March 20th, 21st and 22nd
Not all boat shows are created equal — this one starts on the water.
Come experience our On-Water Boat Show Near Austin, Texas.
There’s no better way to create meaningful, unforgettable time together than getting out on the water. For many families searching for boats for sale near Austin, the journey starts with imagining a better weekend, a better summer, and more time together. Because a boat is never just a boat — it’s a lifestyle upgrade. You were made for more.
Our annual Better Than a Boat Show returns March 21st & 22nd, 2026, offering a truly different experience than a traditional boat show near Austin. This on-water boat show takes place just outside of Austin and serves boating families across Central Texas, including Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Brownwood, Inks Lake, Lake Buchanan, Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, Canyon Lake and more. Instead of walking aisles indoors, you’ll step aboard real boats on the water and experience how they actually perform.
This 2026 event places a strong spotlight on:
Wake boats and surf boats for sale near Austin
High-quality pontoons and tritoons designed for family cruising and entertaining
Performance, comfort, and lifestyle-focused boating for Central Texas lakes
As a five-brand dealership, you’ll have the opportunity to explore and demo boats from MasterCraft, Chris-Craft, Cobalt, Barletta, and Flamingo Marine — all in one place, side by side, and on the water where they’re meant to be experienced.
Whether you’re early in your search for a boat, actively comparing new boats for sale in Central Texas, or simply researching boat shows and boat dealerships near Austin, this event allows you to explore our entire inventory lineup, including:
Select previous-year models with full factory warranties and significant savings
The latest 2026 boat models and innovations, with exclusive early viewing opportunities
A side-by-side comparison of brands, layouts, wake performance, surf systems, and onboard comfort — all in real-world conditions.
Unlike a traditional indoor boat show, everything about Better Than a Boat Show happens on the water. There are no convention centers, no entry fees, and no guessing how a boat might feel. You’ll demo boats directly from our docks with a knowledgeable team member who can help answer the same questions most first-time buyers ask when searching online for boats for sale near Austin.
Beyond sales, you’ll also meet our service, retail, and support teams – giving you a complete picture of what ownership looks like after the purchase. Our focus isn’t just selling boats; it’s helping you choose the right boat for your lake, your lifestyle, and your long-term enjoyment.
Our goal is simple: to make sure you end up in the boat that is 100% right for you, your family, and your friends. That commitment – to education, transparency, and experience – is what sets us apart from other boat dealers near Austin.
On-water demo appointments are highly recommended and should be reserved in advance. Scheduling ahead ensures a dedicated team member is ready to maximize your experience and answer your questions, whether you’re comparing wake boats, surf boats, pontoons, or tritoons.
👉 To reserve your on-water demo, CLICK HERE.
Make Your Appointment
Schedule your boat demo in a couple quick, easy steps – right here, right now. Let's make sure we have plenty of time set aside to help you find the perfect boat with a member of our team.
Why it's "Better"
An On-Water Boat Show Experience You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
1. On-Water Boat Demos at Lake LBJ
Unlike a traditional indoor boat show, Better Than a Boat Show takes place entirely on the water. Boats are docked, fueled, and demo-ready right here on Lake LBJ — giving you the opportunity to test drive boats for sale in Central Texas before you decide.
If you’re searching for a local boat dealer where you can compare boats side by side and actually experience performance, layout, and comfort, this is exactly that opportunity. Schedule an on-water demo and experience your future boat the way it’s meant to be experienced.
2. One-Stop Comparison of the Best Boat Brands in the Industry
As a long-standing Central Texas boat dealership, Boat Town represents a curated lineup of top-tier boat brands — each selected for quality, performance, and long-term ownership value.
Whether you’re looking for:
A dog-friendly tritoon for sunset cruises
A family pontoon boat with premium comfort
Or a wake or surf boat with highly customizable waves
You can compare models, layouts, and features in one place — making this a true one-stop boat shopping experience near Austin.
3. Full On-Site Dining, Drinks & Lake-Life Atmosphere
This isn’t just a boat show — it’s a full lake-day experience. Enjoy food and drinks throughout the event with on-site dining at Boat Town Burger Bar and Patio 2900, offering some of the best lake-side dining in the Highland Lakes.
From casual bites to full-service bars and specialty cocktails, everything is in place so you can relax, explore, and enjoy the day while learning about boats at your own pace.
4. Meet the Entire Boat Town Team — Plus Factory Experts
At Better Than a Boat Show, you won’t just meet a salesperson — you’ll meet the entire Boat Town team, along with factory representatives from our boat brands.
That includes:
Sales professionals
Service and warranty experts
Events and marketing team members
Brand specialists and factory reps
This gives you a rare chance to understand not just the boat — but the long-term support, service, and ownership experience that comes with buying from a trusted local dealer.
5. A Dealership Relationship That Lasts Long After the Sale
Boat Town has proudly served Central Texas boating families for decades, and our focus has always gone far beyond the purchase. From service and storage to events, community, and continued support, buying from Boat Town means becoming part of a long-term boating family.
If you’re researching boat dealers near Austin or looking for a dealership that prioritizes relationships, transparency, and experience — this is what truly makes us different.
Schedule of Events
Boat Demos available by appointment only - all makes and models will be in the dock slips for viewing
FRIDAY, 3/20, 10am-4pm
VIP Luau event for current Boat Town customers and invited guests.
FRIDAY, 3/20, 4pm-6pm
Traditional ski show kick off event to celebrate 65 years in business. Open to anyone for viewing - come by boat or by land and celebrate getting back to our roots with us!
FRIDAY, 3/20, 6:30pm
Boat Demos open and available - appointments are highly recommended to guarantee time with our team, but walk-ups also welcome.
SATURDAY, 3/21, 10-5
Boat Demos open and available - appointments are highly recommended to guarantee time with our team, but walk-ups also welcome.
SUNDAY, 3/22, 11-4
What better way to celebrate this incredible milestone than to get back to some of the roots that got us all hooked in this boating lifestyle in the first place! Boat Town is so excited to partner with a handful of professional skiers to put together an incredibly fun, family-friendly spectator event, right here in front of our Lake LBJ Dealership on Friday, March 20th, to kick off our biggest Boat Show weekend of the year. Come one, come all - by boat or by land - and lets have some fun!
CELEBRATING 65 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Boat Show Kick Off: Getting Back to our Roots
Meet Our Sales Team
Cody Raven
Cody has grown up with Boat Town and has been on the water for as long as he can remember, and is now the sales manager at the Lake LBJ location. Local to Austin, Texas, and having lived in central Texas his entire life, he can’t image doing anything else. He loves the laid back lifestyle of the lake life, and his dream boat is an old school solid wood Chris Craft (a nice choice!). He also enjoys hunting, golf, and spending time at the family ranch.
Clay Raven
Clay has lived in Texas his whole life and works at Boat Town as a member of the sales team and the sales manager. As a native and current resident of Austin, Texas, his knowledge of the local lakes and boating lifestyle are limitless, and his love for the water helps him continue his excitement to grow the family business. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and says his dream boat is a “92 Viking or some sort of super yacht”.
Trevor Grebe
Trevor is a true local to Lake LBJ, having grown up in Marble Falls and living in the Central Texas area for 20 years. When we asked him what made him excited to come work for Boat Town, he answered that he loves working with some of the best people and selling the best brands, and we couldn’t agree more with the truth in that statement! As an avid wake surfer, his dream boat is a Mastercraft X24 where he’d spend the long summer days surfing with all of his family and friends.
Clark Barrineau
Clark grew up locally here in Marble Falls, and spent many weekends of his childhood at the family lake house on Lake Travis. He's been involved with boating and watersports pretty much since he could walk- starting with kneeboarding and tubing, wakeboarding around eight-years-old, and now- foiling. His passion for the lifestyle is what made him interested in selling boats as a career- he's excited to share that family lifestyle with all of his customers! He now has two daughters, one age two and one just under 6 months old, and his dream boat is a MasterCraft X22 - come get on the water with him!
Chris Hardy
Chris is the newest member of our Boat Town team, but he's been heavily involved with the boating industry for many years! After graduating from Texas State, he fell in love with the Central Texas area where he spends as much time outdoors as possible. Mountain biking, motocross, foiling and surfing are just the top of the list. Come say hi to Chris and book a demo with him!
Bailey Middleton
Bailey is the newest salesman at our Austin location after learning the ropes as a captain, and we’re excited to see him move into this role. If he’s not on the water, you can find Bailey playing golf, attending a live sporting event, or enjoying anything outdoors. He grew up just two minutes from Lake Austin, and his goal as a Boat Town team member is to make the buying process as fun and easy as possible for every customer. Whether it’s training new owners on delivery day, picking up and delivering boats for peace of mind, or simply making people feel like part of the Boat Town family, he’s all about creating a great experience.
Make Your Appointment
Schedule your boat demo in a couple quick, easy steps – right here, right now. Let's make sure we have plenty of time set aside to help you find the perfect boat with a member of our team.
CURRENT HOURS
All Dealership Locations:
Tuesday-Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed
ATX: (512) 892 - 2220 | LBJ: (325) 388 - 4343 | NB: (830) 365 - 0002