Maine’s Biggest Boat Show Returns to Augusta After Six Years. Clark Marine Will Be There. They Always Are.

Maine’s Biggest Boat Show Returns to Augusta After Six Years.

A 68-year-old Central Maine institution brings its full team to the Augusta Civic Center April 10–12 for the first Augusta Boat Show since 2020.

MANCHESTER, Maine, April 2026 — In 1987, the Clark Marine facility on outer Western Avenue in Augusta burned to the ground. The dealership never closed a day of business.

Founded in 1958 as Maine’s newest Evinrude Outboard dealer, Clark Marine has outlasted fires, recessions, ownership changes, and a global pandemic. Sixty-eight years later, it is still family-owned and still serving the same lakes.

The name itself carries a story worth knowing. When Rob Brown took over the dealership, he made the decision to keep the Clark name on the door. Not long after, one Christmas, he brought his family caroling at a local nursing home. As it turned out, Walter Clark—the original founder—was living there.

Rob told him the business still carried his name, which was deeply moving to Clark. Right there, Rob made a promise: as long as he owned the dealership, it would always be Clark Marine.

Walter Clark passed away not long after—but the name, and what it stands for, never left.

Boats hold memories in a way few things do. Rob Brown has spent over 40 years watching that happen at Clark Marine. On April 10–12, he and the rest of the team will be at the Augusta Civic Center for the 2026 Augusta Boat Show, the first since 2020.

“This is where Central Maine boaters come to make a smart decision,” said Amy Gingras, General Manager of Clark Marine. “You have multiple dealers in one place, real show pricing, and manufacturer reps right there to answer questions. You can actually compare boats side by side—and leave feeling confident you made the right call for your family.”

Boating and outdoor recreation are a meaningful part of Maine’s economy, supporting marine businesses, lakefront communities, and seasonal tourism across the state. For first-time buyers especially, a multi-dealer show offers something no single showroom can: the ability to compare, ask questions, and walk out with a clear answer.

The fact that competing dealers share the floor is, in Gingras’s view, exactly the point. “It’s a small community. We all know each other. It’s better for the buyer when they can compare boats in one place and walk out with confidence, not confusion.”

Clark Marine’s roots in the Kennebec Valley go back to a Buick garage on Mechanic Street in Gardiner. From there the business moved through Augusta, Manchester, Monmouth, and Belgrade across nearly seven decades.

“We’ve been doing this show for as long as I have been here,” said Nancy Fortier-Brown, co-owner of Clark Marine. “It’s always been a highlight of the season for us. You can talk to our canvas person, technicians, detailers– our whole crew is there. It’s team-oriented, it’s social, and it’s right in our backyard.”

Rob Brown, familiar to generations of Maine boaters through his long-running “Rob’s Vlog” video series, will be on the floor alongside the full Clark Marine team for all three days of the show.

The 2026 Augusta Boat Show features the latest freshwater boat models, show-exclusive pricing, and the chance to talk directly with the people who sell and service these boats every day. Reach out to Clark Marine at 207-622-7011 via call or text to learn more about the Augusta Boat Show.

Event Details

What: The 2026 Augusta Boat Show
When: April 10–12, 2026
Where: Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine
More info: theaugustaboatshow.com

About Clark Marine

Clark Marine is a family-owned freshwater boat dealership with locations in Manchester, Monmouth, and Belgrade Maine. Founded in 1958, the dealership has served Central Maine boaters for 68 years across multiple generations of ownership. Clark Marine carries Avalon, Crestliner, Crownline, and other leading brands, and is known for honest advice, a strong service department, and deep roots in Maine’s lake communities. Learn more at clarkmarinemaine.com.