A Day at the Miami Boat Show

The city of Miami hosts the boat show using multiple venues: Collins Avenue, Miami Beach Marina, Sea Isle Marina and the Convention Center.

Visitors at the show would be challenged to visit all locations in one day, however, the long weekend of events makes this glorious mid-February time of the year a wonderful opportunity to explore and discover what the world of yachting has to offer.

The Miami International Boat Show is among the largest in the world. It certainly looked like it as I walked Collins Avenue between 41st and 51st streets, with beautiful high-rise hotels and condos on one side of the street and hundreds of boats lined up on the other.

As I strolled along the docks, I heard myself utter words like elite, posh, ultra, exquisite and extraordinary… and yes, even a few wows. Those are just a few words that still fail to describe more than 500 new and used vessels valued at more than a billion dollars. The yachts on display on Collins Avenue are not for the average, everyday boater, these spots are reserved for the superyacht elite.

However, as I walked further north I saw some of the smaller boats showing. Everyone knows mega yachts need their toys, thus, many yacht tender companies were showcasing their boats along with kayaks, coolers, and other on-the-water accessories.

As I walked the entire ten blocks along Collins Avenue, some magnificent vessels caught my eye, but I also saw a few sports cars that got my heart racing. Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and Maserati strutted their stuff alongside their yacht counterparts.  How very appropriate to have luxury yachts adjacent to luxury sports cars, each complementing the other’s style and pedigree.

Let’s change gears for a moment. Thousands of cars were driving by; each of them with a perfect view of what the show has to offer. Thousands of multi-coloured flags and banners of all sizes fly overhead- which seems to be the symbol of a world-class boat show.

Once you tear your eyes away from all the flash of the magnificent yachts on display, you then notice the multi-coloured logos, international media and display booths lining the docks.

And of course it wouldn't be a boat show without the evening events that attract media, celebrities and the rich and famous.

 

* Photos courtesy of Scott MacFarland - see more on our Facebook page!

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Scott MacFarland is a Director of Marketing and Strategic Communication in the beautiful and historic city of Boston. He is also a recognized thought leader and blogger for the HuffingtonPost and YourBrandExposed on marketing, digital, social media and business topics.