Grand Rapids Boat Show

Features & Attractions

PLEASE NOTE:

The following information is from the 2010 Grand Rapids Boat Show.

The HUGE Lagoon

It's back!  The HUGE Lagoon - a 100,000 gallon indoor lagoon!  This major feature of the show will be the venue for wakeboarding stunts, kayaking demos, and two beautiful new boats on display.  No other Boat Show in North America has such an indoor property capable of displaying floating boats of this size and holding real aerial wakeboarding demonstrations with pros being pulled at speeds over 25 mph, hitting the kicker and rails, and wowing the crowd with acrobatic feats.

The Huge Lagoon will be hosted by "HUGE" Bill Simonson of WBBL 107.3 FM

Sponsors include Harbor Master Docks, Action Water Sports, Powers Outdoors

Meet Professional Wakeboarder Parks Bonifay

Parks will be at the show Friday - Sunday at the Action Water Sports Display!

Parks Bonifay set his first world record at the age of 6 months when he became the youngest person to ever don a pair of water skis.  He went on to win the X Games when he was 14 years old and become a five-time champion in the Pro Tour.  Parks is considered by many to be the world's greatest wakeboarding freerider.


Parks Bonifay Documentary

Exclusive viewings of the Parks Bonifay Documentary will be held at the Boat Show!  Presented by Action Water Sports.

It took 27 years, locations all over the world and the last half a decade in production...but the Parks Bonifay Documentary is finally here.  The film chronicles Parks' shaping moments, from taking the X Games by surprise before he was old enough to drive to his more recent exploits in Tahiti.  The story of Parks Bonifay brings both never before seen content and the untold story of the most highly acclaimed athlete in the sport.  Join him for the ride.


Days Times Locations
Wednesday, February 17 7:15PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Thursday, February 18 7:00PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Friday, February 19 7:00PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Saturday, February 20 1:30PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Saturday, February 20 4:30PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Saturday, February 20 7:30PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room
Sunday, February 21 1:30PM Grand Gallery Seminar Room

Meet Professional Wakeboarder Phillip Soven!

Malibu and Liquid Force team rider, Phillip Soven, will be at The Edge's display signing autographs Friday - Sunday!  Soven turned pro at age 11.  He has won virtually every wake contest - World Championships twice, King of Wake and the Pro Tour.  In 2007 he became the first to win the WWA World Series, King of Wake Crown, and the Pro Tour title in the same year.

HO Sports Tube Truckload Sale

HO Sports will inflate every tube they make and offer the BEST values ever at the first "Truckload Sale" at the Boat Show!  Meet the professional designers of the tubes straight from the factory.  HO Sports will also give away a tube a day to some lucky winners!  Listen to WLAV FM for more details.

Antique and Classic Boats

Come and see a unique display of antique and classic boats presented by the Water Wonderland Chapter.  Visit www.wwcacbs.com for more information.

Whiplash

Antique Boat featured in the Antique Boat Display

The Whiplash is a reproduction of the 1920's vintage Gold Cup Racer built by VanDam Woodcraft, Boyne City, MI.  It is 35' long and has twin 476 h.p. gasoline engines.


1935 Old Town Boat

Antique Boat featured in the Antique Boat Display

This 1935 Old Town Boat is 16' and was built by "Old Town Canoe Co."  The outboard motor, a Johnson Seahorse, was purchased new with the boat.  It is a model A75, has 7 1/2 hp, and is from the first year Johnson made a 2 cylinder motor with parallel pistons, rather than opposed.  The trailer was built by the original owner, with the exception of the wheels, tires and lighting.  This boat has only been owned by 2 owners and is one of 3 models of the boat that still exist.


Easy Daisy

Antique Boat featured in the Antique Boat Display

The "Easy Daisy" is a 1950 Chris Craft 19' Racing Runabout named after 2 Golden Retrievers who enjoy going for rides on Torch Lake.  It is hull #260 of 506 racing runabouts made between June 1947 and July 1954.  The boat was completed on Feb. 15, 1950 and shipped by rail to Brady Boat Works in Savannah, Georgia.  The boat has a 158 hp Chris Craft MBL six cylinder engine, which gives the boat a top speed of 44 mph at 3,500 rpm.  In 1950 the recommended list price for a 19' racer was $2,960.

Miss HOPE

Antique Boat Featured in the Antique Boat Display

Miss HOPE is a 1949 20' Chris Craft Custom, built in Algonac, MI and was originally delivered to Three Rivers, MI.  This is a preserved boat, retaining most of the original wood.  It has a 158 hp Chris Craft MBL 6 cylinder engine.


1948 Chris Craft

Antique Boat featured in the Antique Boat Display

Sometimes called the Streamline Sedan, Chris Craft made a total of 436 of these boats from 1948-1954.  This particular boat is hull number 143.  It has the original Spanish cedar hullsides, painted white from the factory as mahogany was in short supply after WWII.  This particular boat was originally from teh Les Chenue Islands of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  It is well preserved with the original bottom, hullsides, decks and cabin top wood. 


Key West Crab Shack

Stop by the Key West Crab Shack and enjoy food from the Amway Chefs and music from Don Middlebook of The Living Soul.  The songs of beach, boat and island lovers will resonate througout DeVos Place from the docks in the Ballroom. 

Don Middlebrook and The Living Soul Performance Schedule:

Thursday:     6:30 - 9:30pm

Friday:           6:30 - 9:30pm

Saturday:      2 - 5pm

Grand City Show Skiers

Waterskiing fanatics from the Grand City Show Skiers will hold demonstrations on beginning instruction and pulling, trick and slalom skiing, and wakeboarding.

Days Times Locations
Friday, February 19 7:30PM HUGE Lagoon
Saturday, February 20 3:00PM HUGE Lagoon
Saturday, February 20 6:00PM HUGE Lagoon
Sunday, February 21 3:00PM HUGE Lagoon

Dive Tank

Explore under the water!  Suit up and get your feet wet in the demonstration Dive Tank brought to you by the Great Lakes Dive Locker.