If you’ve never been to the Chicago Boat, RV and Sail Show in January, or even if you have, we’ve got an insider’s guide to why you should go and what you should see.

The Details

The 2020 Chicago Boat Show is January 8-12 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The show goes from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday. Tickets for this year’s show go on sale in November.

The show has every type of boat and RV for every lifestyle, activity and budget. It’s five days of everything you could think of for boating.

The Basics

The Chicago Boat Show is one of the largest indoor shows in the world. There are manufacturers and dealers from around the Midwest offering every type of recreational boats from runabouts to big cruisers.

“It’s a great spot to look at all of the manufacturers, new innovation, and new models, and get an all-around feel of the boating lifestyle,” Gage Sales Manager Max Gordon said.

The dealers and manufacturers at the show will help guide you in finding the right boat for you and your family.

“Whether you’re just getting into boating or you’re an experienced boater, it’s the perfect time of year to prep yourself for the upcoming season,” Gordon said.

If you’re not 100 percent ready to buy a boat yet, the boat show is also a great place to visit with friends and look at some impressive pieces of floating art.

“The cool thing about the Chicago Boat Show is you can literally spend the entire day seeing something different and new, and you will not get bored,” Gordon said.

Lake Life Begins with Gage, even at the boat show

When you get to the boat show, your first stop should be at the Gage Marine booth. Not only will our knowledgeable and personable staff be there to help answer all of your questions, but we’ll also have boat options for every type of family.

“Whether you’re just getting into boating, you’re water spots oriented, like to cocktail cruise or need a utility boat – we have a boat that fits every segment in the boating industry,” Gordon said. “We’ll show you why your Lake Life should Begin with Gage!”

Gage is also unique from other dealers at the boat show because our Gage family of businesses truly offers something for everyone. Our Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers partial and full lake tours on Lake Geneva for the public, including the iconic US Mailboat Tour with our Mailboat Jumpers; Ice Cream Socials; Lunch, Dinner and Brunch cruises; and Cocktail Cruises. Cruise Line also offers private cruises for small intimate groups or larger events, corporate outings and weddings. Gage also has Lake Geneva’s only lakeside restaurant, Pier 290 — serving a casual American menu. Guests can come by car, boat or lake shore path for a meal with one of the best views in town. Gage really does have something for everyone!

4 Secrets of the Boat Show

Ok, so you made it to the boat show, but what’s next? Here are some of Max Gordon’s secrets of the show:

1. The most important tip we can share is for attendees to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take off and put on. Guests can step on board many of the boats on display, but not with your shoes on.
2. Families looking to get into as many boats as possible while they’re boat shopping should go during the week because it’s much less busy. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, we suggest attending on Wednesday or Thursday as they are traditionally the slower days.
3. Water sports enthusiasts should keep an eye out for their favorite athlete. A lot of pro skiers and wakeboarders come to the show and are always willing to take pictures and sign autographs.
4. If you’ve ever been to Chicago, you know that parking can be a challenge at times. The Uber process at McCormick Place makes getting there and leaving very simple. Going to and from the Ogilvie train station, you can expect to spend around $15 each way.

If you’re ready to head to Chicago in January, give us a call to talk about options ahead of time and how we can get you to the boat show.