The South Carolina Marine Association and Maritime Events, LLC, a subsidiary of The City Marina Company, have come to an agreement concerning the spring in-water boat shows in Charleston.

 

Maritime Events has purchased the rights to the spring in-water boat show from SCMA for the next five years, beginning in 2008.  Under the agreement, SCMA will refrain from producing an in-water boat show between March and July within a 60-mile radius of the City of Charleston.

 

SCMA has successfully produced the SC In-Water Boat Show for the last seven years.  However, the association realized, with the announcement of Maritime's show, that it would not be in the best interests of SCMA's members or the general boating public to have two boat shows in a two-week time span.

 

Rick Griffin, SCMA's President at the time, and Gene Strader, a member of SCMA's Board of Directors, approached representatives of Maritime to negotiate a resolution.  Newly elected President Bob Pilcher finalized the negotiations Friday with Robbie Freeman and Nick McGinty.

 

The new Charleston In-Water Boat Show, produced by Maritime, will be held April 17-20 at the Bristol Marina and Brittlebank Park on the Ashley River.  

 

SCMA will have a presence at the show to promote our members and programs.  We urge our members and past exhibitors to support the new show and we thank you for your backing of SCMA's efforts.

 

For more information on the boat show, please contact McKenzie Estes at 843-577-7702.  For more information on SCMA, go to www.scmarine.org or call 843-889-9067.