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Boat shows are one of the best places to buy a boat. You can see a wide range of models, ask real questions, compare options, and often take advantage of incentives that aren't available later in the season.
That said, we've learned something after years of helping people buy boats at shows: when buyers feel regret after, it's rarely because of the actual boat, it's because of how the decision was made.
These are the two decisions buyers most often wish they'd handled differently, and how to avoid them so a boat show works for you and not against you.
Buying without enough context. Boat shows create momentum - and that's not a bad thing. For many buyers, that energy is exactly what helps move them forward.
Regret tends to show up when that momentum turns into a decision made without fully understanding how the boat will fit long-term. Now how it looks on the show floor, but how it works for your boating style, usage, and ownership expectations.
How to avoid this? Use the boat show to move forward with clarity, not pressure. Before committing, make sure you understand:
1. How you'll realistically use the boat. Quiet cruising, entertaining, watersports, fishing, or a mix?
2. Who will be on board most often. Just you? Family and kids? Friends and colleagues? Pets?
3. Where you will be boating most of the time. Smaller inland lakes, large open water, busy waterways, or all of the above?
4. What ownership looks like after the show ends. Storage, maintenance, trailering, service, and time commitment.
Boat shows are a great place to ask these questions - and the clearer the context, the more confident the decision feels.
Walking away without a plan. Some buyers go to a boat show with good intentions, gather a ton of information, and then leave thinking they'll "figure it out later."
The regret here isn't about missing a deal - it's about losing clarity. Without a next step, details fade, momentum disappears, and the decision becomes harder than it needs to be.
How to avoid this? Even if you're not buying at the show, leave with direction. That could mean:
1. Writing down what stood out. A specific boat type, layout, brand, or feature - anything that made you feel you were closer to finding the one.
2. Scheduling a follow-up conversation or walkthrough with a dealership you found a connection with. When you get home, think about what questions you still have and write them out so you can ask.
Boat shows work best when they lead to a clear next step, whether that's buying now or continuing the process with purpose.
The buyers who feel the most confident long-term are the ones who let the show help them move forward, without rushing or stalling. Boat shows should leave you feeling informed, confident, and excited about what's ahead.
If you want to walk into the show feeling prepared, we've put together a simple guide that explains what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to make the most of your time on the show floor. You can download it here and read it at your own pace, and of course, we're always happy to talk things through one-on-one.
