It’s that time of year again! Time to head to the Miami International Boat Show and the Yacht & Brokerage Show. Our editors did all the leg work for you to find out what trends to look for and what’s hot. We also got a little help from celebrity chef, restaurateur, and ardent boater Tom Colicchio to ensure you’re living like a star.
Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio was supposed to tell us all about his new South Beach restaurant—turns out he’d rather just talk about boats.
We asked Miami born and bred restaurateur Carlos Gazitua to walk us through his perfect day in the Magic City. Gazitua proves once again, there’s no better way to get to know a place than to ask a local.
Five trends the editors have noticed in the boating marketplace
Ferraris and Lambos roar down Miami’s boulevards, and the bright lights of downtown illuminate the skyline until the hot sun rises to swallow them whole. Spend even a little bit of time there and you’ll realize that Miami runs at a higher wattage than most places. It’s a town where people go to see and be seen—to get loose, turn up, and show off. This is especially true during the second week of February, when the Yacht and Brokerage Show in Miami Beach and the Miami International Boat Show float into town. Casual tourists and serious boaters alike ogle the yachts that line Collins Ave, and the docks of the Marriott Biscayne Bay. Besides the gleaming waxed hulls and the dazzling underwater lights, you’ll notice something else if you know where to look. Trends. As a city, Miami is at the forefront of almost everything: art, fashion, hell even social mores. And the same applies to boats. Check out a few trends we’ve noticed and see if you agree.
A few years ago during the height of the Great Recession, it seemed like everyone was looking to downsize from a 50- or 60-foot convertible to a smaller center console.
Cats Are Taking Over the World
Have a look around your marina next time you’re there. Notice anything? If there aren’t already more catamarans than there used to be, there almost certainly will be soon.
…a simpler kind of boating, one that encourages families to put down their phones and tablets and whatever else is sapping their attention, and make a real connection with the marine environment.
From ferrying you and your guests to shore, to provisioning or simply allowing you to explore waterways that your primary vessel can’t, tenders serve myriad purposes and according to one industry insider, the demand for them is as high as ever.
Electronic Integration and Dis-Integration
Today’s electronics systems for recreational boats can funnel huge quantities of information and even control through today’s fully integrated helm systems.
With the MyBoatShow App from Show Management, you’ll have all the information you need to make the most of your time on the docks at the Yacht & Brokerage Show, including details about the show itself, searchable lists of yachts and vendors, and more.
The Yacht and Brokerage Show in Miami Beach and the Miami International Boat Show are two of the most exciting boat shows in the world. We put together a gallery of some interesting boats that show exactly why that is.
This article originally appeared in the February 2015 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
