From the Boathouse: Major news in the world of West Coast boat shows

Ahoy!

There’s big news in the world of boat shows, as the National Marine Manufacturers Assn. sold two major West Coast shows to Newport Beach resident Duncan McIntosh. In addition, NMMA has put another West Coast show on hiatus.

McIntosh is the first name that surfaces when you think of Southern California boat shows, especially the Newport Beach Boat Show, which will host its 43rd annual event in May.

The Duncan McIntosh Co. has purchased the Los Angeles Boat Show, which has changed ownership a few times, and the San Diego International Boat Show.

Additionally, NMMA announced the cancellation of the 2016 show of the newly revitalized Progressive Insurance San Francisco Boat Show.

“I was at the Miami Boat Show, where I bumped into the president of the association. He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Duncan said, in what I call classic Duncan-ism speak.

He is gracious about not acknowledging the huge tasks of revitalizing these two shows.

“Duncan is a very good local producer who has agreed to keep the San Diego Boat Show going,” Thom Dammrich, NMMA president, said. “As for San Francisco, there had been no significant boat show in the Bay Area for a number of years when we decided to produce an S.F. Boat Show at AT&T Park. It was a great venue.”

Many boaters might remember when Duncan ran the Columbia dealership in Newport Harbor. Then he changed course and set sail into the nautical publishing world and began producing world-class boat shows.

Duncan McIntosh Co. now publishes Sea, Boating World, Editor and Publisher and OC Weekly. A bold move among boaters and fishermen was the purchase of The Log newspaper, which was founded in 1971 and is the oldest and largest boating newspaper in California. The FishRap News is now included in each issue of The Log.

Duncan earned a U.S. Coast Guard Masters License, and is known to travel nationwide to test new boat designs. We have spotted each other on a few flights. I have known Duncan for decades and must disclose that I have contributed boat-test articles to Sea Magazine and broadcast my radio show from his boat shows.

September 2011 was a sad period when his wife and partner, Teresa McIntosh, died of cancer at 69. She was fondly remembered with a celebration of life at the Balboa Pavilion.

In 2007, Oct. 23 was officially proclaimed Duncan McIntosh Day in Newport Beach by then-Mayor Steve Rosansky at the inaugural Marine Industry Good Sea Scout Luncheon. Duncan became the first recipient of the Newport Sea Base’s award to those who contribute above and beyond to the marine industry and community. He continues that tradition as an active Newport harbor commissioner.

In Newport Harbor, however, he is mostly known as the pioneer who started the Newport In-the-Water Boat Shows in 1973. Both of his Newport Boat Shows and Lido Yacht Expos have grown from the ‘70s to become the largest in-the-water boat shows west of the Mississippi River, not to mention economic boosters for the local economy. Who remembers when he held some shows at the Newport Dunes, and the boats entered into the lagoon after removing the Dune’s bridge?

Coming out of the Great Recession in April 2010, I quoted McIntosh as saying, “The new year is shaping up to be great for the Newport Boat Show.” Another perfect example of a Duncan-ism and his upbeat, can-do attitude.

Last week, Duncan told me, “I think we can revitalize this 60-year-old event and pump some new life into it.”

But, he added, “Time will tell if my instincts are still up to the challenge.” He was referring specifically to the L.A. Boat Show acquisition, which is not his only recent purchase, as he just bought the OC Weekly as well.

Yes, only time will tell. However, I know Duncan, and I have seen what he can do.

Safe Voyages!