Last month in January, we had the opportunity to attend the St. Petersburg Boat Show for the first time, and what an experience it was! As always, we documented our adventure for Boating Journey, and you can look forward to some great yacht tours on our YouTube channel, including a Marquis, a Sunseeker, and a Marlow.
Exploring the Show
We arrived at the show on Friday around noon and spent the afternoon exploring until about 3:30 p.m. One of the standout features of this show is its walkability. At the entrance, we found an impressive display of boats on trailers, including popular brands like Axopar and various tenders.
On the water, the show consisted of around 150 boats, though only about 15 of them were over 65 feet in length. The majority of the vessels on display were center consoles and day boats, making this an ideal show for those in the market for a sleek, fast ride. Among the many impressive center consoles, we took note of stunning models from Intrepid, Mystique, and Valhalla.
The Marlow 53
Scott and I made an appointment to tour the Marlow 53 (see episode for the impromptu tour). This was an impressive yacht with great offshore capabilities.
One of the highlights of the show was our tour of a Marlow yacht. We were absolutely captivated by its craftsmanship, spacious layout, and liveaboard potential. The tour reignited our dream of finding the perfect boat to complete the Great Loop. The search is officially on!
An Unforgettable Evening in St. Pete
After wrapping up our first day at the show, we headed to Stillwater Tavern for dinner. Just as we were finishing our meal, something unexpected happened—St. Pete experienced a complete power outage! The entire downtown core went dark, bringing an abrupt end to our evening.
Day Two: Boats, Exhibitors, and Great Food
Saturday morning started with a hearty breakfast at Cassis—though at $84 for two people, it was definitely one of the pricier breakfasts we’ve had. Fueled and ready for the day, we made our way back to the show.
We spent time walking the docks, reconnecting with my former colleagues at OneWater Yacht Group, and exploring the exhibitor tents. Inside the tents, we found a diverse selection of marine gear and accessories, including paddle boards, life rafts, and boat club memberships. Whether you’re outfitting a new boat or just looking for fun water toys, this area had something for everyone.
After the show, we stumbled upon the St. Pete Farmer’s Market. After checking it out, we walked to the pier and grabbed lunch at Spa Beach Bistro and enjoyed pizza and chicken tenders.
Then we walked all the way to the end and enjoyed a cocktail at Teak, while watching the mini sailboats race. It was funny to see a Tiki Boat motoring by in choppy seas.
We wish we could have spent more time exploring St. Pete. There is so much to see and do. Just outside the entrance of the pier, across from the Stillwater Tavern, you’ll find this old Bombax Tree. It was impressive.
That evening, we enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner at BellaBrava—highly recommended if you’re in the area. To cap off the night, we visited the Dracula Bar, which turned out to be a fantastic experience. If you haven’t been, put it on your list for next time!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never attended the St. Petersburg Boat Show, it’s definitely worth visiting at least once. It’s a well-organized, walkable event with a strong focus on center consoles and day boats. Plus, with St. Pete’s fantastic dining and nightlife, there’s plenty to do beyond the docks.
Stay tuned for our upcoming yacht tours on YouTube, and as always, thanks for following along on our Boating Journey! Please be sure to subscribe to both our YouTube channel and boating blog and follow us on social @boatingjourney.
Cheers, Scott and Ally
