience or kick back and raise a glass at The Sand Bar Lounge, hosted by Barone Fini Wines.
• Relax waterside witha cool beverage and seaside views at the Water Club Lounge as you enjoy island-inspired Montauk Distilling Co. cocktails and mocktails.
• Classic & Wooden Boat Collection – Step back in time to admire classic and vintage wooden boats dating back 103 years. There will be more than a half-dozen boats on display including a 1920 Edwin Long Cedarstrip and a 2008 Ken Bassett Rascal Gentleman's Racer.
• Sheffield Island Lighthouse Boat Tour – Enjoy a complimentary boat ride out to historic Green’s Ledge Lighthouse on Sheffield Island. During the trip, you’ll hear about local history and folklore, including the origins of the local oyster industry and the maritime heritage of Long Island Sound. Presented by the Norwalk Seaport Association with daily, one-hour trips at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm.
• Free Boater Education
  • On-water Boating Classes – Takethe helm under the instruction of USCG Licensed Captains to gain more confidence on the water and get hands-on education for all levels. Skills covered include boat handling, docking, knots, basic navigation, and weather awareness. Basic Boat Operator, Women at the Wheel and Junior Captains (ages 11-15) classes also available.
  • Fred’s Shed How-to Center—presented by Progressive^® – Tips, tricks, and DIY advice for every boater—from first timers to experienced captains. Have a boat or engine problem you haven’t been able to fix? Stop by and ask our tech expert about it.
  • America’s Boating Club^® Boating Simulator – Get “hands-on” practice in boating skills such as docking, pivot turns, stopping and more using a real Mercury throttle and steering wheel.
• Conservation Village –The Norwalk Boat Show is helping to keep our waters clean through the Conservation Village and its partners, featuring The Clean Earth Project interactive exhibit; Norwalk Says No to Plastic Contest for local elementary and middle schools; and more.

NATIONAL BOATING INDUSTRY FACTS & FIGURES* 

• Recreational boating in the U.S. saw a 35% increase in annual economic activity between 2018 and 2023, leaping from $170 billion to $230 billion.
• An estimated 100 million Americans go boating each year. 
• Ninety-five percent of boats sold in the U.S. are American made. 
• The recreational boating industry supports 812,558 American jobs and 36,101 American businesses. 

CONNECTICUT BOATING BY THE NUMBERS*  

• Recreational boating in Connecticut has a $3.6 Billion dollar economic impact. The industry supports more than 13K jobs and 623 businesses statewide.
• Connecticut Boating Sales totaled $314 Million in 2022 including new powerboats, outboard engines, boat trailers and aftermarket accessories.
•  On average, the Norwalk Boat Show attracts 10,000 visitors annually from the tri-state area.