Ft Lauderdale Int. Boat Show

In an incredibly fortunate stroke of absolute good luck, I just found out yesterday that I'll be in Ft. Lauderdale the last weekend of October! My boss/grandfather needs someone to drive his car down for him (he winters there) and I'm doing it. I get an all expenses paid trip to Florida, a week down there and a flight paid back. (Not to mention a full paycheque for the days I'm off work.)

That in itself is a nice treat (despite having to be seen driving a Camry for a few days).

Then... I realized that the HUGE International Boat show is on the weekend I'm there! (Sorry if I'm rambling... I'm just really stoked that the timing worked out so perfect!!!) I never thought I'd be fortunate enough just to to see a boat like Tiara, or any of the other amazing super-yachts up close, but she'll be there!

What are these shows like? I've never been to an in-water show, let alone one that big. Do they actually let people on the boats? (Not likely I'd imagine, unless you're a potential buyer/charterer with a broker....) Regardless, I'll be getting pics galore.

Since I'm such a n00b when it comes to boats and design I think it'd be a great experience just being around all these boats and yachts.

Who else here is planning on attending? Maybe if visits coincide we could meet up for cocktails. (I don't drink... but thats beside the point.)

 

I see your Ft. Lauderdale Show and raise you one IBEX!

Kevin:

First off, welcome to BoatDesign! Recalling seeing some of your recent posts, I backtracked to find your info (join date, etc.) and other threads to which you’ve posted. I see you are a very enthusiastic, budding young candidate for a marine industry career. While the job market may not reflect it – yet – we are in :!: desperate need of new blood, new talent and new ideas.

CONGRATS indeed on your fortune. Perhaps your “good luck” can be extended:

As you know, the Lauderdale show runs Thursday, October 28 – Monday, November 1. It so happens also that IBEX, the International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference, runs Monday, October 25 through Wednesday, Oct. 27 in Miami Beach (www.ibexshow.com). This is a trade show catering to the boat building, design and marketing community, with workshops, seminars, many, many exhibitions of boatbuilding products, and, of course, the chance to meet people.

Depending on your travel dates and where you’re staying it’s worth your consideration. In fact, I have scheduled my vacation this year to hit IBEX, followed by the Fort Lauderdale Show!

I’m not 100% sure (perhaps some resident forum participants can help here?), but the Miami Beach Convention Center should be roughly 30 to 45 minutes south of the Fort Lauderdale area, based on my research with Mapquest, etc. I am tentatively planning to fly to Fort Lauderdale Sunday night, get a hotel/efficiency reasonably central to both locations for the week and take in both events.

Yes, perhaps we could hook up – and, guess what: I don’t drink, either! (That’s a BIG point with me but, easy does it, part of another story….)

I’ve been to plenty of boat shows myself, and in fact believe my career choice was heavily influenced by the first show my dad took me to in New York City in 1976. The In-Water Show at Norwalk, CT is one of my annual favorites and must-sees! Yes – you walk the docks and actually go aboard the boats! You may encounter long lines at some of the larger ones; some exhibitors want you to fill out a “boarding pass”; others schedule tours “by appointment only”. I’ve never been to a show as large as, or with vessels as large as those at, Fort Lauderdale, so I don’t know how crowded it gets or whether the really, really large megayachts have restrictive boarding policies (again, grateful for any input!). HINT: Try to go the first day, Thursday Oct. 28, if possible; less likely to be crowded, more likely that you might run into a company representative, designer, etc. with whon you can talk. The first day of many shows are often popular with trade people and highly-likely-to-buy customers mixing.

I really have to envy you for this being your first boat show, as you have so much to look forward to. Keep in touch as your travel plans develop.

Don Gale
South Salem, NY

(BTW: Took me a moment to realize you were talking about the Amels Tiara, not the Holland, Michigan, Tiara Yachts. )

 

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I'm only arriving on Saturday (30th). I'll be at the show on Sunday, and prolly Monday as well. I was looking at the maps of the site and realized I might not get to see everything I want in just one day... especially if there are lines to see the big boats. I think Monday may be somewhat less crowded anyways... peope work, right? (Well, perhaps not the people that can afford some of those boats...)

Oh, andthe Tiara I was talking about is the 176' Dubois/Alloy sloop. Gorgeous boat! Superlatives fail me on that one.

 

Kevin,
It sounds like fun but there's a chance you might not like it. Traffic's a pain, parking and gate fees are steep, don't even think about the cost of lunch and a couple of drinks unless you're on boss/grandpa's expense account. If he need's somebody to drive his Camry down that could be a problem. If you're driving down the Rolls it's another story. There will be at least three layers of folks checking to see that you are aesthetically and financially qualified to grace the presence of Tiara or any of her sort before you can get on the waiting list to board. If you go, have fun knowing you've been forewarned. If you're not ready to drop some coin though, lots of your friends and neighbors will be hanging out a few miles south around the Hollywood boardwalk.

 

Heheheh... I figured as much. Personally, I just wanna' see the boat. Actually getting inside would be pure gravy. It's like going to car shows... anyone can try out sitting in the Honda Civics or Chevy Malibus, you have to ask nicely (and look more or less "good" enough) if you want to sit in a Corvette though... and don't even bother asking to sit in the Porsche or Ferrari unless you're wearing an italian suit with the appropriately priced accesories.

 

Kevin, I expect you can make some good career related connections at the Fort Lauderdale Show. Some of the companies with whom I've communicated this week plan to be there. The show being a major venue for large/custom builds I'd expect you might have a somewhat greater chance at hooking up with a designer, engineering or company management personnel than you would at most other boat shows. At least some of the sales representatives may provide the name of a company contact, too, as I have found at the Norwalk show.

Be ready to speak to others about your career path and desires, bring business cards (if you have them) and resumes which, if your conversation with another gets into a groove and the timing feels right, you can pass along. Don't be a "nudge", but do be willing and open to talk. Who knows - you might get a VIP tour aboard one of those gold-platers such as is reserved for serious inquirers only!

Don Gale
South Salem, NY

 

Wow, what a great day. I got there a little late this afternoon, so only really had time to scope out the Bahia Mar locale. I did get to see some of the great megayachts (Alpha Four, The World Is Not Enough, etc.) and loads of all sorts of other yachts of course. My only question is, where are all the sailboats? Basically all I saw today was a Perini Navi ketch Liberty and a Holland designed sloop. I'm guessing the general sailboat area is not at Bahia Mar.

Like I'd guessed, just getting on a boat is virtually impossible since I don't have a Cayman account number to prove I'm worthy... but I did get to speak to a couple of really nice company reps who were happy to talk about their products, regardless of the fact that I wasn't wearing a Rolex.

Well, I'm off again tomorrow, hopefully to find the sailboats. Oh, and perhaps marginally less people so I don't feel like I'm about to get shuffled off the dock every 5 minutes.