The Old Boat’s New Trick: A Refit Starts at the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point
Date: March 18, 2026
For some boat owners, it’s buy new or buy nothing. But new isn’t for everyone. Some of us love picking up a boat that’s already had some modifications, that’s been run and loved, and for those of us who already have a ride-or-die, the question isn’t “What’s next?” It’s “What does she need?”
The answer is more often a list than a single item. And the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point (April 17–19) is where you go to take care of that list. Whether you’re a weekend warrior with a socket wrench and a YouTube education or someone who’d rather hand the keys to a professional and come back when it’s done, this show puts the people, the products, and the know-how within arm’s reach.
Below the Waterline
Let’s start where nobody wants to look: the bottom. A fouled hull is a drag (literally), and keeping it clean is the unglamorous backbone of boat ownership. Many marine service providers will be onsite, and Hull Shield will be on hand with their ultrasonic antifouling technology, which works around the clock to discourage biofouling and extend the life of your bottom paint.
And while you’re thinking about the hull, you might as well think about what’s above it. MAD Soaps Detailing, a regional mobile marine detailing outfit, specializes in bringing tired gelcoat back from the brink. Oxidation removal, ceramic coatings, the works. If you want to learn the secrets yourself, Christian Buchleitner of MAD Soaps will be leading a seminar on Friday, April 17 from noon to 12:45 p.m. titled “How to Keep Your Boat Looking New All the Time!” in the seminar tent. Bring a notebook. Or just bring your calendar and schedule a time for them to handle it.
Deck and Dashboard
Once the outside is sorted, it’s time to look down at your feet. Foam boat decking improves traction, protects fiberglass, makes cleanup easier, and (not for nothing) makes your boat look like it just rolled off the showroom floor. DEKit by Chesapeake Deking offers UV-resistant, non-absorbent, anti-slip decking that can be custom-fitted to just about anything that floats.
AM Marine Custom Boats takes the transformation further. Based in Annapolis with over 30 years in the business, they do everything from certified SeaDek installations to audio systems, LED lighting, and detailing. They describe their approach as “artsy, custom, creative,” and if you’ve ever seen a boat with a personality, there’s a decent chance they had something to do with it.
Speaking of upgrades: if your electronics still look like they belong in the 1990s, the Bay Bridge Boat Show has you covered. BOE Marine offers complete electronics packages, Starlink installations, autopilot systems, lithium battery conversions, and more. Mid-Shore Electronics, with locations in Cambridge and Ocean City, provides sales, service, and custom installation across all the major marine electronics brands. Between the two of them, you can drag your helm into the current century.
And if lithium batteries have been on your radar, don’t miss the seminar “Making the Move to Lithium Batteries” on Friday, April 17 from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m., presented by Captain Scott Berg of CBW LLC. He’ll cover selection, installation, charging system changes, and the rapidly evolving ABYC standards. Worth the price of admission on its own.
Under the Hood (and Everything Else)
For those eyeing a repower, MDG Performance Marine specializes in high-performance inboard and outboard service, maintenance, and upgrades. As a certified Mercury dealer, they bring the parts and the expertise to keep your engine running right, and they can also hook you up with a new engine if a repower is in your plans.
Then there’s Fawcett Boat Supplies, an institution with over 75 years in the marine business. Engines, engine parts, fiberglass supplies, painting supplies, tools, fasteners, electronics: if your refit has a list, Fawcett probably stocks half of it. They’re the kind of place where you walk in for one thing and leave with a cart.
This is just a sampling of the excellent exhibitors that will be on hand. The Bay Bridge Boat Show isn’t just a place to buy a boat (though there are plenty on display, including a strong selection of pre-owned vessels). It’s a place to make the boat you have into the boat you want. Grab your tickets and get to Safe Harbor Narrows Point. Your boat will thank you.