The Boat Show is NOT just for Yacht Owners

Oct 8th 2019

The Boat Show is NOT just for Yacht Owners

Palm Beach Boat Show

Each year, Island Water Sports packs up some of our favorites from our store and heads to two of South Florida's hottest events. South Florida is known around the globe as the yachting capital of the world ad home to several great boat shows. 

This year the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrates 60 years and is now the largest boat show in the world. It boasts 7 locations, 3 million square feet of exhibition space, 6 miles of floating docks and over 100,000 visitors from around the world. Taking place in less than 3 weeks from October 30th to November 3rd, expect seminars including the Kids Fishing Clinics Hosted by Hook The Future, 3 days of tips from the pros at the Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo, and a one-of-a-kind 30’x 60’, 40,000-gallon freshwater pool with cutting edge marine products including kayaks, SUP’s, yacht toys, and more. Click here for more info.

Palm Beach International Boat Show comes to town in March. This show is also one of the top five boat shows in the country. Everything from the location to the weather, makes this Palm Beach stop a must. This show will features more than $1.2 billion worth of yachts and yachting accessories. You will see hundreds of boats ranging from 8-foot inflatables (easier on the budget) to super yachts nearly 300 feet in length (perfect for those social status selfies).

And, while we might all dream of a "King of the World" moment out on a beautiful yacht in the open seas, if a multi-million dollar yacht and the staff to go along with it is not in the cards this year, there is so much more to the Palm Beach International Boat Show!

Here are our top reasons NOT to miss this year's boat shows:

Boat Show Party

Blue Wild Expo & IGFA School of Sportfishing Seminars

Blue Wild Expo Seminars:

You will get the chance to listen to experts speak about different topics -- from freediving and underwater photography to spearfishing and lobstering, along with presentations by TV/movie celebrity Manny Puig and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Also, be sure to visit the Marine Art Display room, featuring an extensive collection of artwork and photography from a wide range of artists -- from serious, high-end works to whimsical and contemporary pieces. Ocean lovers of all ages are welcome and sure to enjoy The Blue Wild! Find out more here.

IGFA School of Sport Fishing: The IGFA’s highly acclaimed School of Sportfishing will host multiple seminars on site during the Palm Beach Boat Show with some of South Florida’s best captains instructing participants on techniques that took decades to learn. With specialties both inshore and offshore, the seminars will be a feature of the Palm Beach International Boat Show that no angler will want to miss. All of the seminars are FREE with admission. Get the schedule here.

Kids Fishing Clinics by Hook The Future

Kids ages 4-16 are welcome to join the Kids Fishing Clinics Hosted by Hook The Future! Get some hands on experience from Captain Don Dingman and win cool prizes and much more! FREE of cost, just show up and have fun!

 

When: Saturday, November 2nd at 12PM & 2PM and Sunday, November 3rd, 2019: 1PM & 3PM at the convention center on the second floor in room 221-222

About the event: The Kids' Fishing Clinics, presented by Hook the Future, are open to all kids ages 4-16 and feature marine life experts teaching kids basic fishing techniques. Upon completion of all learning stations, participating kids have a chance at great prizes. Hands-on, interactive instruction includes Casting a rod & reel, how to fight a fish, selecting tackle & lures, and fishing ethics.

Aquazone By Nautical Ventures

Again this year, the Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach International Boat Shows, will be featuring the “AquaZone” by Nautical Ventures. This attraction will include demos all day that range from live paddle boarding, SUP Yoga, Hobie kayaks, and hovercrafts, life rafts, Lehr propane outboards, Evinrude G-2 outboard, WaveJet self-propelled SUP, VersaDock modular docking systems all within their 60-foot-by-30-foot 40,000-gallon tented pool. Activities include Zapata Flyboard and Jetpack Demos featuring female world champion Flyboarder Kristen Smoyer; a full range of Hobie Kayaks; the Ecoboardin Electric Surfboard and Manta Stand Up Paddle Board; Bixpy electric water jet propulsion system; and the Schiller Water Bike.

Aquazone Palm Beach Boat Show Palm Beach International Boat Show - Aquazone by Nautical Adventures

The Food & Drinks

Both the Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach International Boat Show offer more delicious food than you could eat in a single weekend. With over 100 vendors serving everything from wood-fired pizza and hand-crafted burgers to authentic street tacos and fresh-from-the-wok pad thai, we have plenty of options for every taste and budget, and ample menu items for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free guests, we promise you'll never go hungry. The upscale Palm Beach International Boat Show beverage experiences planned include specialty cocktails, premium wines and a full line of craft beers.

In Palm Beach, visit venues like the Palm Harbor Cocktail Barge, Goslings World Famous Island Bar, the Budweiser Cocktail Barge and the Winward VIP Club. Or head to the 2nd Annual Sunset Soiree & Yacht Chef Competition hosted by Greater Fort Lauderdale, Pier Sixty-Six Hotel and the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBASS).

The 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will host the 2nd Annual Sunset Soiree & Yacht Chef Competition in the center of Superyacht Village. The evening will offer guests an opportunity to taste the delicious cuisine created by four world-leading Yacht Chefs along with premium craft cocktails and tastings from luxury food purveyors. A panel of esteemed judges will sip and savor the epicurean delights while making their selections. The evening will also entertain guests under the stars in Superyacht Village’s lavish oasis which will feature a live performance by The Wheeland Brothers, entertainment and yacht-side fun while the yacht chefs create gourmet affair. For the 2nd year, the event will be featured in an NBC Sports Network special dedicated to The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The winners (chef and vessel) will walk away with prizes and recognition as Best Yacht Chef of the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show!

Deep Discounts On Your Favorite Brands

Visit booths like Island Water Sports for deep discounts on your favorite items from companies like Yeti, Hemlock, Olukai, Billabong, Roxy, Hurley, O'Neill and more at the Island Water Sports booth and save with special show discounts. Many of the vendors offer exclusive deals on merchandise purchased throughout the weekend.

Boat Show Discounts Hemlock Hats at the Island Water Sports booth

 

       
Cheyne Cottrell