The popular and increasingly important Palm Beach International Boat Show starts next month, on Thursday, March 23, and runs through Sunday, March 26. It will have a lot of cruising boats on display, including many that were not at the Miami show last week.
Over the past few years, the Palm Beach show has earned a reputation as a serious buyers’ show, for a lot of reasons. It’s a manageable show, where it’s easy to see the boats. They’re all in one location (as opposed to Miami), and the show is easy to get to, with parking and restaurants nearby. And for many would-be buyers who got a look at their next possible boat in Miami, it offers a second chance for a deeper look, without the hassle of so many crowds.
The old real estate mantra of location, location, location, is just as true for boat shows. The Palm Beach show is along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, on the Intracoastal Waterway with Palm Beach across the way to the east. Everything, it seems, is within easy walking distance. There’s a dinghy dock if you’re coming from your boat; even the airport is just 15 minutes away.
Once you’re there, you can see more than $1.2 billion worth of boats, from 8-foot inflatables to 300-foot megayachts, plus tents full of engines, electronics and every kind of marine accessory imaginable.
And you won’t get bored. The show has several floating bars, educational seminars, and water-sports demos. There’s even a Hook the Future free fishing clinic for kids from ages 4 to 16.
If you want to have a quiet place to relax, you can pay $370 a person per day to join the Windward VIP Club inside the Lakeside Pavilion on Flagler Drive. It has an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a happy hour and indoor/outdoor seating.
You have to buy all tickets (including the Windward VIP Club) on line; there are no ticket sales at the show. Tickets cost $31 each day Thursday through Sunday; children’s tickets (6-15 years old), are $16.
Hours: Thursday: noon to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m., to 7 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Read more at http://pbboatshow.com and see the video below:
