Jacksonville's biggest indoor boat show this weekend

News

Staff Writer

Like Jacksonville’s signature New Year’s Day college football classic, the Gator Bowl, the Jacksonville Marine Association’s Boat Show was founded just after the end of World War II. The annual event for people looking for their first boat and seasoned skippers alike will celebrate its 63rd anniversary this weekend at the Osborn Center.

The first show was Downtown at the old Armory on Market Street because in those days it was the only building in North Florida large enough to contain the event. Part of the story of the beginning is that the show almost didn’t happen.

In an interview conducted shortly before the 2006 boat show, JMA Past President, the late John Lowe, recalled, “A promoter came to town and started taking deposits from boat dealers to have a boat show. We didn’t have an association at that time. When it came time to go down to the armory, they found out the promoter had left town. He was gone and so was the money. The dealers decided since they were already there, they may as well have a boat show.”

Thus, the Jacksonville Marine Association was born and the organization has presented at least one boat show every year since.

The history of the show follows the history of Downtown development. After a few years the event outgrew the armory and moved to Jacksonville Naval Air Station until 1949 when the Gator Bowl was renovated for the first time. As soon as the Coliseum was finished in 1960, the show got out from under the stadium’s steel girders and moved across the parking lot to the new facility.

The next move for the boat show came when the old Civic Auditorium’s exhibition hall was completed. It remained there until the ribbon was cut to open the Osborn Center. The show has been held at 1000 Water St. ever since.

The location has changed over the years and so has the number and type of boats available. There were only about 20 vessels on display at the inaugural show and the largest outboard you could buy in those days was 25 horsepower. This weekend there will be hundreds of boats and trailers on the floor from 18 regional dealers and booths set up by more than 100 accessory and service vendors.

The concept behind the show has not changed, however. What worked more than 60 years ago still works today.

“Under one roof and in one day you can find any type or size of boat up to about 60 feet. You can equip it with the latest electronics and options, then finance it and even insure it,” said Kenny Sherwood, the show’s manager.

“Since every manufacturer with a dealer in North Florida is represented, you can make side-by-side comparisons between all the brands and features at the show,” said Mark Zeigler, president of Mark Zeigler Yacht Sales and president of the association, who bought his first boat at the JMA’s show in 1984.

He also said that while the marine industry has not been immune from the slow economy, “People will always want to get out on the water and enjoy themselves and we have more opportunities to do that in North Florida than anywhere else.”

The show is open today from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., tomorrow from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for children 16 and under.