The only boat show held in Brisbane drew crowds of spectators enjoying the on- and off-water exhibitors on the spectacular grounds of Queensland’s largest marina and Marina Industry Association’s “Club of the Year.”

This vibrant, community-focused event offered an engaging alternative to larger-scale boat shows by enabling visitors to not only “get onboard” but also potentially cruise the marina aboard the selection of craft on show, from sailing dinghies to blue-water racing yachts.

“Boat shows are often a major event costing millions to produce, but we’ve found that our small expo has the ability to offer one-on-one interaction, creating deeper engagement,” said Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron CEO Karen Baldwin. “By hosting multiple events each year—in winter and summer—we are successfully growing a more connected and confident boating community across our city, tailored to each season.”

Designed to inspire both seasoned mariners and curious newcomers, hundreds flooded the lawns to sample boats ranging from CJS Fishing Boats to Leopard and Corsair Multihulls right through to 45ft cruising yachts and more.  On-land exhibitors ranged from sailmakers to marine electricians, generators and even a marine trunk sale.

The Get Onboard Boat Expo is free to attend, and exhibitor fees are kept to a minimum to encourage wide participation. Expressions of interest from marine brands, sailing schools, gear suppliers, and boating businesses are now open for the summer event, scheduled for November 20-22, 2026.

“The number of attendees has doubled at every event since our first Expo in 2024 and we expect the same again for the summer edition in November,” says Anton Prange, Managing Director of Yachtshare. “There has been over $3 million in product sold, which makes it a huge success for exhibitors and is evidence that Brisbane’s love of boating continues.”