Trawler Fests

All,

There seems to be a number of trawler tests and get togethers out there. What have you been to and which ones are the best?

I'm doing my first one at Joe Wheeler in Oct and looking forward to it.

Here's some of the ones this year:

AGLCA
Spring Ronedvous New Bern, NC April 25th
Fall Rendezvous Wheeler Lake, AL October 13
Loper-Palooza Isle Of Palms Novemer 13
Loper-Palooza Ft Myers, Fl Jan 21

MTOA
Southern Rendezvous St. Augustine, FL April 10
Oyster Festival Cape Charles, VA August 4
Dinner Weekend Longboat Key, FL Sept 8
Trawlerfest Kent Island, MD September 2
Southbounders'
Rendezvous New Bern, NC Oct 24

Passage Maker
TrawlerFest- Stuart, FL Mar 2
TrawlerFest Riviera Beach, FL January 26
TrawlerFest Stevensville Md Sept 28

The Kent Island venue (Bay Bridge Marina) is a decent place. Happens we just spent a few days there with our owners club a couple weekends ago... and it's "local" to us anyway...

I haven't been to a TF for a long time, though. We went to a few years worth when they first began, started by Georgs K-something, late '90s I think. They were good, for a chance to look at the various build quality, models, etc. Our intention wasn't about buying a new trawler at the time; we were more focused on assessing builders and various typical features...

-Chris

When I was boat shopping I attended the Stuart Trawlerfest and the MTOA meeting in Jacksonville FL both were very informative and I got a chance to meet lots of boaters and get information on trawlers and cruising.

We went to Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL with our neighbors last year.... the fever hit hard and now we both own Endeavour Trawler Cats! Learned a lot and it helped narrow down what we wanted to cruise on.

Greetings,
Mr. S. Can't comment on the MTOA or AGLCA events never having attended but we did attend 2 or 3 PMM Trawlerfests. Interesting for meet and greet and seeing some boats and equipment BUT the lectures/presentations/seminars seemed to be very overpriced.

Couple that with the PMM switch from a publication that the "average" owner could relate to, to a magazine for "millionaires" (my impression only) full of paid ads for the newest, best and most expensive gimcracks and gewgaws ended our interest in both the magazine and the events.

I thought Passagemaker dropped Riviera after 2016 for Stuart.

We went to the one in Stuart this year. It was a nice day, crowd was reasonable size and we were able to see a good selection of boats, most of them dreams to us. Was underwhelmed by the vendor booths but that is probably unfair as I grew up going to the Annapolis shows which are a completely different level.

The best things about the show was that after looking at many, many boats without buying one we walked down the dock at Trawlerfest and....there she was. Ended up buying her a week or so later.

Best one is in Ft Pierce, Florida.

21 through 25 February.

Check in with TF member Moonstruck...its free...well until you get roped into something...

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s27/tf-gathering-se-florida-2018-a-32843.html

Probably have more fun and learn more there...

Taught at a couple Trawlerfests, really have to pick and choose events/lectures and who is giving them to make it worthwhile.

Had an aquaintance be asked to speak at an AGLCA get together on choosing a boat for looping, even though he never had.

I've been to TFs in Solomon's, Baltimore and the Bay Bridge. They seem to have gotten smaller as they moved around. All had some interesting boats, especially the ones with private owners.

Solomon's was the prettiest setting. Baltimore had the most things to do other than the show. Bay Bridge was so-so. But, if the weather is good I'll go, for a day outside, some eats & drinks, and to see if there is anything new and interesting.

My next boat will probably be trailerable, so the indoor Baltimore show in the winter is also on my list to go to.

firstbase said:

We went to the one in Stuart this year. It was a nice day, crowd was reasonable size and we were able to see a good selection of boats, most of them dreams to us. Was underwhelmed by the vendor booths but that is probably unfair as I grew up going to the Annapolis shows which are a completely different level.

The best things about the show was that after looking at many, many boats without buying one we walked down the dock at Trawlerfest and....there she was. Ended up buying her a week or so later.

Click to expand...

Was she previously named Siren?