Top 10 Moments at FLIBS 2016

Months of planning went into the 57th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and in the end, boat sales are just some of the many memorable occurrences that happened during the show. Here are our top 10 moments from this year’s show:

1. Hatteras celebration – The Hatteras boat show party on Friday night gave guests a chance to get an up-close look at the beauties at this year’s show in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying delicious food and drinks. This year’s Hatteras display at Bahia Mar featured the 100′ motoryacht, the 70′ motoryacht, the 70′ GT, the 63′ GT, the 60′ motoryacht and the 45′ Express. 

2. Bertram 35 debut – There are always a plethora of debuts at FLIBS, and this year was no exception. One highlight was the Bertram 35, the first boat produced at Bertram Yachts’ new facility in Tampa, Florida. 

“The 35 has really hit a nerve in the industry,” Bertram Yachts CEO Peter Truslow told Trade Only Today. “It’s a classic-looking, beautiful Bertram, unmistakably Bertram, but designed and developed in a completely modern way.”

3. Carver C52 debut – The Carver C52 Command Bridge made its Fort Lauderdale debut at this year’s show, and the new C52 Coupe made its world premiere at the show. The C52 Coupe offers a full-beam master stateroom with private head and separate shower, spacious forward guest stateroom and head plus large third stateroom, raising the bar for both luxury and cruising comfort.

4. Beneteau proposal – Plans were made to tie a different kind of know this year at the boat show when Jason Perez reached out to Denison to plan a proposal to his girlfriend, avid sailor Megan Keyser, on a Beneteau sailboat in the show.  

5. Savannah – Unquestionably, one of the stars of this year’s boat show was Savannah, the 273′ Feadship hybrid-electric superyacht. Check out video of her as she leaves the show here. 

6. Projection mapping – Instead of kicking off the show with the traditional fireworks, this year for the first time show producers transformed the side of Bahia Mar with a spectacular 3D projection mapping display. The immersive, aquatic experience was repeated several times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. 

7. Breaking records – Denison had a record 49 boats in the show, including 6 superyachts longer than 100 feet. The displays consisted of brokerage boats at Bahia Mar and Las Olas marinas and new boat displays with Hatteras, Beneteau, Carver and Marquis, as well as sailboats at Pier 66. The superyachts, spread around the show, were:

• Lady Carmen, a 2016 102′ Hatteras
• Namoh, a 2003 125′ Cheoy Lee
• Star, a 2012 138′ Kingship
• Cheers 46, a 2014 140′ Benetti
• Themis, a 1999 156′ Trinity
• Lady Sheridan, a 2007 190′ Abeking & Rasmussen
• Mine Games, a 2010 203′ Benetti 

8. Denison kiosk at The Market – Denison brokers, clients and guests could avoid long lines and pick up tickets and credentials this year at a branded kiosk at the All About Food Market in front of Bahia Mar along Seabreeze Boulevard. The kiosk also served as a handy meeting and drop-off point. 

9. Perks for crew – In addition to the National Marine party, Lurssen party, Dockwalk Hideout and the array of usual crew appreciation events, there were a few new perks for crew this year. Denison partnered with IGY Marinas, which offered daily VIP captain and crew morning kickoffs including nitro coffee, chair massages, mini golf and a visit from the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. 

10. Sailboats a success – Denison’s first sale of the show was a new Beneteau Oceanis 45 sailboat by Denison Palm Beach broker Matthew Morrison. Denison also had several sailing yachts on display at Pier 66, including the Beneteau Oceanis 41, Beneteau Oceanis 60, Beneteau Sense 55, a 2002 47′ Lagoon and a 1989 57′ Wellington. 

For more information on on purchasing a new or brokerage yacht from Denison, contact 954.763.3971 or Sales@denisonyachtsales.com.