By Cynthia Goss
This January, boaters will be able to do more than dream about the days when temperatures turn warm enough to get back on the water again. The Providence Boat Show takes place January 31 to February 2, and the event is an excellent way to break the winter doldrums by searching for boats and gear, learning from experts, and gathering plenty of inspiration for the coming season.
Now in its 21st year, the Providence Boat Show was purchased by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) this fall, and show organizers have brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to this three-day event. This year’s show will include expanded seminar offerings and a mix of special events and exhibitors that reflects the boating diversity found inside the Ocean State and its marine industry. As RIMTA CEO Wendy Mackie says: “We have organized this show with a central mission: to make the Providence show a portal into the wide world of boating found in our region.”
One element that has not changed for this year’s show is the participation of Captain Jack Sprengel of East Coast Charters. Captain Jack will be back, and this year he is bringing a new series of sport fishing seminars that “hardcore anglers and newbies alike can both enjoy,” says Sprengel. “The species covered will range from fish you can catch anywhere—from shore in Rhode Island, to all the way out past the continental shelf.”
Among the sessions in the series are “The Right Way to Handle, Cut and Prepare a Tuna,” with Captain Louis J. Defusco, owner of Hot Reels Sportfishing in Narragansett (R.I.); “South Shore False Albacore Strategies” with Captain David Porreca, owner of Rivers and Riptide in Coventry (R.I.), and “Light Tackle Kayak Fishing” with elite angler Landon Cohen. Among the sessions led by Captain Jack are seminars on “Ultimate Fishing Knots,” which will include hands-on demonstrations, and “Catch More Fish!”
A sea-to-table theme runs through a number of events taking place at the show. Chef Phyllis Affra of Blaze Restaurant East Side in Providence will run a not-to-be-missed session on cooking your catch. Showgoers will also have an opportunity to attend a cooking demonstration with John Kolesar, executive chef at the venerable Ocean House seaside resort in Watch Hill.
“It’s nice to see some new blood behind this show that has become a Rhode Island tradition,” said Captain Jack. “Boating and spending time near the water are a way of life here in the Ocean State. Whether you love to fish, enjoy seafood, walk our beaches, or just need to get your mind off the cold weather, we are working hard to make sure you have a great time.”
This year’s show also includes a second series of seminars on navigation and seamanship. Captain John Martino, founder of the Annapolis (Maryland) School of Seamanship, is coordinating with Rhode Island outfits such as Confident Captain, Safe/Sea, and Captain Frank “Skip” Litterer of Boatwise Marine Training to organize this series. Attend a session on iNavigation, where you will learn how to mix traditional navigation skills with the latest apps for tablets and phones, or try your hand at a VSTEP bridge simulator. This type of simulator, which is used by merchant marine schools around the world in their training programs, is a great way to fine-tune your piloting skills: the simulator gives you a feel for navigating a computer-driven boat in the safety of a landlocked convention hall—before you take the real thing out on the water. In another session, Captain Skip Litterer, a local mariner with a wealth of knowledge, will help showgoers plan their next cruise along the Rhode Island coast.
Two special activity areas have been incorporated into the show’s floorplan, including a show pavilion that will crown the boat show with special attractions such as chef demonstrations, author appearances and interactive events such as a chance to take a spin on a SURFSET board, a total-body surf trainer designed to simulate the physical demands of surfing without the ocean.
A second new area of the show is the H20 Zone, which will showcase a fleet of small watercraft for all levels, along with experts and accompanying video. A joint effort of Zim Sailing and community sailing organizations Sail Newport and the Community Boating Center of Providence, this zone is the main hub for learning about the different ways you can get out on the water—in whatever way suits your skill-level or style.
In Rhode Island, there is no sales tax on boats that are delivered and registered in the state. The no-sales-tax policy also applies to boating services such as mooring and slip fees, winter storage, and refit and repair work (except for the parts and products used in the work). So the Providence show is a perfect place to do your homework and research marinas, service providers, and winter storage options in the state. A large portion of the New England boating public are already wise to this tax advantage, and some 46% of the tenants at slips and moorings in Rhode Island are from out-of-state.
To get the latest on the Providence Boat Show, connect with the show on Facebook or visit www.providenceboatshow.com.
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