As a lifelong sailor, and one who makes it a habit to attend as many boat shows on the West Coast as possible, I can impart a few words of wisdom of what to expect and how to get most out of your attendance. If you are a newbie or want to get into the boating lifestyle, then this review of the boat show scene will come in handy. And for those long-time sailors who love attending just because they love to be around boats and just want to see what’s out there this year and network with the masses, great, enjoy the show and the festivities.