30th anniversary Lake Union Boats Afloat Show set for Sept. 12–16

SEATTLE, May 1, 2007 – The Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (www.nwyachtbrokers.com, a regional trade group of over 340 recreational boat brokers and dealers with headquarters in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, announced Tuesday that its 30th anniversary Boats Afloat Show will again take place Sept. 12–16 on South Lake Union in Seattle.

Since being joined in 2005 by the Seattle Boat Show at Shilshole Bay Marina, the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, with a history dating to 1977, has consistently grown in popularity to become the largest on-water boat show on the west coast.

The September show attracts boating enthusiasts to the South Lake Union neighborhood from 17 U.S. states including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Alaska and as far away as Florida as well as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

In 2006, the floating show brought a record 11,214 boating enthusiasts – up 25 percent from the previous year – to view some 350 boats, dine at restaurants, stay at hotels, and shop retail stores located in one of the fastest growing, progressive communities in Seattle. Some 20,000 new jobs and 10,000 new residential units are expected to come to the South Lake Union neighborhood over the next 15 years.

“The Lake Union Boats Afloat Show is an important event for the South Lake Union neighborhood—like Bumbershoot is for lower Queen Anne businesses,” said Duke Moscrip, whose Duke’s Chowder House has been a South Lake Union fixture since 1989. “At a time of the year when summer business is winding down, the Boats Afloat Show brings an infusion of 11,000 enthusiastic consumers into our neighborhood over five days. That’s good business.”

In 2007, the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show will again make use of transportation options such as off-site parking and a shuttle service to help visitors get to and from the South Lake Union neighborhood without adding to congestion. Other options include the return of a water taxi service that delivers show-goers to and from a variety of locations around Lake Union and the new Lake Union Street Car service.

“We’re excited about the enthusiasm for the South Lake Union neighborhood,” said Patrick Kelley, president of the board of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, which has a number of member businesses around the lake. “We see the Boats Afloat Show as the South Lake Union neighborhood’s end-of-summer festival. The Lake Union Boats Afloat Show is an opportunity for businesses and residents in the neighborhood to come together to participate in something uniquely Seattle – the boating lifestyle.”

The 2007 Lake Union Boats Afloat Show is sponsored by Fireman’s Fund Insurance

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About the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association
The Northwest Yacht Brokers Association www.nwyachtbrokers.com is a non-profit marine trade group founded in 1988 consisting of over 340 marine brokers, dealers and other industry professionals representing over 230 marine-related businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Subscribing to the strictest code of ethics, NYBA members are committed to bringing integrity and professionalism to the buying and selling process of new and previously owned pleasure craft. NYBA plays an active role in marine youth and education programs and is active in creating a greater interest in the welfare and safety of the boating public. Along with the Northwest Marine Trade Association, NYBA's January and September Boats Afloat Shows connect thousands of boating enthusiasts with marine professionals and the finest pleasure craft the Northwest has to offer.