Dock Dogs

NEW for 2009! Big Air Dogs and Extreme Vertical Competitions brings Dog Dogs, the jumping dog performance sport that is growing by leaps and bounds! Canine competitors run down a 40-foot dock into a 40-foot long pool of 4-foot deep water. Dock Dogs is sure to make a big splash at the show!

Location: Hall C1

Power Boat Docking Challenge

NEW for 2009!  Race against the clock to win great prizes in this radio-controlled boat docking game.

Location: Hall B2

Texas Bass Tank

NEW for 2009! A 40' long giant aquarium filled with 5,000 gallons of water and stocked with a variety of native fish. Casting demos/seminars will be presented throughout the day.

Location: Hall C1

Crocs Test Drive

The popular shoes, with their slip-resistant, non-marking soles, will be available Wednesday through Sunday for attendees to try out and wear during their time at the show. Available in a wide array of color and styles, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the pair of shoes they are Test Driving, select a different style to purchase as they leave the show floor, or return the shoes for an online coupon.

Location: Main Lobby

Accessory Center

Staffed with boating experts, the Accessory Center will showcase a variety of the latest marine accessories in the following categories: Electronics & Lighting, Safety & Navigation, Electrical Systems, Sanitation, Maintenance, Anchoring & Docking, Towing & Trailering.

Click here for more details and a list of participating companies »

Location: Hall B2

National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

Bigger & Better!  This historic exhibit will feature a variety of unique fishing memorabilia including: antique lures, rods and reels, vintage outboard motors and the world record muskie mount caught in Lake Chippewa Flowage, WI.

Location: Hall C1

"Go RVing" Information Booth

Visit this information booth to learn about the RVing lifestyle. In addition, get literature and view the "Go RVing" DVD from RVIA to help you get started.  The RV/MH Hall of Fame will be present to answer your questions about RVing and its history.

Location: Hall C1

Discover Boating Center

Your one-stop resource for boating information and advice. Staffed by experts who can answer all your questions and set you on a course to choosing a boat that will give you and your family years of enjoyment, the Discover Boating Center is here to help you become a boater.

Location: Hall B1

First Mate Patch Program

The First Mate Patch Program educates Y-Guides, Campfire Kids, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts on the benefits of outdoor recreation. Surveys conducted by Impulse Research Corporation for the NMMA found that outdoor activities can contribute to children being healthier, both physically and psychologically, and act as a way to increase physical fitness, spirit of team play, optimism and self-confidence.

Y-Guides, Campfire Kids, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as adult leaders, will receive FREE admission to the show if they are in uniform.

The Patch Program begins at the Captain Kids Discovery Point.  Participants will pick up a map and visit 5 various stations throughout the show floors.  At each station, valuable skills and lessons will be taught and the map will be stamped.  After completing the course, return the map to the Captain Kids Discovery Point to receive the First Mate patch and a FREE coupon for one child admission to the Shedd Aquarium.

Location: Hall B2 (start/end point)

Captain Kids Discovery Point

This interactive exhibit encourages children to develop interest in water activities through experience in building model boats, knot tying and boater’s safety. Other features include designated areas to explore and identify different types of boats, ocean literacy, fishing and conservation.

Location: Hall B2

Huck Finn Trout Pond

Catch your limit of fun! Free fishing for children, 12 and younger, at the Huck Finn Trout Pond stocked with the biggest trout east of the Mississippi River.

Location: Hall C1

Bling My Boat

For the 2008 show, the "Bling My Boat" contest, presented by Travelers and sponsored by Bottoms Up Boat Repair, selected one boat that was seaworthy but hardly "see" worthy and gave it a makeover.

Congratulations to the McGovern family from Kankakee, IL -- the lucky winners who are cruising in style this summer!  Click here for more details on the boat and to view the video footage.