The 2025 Newport Beach International Boat Show will be held May 1 through 4, 2025, in Lido Marina Village, with an invitation-only pre-show May 1, 2025, 2 to 7 p.m., followed by three days of exhibits open to the public, Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More than 200 vessels will be on display, with over 75 of them on the water and many open to the public. More than 40 builders and brokerages will also be on hand to share details regarding the design, materials, and workmanship that go into producing the fine yachts on display.
This will be a great opportunity for you and your family to find the right boat for whatever kind of aquatic outings you’re planning over the summer. You’ll have the opportunity to take a close look at ski boats, coastal cabin cruisers, and a variety of sailing craft designed for both sport and voyaging. The show’s purpose is to connect you with a vessel meeting your needs for both fun and self-fulfillment. This is your chance to get an up-close look at the latest design concepts in vessels competing to offer you the best combination of speed, safety, fun, and comfort on the water.
One of the many exhibitors you’ll want to visit is Nordhavn, a leading builder of offshore luxury motor yachts capable of taking you to Hawaii or around the world. Since its first design, the N46, was delivered in 1989, more than 150 Nordhavns have crossed oceans, at least eight have circumnavigated the planet and several are known to be currently underway on circumnavigations.
Although it is impossible to show Nordhavn’s entire line of yachts at the boat show, models range from 41 feet to 120 feet. Specialty models range from a 56-foot motor sailer to the 75-foot Expedition YachtFisher, not to mention the semi-displacement, 59-foot Coastal Pilot.
Outer Reef Yachts, a builder of finely built, offshore motor vessels, will be on hand to help you select the right yacht for local, inshore outings or ocean crossings on your quest to see Central America, the South Pacific, the Far East or beyond. Their designs offer sumptuous comfort with speed, stability and high-tech navigation systems to deliver you safely to your next port of call.
Berthon Yachts, with headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island, is a dealer in upscale new and previously owned ocean yachts, connecting buyers and sellers around the globe for the best fit of performance, creature comforts and price. Their inventory includes everything from small sport and fishing craft to large, luxurious sailing vessels, such as the Nautor Swan 60, Concerto, designed by celebrated yacht designer German Frers and offering 10 berths in three cabins, along with a full galley and a long list of cruising amenities added by the current owner.
If you are planning on an extended cruise, you also will want to visit the Portland Pudgy booth. Manufactured in South Portland, Maine, the Portland Pudgy is a top-quality, multi-purpose dinghy designed with both comfort and stability in mind, especially for rough conditions. This is a dinghy you can sail, row or motor, covering a lot of bases for avid offshore and coastal cruisers.
One quick look at a Portland Pudgy reveals a stout, tough, all-weather, compact vessel with surprisingly ample storage space for food and water if needed in an emergency. Sitting inside a Pudgy, you are surrounded on four sides by buoyant chambers with large portals for storing supplies. Come check one out and see if it meets your needs for a combination dinghy and lifeboat.
With all the high-end yacht builders and brokerage firms at the Boat Show, those of us of humbler means will also find plenty to see. If you have found yourself marveling at those long, thick boards people stand on to paddle across calm water, one booth you will want to visit is Pop Board Company, based in Santa Ana.
While many visitors will be looking for a sumptuous, offshore yacht to carry them across oceans to visit far-away lands, some visitors may be looking for a simple, fun way to enjoy the water right here at home. Pop Board designs, fabricates and distributes its unique designs of stand-up paddle boards to appeal to young, athletic individuals looking for a peaceful, meditative pace of moving through the water without the hassle of messing with a motor or anchor, or even getting wet.
Visit the Pop Board booth and select from a variety of models of both rigid and inflatable boards. Each board comes with a paddle, and inflatable boards include a manual pump and equipment bag.
Even if you are not actively seeking to purchase a vessel in the near future, there will be plenty of live entertainment and food concessions, making this an ideal opportunity for a family outing in a fun atmosphere. Take along the whole family, and who knows? Maybe a particular boat will catch your eye and imagination, leading you to a whole new lifestyle on the water.
The exhibitors listed here are only a small sample of the boat manufacturers and representatives you will meet at the Newport Beach International Boat Show. General admission to the boat show Friday is $36, Saturday and Sunday, $34, and for the entire weekend, $87.
Immediately outside Lido Marina Village, you’ll find a number of fine restaurants, sport fishing services and boat rentals ready to add a good measure of extra fun and pleasure to your weekend outing. For a fine fish dinner, try out the Bear Flag Fish Company or Woody’s Diner on Via Lido, across the street from Lido Marina Village. Bear Flag also carries its own line of merch, including tee shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other fun memorabilia.
If you’re coming from out of town and looking for a place to stay for the weekend, you’ll find a number of fine hotels with restaurants and bars to add an elegant finish to your day or two of looking for that perfect yacht. The Balboa Bay Resort, located right on the water, is a great choice for a dockside table where you can sip wine and watch boats casually cruising Newport Harbor.
Another favorite is Lido House, which sits on the grounds of the old city hall and boasts both fine dining and great views as “a sophisticated celebration of the best of Newport Beach.” For special gatherings, rent one of their five outdoor “cottages,” which are large gazebos with windows, plush couches and a large center table.
For event parking, bear in mind there’s limited space at the Lido Marina Village parking structure, so you can expect heavy local traffic and limited space. Parking validations cost $50 per day but do not include admission for the show, so if you have to drive a great distance, consider ride-share options to save time and money. Also, you’ll find free parking at Hoag Health Center, 538 Superior Ave., Newport Beach, with free shuttle service to and from Lido Marina Village.
