The 2026 California Boat Show runs April 9–12 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and POPboardco will be on the floor with our full inflatable dock lineup, premium paddle boards, and the Rover Marine portable tender collection. If you're a Southern California boater who's been looking for more usable space on the water without the cost and hassle of permanent infrastructure, this is worth a visit.
Here's what we're bringing, why it matters for West Coast conditions, and how to enter the giveaway before you even get to the show.
Why Inflatable Docks Make Sense for California Boaters
Deck space is the most valuable thing a boater can have — and it's almost always in short supply. Swim platforms are small. Slips are expensive. Hard dock extensions require permits, contractors, and ongoing maintenance. For most boaters in Southern California, from Newport Harbor to Catalina, none of those options are practical for expanding usable space on demand.
Inflatable docks solve this differently. Deploy off the stern, anchor at a sandbar, set up at a lakefront property — the platform goes where you go and stores in a bag when you're done. No permits, no permanent footprint, no winterization bill.
The objection most people have is stability. Here's why that objection doesn't hold for quality drop-stitch construction:
Inflatable Drop Stitch: Rigidity & Load Capacity
Inflatable drop stitch fabric materials can form rigid shapes that resist bending and bowing better than those utilizing standard fabric materials. The inflated drop stitch panels can be highly pressurized to allow for greater load capacity and provide a more robust resistance to loads and damage in hazardous environments.
Exploration of the mechanical properties of both ridged and inflated drop stitch fabric material, 2015
Our docks are 8 inches thick — 33% more air volume than standard 6-inch platforms. At correct inflation pressure, the surface is rigid underfoot. In the boat wakes and tidal chop common in Southern California harbors, that extra volume makes a real difference: the dock absorbs wave energy instead of transferring it, which is something a hard dock can't do.
What We're Showing at the 2026 California Boat Show
Inflatable Floating Docks
The full dock lineup will be on display, including the 14' Yacht Dock — our largest platform at 2,500 lb capacity and 98 sq ft of usable deck space. It's built for exactly the kind of use case Southern California boaters need: deploy off the stern of a yacht or larger vessel, give your group a proper swim and hangout platform, and retrieve it when you're done. No davit system, no permanent installation, no slip fee for a second structure.
The 8' POPUP AQUANET will also be on the floor — the one with the built-in mesh cooling net section that lets you stay half-submerged while keeping gear and drinks dry. For hot California days on the water, it's a different experience than a solid deck platform.
Attendees can step on fully inflated docks at the show and feel the difference between 8-inch drop-stitch construction and the thinner platforms common in the generic online market. That hands-on test is the fastest way to understand why thickness and construction quality matter.
Premium Paddle Boards
The full inflatable paddle board lineup will be represented, including boards built for the specific conditions of the West Coast — coastal paddling, harbor cruising, and open water. If you've been considering a board and want to see the construction quality in person before buying, the show is the right place to do it.
Rover Marine Portable Tenders
We're partnering with Rover Marine at the show to present a complete on-water ecosystem. While POPboardco provides the platform, Rover provides the transportation — high-performance inflatable tenders that are a genuine alternative to traditional dinghies.
The Rover Battle Cat and Battle Boat will both be on display. The Battle Cat's twin-hull catamaran design delivers stability that standard soft-bottom inflatables can't match — important for boarding and gear transfers in choppy Pacific conditions. Both vessels roll into a compact bag, which means yacht owners can carry a capable tender without davit systems or crane infrastructure. For California boaters who want to explore coastline without trailer logistics or slip fees for a second vessel, this is worth a close look.
The Giveaway: Win a POPboardco Paddle Board + More
We're running a giveaway tied to the show. One winner takes home:
- A signature POPboardco paddle board
- An E-Ride Pro Mini electric bike
- A 4-pack of tickets to the 2026 California International Boat Show
You can earn entries through social actions before the show — visit us at the show or follow along on social for entry details. The paddle board in the prize package is built for West Coast conditions: stable enough for harbor paddling, capable enough for coastal exploration.
Show Details
- Event: 2026 California International Boat Show
- Dates: Thursday, April 9 – Sunday, April 12, 2026
- Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
- Where to find us: Check the official show directory at californiaboatshow.com for the POPboardco and Rover Marine exhibit location
Why This Show Matters for West Coast Boaters
The California boating market is specific. Pacific conditions — tidal swells, harbor chop, boat wake in crowded anchorages — are different from flat Midwest lakes. Products that work fine in calm freshwater don't always hold up the same way in a Southern California harbor. The California Boat Show is where West Coast boaters evaluate gear against those specific conditions, and it's where we want to show what 8-inch drop-stitch construction actually feels like underfoot when a wake rolls through.
If you're in the Southern California area April 9–12, come find us on the floor. If you can't make it, browse the full inflatable dock lineup and paddle board collection online — or explore all water sports gear to build out your setup.
About POPboardco
POPboardco specializes in ultra-rigid inflatable docks, premium paddle boards, and marine accessories built for real-world use. Our 8-inch thick docks use military-grade drop-stitch PVC construction and are designed for the conditions that matter — not just flat water demos. Based on the West Coast, built for it.
About Rover Marine
Rover Marine designs and manufactures high-performance portable boats that bridge the gap between soft-bottom inflatables and rigid-hull sport boats. The Battle series gives explorers, anglers, and yacht captains a capable tender that requires zero permanent storage space and deploys in minutes.
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