twocents

It's never too early to plan ahead -- the 23rd Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show, known as one of the best high performance boat shows in the country, is scheduled for April 11-13, 2014 at Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4. The Havasu show is one week earlier than usual in 2014 because of Easter Sunday that falls on April 20th. In addition to a great boat show, there's a custom hot rod car show, water ski racing and an ICS sanctioned chili cook-off competition on the agenda too. More info and exhibitor applications now available online at http://www.lakehavasuboatshow.com

Orthobam

This is on my bucket list and I'm trying to cross it off in 2014.

What day do most boaters arrive and leave?

What's the best hotel to stay in?

Do most people leave their boats in the water during their stay or take them out every night?

twocents

Most boat show visitors come to town the day before the show opens (Thursday, April 10, 2014) -- if they are staying through Desert Storm, they begin leaving on Sunday, April 27 after the Saturday Shoot-Out. The hotel hub is the Nautical Beachfront Resort (need reservations now or they will be sold-out) but the London Bridge Resort also works well too. Those are the only two hotels that have on-water beach/docks to accommodate leaving a boat in-water. Many visitors also rent houses or condos in the Havasu area which is a nice way to go (sometimes more cost effective). You might also find an available guest slip for rent at the Lake Havasu Marina on the island. If you don't mind commuting by water, Havasu Springs Resort at the southern end of the lake is great, and Pirate Cove Resort and the new Topock 66 Resort to the north are also cool to places to stay at (and they have docks too). The majority of boaters, however, launch and retrieve their boats on a daily basis.

twocents

Want to extend a big thank you to the "Miss Geico" offshore race team for accepting our invitation to come to Arizona and display their boat at the 23rd Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show, April 11-13. I know offshore race fans in the Southwest appreciate the opportunity to see "Miss Geico" in person for the first time. Our 2014 Boat Show is coming together at a record pace. Bulk exhibit space in the main lot is now sold out -- three months before show time -- and vendor booth space availability is getting scarce. Prospective exhibitors not yet signed-up need to act fast. Should be close to twenty different high performance boat brands represented at the show. If you haven't visited Havasu in spring time, there's no better time to do it.