
In his speech at the Industry Breakfast event that traditionally opens the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, manager Efram (Skip) Zimbalist III announced that the show’s footprint had expanded to be by far the biggest in the show’s history.
In terms of revenue will also be the biggest show in the history of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show which has a staggering 3,000,000 ft.² of exhibit space across three different locations. The indoor area at the Convention Center has been expanded by 30,000 more square feet to accommodate more of the smaller boats including pontoons, so this isn’t just a super yacht show.
Many of the builders took this opportunity to introduce new models. Chris Craft showed their beautiful new Corsair 36 Hard Top; their first new enclosed model in some time. The Beneteau Groupe showed their stunning new Monte Carlo 5, a 50-foot flying bridge yacht with IPS power and elegant new interior styling.

Jeanneau and Prestige introduced several new models. The builder announced their new Prestige 750 was undergoing sea trials right now. Their Prestige 450 and 450 S models are two new boats on display at Fort Lauderdale for the first time. They also introduced new Concept and Velasco models as well as their Leader line in an event Friday, November 1st.
Boston Whaler held a media launch for their new 350 Outrage salt water centre console model and their new Boston Whaler 345 Conquest which is a hardtop with more cabin space and cruising accommodations.
FLIBS 2013
Sea Ray held a by-invitation gala with an impressive air-conditioned indoor slip to introduce their new 510 Flybridge motor yacht and 350 SLX sport boat.
SeaVee Boats announced three new twin-stepped hull center consoles in their Z Series.
Also, Volvo-Penta of the Americas president Ron Huibers made their first North American introduction of their new Glass Cockpit control and navigation systems, along with new Volvo Penta IPS950 models powered by their D11 diesels. The company also showed the new V8-430 CE Aquamatic stern drive. The Chris Craft 36 Hard top was one of the very first boats to get this powerful new-generation engine.
CY Virtual Video Boat Tours
We all love boats and nothing can break us up! So, what better way to spend our time than looking at interesting boats and going aboard in a virtual ride or tour. We have asked our friends at various dealers and manufacturers to help us assemble a one-stop online resource to experience some of the most interesting boats on the market today. Where the CY Team has done a review, we connect you to that expert viewpoint. If you can’t go boating, you can almost experience the thrill via your screen. Not quite the same, but we hope you enjoy our fine tour collection.
Read more about the CY Virtual Boat Tours....................
By Andy Adams
Once again, Cruisers Yachts is leading the market for day boats with their new 42 GLS model that premiered at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show at the end of October. The concept of a large day boat is now a very well-established trend made possible by the amazing new power and efficiency of the latest four stroke outboards.
Buyers are looking for a different boating experience and we think that the 42 GLS nails it. Fast, handsome and versatile, the 42 GLS is designed for fun and adventure.
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In Part I, Sheryl Shard ended the story at June and the start of Hurricane Season when they were once again joined by friends.
This time it was Noel and Tracey Dinan, whose new shallow-draft Allures 49.5 was in build at the time, we headed north from the Exumas across the expanse of the Great Bahama Bank, dodging coral patches as we sailed to Eleuthera then Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco. Another commercial centre in the islands, we cleared out of the Bahamas here after provisioning for our offshore passage up to the Chesapeake Bay on the US mainland and out of the Hurricane Zone until mid-November...
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By Andrew McDonald, Lakeside Marine Services
“They don’t make ‘em like they used to”, is a phrase that many of us are familiar with. Most of the time it is in reference to a bygone era of better, and it’s used to lament the sorry state of what we have today. It is a phrase that can be applied to many areas of our lives: architecture, art, furniture, tools. Boats? I would argue that they don’t make them like they used to. But, is that lamentable, or is it progress?
Progress, I think. With this concept in mind, as we enter another season of putting boats to bed for the winter, why do we winterize as we always have?
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