The 35th annual Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman Expo—January 19th, 20th and 21st, 2018

Are you in the market for a boat?  If so, the 2018 Grand Strand Boat and Sportsman Expo is the place for you to be the weekend of January 19 – 21, 2018.  There will be sixteen boat dealers in the same place—the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Comparison shopping at your fingertips without all the time and expense of travel.  Showcasing their boats will be our local Myrtle Beach area dealers; four dealers from Charleston, South Carolina; and three dealers from Wilmington, North Carolina.

There will be a large variety of boats to choose from—inshore and offshore fishing boats, ski boats, speed boats, pontoon boats, paddle boards and kayaks as well a 36-foot center console boat.  The coordinator of the Expo, Kevin Bennett, says, “We have something for everyone – jon boats to high 30-foot fishing machines.  If you are serious about boating and there’s a boat in your future, there’s no better place to look at the all choices in one location.  There really are deals to be found at the boat show. The boat dealers come up with incentives for the show. They’re trying to start their new year to see where they’re going to be with their sales.” (Gregg Holshouser, Sun News)

According to Bennett, many of the boat models are becoming more family friendly, particularly the center-console type boat.  “A lot of the manufacturers are making them into a hybrid, do-all type boat – fish, ski and cruise. There are some really nice pontoon boats out there right now with some really nice amenities like TVs and slides incorporated into them. That technology follows along with making them more family-friendly,” said Bennett. (Gregg Holshouser, Sun News)

Boating is the featured product at the Myrtle Beach Boat Show 2018, but you will also be able to shop vendors featuring other sports such as hunting, biking, camping and fishing.  To keep the entire family’s interest, there will be Custom Golf Carts, ATV’s, UTV’s and other specialty vehicles.

If you are not in the market for a boat, but you are an avid fisherman or just enjoy fishing during your leisure time, the Grand Strand Expo is also featuring a seminar series.  Many of the speakers will be highly-regarded local captains sharing techniques and secrets on the different types of fishing, net casting and safety.  Below is a schedule of the seminars:

GRAND STRAND EXPO SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Friday

11 a.m.: Boating Basics, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Noon: Kayak Fishing The Low Country, Mike Eady.

1:30 p.m.: Inshore Fishing Carolina Style, Capt. Mike McDonald.

3 p.m.: Techniques for Carolina Kings, Capt. Jason Burton.

4:30 p.m.: Why I Catch More Fish, Capt. Eric Heiden.

Saturday

10:30 a.m.: Kayak Fishing Techniques, Mike Eady.

Noon: Inshore Fishing Carolina Style, Capt. Mike McDonald.

1:30 p.m.: The King Slinger, Capt. Jason Burton.

3 p.m.: Catch More Fish The Inshore Way, Capt. Lin Fore.

4:30 p.m.: My Secrets To Catching More Fish, Capt. Eric Heiden.

Sunday

10:30 a.m.: Safety On The Water/VHF Radios, U.S. Power Squadron.

11:30 a.m.: Know Your Tackle-Catch More Fish, Capt. Eric Heiden.

12:30 p.m.: Fishing The Low Country of S.C., Capt. Lin Fore.

1:30 p.m.: Inshore Fishing Carolina Style, Capt. Mike McDonald.

3 p.m.: The Master Of The Cast Net, Capt. Jason Burton.

Admission:
Seniors: (65 and over) $7.00
Adults: $8.00
Children (under 12): $5.00
Children (under 3): Free