SAN DIEGO – When news broke recently that the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) was closing its San Diego office and canceling its 21-year-old winter boat show at the San Diego Convention Center, local boat dealers and small boating businesses were left high and dry.

But this boating-friendly region, where the recreational marine industry contributes more than $200 million annually to the economy, did not have to wait long for a replacement to emerge.

Jim Behun, general manager of Sunroad Resort Marina located at the east end of Harbor Island, recently announced that Sunroad is organizing a new in-the-water boat show to be held at the marina’s docks, with large exhibit tents in the adjacent parking lot to house marine electronics and accessories. Because the show no longer depends on the convention center’s scheduling issues, Sunroad has moved away from the event’s previous timing right after New Year’s.

The 2010 show, called the San Diego Boat Show at Sunroad Marina, will be held Jan. 28-31 on a weekend free of professional football playoffs.

For the full story, see http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-06-28/news/boat-show-signs-on-to-fill-winter-void#ixzz0Jrt9x0AL&C