Whether you're an experienced sailor or just someone who loves the sea, the Progress Insurance New York Boat Show is for you! The Northeast's principal boat trade show will take place January 3 - 6, 2013 at the Javits Center in New York City.

According to a press release, the event boasts "post-holiday deals on everything from luxury motor yachts and sport fishers to performance boats, sailboats, and thousands of marine accessories." Moreover, attendees can look forward to an appearance by MTV's "Wake Brothers" as well as the new Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) "Be a Diver" pool, where water-lovers try out scuba diving and a variety of paddlesports.

And for fishing enthusiasts, the New York Boat Show will even offer free, daily sessions hosted by fishing professionals. You might even take home some custom fishing lures!

The event is just $15 for adults, and kids under 16 get in for free. Nice!

For more information, check out the New York Boat Show's website.

The Bass & Saltwater Fishing Expo in Raleigh, Denver's Fly Fishing Show and the Nashville Fishing and Boat Expo -- what do they all have in common? For one, they all take place in the first few weeks of January.  But more importantly, these trade fairs have a common theme:  fishing and marine life.  Therefore, exhibitors could all benefit from Touch Tanks for Kids, an organization that brings open tanks of marine life for use in schools.

Yes, I realize that schools are a bit different from trade shows.  But hear me out!  In a piece by Forbes, Tom Groenfeldt said he spoke with Touch Tanks for Kids' founders "about using the tanks at trade shows."  Recently, the company's executive director, Mike Martin, told Groenfeldt that he's got new lightweight tanks that could definitely work well at trade shows.

Imagine how many people would flock to your booth at a marine-themed trade show if you had an open tank filled with lobsters!  Aside from custom fishing lures and bobbers, I imagine the touch tanks would be the best way to garner attention for your product or service.  What a great idea!