New Baltimore, MI
Boats for Sale

Want to inquire about buying a sailboat or a pleasure cruiser? Brokers and sales folks in attendance include Colony Marine Sales, Freeman Eckley, Galati Yacht Sales, Great Lakes Yacht Sales, Gregory Boat Company, Hideaway Yacht Sales, Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, Land's End Yacht Sales, McMachen Boating Center, Orion Marine Center, Platinum Yacht Sales, St. Clair Sailboat Center, St. Clair Yacht Sales, Temptation Yacht Sales, Wilson Marine Corp., among others. "All these boats are beautiful," said John Palmer of New Baltimore, who was joined by his wife, Paulette, for Thursday's opening day. "A lot of them are more than I can afford, but we are looking. You get an idea of what you want and the prices in the fall are good. If you like boats this is the place to be." Looking for products and accessories for the boating lifestyle? Retailers include Aquarius Recreational Products, Avon Sailboats, Decks & Docks, Dockside Canvas, Everdry Waterproofing, KBE Hoist, Kleer-Vu All Retail Services, L&M Marine, Lake Shore Boat Top, Nautical Mile Merchants Association, Sail Michigan, Sun Sport Marine, Thirty-One Gifts, and Lake St. Clair's Tourism Initiative - Circle the Lake Tour, to name a few. And if you're looking for everything in between - food (Luigi's, Crews Inn, Terry's Terrace); the Cruising Outpost Bar beer tent; and folks like the Department of Natural Resources, Boater's Association of Michigan, Great Lakes Kiteboarding, Macomb County Sheriff Marine Division, Macomb Power Sports, Michigan Sea Grant, Save Our South Channel Lights, and U.S. Power Squadrons. Even the more obscure is at the festival, like Bob and Judy Bitchin - colorful sailing personalities from California who travels around the world and publish a lifestyle magazine. "We've sailed the world and people are nicer on the water," said Bob Bitchin, 69, who pointed out Macomb County has the third largest number of registered boaters in the U.S. And there are family amenities like a Kid's Zone; live music (Two Dudes in Flips Flops); and finally, the Queen of the Show - the largest and most expensive boat at the Boating & Outdoors Festival. This year it's a 62-foot Azimut from St. Clair Yacht Sales in Detroit with a price tag of $1.395 million.