- The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), which bills itself as the largest in-water boat show in the world, will be held October 30 through November 3.
- Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the show expects 110,000 attendees, 1,200 exhibitors, and 1,500 boats on display, according to a press release. It also anticipates over $500 million in direct sales, with purchases ranging from sunglasses to superyachts.
- Seven yachts are expected to make their world debut at FLIBS, including a megayacht with over-the-top amenities like a dance floor and a helicopter landing pad.
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Over the course of five days, an estimated 110,000 attendees will flock to South Florida where 1,500 boats will be on display, over 100,000 glasses of beer will be consumed, and $508 million will change hands in the name of yachting.
Now in its 60th year, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has established itself as the biggest in-water boat show in the world. With credentials like that, it’s no wonder several boats will be making their world debut at the show, which will take place from October 30 through November 3.
The seven yachts that will be unveiled for the very first time at the boat show emphasize the direction the yachting industry is taking: increasingly technologically advanced vessels that still maintain an air of luxury. Some were designed with jet propulsion mechanisms while others were designed to function in all climates – but all were created with grandeur in mind.
Here are the yachts that are celebrating their world debuts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, listed by size in ascending order.
7. The PB70 is a vessel that was built just up the coast from the boat show in Palm Beach.
Length: 70 feet
Yard: Palm Beach Motor Yachts
It was designed with comfortable speed in mind, capable of reaching a cruising speed of 32 knots. The bow was built to slice through water rather than bounce atop it, promising a smooth ride with minimal wake.
6. The 84R Open, shown here as a concept, will be an 84-foot motoryacht that promises maximum light, even in the cabins.
Length: 84 feet
Yard: Ocean Alexander
It will also have interior detailing that features satin, with Cambria stone flooring and counter surfaces.
5. LeVen 90 is a Dutch-engineered superyacht that was built using renewable aluminum. It has a nearly silent propulsion system and a special hull allowing it to venture into shallow waters, unlike most vessels of its size.
Length: 90 feet
Yard: LeVen Yachts
The technologically advanced boat is on its way to Fort Lauderdale from the Netherlands, but it was originally designed to be the ideal Bahamas island hopper.
4. At 100 feet, the Marlow Voyager 100 is the yard's largest yacht to date and was specifically designed for extended stays in frigid or tropical climates.
Length: 100 feet
Yard: Marlow Yachts
The yacht was also designed and built in Florida, using carbon fiber and Kevlar.
3. The Hargrave G120 is a motoryacht that can accommodate 10 guests and six crew members and prioritizes speed and long-range efficiency.
Length: 120 feet
Yard: Hargrave Custom Yachts
Galati Yacht Sales specializes in selling to American luxury yacht buyers. They teamed up with Fort Lauderdale-based Hargrave Custom Yachts to design and build a vessel they envisioned would be perfect for their existing clientele.
2. BABA'S is another Hargrave Custom Yacht. At 186 feet, it is the largest yacht the yard has ever attempted and was built out of steel and aluminum.
Length: 186 feet
Yard: Hargrave Custom Yachts
The boat, on the way to Fort Lauderdale from Turkey, is even equipped with a "beach club" lounge on the stern.
1. Madsummer, a 311-foot megayacht built this year, will be the show's largest and most glamorous debut.
Length: 311 feet
Yard: Lürssen
The yacht can accommodate 20 guests, is outfitted with colorful interiors, and has amenities like a dance floor, a gym and spa, a helicopter landing pad, a swimming pool, and beach lounge. The yacht was signed for at the 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.