San Diego Sunroad Boat Show opens Jan. 21-24

SAN DIEGO — This year’s San Diego Sunroad Boat Show – Jan. 21-24 – will offer a variety of activities, seminars and entertainment to go along with an impressive in-water display of a range of boats.

The show, held at Sunroad Resort Marina, will feature new and pre-cruised sailboats and motoryachts at the in-water display, marine vendors with the latest nautical products and services, special boating events and boat rides for kids and adults.

In addition the show will expand by 20 percent this year with an in-water display of more than 150 new and pre-cruised vessels ranging in size from 25 to 95 feet in length, many of which will be making their San Diego debut.

Several seminars on a range of topics will be scheduled throughout the show for boat show guests to attend and learn something new. Boaters can learn the ins and outs of visiting Mexico by private boat during a special presentation by the Mexican Tourism Bureau, which will be led by Mexican marina harbormasters who will discuss entry requirements. Boat show guests can also learn more about going green during the seminar “2016: Electrical or Diesel?” where Mike Gunning of electric Yachts of Southern California and First Watch Marine, will discuss power management. David Sell of Integrated Marine Systems will lead a seminar on “New, Low Cost High Speed Internet for your Boat or Yacht.” At the “What is that stuff? It’s SeaDek,” seminar, Nick Ferguson of SC Wake/SeaDek, will provide an installation demo.

Capt. Pat Rains, cruising guide author and yacht delivery skipper, will return with a seminar on “Going down Baja and up to Sea of Cortez,” where attendees will find out all they need to know about planning a cruise to Baja.

The free seminars will be held Saturday and Sunday. Visit bigbayboatshow.com for seminar times.

Boat attendees in the market for a new vessel will want to take a look at this year’s many featured boats, including South Coast Yachts’ new 2016 Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 (GT40). The brand new express yacht features a spacious cockpit, two cabins and is powered by a Volvo HP diesel and features a joystick maneuvering system. The hull is the first to arrive with Air Step II design.

Other boats to be presented in this year’s show will include Sea Ray’s L650 Fly, making its West Coast debut at the show. The L650 Fly tops more than 30 knots and boasts modern styling with Sea Ray’s distinctive heritage with a dynamic edge. Sun Country Marine will have the luxury boat on display in additional to several boat models, including Sea Ray’s 400 Fly, which will also be making its West Coast debut at the show. The 400 Fly features a large salon on the main deck that includes a galley-up and windows; the living room opens to two full-beam staterooms and the yacht offers an optional hydraulic swim platform with self-deploying boarding steps.

The Art Brooks Sea Company will showcase the new 65-foot Johnson, which offers the very latest in marine technology and design utilizing an open floor plan concept. The 2012 Sea Ray 540 Sundancer will also be at the show showing off its palatial Walnut interior, two stateroom layout, a sleek fiberglass hardtop with retractable sunroof, giant cockpit with circular lounge seating and a full wet bar.

Emerald Pacific Yachts will have the 2008 Cruisers Yachts 390 Sport Coupe and the 2005 Sea Ray 48 Sundancer on display.

West Coast Mulithulls will have the Fountaine Pajot catamaran, Hélia 44, on display at the show.

Exhibitors include Bayport Yachts, Cruising Yachts, Inc., Flying Tiger Boats and Northrup and Johnson, Mikelson Yachts, Silver Sea Yachts, Beneteau (South Coast Yachts) and many more.

Show hours are noon-6 p.m. Jan. 21-22; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan 23-24. Admission is $12 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Active military, EMTs, police and fire personnel will be admitted free Jan. 21-22, with I.D.

Sunroad Resort Marina is located at 955 Harbor Island Drive. For more information on the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show call 619-497-5254 or visit bigbayboatshow.com.