Mark Your Calendar: Vancouver Boat Show January 22-26

VIBS 2014

Western Canada’s premiere boat show, the Vancouver International Boat Show, rings in 2014 with a new, earlier set of dates. From Wednesday to Sunday, January 22-26, the 52nd annual event kicks off the boating season with more than 250 exhibitors showcasing a huge selection of boats and gear.

Indoors at BC Place and on the docks at Granville Island Maritime Market, show-goers will find hundreds of boats, family-friendly activities, an expanded seminar program and great deals on the latest marine products.

Show features include:
Discover Boating
A wealth of free resources and unbiased experts are available at the Discover Boating Centre to help show visitors navigate their way out on the water. Along with help in finding the perfect boat to fit your lifestyle and budget, you’ll find advice on everything from destinations and new activities to boating courses, safety information, maintenance, docking tips and more.
And you can experience the joys of boating first-hand on free 30-minute power or sailboat rides. Sign up at the Discover Boating tent at the entrance to floating show at Granville Island.

SailFest
A showcase of products, services, destinations and more, all sailing-related. Expanded sailing features inside BC Place include interactive displays, top-of-the-line sailboats and high-performance racing craft. Look for the SailFest flags to locate sailing exhibitors throughout the show.

Sportfishing in BC
This new seminar series is dedicated to everything fishing, from saltwater fishing off the coast of Vancouver and Vancouver Island to freshwater angling in the lakes and rivers of BC. And kids can try their luck at the Catch and Release Trout Pond on the main floor of BC Place (Booth #630)

Free Boating Seminars
Boating experts from around the world educate, inspire and entertain in the show’s always popular seminar series. Sessions cover everything from boating basics and destinations to spellbinding adventures. Find the complete seminar program at www.vancouverboatshow.ca/features/seminars/.

Free shuttle buses and ferries run continuously between BC Place and Granville Island. Show hours: Wednesday and Friday 11 am-9 pm; Thursday 10 am to 7 pm; Saturday 10 am to 9 pm; and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. The floating show closes daily at 5 pm.

Find complete details and purchase discounted tickets online at www.vancouverboatshow.ca

Related Articles


Starcraft SV 16 OB

By Craig Ritchie

Photos by Starcraft Marine

Building great boats has always come down to a mix of art and science, and that’s particularly true when it comes to meeting the biggest challenge of all—creating an appealing yet affordable family runabout. Buyers want a boat that is affordable but not stripped to the bare bones.

Enter Starcraft and its delightful SV 16 OB, an all-new-for-2025 family deck boat that elegantly balances comfort, amenities and affordability.

Read More


Destinations

The Erie Canal – An Extraordinary Waterway

By Mark Stevens

Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens

As I shift our chartered canal boat into neutral, I’m soothed by the soundtrack of bird calls, the occasional plaintive horn of a distant train and the hum of our engine.

I reach for the VHF to radio the lockmaster in charge of Erie Canal’s Lock 32 dead ahead. Our boat spins gently in the current like a maple key in a mud puddle.

“This is Onondaga,” I say. “Headed westbound and requesting passage.”

Read More