February might be the perfect time to be in South Florida, particularly when there are boats involved. If you are heading down to sunny Miami for the show, here are some cool boats and gear items to check out, where to go and what to do!
Where and When: The Miami International Boat Show will be held at the Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin on Virginia Key, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL.
The show opens on Thursday, February 13th and runs through Monday, February 17th. Check out the latest info on parking and getting to the show here.
The Hylas 60 is making its long-awaited debut at the show. Designed by renowned naval architect German Frers, the new Hylas H60 delivers the familiar quality and safety features that Hylas Yachts are known for, but introduces an edge for performance and modern styling that’s brand new. Pier 9, Slip 933
Looking for luxury? The Sunreef 80 will be the largest yacht at the show. This 80-foot catamaran features an open saloon that merges with the generous cockpit, which extends onto a large aft platform. The flybridge has moveable furniture, a Jacuzzi(!) and a fully equipped wet bar. Inside the hulls you’ll find accommodations with details like walk-in closets and spacious en suite heads and showers. Pier 9, Slip 926
If performance is more your thing, check out the new X40 from Danish builder X-Yachts. At 39 feet, 8 inches LOA, the X40 is the smallest in the company’s XRange. It’s available with a two- or three-cabin layout in an interior that’s designed to maximize the space available and Scandinavian styling. Pier 8, Slip 822
Two power cats are also making a debut at the show: the Lagoon Sixty 7 and Nautitech 47. The Sixty 7 motor yacht is a smaller sister of the flagship motor yacht Seventy 8, and was designed by the catamaran experts Van Pethegem Lauriot Prevost (VPLP) and Patrick Le Quement, with interior design by Nauta Design. Pier 9
The new Nautitech 47 Power offers plenty of comfort and speed. Racy and contemporary lines are combined with optimized hulls for real performance: 22 knots top speed with two Volvo 300hp engines and a range of 300 miles at 15 knots and 1,000 miles at 8.5 knots. Pier 9, Slips 941 & 943
New Gear at the Show
West Marine Inc. Showcases Newest Boating Tech and Safety Products, Tent C, Booth C448
Miami Boat Show presenting sponsor West Marine will be on-site demoing the following accessories for the everyday sailor: ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 Personal Locator Beacon, FUJINON Techno-Stabi 1440 stabilizing binoculars, SPOT – Trace Theft Alert Tracking Device, ICOM – M37 Floating 6 Watt Handheld VHF Radio, and the Taylor Made – AquaFi Mobile Hotspot Kit
OneUP, Tent E, Booth E105
OneUP, is a cool, ultra-compact and portable self-inflating PFD. It weighs less than a pound, and is designed to be thrown a long distance. Upon contact with the water, it inflates within seconds to become a horseshoe-style PFD.
Sunglasses made from recycled fishing nets – Costa Del Mar’s Untangled Collection
Need some new sunnies? Check out Costa’s Untangled Collection, a line of sunglass frames made entirely from recycled fishing nets, which are some of the most harmful form of ocean plastic. The collection features four frame styles made from 100 percent recycled fishing nets, each featuring mineral glass polarized lenses and recycled aluminum Costa logos.
Seminars
Educational seminars will be held upstairs at the Rowing Center, which is adjacent to the East End food court and next to the water. Register at miamiboatshow.com/seminars
Pam Wall is hosting several seminars to get you ready to cruise, including:
Cruising the Bahamas – an in-depth presentation geared to thoroughly prepare you
- Thursday, Feb. 13th, 11am
- Duration: 6 hours
- Cost $169 (includes show admission)
Family Sailing with Kids
- Saturday, Feb 15th, 11am
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $99 (includes show admission)
Outfitting for Blue Water Sailing
- Sunday, Feb. 16th, 11am
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $99 (includes show admission)
Cruising in the Bahamas
- Monday, Feb. 17th, 11am
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $99 (includes show admission)
Join weather Guru Chris Parker from Marine Weather Center
- 20 Interesting, and useful, things you probably don’t know about marine weather
- Sunday, Feb. 16th, 2pm
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $99 (includes show admission)
Interested in the America’s Cup? Join Tucker Thompson, the AC’s TV commentator
Chasing the Cup: An America’s Cup update featuring American Magic
- Saturday, Feb 15th, 2pm
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $99 (includes show admission)