Boat shows see strong sales

The Progressive Insurance Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis closed the winter show season on a high note after a five-day run, drawing nearly 35,000 visitors to the Minneapolis Convention Center at the end of March. Although total attendance was down slightly (2 percent from 2014, at 34,744), the show team has already received positive feedback from boat and accessory exhibitors on both the quality of attendees and reports of strong sales. Meanwhile, although the Southeast U.S. Boat Show in Jacksonville, Fla., saw a “slightly” smaller crowd than in 2014, boat sales were strong. Jimmy Hill, owner of Current Productions in Atlantic Beach, said turnout might have been stronger had local weather forecasts not included rain on what turned out to be a thoroughly sunny weekend.