Hi gang, Rick here from Used Pontoon Boats with a boat show announcement from Muskegon, MI. Muskegon was introduced to tricked-out trucks in 2007 and this spring it will be ship-shape boats.
The producers of the West Michigan Truck Show last June will roll out a new event this spring -- an in-the-water boat show in downtown Muskegon. The West Michigan Spring Boat Show will be at the Terrace Point Marina/Shoreline Inn & Suites May 2-4.
After a successful truck show that is headed for its second season, Kirksey & Associates of Muskegon is now turning its attention to the boating market. Key West Michigan boat sellers such as Hall's Sport Center and Great Lakes Marina will anchor the inaugural event, according to Kirksey National Sales and Marketing Director Eric Effken.
The Terrace Point location will allow the West Michigan Spring Boat Show to display more than 100 boats in the water and dozens more on land along with parts and accessories. The public can participate through a consignment tent that will be like a "nautical flee market," Effken explained.
"We realized with the truck event that people are excited about Muskegon and are looking for family-friendly events that are easy on the pocketbook," Effken explained about the $5 tickets for the show that will allow children under the age of 12 in free.
"Even with the negative economic news, people continue to have a passion for their recreation," Effken said. "We want to present boating as an in-the-water lifestyle for everyone. It is not just for the wealthy."
The show will feature boats from 12-foot personal watercraft to 60-foot yachts. The boats will be both power and sail and dealers will show off both new and used models. Boat and marine dealers from Traverse City to South Haven are expected to participate in the event, promoters said.
Kirksey officials said they are exploring the possibility of having on-the-water demonstrations and rides available for dealers if insurance liability issues can be overcome. Although a private show for dealers, the Manitou Pontoon Boat Show at the Mona Lake Boat Club last year showed how such events can highlight some of Muskegon's best attributes.
Muskegon Main Street Manager Dan Rinsema-Sybenga said the boat show brings a new group of people into downtown Muskegon.
Kirksey is working with Main Street -- a downtown development program -- to bring the West Michigan Truck Show to a downtown location June 20-21 in conjunction with the second Taste of Muskegon downtown food event. The truck show lost its location with the closing of Great Lakes Downs, which drew more than 10,000 people for the first-year event.
"It's exciting that we are using our downtown waterfront for recreational purposes," Rinsema-Sybenga said. "Part of our plan is to get people to start using the downtown as a place to stop while out on their boats. An event like this showcases what we have."
Kirksey & Associates has built its business on producing national promotional tours for companies such as General Motors Corp. in malls across America. The company has begun working on more regional marketing events like the West Michigan Truck Show.
Effken said that the Muskegon company had worked on events such as the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in Florida and the East-West Shrine Games at Stanford University in California while working for GM's Buick division.
"We think this spring boat show fills a nice niche in the Muskegon market as we did with the truck event," Effken said. "This boat show is coming together real well."
Thanks to Dave Alexander, Muskegon Chronicle.
Used Pontoon Boats, By Rick Ostler
Used Pontoon Boats-North American Waterway
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