Period Attire to Enhance Your Boat Show Presentation

Period Attire to Enhance Your Boat Show Presentation
by Judy Hills, roving ACBS reporter

It is nice to see ACBS, boat manufacturer, and other boating-related logo shirts worn by owners showing their boats at the boat shows.  But what if you kicked it up a notch or two by wearing attire appropriate to the period of the boat?  The clothing and accessories don’t have to be old—they just have to look period-correct.  Remember we are trying to attract families to this sport we love.  This is one way to get spouses involved and to make our shows more interesting to a wider population.

For example, I am always tickled to see the old-style helmets and goggles being worn by people on the “go-fast” race boats at the ACBS shows.  That is such a seemingly small thing, but it really makes the viewing public feel more like they are back in the day. 

Here are two photos taken at ACBS boat shows:  a bathing beauty and a lady of leisure out for ride.  Many people attend boat shows to take photos.  As a photographer, these two definitely caught my eye.  If you are going to sit in a boat at a boat show, you might as well make it interesting!

Looking for period costumes could be a fun way to spend winter when boating isn’t an option.  In addition to thrift stores, there are online stores selling period costumes.  Here is a link to a couple of sites:  https://www.historicalemporium.com  https://www.candyapplecostumes.com/ (sort by time period) Those of you who sew or who have a seamstress willing to create clothing for you should check out the Old Time Patterns on this website:  https://www.oldtimepatterns.com/  Or if you just want to get funky, check out this site:  https://www.maskworld.com/english/department/boat-party

So give this some thought as you prepare for the ACBS boat shows starting with the Sunnyland show in Tavares March 22-25, 2018.  https://acbs.org/event/2018-sunnyland-boat-festival/

Headline picture above is taken from a vintage sign by   .