2004 Miami International Boat Show - Collins Avenue Docks

This picture is looking north along the canal that runs parallel to Collins Avenue. This picture was taken from the bridge at the south end of the event...

This was the front of the Sea Ray / Marine Max display. On Wednesday evening, the day before the opening of the show, Sea Ray hosted a party at this pavilion that had 2500 people in attendance. Outstanding party! My thanks to Tom Houliaries, the General Manager of Marine Max in Pompano Beach and a friend for over 20 years, for the invitation. Tom is pictured here on the bow of the Six-Forty Sea Ray in the forefront of the picture. (black pants/white shirt).

This is the backside of the Sea Ray display...

This is the Sunseeker display...

Showcasing the diversity of their range, Sunseeker had everything in their line on display, from their 105' Motoryacht to the 34' Superhawk. My camera could not capture the entire image from the available vantage point, but this picture shows the side/rear of the 105' along with the 34' Superhawk anchored in the display's lagoon...

Qualifying as the smallest Sunseeker at the show, I spotted this "stow-away"...

This was the Azimut display. They hosted a champaign party on Thursday evening with the president of Azimut-Benetti as the guest speaker. My thanks to Kari Webber, from Azimut's marketing department, for being such a gracious host.

Azimut's larger yachts were displayed on the south side of their pavilion...

And their smaller "sport" yachts were on the north side...

This is Lazzara's display. The entire Lazzara family is on location fielding questions from everyone, from consumers to the media. Each one of the Lazzara's play an very important and active role in the production and marketing of Lazzara yachts. Their elaborate display represents the care and craftsmenship they put into each of their yachts.

The Lazzara "Crown Legacy" was docked at the north side of the Lazzara pavilion, with the rest of the line berthed on the south side.

Before I get too far ahead on this thread, here is a picture of the 105' Sunseeker that I failed to include near the Sunseeker display pictures...

Easily the MOST appropriate yacht to by featured near the art deco area known as Miami's "South Beach" is...

Palmer Johnson's 120' "Cover Drive".

This radical departure from conventional PJ design, is an aluminum hulled, composite super-structure yacht with more personalities than Robin Williams. It's one part luxury yacht, one part offshore racer and one part military patrol boat. This SHOULD be the boat featured in the next James Bond flick. With it's menacing battleship gray exterior and swept back /high speed lines, this yacht looks more like something that would battle the Starship Enterprise, than entertain guests along the water.

The flybridge helm features a carbon fiber dash with a console between the sit down bolsters, similar to an automotive interior. However the interior, with it's glossy cherry wood joinery and hard wood floors, has a more classical flavor, looking more like the opulent offices of an attorney for the Philip-Morris company.

To view this speedster from the stern, it's multi-tiered transom gives rise to an arsenal of PWC's located under the sunbed. In addition to these light attack craft, the bow conceals another weapon of choice... a water-jet powered rigid inflatable.

The salon is located on the main deck, along with a wet-bar area and the helm, which also features a wrap-around console for the driver and co-pilot. Staterooms and such are located below deck.

Powered by twin 2250 horsepower MTU 12V396's, it reaches speeds of 30 knots... without spilling a Martini glass.

This is Donzi's R-80 business end. I met with Bob Rosciolli and his crew at the show. These boats are the epitomy of custom built sportfish yachts...

The Donzi R-80's Sportfish bow is long enough to land a corporate jet...

The little brother to the R-80 is the original Donzi Z-65, that made this line of SportFish yachts famous...

Continuing with Sportfish yachts, this is the Hatteras display with a complete line-up of sportfishing yachts ranging from affordable to... mortgage the house.

One of the new Hatteras 80' Motoryachts, featuring removable railings. Neat idea! The railings are not standard equipment, but rather a customer requested option.

This is the Rodriquez Group display. Pictured are a Leopard and a Mangusta. Sorry there was not a better vantage point to take this picture...

This is a "Marquis" Sedan Bridge Motoryacht at the Carver/Nuvari display. This is one of the sleekest new designs I've seen...