Boating enthusiasts drop anchor at Penn-Ohio Boat Show in Niles

By Sean Barron

Boating safety and education also were on display at the three-day exhibit.

NILES - A sizeable amount of Scott Smith’s childhood was spent at Berlin Lake cultivating a love and appreciation for boating, so perhaps it’s no surprise that he spends much of winter doing the next best thing: attending boat shows.

Befittingly, Smith and his family found themselves surrounded by boats of all sizes and styles Sunday while at the annual three-day Penn-Ohio Boat Show at the Eastwood Expo Center.

“I used to spend every weekend at Berlin swimming, water skiing, fishing and boating” on his parents’ 20-foot Runabout boat, said the Boardman man, who came with his wife, Rosemarie, and sons Jonathan and James, 1 and 3, respectively.

This was the youngsters’ first boat show, but Scott and Rosemarie Smith have been to similar events in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Sandusky, the couple said.

The local show featured eight marina dealers from western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio, including Frank Fenton, president and owner of Pymatuning Boat Sales in Jamestown, Pa.

“The boat business is tough [largely because of the economy], but it makes a dealer be better at what he does,” said Fenton, who’s been in business 38 years.

A large number of sales come from pontoons and aluminum fishing boats, Fenton said, adding that he’s developed a sound reputation and clientele over the years.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator.