Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, the biggest boat show on the planet has wrapped up for another year, with exhibitors crediting a new format for driving more deals and attracting more serious buyers in search of vessels.

For many exhibitors across the show’s seven locations, a new Wednesday-to-Sunday schedule was a hit over the old Thursday-Monday format.

“I like the change … I think that’s going to work out really well,” said Kevin Merrigan, CEO of Northrop & Johnson, based in Fort Lauderdale, which had 18 yachts on exhibit. “I think it’s a really robust show. I think this may be one of our best shows.”

The yacht charter and sales markets were strong leading up the show, Merrigan said. Just last week, two yachts previously committed for the show were sold.

While Northrop didn’t see a lot of new customers this year, many existing clients were back actively looking for yachts, he said.

“Traffic-wise I felt it was a little light, but I think we had more qualified buyers and less tire kickers, so it was quality, not quantity,” said Chris Flounders of Marine Connection, which had two displays inside the convention center showcasing Cobia and Sportsman boats.

The boats, which ranged from 19-feet to 34-feet in length, had price tags from $25,000 up to $350,000, he said.

“We sold 20 boats between these two [brands],” said Flounders, adding that sales were in line with previous years. “So we’re right on target.”

 

Jeffrey Stanley, president of Gilman Yachts of Fort Lauderdale, said he, too, favored the new schedule.

“Wednesday was much better than Monday ever was,” said Stanley, whose company secured contracts for two boats during the show.

Among the vessels Gilman displayed were a 50-foot yacht priced for just under $500,000; a 62-footer for $1 million and a 93-foot vessel for $5 million, Stanley said.

“We’re having a good show, but it’s early yet,” Stanley said. “In two weeks I hope to have four or five deals” from leads cultivated during the show.

 

Marine lenders joined boat sellers in heralding the new schedule.

“We’re very happy with the change, it made a big difference,” said Melanie Jolles, a Fort Lauderdale-based yacht finance specialist with Newcoast Financial Services, noting the peak activity on Sunday. “Monday is always a dead day … just moving it one day was a very positive thing for the show.”

Traffic along the northernmost end of the Bahia Mar docks was also brisk for most of the show, said Brian Hermann, a Pompano Beach-based broker.

“It’s the best that we’ve seen,” said Hermann, who represents Clearwater-based MarineMax, the nation’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer. “There’s a considerable number of buyers coming through here.”

Hermann said MarineMax had 13 different boat displays dotted across the Bahia Mar site showcasing both new and brokerage vessels ranging from 13-feet to 140-feet in length.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday he had just received an offer for a 60-foot Azimut yacht called “Don’t Tell Mama,” which had an asking price of $899,900, he said. “That’s a great sign. We’re seeing activity. Our other displays have written many deals so we’re on track to sell a lot of different units.”

Show organizers were also pleased with early feedback.

"While attendance figures are still being calculated, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from exhibitors who have been reporting boat sales, leads and more qualified buyers than ever before," said Mary Bender, vice president of marketing for Informa Exhibitions, the boat show’s producer.

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