Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show Returns With DIY Demos, Workshops

The Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show returns to the Atlantic city Convention Center, 1 Convention Boulevard, with owner-focused workshops and hands-on demos designed for DIY sailors and powerboat owners. Tom Tatum of the Daily Local remarked, “A visit to the Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show, which launches this Wednesday, Feb. 25, should help assuage that landlocked cabin fever,” and the show’s mix of Fred’s Shed workshops and indoor water features makes that promise practical for boat owners looking for maintenance tips and test rides.

Organizers say the show will cover hundreds of boats across roughly 95,000 square feet of Marine Marketplace, with center consoles, pontoons, wake boats, and luxury yachts on display. Visitors can climb aboard display models, sit at the helm, open hatches, and inspect storage on dry land. Discover Boating lists show hours as noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday.

The owner-workshop anchor is Fred’s Shed How-To Center, presented by Progressive, which returns this year with practical maintenance demonstrations and do-it-yourself advice; the official show materials encourage visitors to bring questions and maintenance issues for on-the-spot troubleshooting. The Art of Casting Pond and a series of fishing seminars - including offshore angling and landing striped bass - are scheduled as part of the hands-on programming, and a posted Build-A-Boat activity lets kids construct take-home toy boats.

Interactive on-water experiences at this indoor, dry-land show center on contained water features. Fin-atics Marine Supply of Ocean City will host paddleboard demos in Space P4 with test rides available first-come, first-served to anyone 10 and older; the Daily Local lists Fin-atics demo hours as noon to 7:00 PM Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday. BoatingLessons cautions there are no open-water sea trials at this event; the Indoor Paddle Pool and Space P4 demos are the closest on-water experiences until the in-water power boat show in September.

Seminars, dealer booths, and show-only discounts populate the exhibit floor; BoatingLessons and PhillyVoice note many vendors will offer special pricing. Discover Boating also highlights family features such as the Discover Boating Beach Club with music and drinks, a professional sand sculptor working live, and the Captain’s Table Gala Thursday evening, which benefits the Community Foodbank of New Jersey and Let Us Eat, Please, Inc. The gala requires a separate ticket.

Ticket pricing is reported inconsistently: Discover Boating’s ticket page excerpts list adult admission at $18 with children 12 and under free with a paid adult, while PhillyVoice lists adult tickets at $20 and reports free admission for active and retired military and first responders on opening day with valid ID. Parking rates are queried on the show’s FAQ but not listed in the public excerpts. BoatingLessons recommends weekday afternoons for smaller crowds and advises downloading the show map or app before arriving.

Expect classic-boat eye candy alongside new models: Daily Local mentions a restored 1951 Chris-Craft Holiday and a 1968 Steven Hydroplane powered by an L-88 427 cubic-inch blower engine, described as one of just three survivors of its racing class. Check the show’s official ticket page and published schedule for final seminar times, Fred’s Shed sessions, and any last-minute changes before you go.