The Newport International Boat Show, presented by BankNewport, will take place September 11–14, 2025. This year’s event will span over seventeen acres in historic downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Visitors can walk the docks to check out the impressive lineup of sailboats and powerboats, including a brokerage basin with yachts up to 90 feet for sale. On land, explore hundreds of marine products, services and accessories. As the official kickoff to the boat show season, NIBS also highlights debuts through the Newport for New Products, featuring boats and products making their first US appearance.

One popular aspect of the show, Tech Talks, offers dynamic, hands-on workshops held on Saturday and Sunday. Designed for boaters of all experience levels, each three-hour session covers valuable topics such as Gel Coat Repair, Electronically Controlled Diesels, and Lithium Battery Essentials. Workshop registration includes admission to the show. Space is limited and advance booking is highly recommended.

NIBS is the perfect way to combine your passion for boating with classic New England fall weather.

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Nancy Piffard, show director of the Newport International Boat Show, has held that title for 22 years. One of the show’s sales staff has been there 26 years. The partnerships coordinator, 35 years.

“We love our show,” Piffard says. “Skipping it in 2020 was very sad.”

Many yachtsmen who attend boat shows each year felt the same way during the pandemic and are thrilled this fall, as traditional boat shows return. The Newport show is back just in time for its 50th anniversary. The Norwalk Boat Show in Connecticut, a staple for 40-plus years, ran on September 23-26. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, held for more than 60 years, is set for October 27-31.

Piffard says there’s no question that boaters are most of all excited about shows returning: “Ticket sales are off the charts right now.”

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We love every boat show. Truly, we do. Whether it’s the mega-yachts in Fort Lauderdale or the Downeast debuts in Newport, Rhode Island, or the center consoles and family-friendly cruisers in New York City, each boat show has its own vibe and reasons to get excited.

The United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis offers plenty in that respect, but for us, an added bonus at this particular show is the after-the-docks dining in the historic district. Quite a few restaurants are within walking distance. Some are in buildings more than a century old. A handful have helped to keep oystermen and other seafaring enterprises going for generations.

McGarvey’s is our choice for oysters, served with a cocktail sauce, fiery horseradish and lemon, plus crackers to give your taste buds a break. (Thank goodness.)

Close by is the Federal House Bar & Grille, established in 1830 and still winning awards for its cream of crab soup. Its other specialty is crab cakes, and a recently added fan favorite is the Crabby Patty: a burger topped with a fried onion, crab dip and cheese.

Near there is the Iron Rooster, which is the place to go for comfort food such as ­Lowcountry dirty rice, meatloaf and chicken pot pie — say, if you need to soothe your nerves during a bidding war for a brokerage boat.

And as hard as it might be to save a few calories for dessert, we highly recommend a stop at the Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory, which has been serving up sweetness since 1979. There are single-, double- and triple-scoop versions of everything from traditional chocolate and vanilla to deep-dish apple pie. (Yes, as ice cream. On a cone.)

So, walk the show docks until your feet are good and sore, and work up a hearty appetite. Annapolis never disappoints — on boats or bellies.

Boat Show Favorite

McGarvey’s Saloon and Oyster Bar was established in 1975 and has been a favorite hangout among Annapolis boat-show patrons for years. Fresh oysters, clams and mussels are delivered to the restaurant six days a week. The oysters come from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

Powerboat Show

The United States Powerboat Show is scheduled for October 11-14 in Annapolis. More than 650 boats, including new and brokerage models, will be there. The show has a demo deck where builders and manufacturers demonstrate new boats, engines and equipment. Cruisers University provides tips for living aboard, planning a cruise, maintenance and more. Children get in free if they are 6 or younger. Adult ticket prices are $18 in advance or $20 at the gate. The preview day price is $35. A $48 combination ticket includes the preview day plus one additional day. An adult two-day ticket (not including the preview day) is $31.

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The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is going to look different this year. In fact, it’s going to look different before attendees even step inside.

“You’re walking south toward the property, and there will be more of a plaza now, a welcoming plaza,” says Danny Bulemore, senior associate at EDSA, which is helping show owner Informa change the old entrance to exhibitor-only and create a separate entryway for attendees. “We’re proposing a larger media or info board — one that comes to mind is the message board at Disney World, where it tells you how long the wait times are. It could tell you what’s going on at the show, different events happening at different times at the show, everything that’s happening inside.”

After that, he says, show-goers will find themselves immersed in a welcoming scene en route to the boats and exhibitors.

“We’ve also talked about bringing some of the kiosks out into the arrival area, beer and water, those types of things,” Bulemore says. “Nowadays, with Instagram and so much social media, we’re trying to make photo opportunities. Some of the character imagery we’re looking at are things inspired by major sporting events or concerts, like big letters that people can stand on and take a picture and use the hashtag FLIBS with the view of the marina behind them.”

Also new at this year’s show will be biodegradable plates and products, along with farm-to-plate food by Atlanta-based Proof of the Pudding. The idea, as with the new entry, is to enhance the overall experience.

Of course, all the yachts will still be there, but boat lovers who’ve attended FLIBS for years may appreciate Bulemore’s thought about the show’s changes: “It’s a fun opportunity to change the perspective a little bit.”

I-Bridge Four Islands

FLIBS By the Numbers

  Expected attendance is about 110,000 people during the five-day event.  The number of exhibitors will be about 1,200, from 52 nations.   boats on display should number about 1,500. Dates for the show are October 31 through November 4. Ticket prices are $33 for anyone 16 or older, $15 for children ages 6 to 15, and free for children younger than 6. A two-day adult ticket costs $57 and is good any two days from November 1-4. The vip package is $300 with a lounge open to attendees 21 or older.

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Fleming 65 Venture

Nusa daysailer at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Fairline 38 Open at the Newport Beach Boat Show

McKinna 69 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Duffield 58 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Sunseeker 108 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Ranger Tugs at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Ocean Alexander 85 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Ocean Alexander 85 interior

Cutwater 30 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Offshore 62 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Cruisers Cantius 45 at the Newport Beach Boat Show

Chris-Craft Catalina 23

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Newport Beach Boat Show

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Megayachts at the Miami Boat Show 2014

Palm Beach 55 at the Miami Boat Show

Revolver yacht at the Miami Boat Show

Miami Sunset

Riva 33 Aquariva Cento

Sold at the Boat Show

Ferretti 750 Interior

Continental 50 at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show 2014

Luxury Cars at the Miami Boat Show

Pershing 90 at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show

Sabre Yachts at the Miami Boat Show

VanDutch 55 at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show

VanDutch 40 Walkaround

Zeelander Z68 at the Miami Boat Show

Raymarine touch-screen displays

Magnum Marine at the Miami Boat Show 2014

Original 1960’s Fairline 19

Fairline 48 Open at the Miami Boat Show

Hacker-Craft at the 2014 Miami Boat Show

Outer Reef Christening

Sea Ray L 650 debuts at the Miami Boat Show

Sea Ray L650 Fly Interior

Princess 98 at the Miami Boat Show

Princess 72 at the Miami Boat Show 2014

Azimut Yachts at the Miami Boat Show

Manatee at the Miami Boat Show

Cranchi Eco Trawler 53

Cranchi Yachts at the Miami Boat Show

Monte Carlo Yachts at the Miami Boat Show

Beneteau at the Miami Boat Show

Yachts with Helicopters at the Miami Boat Show

Astondoa Top Deck

Horizon Yachts PC60

Comitti at the Miami Boat Show

Rodman 1250 at the Miami Boat Show

Rodman Muse at the Miami Boat Show

Sportfish Pavilion at the Miami Boat Show

60′ Ritchie Howell Sportfish

Bonadeo 34 CC at the Miami Boat Show

Vicem 80 Classic at the Miami Boat Show

Hatteras Cabo Display

Riviera 50 Enclosed Bridge at the Miami Boat Show

Jupiter 41 Express at the Miami Boat Show

Delta 54 IPS at the Miami Boat Show

Guy Harvey at the Miami Boat Show

South Beach Sunrise

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Festival de la Plaisance de Cannes

It’s fall boat show season and, as you can imagine, there are more odious duties in life than walking around looking at boats and being paid to do so. But the fact is, there are so many of these events this time of year and the job involves so much more than walking around looking at boats, that I sometimes catch myself muttering under my breath (in a semi-deranged and unconvincing fashion): There are more odious duties than walking around looking at boats and being paid to do so.

I recently returned from the Festival de la Plaisance de Cannes. (Only the French language can turn a boat show into something that sounds so sexy.) There was a lot to love. It was spectacularly sunny. La Baie de Cannes was full of gorgeous yachts. The majestic hotels and swanky boutiques along Boulevard de la Croisette were busy catering to early-autumn tourists from Russia while brightly colored cabanas tried in vain to keep the British tourists from turning painfully red.

There was a sense of cautious optimism about the future in Cannes. Builders were presenting lots of new models, but they were also incredibly eager to know about the economic mood in the United States. The last few times I was in Europe I found this to be true, and let me tell you, there’s something unnerving about it. It feels a little like spending your last few bucks on a meal from the McDonald’s dollar menu and then having your hungrier friends watch longingly as you wolf it down. That said, European builders seemed more confident about their own crises, and a slew of new models reflected that.

There was a notable trend afoot: Large builders were presenting new models but many of these were smaller. Instead of new flagships of ever-increasing length, luxury and complexity, there were the Sunseeker Portofino 40 and Sealine’s SC42 and C48 (see Yachting, October 2012 On Board), which are newly arrived in the United States. Beneteau introduced its new 29-foot Barracuda 9 and Swift Trawler 50, while its award-winning Monte Carlo Yachts marque unveiled a new line of powerboats under 60 feet, beginning with the MC5.

I have to say, I loved it. Each of these yachts presented its take on a new paradigm and one that many in the industry have been speculating on as the world financial crisis imploded: a return to the simpler joys of boating. These boats are smaller, yes — but they also are being built with the latest construction techniques that have trickled down from bigger vessels. I saw ingenious design that maximized space and light, a level of luxurious fit and finish that has hitherto been largely reserved for superyachts and helm-station technology that has migrated from much larger builds.

Of course, there were plenty of large yachts too — stunning additions to fleet lines with innovative features we couldn’t have dreamed of a decade ago. If you’re looking for a vessel aboard which you can explore the whole wide world, there has never been a better time to find a beauty. However, this was the first time in years that I remember being really excited about not just a couple of larger vessels but many boats across a wide range of styles and sizes.

The smaller debuts, especially, had me standing at the wheel and imagining myself with one … and many of these weren’t what I’d normally call “my kind” of boat. But what’s not to love about a mid-size craft that offers speed, (relative) economy and all the finishes of a bigger yacht? Each of these vessels seemed to hold out the promise of luxury that is manageable and geared not just toward owning a yacht but enjoying it. They were designed to impress, for sure, but that effect was meant for you and your friends and family — not the Joneses or the paparazzi. Tie up at a yacht club on one of these and people will admire you for your smarts, not your money. You’re out on the water, using your boat with the ones you love, and having the time of your life.

And isn’t that why we all got into boating in the first place?

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Yachting at the Newport Boat Show

If you’re the pensive sort, fall can be a slightly melancholy time. No matter how old you are, there are the primordial echoes of the end of summer vacation, back-to-school blues. The leaves start to turn. The days and months ahead march toward colder, darker and shorter. Worst of all, for me, is seeing the harbors of the Northeast empty out. There are few sights more mournful than a yard full of boats on jack stands.

In Northern climes the exodus starts right after Labor Day when the goody-two-shoes realists among us concede that it’s all over and time to get back to business. (Don’t those Type A personalities realize they make the rest of us look bad?) The value-conscious suck the marrow from September, a spectacular month for cruising. And the truly dedicated take full advantage of October’s gorgeous weekends when the leaves are in full color and a crisp chill frosts the docks. By the month’s end, however, only a few folks are still bobbing at the mooring or hanging around the marina. These are the procrastinators and the die-hards. Like the water-skiing novice who can’t get up but refuses to let go of the tow line, they persist in hanging on long after it’s realistic, comfortable or fun.

As one of these types, I have looked for ways to transition more gracefully from this sad state of denial to healthy (if reluctant) acceptance. In my experience, planning (or in some cases, daydreaming) can create a smoother segue between despair and — and, well — optimism. And there’s no better way to let the healing begin than by attending a fall boat show.

This month’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Oct. 25-29, 2012) is the big daddy of them all. With 3 million square feet of show area spread over six locations and home to $3 billion worth of boats ranging in size from 20 to 300 feet, FLIBS is the world’s largest in-water boat show.

No boat? Get one! Rates are at all-time lows, lenders are more active than they have been in recent years, and you can explore builders’ deals on everything from RIBs to superyachts. Start modestly, if you must, and work your way up.

Making their debut at FLIBS will be the Horizon E56, the Ocean Alexander 120, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 and the Hargrave 76, 114 and 125. English company Sealine has three new models at the show — its T50 Flybridge Motor Yacht, C48 Coupe (see “On Board,” page 30 of our October 2012 issue) and SC42i Sports Coupe. Fellow countrymen and boatbuilders from Fairline will debut the new 62 Targa Gran Turismo. Grand Banks will have its 54EU there and the 43EU — a revamped edition of its 41EU, with Zeus drives, two heads and an extended cockpit. Sound tempting? This list is by no means all-inclusive, so hit the docks!

Already have a boat you love? Make her even better! You’ll see everything from nautical decor vendors to dealers and manufacturers peddling watermakers, generators, new engines and the latest in marine electronics. (Whose helm couldn’t use an update?)

Go with an open mind and you might be surprised what you leave with. … Maybe it’s time you went larger (or smaller), from sail to power (or power to sail), gas to diesel, single engine to twin, or fiberglass to steel. FLIBS always features a slew of model debuts, many of them from Europe, and if you don’t think there will be innovations galore, then you underestimate an industry that’s eager to regain its momentum after the past few years of economic hardship.

If you can’t buy right now, don’t let that stop you from going. Warm sunshine and acres of floating fantasties might plant the seed of a dream that will flower as reality down the road. As Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” And if nothing else, educating yourself on the endless possibilties is a great way to stay nautically happy until spring.

Mary South
mary.south@yachtingmagazine.com

The post It’s Boat Show Season! appeared first on Yachting.

Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49
Beneteau is debuting their new Flyer Gran Turismo line, and their line’s flagship, the Flyer GT 49. Available with or without a flybridge, the GT 49 is an elegantly designed boat that is sure to win over yachtsmen. www.beneteau.com

Sea Ray 410
Sea Ray debuted their new 410 Sundance at the show. Made with the Sea Ray pedigree, she is a great addition to the builder’s already substantial line of yachts. www.searay.com

Delta’s Laurel
For the first time ever, the motoryacht Laurel was opened to the press, and earlier this morning we toured the 240-foot vessel built by Pacific Northwest boatbuilder Delta. She is absolutely stunning, and while touring the interior or admiring her deep blue hull, one would be hard pressed to believe that she was launched in 2006 and has put 120,000 nautical miles under her keel — from Alaska to the Patagonia to the Amazon River. Tasteful and refined, she is a true gentleman’s yacht.

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