In the last five decades, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has wowed attendees with some of the biggest and priciest yachts and cutting-edge marine accessories.
Fort Lauderdale‘s equivalent of the Super Bowl, the signature show draws thousands of people from around the world, and is a “must do” for many boat buyers and sellers.
“It’s huge not just by size, but it’s huge in the impact it has on the entire global marine business,” said Michael Joyce, CEO of Hargrave Custom Yachts in Fort Lauderdale, an exhibitor since 1980. “The big and the best will be in Fort Lauderdale.”
Roughly 1,500 boats will be on display during the 53rd annual boat show, which runs Oct. 25-29 at six city sites.
The show’s luxury toys and marine “bling” have not only been magnets for the well-heeled, but have also lured plenty of land lubbers.
Show organizers say the first “big” boat to be displayed at the show was in 1968. It was 53 feet. Since then, boat size has evolved.
In 1981, the largest boat in the show was 70 feet; 10 years later, the biggest new yacht was 137 feet. And in 1996, the largest yacht on display was 200 feet.
This year, at least 136 mega-yachts of 100 feet and above in length are expected. The largest boats registered so far range between 209 feet and 281 feet.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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