The Annapolis Powerboat Show (October 2-5) is coming back to town this fall, and 2025 will usher in the biggest, best boat show yet.
If you hail from Chesapeake country and the boating lifestyle is one you live, there’s a good chance you’ve been to Annapolis for a boat show or two through the years. And if you have, it’s a sure bet you had a great time strolling the docks, sipping Painkillers, and perusing one powerboat after the next. And this year’s Annapolis Powerboat Show holds the promise of more the same—plus some awesome new nautical fun for 2025.
For the first time ever, the U.S. Naval Academy is bringing one of their Yard Patrol (YP) boats to the docks. These fascinating boats trace their roots back to the invasion at Pearl Harbor, when the Navy turned to converting much of the California commercial tuna fishing fleet into small but critical ships of war. Today YP boats are used for training, including at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and for the first time ever one will be moored up at the show and open to the public for inspection.
In another first for the Annapolis Powerboat Show, this year there will be a custom-brewed pilsner to please your palate. Pherm Brewing partnered up with the Annapolis Boat Shows to create the one and only Boat Show Brew. Even better, proceeds from the Boat Show Brew launch party will go to the EYC Foundation’s efforts to promote careers in the marine trades and maritime science. That means you can imbibe in Boat Show Brew and help the Foundation award scholarships to the next generation of Chesapeake Bay stewards and marine professionals at the very same time.
On top of these cool new features the 2025 Powerboat Show, which is already the largest in-water boat show north of the Florida line, promises to be the biggest ever. Since the city of Annapolis is redeveloping the City Dock area and the Harbor Master’s office building has been removed, the show’s footprint has been enlarged for this year. You’ll have more elbow room, and more importantly, over 300 exhibitors and a whopping 400 or so boats are expected to be on display. Check out the list of the new boats at the show and you’ll find that all the buzz about this year’s event has attracted a slew of boatbuilders to introduce their latest offerings here, including over a dozen premiering models.
Along with all these new attractions, this year’s Annapolis Powerboat Show will still offer the boating-centric bonuses you’ve come to expect and enjoy. There’s an extensive slate of free daily seminars with topics ranging from “Light Tackle Jigging for Rockfish in Rocktober” (presented by FishTalk angler in chief Lenny Rudow) to “How to Maintain your Boat so it Keeps Looking Like New” (presented by Christian Buchleitner of Mad Soaps Boat Detailing). Check out the show website to see the full schedule.
As always, a variety of different types of boats and watercraft will also be available for sea trials at the Demo Dock, this time including such unique offerings as an all-electric PWC and a waterjet-propelled diesel power catamaran. And of course, the show aisles and tents will be lined with all the latest in gear, electronics, marine services, and marina displays.
Mark off the dates right now, people: October 2 through October 5. Order your tickets online ahead of time so you don’t have to wait in any lines. Show hours run 10 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit the website to check out the details on things like parking information or to see the Show Map. And most of all, get ready for the best maritime merriment of 2025.
