10 Reasons to Visit Fawcett Boat Supplies at the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show

 Every sailor carries a list. It lives in a notes app, on a scrap of paper, or just in the back of your head: the chafed sheet, the dim anchor light, the jacket that stopped keeping out rain two seasons ago. The Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026 is where that list finally gets shorter. Running October 15-18 at City Dock, the US Sailboat Show 2026 puts boats, builders and marine suppliers within a short walk of each other, and the Annapolis Boat Show rewards anyone who arrives with questions. Here are ten reasons to make Fawcett Boat Supplies at Land 9 part of your visit to the Annapolis Sailboat Show.

1. Practical Answers From People Who Sail

The Fawcett booth is staffed by people who rig and maintain their own boats. Bring a real problem, like a block that keeps jamming or a PFD that rides up, and you’ll get an answer from someone who has dealt with the same thing on the water.

2. A Chandlery That Knows the Chesapeake

Fawcett has been a full-service chandlery in Annapolis since 1948. That local experience shows up in the advice: what holds up on the Bay, what the October weather demands, and what tends to fail first.

3. Foul Weather Gear You Can Compare Side by Side

October on the Bay can swing from warm sun to cold rain within an hour. Gill offshore jackets and bibs sit alongside Helly Hansen midlayers and fleece, so you can see how a shell, an insulating layer and a base layer work together before you commit.

4. PFDs Shown, Not Just Described

A life jacket only works if it fits. Mustang inflatable and foam PFDs are on display, and handling different styles makes the differences clear, from manual and automatic activation to how each one sits across the chest.

5. Safety Gear Worth Handling

Kong elastic tethers, ACR electronics and NaviSafe rescue lights are part of the display. Safety equipment is one category where a hands-on look and a few questions can matter more than a spec sheet.

6. A Live Look at Automatic Tube Inflation

Inflatable tubes soften as temperatures change, which leads many owners to top them off through the season. NeverSoft caps replace the standard valve and hold pressure automatically. They are made for Zodiac, Highfield and Walker Bay valves, and the booth includes a demonstration.

7. Rigging Hardware You Can Size by Eye

Barton blocks are on display in 30, 45, 60 and 80mm sizes. Seeing them next to each other makes it easier to match hardware to line diameter and load, a detail that’s hard to judge from a catalog page.

8. Lighting and Electrical Options in One Place

Signal Mate offers tri-color and 360-degree anchor lights, some with photocells that switch on at dusk. SmartPlug makes shore power connectors designed to replace standard twist-lock plugs. Both are useful to look at if a winter refit is on your list.

9. Windlasses and Marine Systems

Vetus and Maxwell products, including horizontal windlasses, are part of the booth. Anchoring gear is easier to judge when you can see the size and build quality for yourself, and the staff can talk through chain and rope compatibility.

10. An Easy Booth to Find, Close to the Action

Land 9 is a 20 by 25 foot space, and you enter at Dock St. The Annapolis Maryland Boat Show can be crowded, so a clear meeting point helps. The booth also connects to the earlier Annapolis Powerboat Show 2026 (October 8-11), where Annapolis Inflatables, a Fawcett subsidiary, exhibited Zodiac and Highfield boats.

Bring a short list and your boat’s key measurements, and leave time for the seminars and dockside conversations. The US Sailboat Show Annapolis wraps up Sunday, October 18, so the weekend is the last chance to see it this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the boat show this weekend?

The Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026 is this weekend at City Dock in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, with the final days running through Sunday, October 18. The US Sailboat Show 2026 is open 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. The Annapolis Powerboat Show 2026 ended October 11, so this weekend is all about sailboats, gear and seminars. Fawcett Boat Supplies is at Land 9. Enter at Dock St. and look for the Fawcett flag.

Where is the boat show in Annapolis?

The Annapolis Boat Show is held at City Dock in historic downtown Annapolis (GPS: 1 Dock Street, Annapolis, MD 21401), and the box office is on Dock St. For the Annapolis Sailboat Show, visitors are encouraged to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Ave) and take the free shuttle, which runs from one hour before opening until one hour after closing. Downtown parking garages are another option for the Annapolis Maryland Boat Show.

What are the Annapolis Boat Show hours?

The Annapolis Boat Show hours for the Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026 are 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 18. Since the US Sailboat Show Annapolis takes place outdoors on the waterfront, check the forecast and dress for dockside conditions. Hours can change, so confirm on the official Annapolis Boat Shows website before you go.

Are there tickets for the Annapolis Boat Show?

Yes, a ticket is required to enter the Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026 grounds. General Admission is $32, children ages 7 to 15 are $10, and children 6 and under are free. Military Personnel Day on Sunday, October 18, is $22, and you must show valid ID at the gate. Tickets for the Annapolis Boat Show are sold online through the official Annapolis Boat Shows website, and the box office is on Dock St.

Where can I find Annapolis Sailboat Show tickets?

The official source for Annapolis Sailboat Show tickets is the Annapolis Boat Shows website, annapolisboatshows.com, or the box office on Dock St. at City Dock. For the US Sailboat Show 2026, buying from the official site or box office is the safest choice, since tickets from third-party resellers may not be accepted at the gate. Buying online in advance can also help you skip the gate queue.