Celebrating its 60th year, the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show took center stage in downtown Fort Lauderdale from October 30 to November 2. The show featured more than 1,500 boats on display and 1,200 exhibitors spanning three million square feet of exhibition space and six miles of floating docks! Lakeland Boating attended the show to check out the debuts and new arrivals. • Absolute had its American launch of the Absolute 47 Fly and Navetta 68. It also announced the 2021 model year, which will include the brand-new Navetta 64 debuting at the Miami Boat Show next month.
• Aviara had its large, new AV 36 model on display, available in both outboard and sterndrive propulsion.
• Azimut announced its new A45 and A51 in early October and had the new yachts on display at FLIBS.
• Boston Whaler showed off its new 405 Conquest and 325 Conquest. The 405 features a private master stateroom, enclosed head with separate shower, redesigned hull and more.
• Chris-Craft’s new Launch 31 GT is available in outboard or sterndrive propulsion.
• Galeon’s 680 FLY made its FLIBS debut after being unveiled at the 2019 Cannes show. This new yacht features a sundeck that transforms into a seating area, a spacious flybridge, four guest cabins and more.
• Groupe Beneteau’s many boat brands had several new products on display, including:
• Monte Carlo 52, which has three cabins.
• Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 OB, Swift Trawler 41 and Flyer 32.
• Monte Carlo Yachts MCY 66, MCY 70 and MCY 76.
• Jeanneau NC 895 SPORT and NC 1095 FLY.
• Prestige 420, which features sweeping views inside and two staterooms. Prestige also announced a new line called XLine; the first model, the X70, will debut at FLIBS 2020.
• Scarab 285 ID is the biggest jetboat in the segment and reaches 55 mph.
• Wellcraft 402 Fisherman is 40 feet and is equipped with four engines and a cabin.
• Marquis showed off its new Marquis 42, a sporty dayboat, as well as the luxurious Lexus LY 650, which was built at the Marquis facilities in Pulaski, Wisconsin.
• Palm Beach debuted its new PB70, featuring a spacious flybridge, 32-knot cruising speed and top speed of 38 knots. Grand Banks announced it would be building its largest yacht to date, the GB85, which will be showcased in 2020.
• Princess Yachts had its show premiere of the new F45, V60, S66, Y85 and V78.
• Ranger and Cutwater debuted the new Ranger Tugs R-25, Cutwater 24 Center Walkaround and Cutwater 32 Command Bridge.
• Riviera and Belize had five premieres, including the American debut of the Riviera 545 SUV, Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht Series II-Platinum Edition, Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, as well as the global debut of Belize’s 66 Daybridge.
• Sea Ray had its world debut of the 320 Sundancer Coupe Outboard, which you can overnight with four people, combining all the acclaimed features of a cruiser, bowrider and coupe.
• Tiara Sport’s new 38 LX made its global debut, along with a show premiere of the new 43 LS. Both models feature Tiara Sport’s signature transformational seating.
• Viking had five world premieres, including its new 38 Open Billfish, 46 Billfish, along with its new Valhalla line, the V-33, V-37 and V-41.
• Volvo Penta’s new D4 and D6 propulsion systems made their U.S. debut. They have been re-engineered with redesigned engines, new sterndrive, updated IPS drive and a new Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) platform.
• World Cat’s new 325CC was on display.
