Ft. Lauderdale boat show VS. Miami boat show

[TopShelf]

I am on my way to Ft. Lauderdale for the boat show. I have never been. i have been to Miami. Does anyone have an opinion on which is better

[ReelGrimm]

I'll be there... they are both good.. miami parking is a big pain though.. so I prefer fort laud...

[svendsenjoel]

Don't miss the inside of the convention center. For years I bypassed it for the in-water stuff, but I was missing a lot of good stuff. Both shows are really good, but overall I prefer Miami.

[peytonlac]

Fort Lauderdale is beter in my opinion, everything is very close...

[1NO REGRETS]

I enjoy the miami show more been going there for as long as I can remember,lauderdale is to much of the bbbbbiiiiggggggg stuff.Miami is further for me but it's worth it to me.Although I did buy my engines last year in lauderdale!!At the show.

[JAGSARE1]

Went to the Miami show for about 15 years straight then skipped a couple and have been the last 2 or 3. Not once did I go to the Ft. Lauderdale show. I will be there this year. Don't miss the informal THT gathering at Bahia Mar dock BC-30A. This is Mirage, where I will be. At 6 PM Saturday, there will be beers for THTers
.

[Prop Blast]

Miami is the world's largest boat show and held in Feb. Manufacturers commonly use Miami as their target to get a new product out to the market place. That goes for boats, engines (outboard & inboard), marine electronics, and boating related products.

Ft. Lauderdale is better know for the "in-water" part of the show. It's also a large boat/yacht show -- more so than Miami. I suppose it's due to the venue's layout being more condusive to an in-water show.

In summary: If you want to see just about everything and anything that's boat related -- go to Miami. If you like looking at large boats & yachts -- go to Lauderdale. There is other stuff at Ft. Lauderdale, just that it's well known for the mega boats on display.

BTW...neither show is where fishing tackle manufacturers go to show off new products (that's done in July/Aug at ICAST in Las Vegas).

PB

[endoman]

Easy solution.
Go to both and judge for yourself.
The hardest thing to figure out is whether or not you'll see more $ invested in boats or implants.

[Ssoto0055]

Guess that depends on what you like better. Parking at the Miami show is a royal pain. Ft Lauderdale has all the big yachts. I don't care to for those large yachts. Not only can I not afford them, but if I can't get blood on the deck, and come home smelling like ballyhoo I don't care for them.

[phillipj1]

Miami is better. Everything is in one spot. You dont have to wait for those stupid shuttles.

[PSW]

I have been to both and prefer Lauderdale. Miami is great but when you fly across the country the last thing you want to do is spend 3 days in a convention center. Miami to me is 80% convention center and 20% in the water. I like the in the water stuff. Walk the endless docks and feel the boat as you step on it. More of a relaxed enjoyable mini vacation. So with Lauderdale being in my mind 80% in the water and 20% convention center that is perfect. Ideally you go to both as they are different. With Furuno releasing Navnet 3 that is perfect timing for me being in the market for all new electronics. The boats I want to see are the 28+ Grady, Pursuit, Jupiter, Cabo, Ocean, Contender, Mirage, etc in the water.

Catching the red eye Wednesday night.

[SeaNile]

See you guys down there. I love walking the custom sportfish dock...Sculley...Spencer...Davis and a lot of hi end brokerage boats.

--JK

[lcosta01]

The FLL show is better IMO, but it doesn't matter to me because I go to both.

[LostShaker]

I think Lauderdale has more implants...Hmmm.HMMM...I often thought about being a Captain....You scratched my anchor!