JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Boat Show returned to the Prime Osborn Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville this weekend for the event’s 77th year. The North Florida Marine Association, helping to put it on this year, says there were more people this year than any year before.
Part of the reason, the association says, is because of the continually new selection of boats for possible buyers to browse through. Some boats cost as much as $800,000+.
>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
Two boaters at the show, Rebecca and Kyle, who didn’t want to share their last names, spoke with Action News Jax after looking at a boat priced at $799,000, which was at a $90,000 discount.
“This is something I’d have in my dreams,” said Kyle. “I think that’s about three houses,” said Rebecca.
Other boaters like Jim Whited weren’t as impressed by it.
“Why would someone do this?” Whited asked, “You could go to Cuba on that boat, you could fish anywhere you want on that boat. But I think the real question becomes, why?”
Read: 113-year-old Jacksonville baseball stadium gets $10 million makeover
Action News Jax’s Finn Carlin found a number of other boaters looking at separate boats, like Jose Gomez, who was looking for something more his speed but that wouldn’t get him in trouble.
“I’m not here with my wife right now, so she’s scared I might walk out with a boat,” Gomez said.
The show ended Sunday afternoon, but the North Florida Marine Association says getting a boat, when it’s not freezing outside, is something that can be done year-round in northeast Florida, mainly because of the many points along the St. Johns River and beyond to go out on a boat.
Read: I-295 chaos caused by death of 2 motorcyclists, says Florida Highway patrol
“We have so many options, this is the perfect place to put your foot in and become a boater in north Florida,” said Erin Johnson, the administrative director of the association.
The next boat show being hosted by the North Florida Marine Association is the Jacksonville Spring Boat Show, being held at Metropolitan Park on the weekend of April 25.
Read: Drink up: Starbucks offering free refills, bringing back condiment bar Monday
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Sign Up
