Show Up for the No Show Boat Show at WSL Sport & Leisure

It may only be March, and the temperature is just starting to rise, but Manitobans are already thinking about the summer, about lake life, about boating and fishing.

“People are excited to get out and move,” says Duncan Jessiman of WSL Sport & Leisure. “It’s been a long winter for all of us, and we wanted to present something that people could come and feel a part of.”

Marine enthusiasts would typically be anticipating the Mid-Canada Boat Show around now, but the annual, spring-signalling event has been cancelled for the last two years. In 2021 WSL improvised by putting on a “No Show Boat Show”, and it was such a success they decided to do it again, but with a twist.

This time around, from March 3-6 at their 1272 Dugald Road location, WSL is inviting the public to “Show Up for the No Show Boat Show”, whether by scheduling an appointment or simply arriving as walk-ins.

“We have the ability to display a number of boats, ourselves,” says Jessiman, referencing the 10,000 square-foot showroom in Winnipeg. “Visitors can jump inside each boat comfortably from model to model and get a really good sense of what’s available.”

While WSL Sport & Leisure is an all-encompassing power-sport marine dealership, they pride themselves on stocking some of the best boat brands in the industry, such as Lund, Malibu, Cobalt and outboards from Yamaha, Honda and Mercury. And demand is high – and pent-up.

“We’ve been getting a lot of interest via the internet and phone calls,” says Jessiman, adding that enquirers have clearly been feeling the sun on their backs these last few days. “Everyone is welcome to stop by, and if they’re more comfortable booking an appointment we can certainly accommodate them.”

The 2022 Show Up for the No Show Boat Show gets started on Thursday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. Hours have been extended to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with the showroom open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Appointments can be booked by calling WSL at (204) 987-5640 or sending an email to sales@wslsport.com. Additional information is available online at wslsport.com/no-show-boat-show.

“We’ve got the red carpet laid down, we’ve got the lighting on the boats,” says Jessiman. “It’s a warm and fun atmosphere for people to think boats, think cottage, and have a good time talking to people with like-minded interests.”