Boats and Oysters Abound at Downtown Richmond Boat Show

There’s a rainy January weekend on the way, and it’s perfect timing for Virginia’s Downtown Richmond Boat Show, which opens at noon this Friday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N 3rd St. 

This year’s show promises to be twice as large as the 2022 and 2023 shows, with 20 boat dealers and a couple of boatbuilders from Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland exhibiting center consoles, fishing skiffs, runabouts, pontoon boats, deck boats, personal watercraft, ski & surf boats, and duck boats.  Additional exhibits include docks, boatlifts, cleaning supplies and fuel additives, several boat clubs, water sports, towing service, and safety equipment.  

The boat show is open this Friday, January 26 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At over 130,000 square feet, the Downtown Richmond Boat Show is proud of the wide selection of boats on display under one roof.

A who’s who of Virginia dealers are exhibiting top boat brands include Kilmarnock’s Chesapeake Boat Basin, Seaford’s Legasea Marine, Gloucester Point’s North Point Yacht Sales, Deltaville’s Norton Yacht Sales and Brown’s Marine, Friday’s Marine from Glenns, Farnham’s Whelan’s Marina, Bowler’s Wharf’s Garretts Marina, Eltham’s Whitmore Boats, Lillian’s Jett’s Marine, Chesapeake’s Lancet Marine, Richmond’s Southeastern Marine, and Occoquan’s Hoffmaster’s Marina.  You can find boatbuilders like Boston Whaler, Parker, Albemarle, Contender, Pursuit, Jeanneau, Sea Pro, Robalo, Chaparral, Bennington, Grady-White, Key West, Scout, Sea Hunt, Pair Marine, Swan Point, Malibu, Bulls Bay, Carolina Skiff, Pioneer, Tidewater, Coastal Skiff, and Savannah Boats (powered by Mercury, Suzuki, and Yamaha outboards).  Boat clubs are also well-represented at this show, including Freedom Boat Club, Carefree Boat Club, Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, and America’s Boating Club (Richmond Sail & Power Squadron).  Sea Tow will also have an exhibit.

Salty Bottom Blue Oysters of Gwynns Island will have plenty of oysters from their innovative deep-water aquaculture operation available for buying and slurping.  Buy a boat at the show and they’ll give you half a dozen of their best. 

Richmond’s Michael Corman will be playing his piano in the exhibit hall all weekend. Each ticket purchased will be good all weekend if you ask for a VIP return pass as you exit.     

Tickets are $15 for adults and the show offers a $5 off military discount with valid ID. All kids and teens under age 16 get in free.