Collins Avenue in Miami Beach will be a riot of color and crowds oohing and aahing at the convergence of more than a billion dollars’ worth of superyachts, sportfishermen, express cruisers and oceangoing trawlers on Indian Creek during the Yacht & Brokerage Show Feb. 14-18.
This year’s lineup includes TrawlerPort, PassageMaker magazine’s display of trawlers and other cruising powerboats, at the north end of the mile-long strip of in-water displays; a section for Down Easters, another for megayachts and a sportfishing pavilion, all also near the south end; and new-boat displays at the north end. Midway down the promenade will be the yacht equipment pavilion, which along with the sportfishing pavilion will have marine accessories, fishing gear and electronics.
Organizers are trying to keep similar products together, says Andrew Doole, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Show Management, which manages the show for the Florida Yacht Brokers Association. “[It] makes it easier for everyone to find them,” he says.
A free smart-phone app, MyBoatShow, for iPhone and Android is available from www.showmanagement.com to help visitors navigate the show.
The 500-plus boats expected on Indian Creek will range from 30 to more than 200 feet — Diamonds are Forever, a 200-foot Benetti, is expected — and price out at $250,000 to $60 million. Doole says show-goers will see more megayachts and superyachts and more new boats this year, although there still will be “spectacular brokerage boats.”
In addition to yachts and gear, the show will offer education in various disciplines, including 15 cruising seminars at TrawlerPort and another 14 presented by guides from the International Game Fish Association School of Sportfishing at the sportfish pavilion.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, through Sunday, Feb. 17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18. Parking is available, and there is free shuttle bus service between the Miami Beach Convention Center, Sea Isle Marina on Miami’s Bayshore Drive and Collins Avenue. Buses run from an hour before the show opens until an hour after it closes. Admission is free.
See related article:
– Miami show will feature 3,000 boats
February 2013 issue
