2012 Expo Recap
Whether you have been a houseboater your entire life or are in the market for your first boat, the On Water Expo is the place to be. This year the annual event was held the second weekend in June at State Dock on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. There is a reason people travel from as far away as California, New York and Florida to attend. The On Water Expo proved once again that houseboating transcends regions and that this is the perfect event to unite with people who feel the same passion.
Perfect Location
Each year, State Dock (www.statedock.com) rolls out the welcome mat for On Water Expo attendees and exhibitors. Their hospitality helps make the show a success and the lakeside location creates a beautiful background for everyone to have a smokin’ good time. State Dock put together “Houseboat Row,” which is a line of rental houseboats allowing participants to stay directly at the dock. They also provided a live band this year, Caught Red Handed, to entertain well into the night on Saturday.
by Katie Burke
Article from Fall 2012 Houseboat Magazine
Whether you have been a houseboater your entire life or are in the market for your first boat, the On Water Expo is the place to be. This year the annual event was held the second weekend in June at State Dock on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. There is a reason people travel from as far away as California, New York and Florida to attend. The On Water Expo proved once again that houseboating transcends regions and that this is the perfect event to unite with people who feel the same passion.
“The expo really showed us how the industry is moving
forward,” says show producer Greg Larsen. “A lot of qualified buyers traveled a
great distance to see manufacturers, boats and other vendors, which shows us
people are starting to make big purchases again.”
Perfect Location
Each year, State Dock (www.statedock.com) rolls out the welcome mat for On Water Expo attendees and exhibitors. Their hospitality helps make the show a success and the lakeside location creates a beautiful background for everyone to have a smokin’ good time. State Dock put together “Houseboat Row,” which is a line of rental houseboats allowing participants to stay directly at the dock. They also provided a live band this year, Caught Red Handed, to entertain well into the night on Saturday.
Exhibitors
The variety of exhibitors makes the journey worth it. From
houseboats to insurance to food, vendors bring out their best. Stardust,
Sunstar and Thoroughbred all had houseboats on hand for people to tour. Bravada
Yachts and Destination Yachts had representatives available to answer
questions.
“It was a big show for us,” said Thoroughbred President Shawn
Heinen. “We sold three boats the next week from customers we met at the Expo.”
Something new this year was the Runabout Display, complete
with six different companies and their brand-new boats. It was a great chance
for houseboat owners to see what new things are happening in small boats and,
of course, decide which one made the most sense for them to tow behind their
primary love, the houseboat.
Houseboats by Terry, Your New Boat, Houseboat Plus and Elite
Boat Sales brought information on used boats that are available for sale. Checking
out the possibility of a used boat was a great way for attendees to spend their
time.
Fortunate Soul provided DECKadence flooring for the show
boats. This marine and outdoor flooring can withstand the elements, but still
looks and feels good.
The food was a big hit, as always. Two Brothers Grillin’
brought out their line of Cobb grills, John Henry rubs and marinades to wow the
crowd by barbequing free samples all day long. Another new vendor was Dips Plus
More, with a dip cooling system that was a sellout.
Seminars
Part of the Expo fun is learning new things from people who
have spent a lifetime learning the ropes. Jessica Wall, VP of sales and marketing
for Nolan Bio Labs, taught a course on houseboat sanitation. Answering
questions like “Odors- Where do they come from?” and “Why is sanitation important?”
made her a popular stop for attendees.
Houseboat inspector Bill Burke also drew in crowds with his
Seven Deadly Sins of Houseboating presentation. Throughout his lecture, he
focused on errors that he finds during his inspections that can cause
catastrophic damage or loss of life. By showing specific examples of the
mistakes boat owners make, he kept his audience captivated.
Another crowd pleaser was the seminar on utilizing solar
power on your boat, presented by Donn DeVore of Donn's Boat Shop, Inc. After 30
years of experience, DeVore is an industry leader on the installation of solar
power on houseboats and used his knowledge to give an overview, explain the
cost savings and compare grid tied systems versus stand alone systems.
Poker Run
As per usual, the All Hands On Deck Poker Run created
excitement around State Dock. Attendees could buy one hand for $20 or six hands
for $100. James Ware, from Rome
Ga., picked up a six pack and
qualified to play for the grand prize.
And after the cards settled, he walked
away with the grand prize, which was a brand-new Apex Marine Qwest LS 818
Cruiser pontoon with trailer.
He also took fourth place, which garnered him a WaterMat
Shark valued at $1499. Coming in second was Vince DeGrava from Lexington, Tenn.
His second place hand won him a Sportsstuff package. Kelly
King, Lebanon,
Tenn., ended
up taking third place and also received a brand-new Sportsstuff package
including tubes and a helmet. And last,
but certainly not least, Sam Scott from Knoxville,
Tenn., took home a Cobb Pro Grill,
which included a heavy-duty carry bag, grill grid and lifting fork.
Every year, the great thing about the Expo is how the houseboating
community is able to come together and spend time learning, eating and
exploring the advancements in the industry. Plan on heading to State Dock on June
7-9, 2013, so you don’t miss out on this great event. If you are interested in
attending or being a vendor, visit www.houseboatexpo.com or email terri@houseboatexpo.com
for more information.
