
When the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show opens at Sunroad Marina at the east end of Harbor Island on Jan. 28 for a four-day run, it will have more than a new venue name. Replacing the annual San Diego Convention Center boat show formerly held in early January, the new show will have a different look and approach. On-land exhibitors will display their wares under canopies and all but small trailerable boats will be at docks in the water. For the first time, brokerage — or used — boats will be shown alongside new boats. The former sponsor, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, barred brokerage boats from past shows because they represent only new boat dealers, said show director Jim Behun, who manages Sunroad Resort Marina and seized the opportunity to move the show to Harbor Island. “This boat show is geared to committed boaters and to people wanting to discover boating,” Behun said. Among the more than 200 exhibitors will be yacht brokers, boatyards and marinas, as well as vendors offering marine electronics, services, equipment and accessories. About 100 boats for sale, both sail and power, will be shown in the water. Other new features include cooking demonstrations by chefs from the adjacent Island Prime Restaurant, more food vendors for show visitors, and seminars on boating safety and other topics, including green boating. The boat show will be at Sunroad Resort Marina, 955 Harbor Island Drive, Jan. 28-31, with show hours 12-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10; free for children 12-under. For more information plus a $2 discount coupon, visit www.bigbayboatshow.com, or call (619) 497-5254. Parking and shuttles are available at the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel.