Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

12 Top Cruising Boats at FLIBS

By Peter Janssen on October 19, 2023 Cruising Life, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

The good news is that the Fort Lauderdale show starting next week is bigger than ever before, with more than 1,300 new boats on display at seven different locations. The bad news is that the show is bigger than ever before, with more than 1,300 boats at seven locations. If you’re one of the 100,000 people going to the show, it helps to make a list in advance; just wandering around, hoping to see the stumble across boat of your dreams, will probably just leave you tired and confused. To make life easier, we’ve put together a list of some…

Big Lauderdale Show Starts Oct. 25

By Peter Janssen on October 11, 2023 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-the-water show in the world, starts Wednesday, Oct. 25, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 29. Now in its 64th year, the show is larger than ever, covering 90 acres and three million square feet of exhibit space. Last year, more than 100,000 people came to the show; more are expected this year, with more than 1,300 boats on display and 1,000 exhibitors. The show’s economic impact throughout the state is said to be some $1.79 billion. The show now stretches across seven locations, but it’s still centered around the Bahia Mar Yachting…

Report from FLIBS: An “Incredible” Success

By Peter Janssen on November 2, 2022 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The five-day Fort Lauderdale boat show, billed as the largest in-water boat show in the world, is now in the rear-view mirror, and it was a resounding success. Despite its massive numbers, about 1,000 boats from megayachts to 9-foot RIBs and some 100,000 visitors, I always think of the Lauderdale show as fun. It usually has more superyachts than most other shows, and it has more over-the-top toys and yachting accoutrements than other shows, and this year was no exception. When the show opened, for example, I visited with Roy Heijdra, the marketing manager for U-Boat Worx, the Dutch company…

Largest-Ever Lauderdale Show Starts Oct. 26

By Peter Janssen on October 9, 2022 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-the-water show in the world, starts Wednesday, Oct. 26, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 30. It promises to be bigger and better than ever. This year is the 63rd annual for the show, and it now stretches across seven locations (still centered around the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, just across from the beach), with more than 1,300 boats and 1,000 exhibitors. Last year, 100,000 people attended the show; this year, the organizers expect many more. Fort Lauderdale calls itself the yachting capital of the world, and the show reflects that standing. The…

FLIBS Opens on Wave of Enthusiasm

By Peter Janssen on October 28, 2021 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The iconic Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-the-water show in the United States, is underway, riding a wave of enthusiasm and pent-up demand. The show officially has 647 exhibitors and 712 boats, from Absolute to Zeelander; the largest is a 252-foot Feadship named Boardwalk. Fort Lauderdale calls itself “the yachting capital of the world,” and the show does not lack for excess. Not all the boats had fenders as large as those on the megayacht in the picture above, or the helicopter on the upper deck, but in Fort Lauderdale it’s just a matter of scale. The show…

Huge Lauderdale Show Starts Oct. 27

By Peter Janssen on October 13, 2021 Cruising Life, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The massive Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-the-water show in the world, opens on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 31. Last year, the show was only half its usual size, because of the Covid pandemic, but this year it’s back with everything from superyachts to SUPs, on the docks, in tents and on land exhibits. In 2019, the last pre-Covid year, the show attracted more than 100,000 people. This year, that number is expected again, with the show in multiple locations, centered at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and Las Olas Marina, as well as…

Lauderdale Show: Fewer People, but Lots of Buyers

By Peter Janssen on November 3, 2020 Cruising Life, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

If you’re into boats, you’ve got to love John Staluppi, the Long Island entrepreneur who owns the third largest group of car dealerships in the U.S. Here’s what he has to say about going to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last week. “I always go to a boat show with intent to buy boats, and I bought two boats at the show. I bought a 32-meter Ocean Alexander and a small outboard Ocean Alexander, 45 feet.” He knew that the show had safety restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with requirements for face masks, social distancing, and one-way passageways.…

Lauderdale Show Opens; Fewer Boats, Spirited Crowds

By Peter Janssen on October 29, 2020 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The 61st annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-water show in the world, just opened, with fewer exhibitors, smaller crowds, and lots of safety precautions taken because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The show runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. The crowds may not have been as large as in previous years (last year the show attracted 100,000 people), but they included a lot of serious boat buyers. Indeed, Jeff Druek, the head of Outer Reef Yachts, said he was “extremely pleased” with people he saw. “It does not seem that Covid-19 has dampened the spirits of those shopping for…

Lauderdale Show Plans To Keep You Safe

By Peter Janssen on September 14, 2020 Cruising Life, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

Most boat shows have been cancelled this fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Fort Lauderdale show has announced that it will open, as planned, for five days starting Wednesday, Oct. 28. But the show, the largest in-water show in the world, won’t be the same. This year will be the 61st annual boat show in Fort Lauderdale; the show has never been cancelled. Last year, about 100,000 people attended the show; some 1,300 boats were on display. The show is estimated to have a $1.3 billion impact on the state. Last week, the Broward County Commission announced that…

Fall Boat Shows Update: Lauderdale Still On

By Peter Janssen on July 13, 2020 Annapolis Boat Show, Cruising Life, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, Newport Boat Show

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show just announced that it would be held, as scheduled, on Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Some other shows, however, have been cancelled or gone virtual, while others are still scheduled, with health guidelines, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a current report about the status of some of the major fall shows, listed chronologically. Cannes. Sept. 8-13. Still scheduled. For updates: http://cannesyachtingfestival.com Tampa. Sept. 11-13. Cancelled. “We believe this is the most prudent course of action to protect the health and safety of our staff, sponsors, members, exhibitors and attendees,” said Jennifer Thompson, senior VP, National…

Browsing: Ft Lauderdale Boat Show