On the last day of the Powerboat Show, there was so much water around our tent that you couldn’t get in or out of it.
People found a way in anyway. And a lot of them walked up already knowing who we were.
We spent two weeks at the Argo booth in Annapolis, first for the Powerboat Show and then for the Sailboat Show. Here’s what we heard, what people were excited about, and where we ate.
Back Where It Started
Annapolis is where we first debuted Argo, back in 2019. Captain Jeff grew up boating on the Chesapeake, so this show has always felt a little like coming home.
This year, that history showed. So many people stopped by just to tell us they already use Argo and love it. They didn’t need a demo. They wanted to say hi, tell us where they’d been, and ask what’s next.
“That kind of feedback is always rewarding,” Jeff said.
For a family-owned company that started with one boater on the Bay, those conversations are the best part of the week.
What Got People Talking
Seeing the Bottom
Depth numbers tell you how deep the water is at one spot. They don’t show you the shape of what’s underneath: the ledge, the shoal that builds off a point, the drop-off where the fish stack up.
That’s why our new relief shading got so much attention. It shows the contours of the bottom right on the chart, so you can see the terrain instead of reading it one number at a time. When people saw it at the booth, it clicked fast.
Fresher Depth Data on the ICW
Anyone who’s run the ICW knows the bottom doesn’t stay put. Shoals move, inlets fill in, and the soundings on a chart can be years behind what’s actually under your keel.
That’s why we were excited to show off our new display of USACE hydrographic surveys, now available in Argo throughout the ICW and inland waterways. These are the surveys the Army Corps of Engineers runs on the channels it maintains, so you’re looking at more recent depth information on exactly the stretches where it matters most.
Caribbean Charts, Coming Next Month
The Sailboat Show draws an international crowd, and a lot of those sailors are getting ready to head south for the winter. For many of them, the Caribbean is the goal.
So the question we heard most was simple: when can I use Argo down there?
The answer: soon. Our Caribbean charts are scheduled for release next month. The interest was strong enough that quite a few boaters bought lifetime subscriptions right at the booth so they’d be ready when the charts arrive.
Life at the Booth
If you were hoping to catch our team wandering the docks, you probably didn’t. Dave admitted he was “pretty well pinned to the booth” for both shows.
For Troy, it was his first time in Annapolis. “Annapolis was a cool place,” he said. “My wife and I look forward to visiting again, maybe when the show isn’t going on!” His read on the booth: “People are excited about where we are, and where we’re going.”
We wouldn’t trade it. Those conversations shape what we build next. A lot of the features in Argo today started as a boater telling us what they wished the app could do.
Where We Ate
Show days are long, so lunch had to be quick or worth it.
Capo was our go-to for takeout sandwiches between booth shifts.
Galway Bay Irish Whiskey Bar & Pub is a perennial favorite with our team, and we snuck away from the booth for lunch there a couple of times. Dave’s pick was the Irish Spice Bag, a popular takeout dish in Ireland: fried chicken, sautéed peppers, onions, and jalapeños, all tossed in a paper bag with chips and Irish Magic Dust, then served with Irish curry sauce. His review: “Really delicious.”
Planning a trip to Annapolis next year? Our guide to what to do in Annapolis before, after, or on a free day covers coffee, breakfast, dinner in Eastport, and more.
Thanks for Stopping By
Thank you to everyone who found us at the booth, flooded tent and all. Whether you’ve been with us since 2019 or downloaded Argo on the spot, we’re glad you came by.
If you missed us, download Argo and see what the booth was talking about. Plan routes, find marinas and anchorages with reviews from other boaters, and share spots with your crew.
See you on the water, and in Annapolis next October.
