Boat show on deck in Newport

The Newport Boat Show has always been the place where yacht sellers from across the region come to show off their biggest, best and shiniest boats. Some show-goers come prepared to make a deal while others just want to indulge in an expensive daydream or two.

Show organizers expect an all-time record of about 350 vessels at this season’s show, which kicks off today at Lido Marina Village.

“Some people are looking to buy, others are looking to kill time,” said Bill Barrette, president of Altair Yacht Sales in Newport Beach, who has exhibited at the show for the about the past three years. “What makes it one of the better boat shows is the Newport buyers, who are looking to buy bigger boats — and I’m looking to sell bigger boats.”

The show is the first of the season in Southern California, Barrette said, and many people come to see what’s new in the world of boating. Some dealers come to “strut their stuff,” he said.

Barrette will exhibit the new Hampton 630 Pilothouse Motoryacht at the show, the first to be shown in the state. Featuring a generator, air conditioning, a high-gloss cherrywood interior, and plasma televisions, to name a few amenities, the roughly 63-foot vessel is going for about $1.8 million.

“It’s about as nice a boat as I’ve seen for its size,” Barrette said.

Art Brooks, owner of Art Brooks Sea Co. in Newport Beach, will exhibit seven boats at this season’s show, including one 75-foot and two 70-foot Johnson yachts.

“I see a lot more interest in bringing larger boats [to the Newport Boat Show], because the trend is toward people buying larger boats,” Brooks said. “It is such a large show people can see a lot of boats, a lot of makes and sizes...this one offers a wider spectrum of what is available.”

For longtime show organizer Duncan McIntosh, work begins about two weeks prior to the show to build an entire marina to accommodate the boats.

“Getting all the boats tucked in and opening the show is the hardest part — It’s pretty stressful up to that point,” McIntosh said. A crew of eight to 10 people has been hard at work for the past few weeks building docks to accommodate this year’s record-breaking number of boats.

McIntosh said he has enjoyed watching the show grow over the years. He expects anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 to attend.

“The show has gotten bigger, and boats have gotten bigger, because people want larger boats these days,” McIntosh said. “As the reputation builds, the attendance has grown also.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Boat Show

WHEN: Today through Sunday at Lido Marina Village, 3400 Via Oporto.

Hours:

Noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

COST: Admission is $12 for adults, free for children 12 and younger

INFO: (949) 757-5959 or visit www.newportinwaterboatshow.com.

There will be free parking available weekdays at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive and at Newport Health Center on Superior Avenue on Saturday and Sunday with free shuttle service to and from Lido Marina Village. Parking at Lido Marina Village will be $25 per vehicle per day.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.