2019 Miami Boat Show

I just got back from Virginia Key, and realized I only took about 10 pictures, 3 of which were of a sand castle in the shape of a Jeep, 2 of a sign which said no plastic beyond here,and then led to hundreds of plastic boats!
Nothing particularly new or exciting except for a few go fast boats which Carl may be able to better comment on.
There is a spectacular 60 ft Frers design sailing cat built by Ocean Explorer which was very special
Best,
Maldwin

The Miami yacht show was slow. A handful of people walking the docks and most of them were industry folks. I parked in the Omni garage across from the yacht show. This is a 6 to 7 floor parking garage. The last three floors were vacant. I left the show at 3:30. It’s nearly 6 o’clock and I’m just getting to Commercial Boulevard In Laud. It’s taken me two and a half hours to go 30 miles. The reason I’m stating this is because the show promoters have been advertising on television and radio up in Martin County. About 100 miles north of the show. The traffic problem in Miami is making it a regional show. It’s doubtful that anyone from Broward or Palm Beach counties would make the commute for the show unless they are in the business.

I took the Brightline yesterday, left Hobe Sound at 6:15 to catch the 7:30 from PB to Miami. Arrived Virginia Key At 10:00 so no time saved but less aggravating. Left Virginia Key on the bus at 17:45, hoping to catch the 18:40 Brightline back to PB , but missed it by 5 min. Ended up on the 19:40, arriving PB at 21:00. Total travel time about 4 hours each way, door to door. Cost me $110 in First Class which includes free parking. I took First Class to avoid crowds which I assumed would be present at rush hour but both trains were half empty. To summarize, it probably added about one hour of travel time, and cost me about $45 when you take out what I would have spent in Parking, tolls, and gas. A little less aggravating, particularly on the way home.
Best,
Maldwin

Friends in the brokerage end of the biz stated the (yacht) show was slow again on Saturday, in fact some brokers didn't even get a customer from the rotation order. I feel sorry for the owners that paid big money to put their boats in this show, or industry friends that spend a week getting their displays up, followed by 4 days of standing around, then another few days to get the hell out of dodge. Not to mention the money they spend to display at the show, hotels, parking, food, etc. This show just doesn't make fiscal sense to me. As stated earlier in this thread... the new boat show is on the internet.

I think there's still plenty of room for well run boat, car, RV and home shows, but the Yacht Show doesn't fit that definition of well run. Judy said the Miami Boat Show was very crowded and busy. Well, it's the one promoting and advertising. I think the well run boat show fits in well with the internet as a place to actually walk among and on all the boats. The Yacht show still seems like an afterthought and lacks the promotion and the traffic and really serves no purpose with the "real Yacht show", known as FLIBS. FLIBS makes sense as the yacht show and the place for that industry to gather with these other shows serving the market for smaller boats and working as regional shows.

Also, a yacht show at the end of the peak season will never have the traffic of one at the start of the season. However, traditionally end of season shows (boat or otherwise) were really designed for moving leftover and remaining inventory, not for building total business. FLIBS is properly at the start of the peak season. February would be a logical time for a boat show in much of the country, just not for a yacht show in Miami.

I think trying to piggyback a yacht show on top of the boat show is crazy. They're clearly trying to somehow take advantage of the marketing and promotion of the boat show. Much like the dealer who decides to throw his own show during a major show. I don't think the internet threatens a well run show at the right time of year. I do think the poorly run, overpriced, poorly timed show threatens itself.

Sort of ironic and in support of my point is that the title of this thread is "Miami Boat Show", not yacht show or boat shows and even in this thread the yacht show is just trying to piggyback it's way in.

It depends. For seasoned owners the shows are less and less popular as the internet can weed out a lot of things they're looking and not looking for. But for the new yacht owner, or one taking a major step up, they can compare many different makes, side by side and it's still an advantage to this group. That being said, I have 2 yacht owners I have worked for, for a very long time, that always went to the Miami YACHT Show, and haven't gone this year. 1 of them is sort of in the market for another yacht, 1 owns a 60-65' yacht and was planning on moving up to 75' but divorce got in the way.

I also have 2 owners that have already made purchases on brand new yachts in the 55-65' range within the last year, both are at the BOAT show looking. One looking to buy a tender and the other looking to buy Sportfish equipment for a early 2020 delivery SF he has on order to replace a 2018 MY he took delivery of a year ago that he is selling/just sold (both in the 60' range). These 2 are most likely at the Yacht Show also.

I have another owner that went to the show one of the earlier days of the Yacht Show and then made an offer via phone/email on one of the yachts he looked at, at the show, a day or two later. That particular brand wasn't on his radar, but once he saw it, he liked it enough to make an offer on it.

One benefit of having both shows at the time is that people looking at the larger boats and brokerage can also look at equipment in the same location (except for the shuttle ride to VK). Tenders, toys, watermakers, electronics etc. that s a plus

Just got a mailer from the Triton and saw some pics I wanted to add to this thread. Obtained permission from Lucy Reed. Pics were taken by Dorie Cox at the Triton. The first is the hardest working guy I know, Tom Serio (right)...

Next pic is the Miami Yacht Show entrance. I wonder what HCB paid for this lofty position...?

This is the food court on opening day. Thursday attendees paid a higher ticket price, therefore shorter lines at the food court. Not sure these qualify as lines compared to FLIBS!

The shadows would indicate these shots were taken in the morning, before crowds arrived. Or did they?

I have no idea, but the stands supporting the boat 20’ in the air weren’t even anchored to the concrete at all!!!!