FIND OUT HOW YOUR VISIT TO THE PROGRESSIVE CLEVELAND BOAT SHOW COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING — STARTING WITH YOUR SUMMER PLANS.
JANUARY 15-18, 2026
IX-CENTER • CLEVELAND • CLEVELANDBOATSHOW.COM
Memories are made on the water.
Discover your next family adventure. OnTheWaterOhio.org/stories
BOAT SHOW
COVER & THIS PAGE: COURTESY OMTA
DEAR CLEVELAND MAGAZINE READERS, EVERY JANUARY, AS THE SNOW GATHERS OUTSIDE, something magical happens inside Cleveland’s I-X Center. Families and friends step into a world of shimmering hulls and endless possibilities. For 69 years, the Progressive Cleveland Boat Show has been more than a showcase of boats — it has been a celebration of our shared connection to the water and to one another. This year carries a touch of nostalgia, marking our final voyage through the I-X Center. Countless memories have been made here, from children discovering their first captain’s hat to families taking the leap and saying, “Let’s buy the boat.” While this may be the last show in this familiar harbor, it is far from the end of our story. The show will go on, one way or another, because boating endures. The water calls, and Ohio answers. Boating is for everyone. Whether you grew up with it or are stepping aboard for the first time, the boat show is your invitation to dream, explore and imagine what life could look like with more sunshine, laughter and time spent together. Board the boats, meet the people and discover the joy that comes when you drop your anchor.
We’ll see you at the show, where memories are made and new adventures begin. MICHELLE BURKE, PRESIDENT Ohio Marine Trades Association
SHOW AT A GLANCE
JAN. 15-18, 2026 I-X Center | 1 I-X Center Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 HOURS: THURS., JAN. 15 – Noon–9 p.m. FRI., JAN. 16 – 10 a.m.–9 p.m. SAT., JAN. 17 – 10 a.m.–9 p.m. SUN., JAN. 18 – 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
AT THE DOOR: General Admission: $20 Senior and Military Discount Tickets: $15 Children 7 and Under: Free
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES: Family 4-Pack: $60 Purchase tickets online at CLEVELANDBOATSHOW.COM. Tickets are also available to purchase at the I-X Center box office during show hours.
COUPE In Stock
What ‘thinking of everything’ looks like
Ohio’s official dealer 573-434-6320 vermilionmarina.net CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM
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ANCHORS
AWEIGH!
We share some tried-and-true fan favorite exhibits and tips on what not to miss this year at the Progressive Cleveland Boat Show. STORIES BY RUTH CORRADI BEACH When an event takes place for 69 years, it’s clear that visitors are finding a lot to love and a lot to come back for. If this is your first visit to the Cleveland Boat Show, here’s an overview of what you’ve got to look forward to. And if you’ve attended the Boat Show year after year (and you’re in great company!), here’s a round-up of tried-and-true fan favorites that keep you — and so many others — coming back.
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notes that the Buy the Boat Lounge is “designed to feel comfortable, like visiting your best friend and talking boats.” PORTS OF CALL While cruising through the show, be sure to stop and enjoy the can’t-miss experiences that await you at every turn. The Shores & Islands Main Stage offers live music every day, including crowd favorites Chad Hoffman and Island Doctor. The Vic’s Sports Center’s Berkley Tank and Toyota Tundra’s Fishing Stage will
COURTESY OMTA
A FAMILIAR HARBOR The Buy the Boat Lounge will be front and center this year, located much closer to the show’s entrance. It’s the ideal place to start (or continue) your search for the boat that’s perfect for you. Here, you’ll find knowledge and answers from boat owners and retailers while getting inspired by the boating lifestyle. The lounge sets the tone for the whole Boat Show vibe — a friendly, laid-back place to get tons of trustworthy boating lifestyle information. Michelle Burke, president of the Ohio Marine Trades Association,
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offer information about kayak fishing on Lake Erie, Q&As with boat captains and fishing demonstrations. And On the Water Ohio’s paddling pool and paddling center offer the chance to try a kayak (yes, in the water!) as well as attend presentations on kayak safety and rescues. Be sure the kids know that Canines in the Clouds, a canine diving act, will premiere at the Boat Show this year.
COURTESY OMTA
TREASURE MAP The Boat Show’s legendary vendor lineup is “diverse and exciting,” Burke says. “You will find everything from top-of-the-line marine electronics and fishing gear to beautifully crafted accessories and apparel that reflect the boating lifestyle.” Again this year, Paddle North will bring a variety of inflatables for the boat, including docks and kayaks. There are fun accessories, clothing and flags, along with snacks and treats as well as fishing tackle and even goose control. And, of course, fan favorite Beagle Bay Knot Works will be back with knot-tying demonstrations and a wide variety of nautical products. THE LORE OF THE SEA “As always,” Burke assures, “we are proud to offer a full slate of educational programming again this year. Our seminars cover everything from beginner boating tips to navigation and docking.” Most of these are hands-on activities. DIY workshops offer experience with maintenance and upgrades, including outboard tune-up and diagnostics.
For anyone considering a career in the industry, the Boat Show is the place to meet experts and learn more about everything the field has to offer, including job openings. You can attend presentations on boat buying and take advantage of the many opportunities to “ask the captain” any questions you have. As for staying safe on and around the water, “our safety demonstrations, including life jacket fittings and emergency preparedness, are led by experts committed to making boating both fun and safe,” says Burke. ANCHORS DOWN And what would a Boat Show be without boats? The Cleveland Boat Show is a boat-buyer’s dream. The sheer number of vendors means that customers can compare types of boats and boat accessories. And, says Bob Armington, “If you’re buying at the Boat Show, you’re getting the best deal of the season. It’s common knowledge.” Armington is president of Buckeye Sports Center and has been selling boats and accessories and offering years of knowledge at the show for decades. The Boat Show’s big deals can, in large part, be attributed to sheer volume. “It’s definitely consumer driven,” says Armington. “The manufacturers and dealers both know that this is a scenario where they are literally 20 feet away from their competition and need to put their best foot forward. It’s an aggressive mindset. They don’t want to get beat by the dealer or manufacturer across the aisle. [At other times] customers may visit two or three dealers, but here there are 20 or 30. It’s definitely a buyers’ market at the Boat Show.” CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM
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ANCHORS UP,
Boating is an outstanding way to involve the entire family
PHONES DOWN
in a lifelong activity.
Find out how boating can bring families together and build lifelong bonds. It’s a truism in our culture: Kids spend too much time on their phones. What’s less obvious is how families can fill that time. Sports and hobbies are good contenders, but often, those activities don’t involve parents, let alone siblings. It’s easy to see how boating can literally separate kids from their phones (leave it on the dock!), but boating is also an activity that actively brings families together. In fact, in boating families, kids spend more time per week with their parents than do nonboaters. And perhaps proving that it’s about more than just having everyone physically out on the water together, this is true even during winter months.
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18332 Bagley Road 18332Heights, Bagley Road 18332 Bagley Road Middleburg Ohio 44130 18332 Bagley Road Middleburg Heights, Ohio Middleburg Heights, Ohio44130 44130 440-826-9900 Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 440-826-9900 440-826-9900 Hours Hours
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FIND OUT HOW YOUR VISIT TO THE PROGRESSIVE CLEVELAND BOAT SHOW COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING — STARTING WITH YOUR SUMMER PLANS.
JANUARY 15-18, 2026
IX-CENTER • CLEVELAND • CLEVELANDBOATSHOW.COM
COURTESY TOM MACK / OMTA
BOAT SHOW Tom Mack, founder/former owner of South Shore Marine, has exhibited at boat shows for several decades. He’s also part of a boating family, so he knows first-hand that boating is an outstanding way to involve the entire family in a lifelong activity. “Instead of sending people in different directions, like about 90% of other family activities [do], the boat is going to be the hub of what the family wants to do,” says Mack, who owns Yachts Inc. “It’s going to be a magnet bringing everybody to the same place.” And that pull continues even after they’re grown, Mack has found. “As your kids grow up, that’s what keeps them coming back. Let’s say you have a daughter and she marries a guy whose family’s got a waterfront cottage and your family’s got a house in suburbia. Guess where they’re going to spend their time?” Mack knows this from experience. “I feel so darn lucky as a family with a boating lifestyle
because, I hate to say it, but we kind of monopolize how our kids and their friends choose to spend time.” KID FRIENDLY You can get a taste of how the whole family can enjoy boating by spending a day at the Boat Show. The Kids’ Discovery Zone offers all kinds of activities for families, including the main showpiece, an interactive boat exhibit and fisherman’s shanty. Families can “sail” high-performance sailing simulators and pretend to fish, as well as learn knot-tying and water safety. It’s a great way to introduce the family to the myriad skills and experiences boating offers. Mack has advice for anyone looking for ways to entertain the whole family and make priceless memories together: “I think if you love your family and you want to see a lot more of them, figure out what it is that brings them all to one place.”
Love Lake Erie? Help Protect What You Love. Your support keeps our lake clean, healthy, and thriving for generations of boaters, anglers, and families. Help LEF keep Lake Erie safe for the next generation of boaters.
Lake Erie gives us world-class fishing, unforgettable summers, and a lakefront lifestyle that defines Northern Ohio. But harmful algal blooms, rising nutrient pollution, and shoreline erosion threaten the lake we all depend on. Lake Erie Foundation is solely focused on solving unique challenges Lake Erie faces and restoring the lake through advocacy, science-driven solutions, and community action. If you enjoy Lake Erie, you can help safeguard it.
Join. Donate. Get Involved. Every dollar helps reduce nutrient pollution, support lake-saving research, and keep our waters safe for recreation. LakeErieFoundation.org
CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM
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BOAT SHOW
“Boating is for everyone, and it can be more accessible than people think.” — Michelle Burke
THEY BOUGHT
THE BOAT
Check out the stories of two people who took the plunge, bought the boat and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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water — it’s freedom from everyday life,” he says. “There’s so much running around with school schedules and everything that life is, but when we’re out there, we’re just there as a family.” There’s also the experience of getting to know the lake. “We live in the shadow of this natural wonder, and I think it’s truly astonishing how little of a connection so many people have with the water — until you’re on it. That’s something that boating has the power to change.” Instead of regretting the number of years it took him to finally buy the boat, Taseff is focused on what having that boat does for his family. “It’s been such an amazing first summer of memories with the boys out on the water,” he enthuses. “I hope those moments become some of their greatest memories of us as a family and then something we
COURTESY ADAM TASEFF
For the past six years, Adam Taseff has spent a lot of time at the Boat Show, even though he didn’t have a boat. Taseff is a partner at Lewis Eldred, a full-service creative events agency that helps produce the Boat Show and other OMTA activities, which “kind of forced me to be around the industry,” he says. Year after year, he admired the same boat. Finally, at the 2025 boat show, Taseff bought the boat — a Yamaha 25-foot jet boat. “It was kind of a game-changer after that for our family,” he says. Taseff and his wife, Holly, have two sons, 5 and 9, who especially enjoy tubing behind the boat and jumping off the inflatable “island” surface that attaches to it. As Taseff sees it, the idea of getting away from everyday life is a big part of what changed the game. “It’s the ability to kind of leave everything at home, to pull away from the dock, to get out on the
COURTESY ADAM TASEFF
BOAT SHOW can continue to share and grow together as they get older. It’s something you can really do as a family, and there’s no hard stop to it. It’s something you can build over a lifetime.” Michelle Burke, OMTA’s president, has a boating backstory that’s somewhat the opposite of Taseff’s. Rather than spending lots of time around boats before owning one, Burke bought one and then fell in love with the boating lifestyle. “I did not grow up boating,” she says. “In fact, I truly believed boating was only for wealthy people and something reserved for those with second homes or yachts. But that is simply not true. Boating is for everyone, and it can be more accessible than people think.” Burke is a passionate advocate for recreational boating and the joy it can bring to people’s lives. “We need to create the opportunities, the access points and the experiences that get people on [our] beautiful waterways, because once you are out there, it changes you,” she says. “There is nothing quite like it.”
“It’s the ability to kind of leave everything at home, to pull away from the dock, to get out on the water — it’s freedom from everyday life.” — Adam Taseff
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©2025 Six Flags Entertainment Corporation CP-25-0256
CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM
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in technology, boater shopping habits have noticeably changed in the last few years.
WHAT’S
NEXT? The Boat Show has changed a lot over the years. Tom Mack, who has exhibited at dozens of them, explains: “If you go back to the early years, it was really simple — here’s a bunch of boats and here’s a bunch of boat dealers … It was pretty straightforward.” The show is now an event people look forward to as a midwinter reminder of the upcoming boating season — a kickoff party, if you will. “What Michelle [Burke] has done, and I think it’s brilliant, is she has figured out that there’s so much more than just the boat. It’s the whole boating lifestyle. She’s created a fun environment with a positive vibe — just a fun place to go with something there for everybody. If your kids are distracted … there’s literally a green space with fake grass and cornhole.” The show is a destination in itself, Mack says. In his years as an exhibitor, he’s seen people who want to buy a boat in a private setting, and he’s seen some who turn boatbuying into a social event, offering another aspect to the Boat Show that’s changed: “Some people are really happy to transact in public with their friends having a cocktail around them,” Mack says. “It’s totally a sport, watching your friends [buy the boat].” Bob Armington agrees that things have changed — something he’s observed over more than 25 years of exhibiting. Like Mack, he notes the entertaining atmosphere: “Michelle [Burke] does a great 10 BOAT
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Experts share what’s in store for the future of boating while reflecting fondly on the past.
job getting other things going on, getting entertainment. It’s always been done to some extent, but even more so now. If you’re not going to get a boat, you can still go and have a good time.” Armington notes that shopping habits have changed, too, and much of that is due to technology. “Twenty-five years ago, customers might have had an idea [of what they were looking for], but now they’ve got it narrowed down to a couple boats. They have a better idea what they’re buying before they walk through that door. Customers are more educated now, more savvy due to the resources available to them compared to years ago.” As for the future of onboard technology, Armington explains, “I’m most excited about what seems to be more and more prevalent every year — docking mechanisms to assist with low-speed docking. They’ve been on yachts and cruise ships forever, but they’re now coming down to price points that are more manageable.” He’s referring to a mechanism (often a joystick or tab on the steering wheel) that allows a boater to maneuver into a busy marina or dock, much like parallel parking a car. “For a lot of customers, even seasoned boaters, it’s a little intimidating to pull up to a busy marina, or if there are winds. I’ll bet we sell 30 to 40 boats a year with that technology. Five years ago, it was two.”
ELECTRIC BOATS ARE HERE!
This year, for the first time, Jeremiah Swetel’s Riverfront Marine Sales and Service will be bringing electric boats to the Boat Show along with the sailboats they traditionally bring. The dealership became a dealer for X Shore Electric Boats, a company from Sweden that started its production line in 2021. “You’re not going to cross the Atlantic with an electric boat, because range will become an issue, but for most recreational boaters out there for a day ride, they’ve got plenty of range,” he says. These boats are entirely electric, requiring only a standard shore power post to recharge (they will charge even faster with DC fast charging, which electric cars use, but that technology is not as widespread in the marine sector yet). Powering from the shore power post happens with the boat in the water, because fresh water is cycled through the cooling system as the battery recharges. Electric boats appeal to environmentally conscious boaters, just like electric cars do. “Also, people who don’t like the smell of gasoline outboards or the risk to water quality. And then there’s no maintenance,” Swetel explains. “You’re not changing oil ... Because it’s an electric drive, there’s nothing there to service.” Electric boats are comparable to their gas-powered counterparts when you factor in the maintenance cost. “They’re a little bit more expensive, but in that same ballpark,” Swetel says. “Within 10%, depending on what you get on it.” In addition, Taiga electric jet skis will be available at this year’s show.
C O U R T E S Y B U C K E Y E S P O R T S C E N T E R / J E R E M I A H S W E T E L : R I V E R F R O N T M A R I N E S A L E S A N D S E R V I C E / C o py r i g ht 2 0 2 6 by G re at La ke s Pu blish in g . N o par t o f th is pu bl ic a tio n m ay be re pro du ce d by any m e an s w it ho ut p e r m i s s i o n o f G re a t La ke s Pu b l i s hi ng . A l l r i g ht s re s e r ve d . O M TA O n t he Wa t e r O hi o a nd t he pu blish e r are no t res po ns ible f o r er ro rs o r o m is s io n s . A ll i nf or ma tio n is s u bjec t to ch a nge .
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CLEVELAND
Discover your next adventure.
JANUARY 15-18
I-X Center Cleveland
ClevelandBoatShow.com