New York Boat Show: $1.4M Boat Featured, Down to $299 Kayak

The 107th anniversary of the New York Boat Show, one of the largest boat shows in the country, began early Wednesday, and it will remain open until late Sunday, gaining more momentum as the event continues. The boat show is taking place at the Javis Center at 635 West 34th Street and runs from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Admission is $14 for adults and children under 15 get in for free.

Look at what it costs to spend a night at the movies, says show manager Jonathan Pritko. All of our seminars and exhibits are free once you're in.

The boat show features several exhibits and events including appearances from the Discovery Channel's Swamp Brothers on Friday and Saturday, a DIY seminar every hour of each day about how to maintain your boat, fishing tips and lessons, giveaways, and of course, the ultra-popular boat displays.

Everything's changing, says Pritko, describing the rapidly changing technology in boats of all shapes and sizes. The electronics on these boats are insane now. One example he uses is the ability to sync an iPad application with your boats electronics system for navigation purposes. Other boats have grills and bars in them.

It's like you're sitting on your back deck, but you're on water, says Pritko about the influx in pontoon boats, also known as deck boats. He also points out the range of high performance boats and fishing boats at the show.

Basically, we go from the queen of the show--the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer--which is 57 feet overall and just shy of $1.4 million all the way down to a kayak that's $299, says Pritko. He also notes that attendance during the first day is up 10-11% from the year prior. He expects that 40,000-45,000 people will have attended by the end of the week.

For a small taste of the Do-It-Yourself seminar led by a certified marine service technician known as Fred, The Outboard Doctor, that brings more than 50 years of boating experience along to each of the seminars, check out the video below: