SHOWTIME

T

hey call it the Greatest Boat Show on

the Seven Seas for

a reason. In the fie

days from October 27 to 31, there’ll be more world and

U.S. debuts, more boats gently bobbing in the water, more passionate visitors than any other boat show probably in the world.

Yes, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (that’s FLIBS for short) is back, and it’s bigger, better, and more fun than ever.

Granted, many overseas exhibitors and visitors will, for the second year running, be sitting out because of COVID fears and quarantining protocols when they get home. But with Florida open for business and show organizer, Informa Markets, determined to keep everyone and everything safe and sanitized, FLIBS is expecting a big turnout.

Of course, demand for new boats and accessories is at an

all-time high. According to the National Maritime Manufac-

turers Association, more than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, and those numbers are expected to be even higher in 2021.

This year, FLIBS favorites like the Superyacht Village and Hook the Future fishig clinics will be back. Not sure where

to start? Here, we highlight 10 new designs to check out now. (flbs.com)

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Mention the word “trawler” and, chances are, you’ll conjure up an image of some plodding, fishigboat-style heavyweight that looks like an extra from The Perfect Storm. While Beneteau’s new flagship Gand Trawler 62 has “trawler” in its title, its bold, rakish lines owe more to a hard-charging sports yacht. Indeed, with a couple of MAN 730-horse turbo diesels in the engine room, it’ll hit 20 knots without breaking a sweat and run more than 900 miles on a tank. Whereas the prolific rench yard has built a loyal following with its range of smaller Swift Trawler models, this newcomer sees a change of direction with a firm ocus on “Grand.” That means more comfort, more luxury, and a lot more space, from the dance-floo-sized flybrige to the equally commodious back deck. Down below, choose from a three- or four-cabin layout, each with a vast amidships owner’s suite. (beneteau.com)

AZIMUT 53 “Fun in the Sun” could be Florida’s official m tra. And if there’s one new yacht that really embraces what that’s all about, it’s Azimut’s new 53 Flybridge. As the name suggests, the flybride is where the action is. With three sunpads tucked behind the windshield and an equally spacious U-shaped sofa wrapped around the rear, there’s space up top for about 12 sun worshippers. Stroll to the foredeck to find another ast sunpad along with a cushy sofa covered by a removable sun shade set on four carbon-fiber poles. Belw decks there are cabins for six guests, including an owner’s suite. Big Volvo IPS 950s with 725 hp a piece can punch the bluff-bowed 53 to a top speed of 31 knots and cruise at an easy 26. (azimutyachts.com)

BENETEAU GRAND TRAWLER 62

PRINCESS Y72

Could a boating couple handle a 72-footer without a crew? British builder Princess Yachts asks, “Why not?” Depending, of course, on their nautical experience, an owner captain and fist mate could handle Princess’ new Y72 without professional assistance. Two big MAN V12 diesels, bow and stern thrusters, a cockpit docking station, and easy-peasy line handling make maneuvering this new Y72 a breeze— even in a breeze. Inspired by the larger Princess Y85 model, the lines are simply stunning, with those gorgeous sweeping hull windows and huge salon windows, plus that upswept flybrige hardtop. The interior design and layout are just as innovative and stylish, with the rear galley opening onto the back deck, a dining area opposite, and a saloon forward with everything on one level. What sets this new Y72 apart, however, is its remarkable level of quality and craftsmanship. It really is the Bentley of the seas. (princess.co.uk)

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VIKING 64 CONVERTIBLE

To quote Chief Brody in the 1975 nail-biter Jaws: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” This immortal phrase just might have been the inspiration behind Viking Yachts’ decision to supersize its 54 Convertible into the all-new Viking 64 Convertible, which is making its global debut at FLIBS. This classically styled fishing “bttlewagon”—with its soaring bow, uncluttered foredeck, swept-back masked windshield, and trademark hull-side vents—is guaranteed to strike fear into any figting marlin. And with two 1,550-horsepower MAN V12 diesels “under the hood” and the I-beam-stiff ull’s running surfaces optimized by Computational Fluid Dynamics software, you’ll be in the Out Islands before you know it. But for the new 64, Viking seeks to deliver all the comforts of home—and then some. Did we mention

the pop-up hi-def TV? Take your pick from open or enclosed bridge models and a host of tower arrangements. (vikingyachts.com)

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OCEAN ALEXANDER 35R

These days, Taiwanese builder Ocean Alexander is pumping out more hits than Taylor Swift. From the sexy 45-foot Divergence Coupe to the elegant flagship 118-oot Legend 37L, each one has buyers clamoring to grab the keys. For this year’s FLIBS, the yard is planning to debut not one but four new or heavily tweaked models. The highlight for us is the latest in the aptly named Revolution series: the radical, no revolutionary 116-foot 35R. It’s another stunner from the drawing board of longtime Ocean A designer Evan K. Marshall, who has elevated the four-level Revolution formula. With its bluff, towering bow, acres of oversized windows on all three levels, and a truly massive sky lounge with an expansive foredeck lounging area, the 35R is guaranteed to turn heads from Miami to Maine. Inside, there’s more space than most 150-footers, with fie plush cabins accommodating up to 10 guests. Honking MAN V12 diesels should give a 23-knot top speed. (oceanalexander.com)

RIVIERA 645 SUV

Think of it as the thunder from Down Under. Australia’s biggest boat builder, Riviera is adding a 31-knot flagship 9-footer to its lineup, and U.S. boaters get a fist look at FLIBS. This coupe-bodied sports cruiser joins Riviera’s SUV—as in sport utility vessel—range of 39-foot to 57-foot non-flybrige models. The focus here is on outdoor space, either in the enclosed indoor cockpit, the teak-decked lower fishig cockpit complete with barbie, or a spacious foredeck with U-shaped sofas. The appeal of the big-windowed saloon is that everything is on one level—even the three-seat helm station. For staying aboard, there’s a full-width master plus three other cabins. Designed to tackle Australia’s often challenging offshore conditions, the 645’s hull rides smooth, soft, dry, and fast. (rivieraaustralia.com)

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JAGUAR 36 OFFSHORE FISH

And you thought it was only fancy furniture that came out of High Point, North Carolina. Jaguar Powerboats has been making go-fast catamarans since the ’80s, going back to Jaguar’s legendary Thriller racing cat that won pretty much everything worth winning. Now Jaguar Powerboats has taken one of its most successful offshore racing cats and modified it ito a lean, mean, fishing machine tht’s being unveiled at FLIBS. The new 36 Offshore Fish has all the requisite fishing componetry, like 36 rod holders, dual 175-gallon in-floor inulated fish bxes, twin 50-gallon live wells, and triple Llebroc helm seats. With a pair of Mercury Racing 300R outboards hanging off the tansom, the top speed should be around 65 knots, or 78 knots with the optional Merc Racing 450Rs. Of course, Jaguar only builds custom boats, so it’s whatever powerplant or layout your heart desires. Just plan on paying anywhere from $430,000 to $600,000. Bait, however, is extra. (jaguarpowerboats.com)

SUNSEEKER MANHATTAN 55

Powerboaters still love British builder Sunseeker’s top-selling Manhattan 52 flybrige cruiser. It had it all: great performance, easy handling, spacious cabins, and a competitive sticker. So, if you are Sunseeker, how do you improve on a legend? Simply make it bigger and better. Take the new transom beach club with its fold-down grille, lift-up shower panel, and tenderstoring hydraulic platform. The redesigned rear cockpit features a powerdescending window that opens the galley to the rear deck. Inside there’s a big upgrade in fitures, fittigs, and overall quality and craftsmanship. As before, there are three cabins and two bathrooms for comfy weekending. Power comes from the latest 12.6-liter Volvo D13 800 diesels that can push this eye-popping cruiser to more than 30 knots. And it’s all for around $1.7 million nicely equipped. This new Manhattan 55 is making its US debut at FLIBS, along with the equally dramatic-looking 65 Sport Yacht, so there’ll be lots to see at the Sunseeker stand. (sunseeker.com)

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WALLY WHY200

Monaco-based Wally Yachts and its blue-sky-thinking founder Luca Bassani have been stretching the nautical design envelope for almost three decades. The very latest, and quite possibly wildest, concept to emerge from his overactive gray matter is the 89-foot Wally WHY200 mini-superyacht. Bassani calls it the “space” ship for a reason: This speedy cruiser features more than 2,150 square feet of interior living space. With a full-beam main salon (the WHY200 does away with conventional side decks), Wally boasts 50 percent more space than comparably sized yachts. Positioning the owner’s suite right in the bow behind wraparound side windows means uninterrupted views. There’s more than 1,500 square feet of outside deck area, plus an expandable beach club with fold-out wings and a fold-down swim platform. With not one but four Volvo D13 IPS diesels, top speed is said to be 23 knots, with 20-knot cruising and a 350 nautical-mile range. (wally.com)

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GREENLINE OCEAN 68 HYBRID

Hailing from Slovenia, Greenline Yachts has built a reputation for developing hybrid diesel-electric yachts measuring between 33 and 48 feet. But FLIBS will be the fist opportunity for American tree huggers to step aboard the new flagship: the cean 68 Hybrid. With a pair of 100-kW electric motors and a 129-kWh lithium battery bank, this sleek 68-footer can glide along at 7 knots for around 25 nautical miles in silent, zero-emission splendor. And with a flybride hardtop packed with solar panels, the yacht can run its systems for around two days at anchor without cranking up the generator. Feel the need for speed, and a pair of super-effici t 850-horse CAT C12 diesels will push the 68 to a top speed of 22 knots—or 29 knots with the optional 1,150-hp C18s. This new Greenline is breathtaking, with sweeping lines, a hull full of funky windows, and decks with lounging aplenty. Going green has never been so much fun. (greenlinehybrid.com) «