It’s my favorite time of year, when boat enthusiasts from all over the world travel to Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America, to admire some of the most amazing yachts and watercrafts the world has ever seen! Spanning more than 3 million square feet across seven locations, including Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel & Yachting Center, the Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Municipal Marina, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Sails Marina, Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Marina, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, the 58th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is sure to be iconic!

One big question surrounding the boat show this year, taking place November 1-5, is if attendance and sales will be affected by Hurricane Irma. At this point, the answer seems to be a resounding no, as the five day extravaganza is planned to draw over 150,000 attendees. Additionally, early indicators show that consumer confidence is high and 2017 has already been a strong year for boat sales. In fact, online ticket sales for the show are already 16% ahead from last year, and changes have had to be made to the show because some boats have now been sold! All of this, combined with the fact that people will be looking to replace boats damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma, provide strong evidence that this year’s show will provide quite the boost to the South Florida economy.

This year’s show will feature about 1,600 boats and 1,400 exhibitors from more than 40 countries. Over $4 billion will be showcased in various watercrafts including small vessels, yachts, high-performance boats, center consoles, cabin and express cruisers, catamarans, ski boats, trawlers, electronics, marine accessories, and of course, the multimillion dollar superyachts that always steal the show! Several enhancements have been made to the show this year in an effort to improve attendee experience. This includes a mile of new floating docks, new “cushy” waterproof flooring in most exhibition tents, and new electrical equipment. To help visitors navigate the thousands of boats at such a huge show, directional signage has been affixed to metallic totem poles and color-coded zones added as well. Finally, new digital software now enables visitors to print a downloadable “walking list” of exhibitors and products.

Grab your family and take part in one of the coolest Fort Lauderdale traditions! Expect to pay between $8 and $10 at various lots. Water taxis will also be running from 9 am- 9 pm through the week and until 8 pm on Sunday. Buses, shuttles, and the Sun Trolley are also available.

For more information about the 58th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, please click here!

I wish you all a wonderful and safe time!