Miami International Boat Show will return to Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key February 15-19, 2018. See more than 1300 boats on display, on land and in water!
Sneak Peek at What’s Hot on the Water in 2018 at the Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show
High Tech, Luxury and Versatility – Trends to See and Shop during the Five Biggest Days in Boating, Feb. 15-19 on Virginia Key
MIAMI – February 5, 2018 – A bellwether for the $37 billion U.S. boating industry, the Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show®, docking Feb. 15-19, is the place to preview the latest boating trends. More than 100,000 boating enthusiasts will flock to the iconic waterside Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin to see firsthand the newest products in the boating industry from hundreds of manufacturers, which use the world-renowned boating event as a platform to unveil new boat models and the most anticipated marine innovations.
From the first driverless boat technology and a new action video camera with hands-free shooting, to a solar-powered dock and bevy of yacht and boat debuts, the 2018 Miami Boat Show provides show-goers a one-stop shop and ideal winter destination to experience the best of the boating lifestyle and stay on top of what’s hot in boating.
Boating trends and products to see at the 2018 Miami Boat Show include:
High Tech Hits the Water
The boating industry has embraced new technology as consumers turn to their smartphones to manage all aspects of their lives and expect ease of use in products purchased. Manufacturers are responding and will unveil boats and marine technologies that provide a more intuitive experience, including making boating as simple as pushing a button.
Exhibitors to see include:
- Mercury Vessel View – This suite of technologies is the closest the industry has come to a driverless boat. Working seamlessly with Mercury engines, the auto pilot and cruise technologies get boats to their final destination point while offering signals and alarms (similar to today’s cars) that alert the driver if another boat is coming or if it’s too shallow. Whether it’s quickly plotting out a few nearby fishing spots or heading to a new place that’s hours away – Mercury’s technologies all work together to take the guesswork out of boating.
- Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 Action Camera – This new waterproof camera allows for hands-free shooting with voice control to start/stop recording, take photos and “remember” moments. Three-axis image stabilization ensures not a minute of the action is missed in any terrain, while a 1.75-inch touchscreen display clearly shows what’s being recorded. With the free VIRB® Mobile app, users can even livestream their adventures as they unfold.
- Solar Electric Power Zone (solar-powered dock) – presented by Torqeedo and PowerDocks, the new Blue Isles™ floating Solar Micro Grid Dock can self-generate 1,248 watts an hour of sustainable solar power. Get a close-up look at the latest electric boats powered by Torqeedo, including a Volt 18, Bruce 22 and Highfield inflatable. The combination of renewable solar power in a floating dock, plus quiet, clean electric propulsion, opens a new world of eco-friendly possibilities for marinas and boaters alike.
Opulence on the Open Seas
Miami Boat Show attendees can expect to see hundreds of new motor and sailing yachts on display, with dozens of world debuts from leading brands including the Marlow Explorer 80E (the largest confirmed yacht at the show).
Show-goers can also experience the boating lifestyle like a VIP with the new VIP Experience, an exclusive retreat featuring a two-story deck with stunning views of the show and Miami skyline, an indoor lounge, all-inclusive food and beverage, and entertainment.
Exhibitors to watch include:
- Marlow – Explorer 80E – Designed with the luxury lifestyle in mind, the Marlow 80E offers a large aft deck with options for hidden grills, setees and chaise lounges. The woodworking is impeccable, as on all Marlow Explorers, with grain-matched veneers throughout, achieved by the use of one single log for the entire yacht. Additional features for entertaining include a wine locker and entertainment center with wet bar and icemaker.
- Oyster Yachts – Oyster 625 – This sailing yacht offers a new hull design by Humphreys Yacht Design with increased performance and handling, options for a sportier rig, several interior layout options and increased space in the master cabin.
- Scout – 420 LXF – This luxury sport fisher features an epoxy-infused hull, providing improved structural stability and reducing the overall weight of the boat, equaling unsurpassed performance. Additional highlights include three-person aft-facing cockpit seat, full transom walk-through platform with dive ladder and a summer kitchen with Kenyon grill and Yeti slide-out cooler.
- Leopard Catamarans – Leopard 50 – The next generation of sailing catamarans, the Leopard 50’s exterior gives the hull a sleek and sophisticated look. Available with a multitude of options, buyers can opt for a flybridge lounge, known as Leopard 50L or the more familiar, continuous hardtop on the Leopard 50P. Available in a three-cabin plus utility room, four-cabin or five-cabin version.
- Sunseeker – Predator 57 MK II – Created to balance style and practicality, this yacht is designed to adapt to different climates and offers a seamless entertaining space with uninterrupted views. The unique open plan and flexible design of the Predator 57 MK II includes a fully opening hardtop roof, cockpit with a large L-shaped seating arrangement, built-in barbecue and wet bar, overhead shower and fold-down transom seating.
The Millennial Boater
Manufacturers continue to build more accessible and versatile watercraft to attract new and younger boaters, offering an all-in-one experience from fishing and watersports, to cruising and entertaining. Sales in 2017 are estimated to be up for ski and wake boats (seven percent), pontoons (7-8 percent), cruisers (9-10 percent) – boats between 22 and 32 feet, and personal watercraft (5-6 percent) in 2017.
The Miami Boat Show provides an opportunity for serious shoppers to ‘test-drive’ more than 200 vessels in sea trials; there is sure to be a boat for every budget and lifestyle.
Exhibitors to watch include:
- SeaVee – 270Z Bay Boat – At 27 feet, the SeaVee 270Z bay boat is a stable fishing platform designed for large, exposed bays and coastal areas, as well as the occasional offshore excursion. Oversize bow and aft casting platforms are connected by wide gunwales that make walking from bow to stern safe and easy. The overall size of the aft platform is the largest currently available on any boat in this class.
- MasterCraft XStar – The completely redesigned 2018 XStar debuts with a radical new wake-specific hull design that can be equipped with 4,100 lbs. of ballast, the largest in the industry, a new midship ballast tank that enhances the wake and improves wake surfing performance and an optional, award-winning Gen 2 Surf System that creates three zones of perfectly sculpted, customizable surf.
- Contender – 32 ST – The 32 ST features aggressive lines and impressive speed with a one-piece level deck from bow to stern, twin raised livewells, walk-through transom, self-bailing cockpit, and a walk-in step down console.
- Sea-Doo – GTX and RXT – These new personal watercraft models offer creative storage options, the first-ever Bluetooth audio system with premium sound and its newly designed comfortable rear platform for lounging, diving or fishing. The all-new RXT-X 300 offers riders offshore performance with an exhilarating top speed of 60 mph, reached in just 3.6 seconds.
- Cobalt 23SC – Contoured for accessibility, the 23SC is built for fun – with a beach boarding ladder, spacious swim step, multi-use sunpad and plush seating. Adding to the strength and integrity of its design are an all fiberglass stringer system and cockpit liner deck, a Kevlar® reinforced hull, and solid stainless steel windshield braces.
Show Details
Where:
Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin
3501 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Show Hours:
February 15 – 19, 2018
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day
Admission:
Premier Day (Feb. 15) $40
Adult (age 13+) $25
Two-Day Pass $45
Five-Day Pass $100
Child (12 & under) FREE
Bigger, Better, Best – The 2018 Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show® Returns to Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin February 15-19 with New Sail and VIP Areas
— Virginia Key location now home to Strictly Sail Miami, bringing more boats, yachts and accessories to one location on-land and in-water —
The five biggest days in boating will dock once again at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin over President’s Day weekend, attracting an estimated 100,000 boating enthusiasts to experience the 2018 Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show®, now in its 77th year. Creating the ultimate destination for boating enthusiasts from around the globe, sail will join power in one location, as the Progressive® Insurance Strictly Sail Miami® moves to Miami Marine Stadium, where boaters and sailors alike will have the opportunity to browse, board and buy more than 1,400 boats in-water and on-land on Virginia Key.
Coupled with more food and beverage options, a new VIP deck lounge, as well as Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training workshops, and more than 200 boats available for sea trials for serious buyers, attendees can enjoy everything the boating lifestyle has to offer on an island oasis with expansive views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. Show highlights and enhancements include:
Sailor’s Paradise – Strictly Sail Miami® Drops Anchor at Miami Marine Stadium
The well-known sailing event joins the Miami International Boat Show at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, creating one comprehensive boating event. More than 50 sailboats—catamarans and monohulls—will be in-water exclusively on Pier 9. The world’s premiere sailing exhibitors will showcase sailing gear and accessories in Sailor’s Cove, located inside Tents F and J. Sailor’s Cove will also feature daily educational seminars, presented by the top sailors in the industry, plus meet-and-greets with well-known sailing experts.
Experience the Show like a VIP
The new, all-inclusive VIP experience at the Miami Boat Show grants one-day entry to the show and all its features, in addition to complimentary food, drink, and entertainment within an exclusive luxury VIP deck offering unparalleled views of Miami and the show.
Relax and Dine Waterside
The 2018 show features a new menu of dining options from Great Performances, which operates at the Miami Open tennis tournament and other local festivals, to cater to every taste. Great Performances will partner with an array of local food trucks and restaurant favorites to offer dining options for show-goers, including the Latin Café, The Knife Steakhouse, Moet & Chandon Sushi Maki, Killer Melts, Moty’s, Mulberry 1965 Pizza, King of Racks BBQ, HipPops, B.C. Tacos, Mr. Bing, Relentless Roasters and Ocean Breeze.
Park and Ride Made Easy
Come to the show by land or sea! With the streamlining of the show’s venues into one location also comes the streamlining of transportation options to get you there. Having two years under its belt, the Miami International Boat Show has taken feedback from exhibitors and attendees to deliver an enhanced transportation plan. More than 85 percent of water taxi goers traveled from two key stops, making them a priority for year three: Bayfront Park and AmericanAirlines Arena. Located near ample parking and public transportation options, these two stops offer the fastest and most convenient ways to get to the show.
In addition, complimentary shuttle buses will run to-and-from the AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami, getting more people to and from the show in less time.
Shuttle buses and water taxis will begin at 9 a.m., one hour before the show opens, and conclude at 7 p.m., one hour after the show closes. The last departure to Miami Marine Stadium is 4:30 p.m. Final departure for return service from Marine Stadium to Bayfront Park and AmericanAirlines Arena is at 7 p.m. (transportation map).
Convenient parking options on Virginia Key will again be available and can be reserved and prepaid in advance at MiamiBoatShow.com. Shuttle buses and Freebees, as well as a 15-foot wide walking path, will make getting to-and-from parking lots to the show entrance easy, safe and efficient. Parking opportunities on Virginia Key include:
- Lot A – On Arthur Lamb Jr. Road for general and exhibitor parking on Virginia Key.
- Lot B – On historic Virginia Beach Drive for general parking on Virginia Key.
- Lot C – At the Miami Seaquarium for preferred parking and handicap parking on Virginia Key.
- Valet – Located at the entrance to Whiskey Joe’s (includes Freebee shuttle service to the show entrance).
Public transportation options offer access from the north, south, as well as Broward and Palm Beach counties via the Metrorail, Metromover and Tri-Rail. Get directions and stop information at www.MiamiBoatShow.com/public-transportation.
Fast Facts on the 2018 Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show:
Where:
Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin
3501 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Show Hours:
February 15 – 19, 2018
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day
Admission:
Premier Day (Feb. 15) $40
Adult (age 13+) $25
Two-Day Pass $45
Five-Day Pass $100
Child (12 & under) FREE
Tickets are available here: http://www.miamiboatshow.com/tickets-and-parking
Accommodations:
Visit www.MiamiBoatShow.com/accomodations now to book rooms at the best rates through the boat show’s official housing partner, OnPeak.
Show Office Phone:
Local Florida Office – 954.441.3220
www.MiamiBoatShow.com
About the Progressive® Insurance Miami International Boat Show®
The Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows and the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. The boat show generates $854 million of economic activity each year and supports full-time employment for approximately 6,000 Floridians NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.
