2014 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show - FLIBS

The 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show​

FLIBS is less than a week away yet we already have some great eye candy to check out! This will give you some idea of what larger boats are already at the starting line.




Abbracci which is Italian for Hugs is a 155 ft Christensen built in 1977.

1977, what you have got to be kidding, she looks brand new to me!

Must be that Mediterranean diet!!




Not far down the row is Victoria Del Mar a 2001 Moonen with a transatlantic range of 3,360 nautical miles at her cruising speed of 11 knots.




My Paradis is the first of three Benetti 108-foot Tradition Supremes which are the new entry level tri-decks in their Displacement line.

She is a great example of the trend towards lots of glass to let in the natural light and give the cruisers incredible views of the sea which after all is what it is all about.




Waiting her turn to get loaded into position is this namless Robin's Egg Blue hulled baby.

Maybe someone out there can id her for us?

Things were hoppin on the trawler dock where I found something for everyone from small to not so small.

First we have a Marlow Mainship 32, actually her LOA is 36' 8.5".




For the classic look lovers we have a 1964 Stingray that was designed by Ray Hunt and built by Whorton’s Boat Yard of Jamestown, RI.




Looks can sometimes be deceiving as this mellow looking baby can easily hit 30 knots!



One of the first boats I saw coming down the ramp of the trawler was this pristine example of a Grand Banks, perhaps a 43 Heritage?




The most impressive boat on the dock was the 49' E4 by Neptune Marine that is famous for its ability to do a complete rollover and survive without any damage or leaks!

Don't try this at home, Dutch engineering at its best!





But do drop by during the show and Judy will give you a personal tour sans the rollover!

The next dock I hit is where outboards rule!

What is not to like about this Venture 39 by American with her triple Mercs that easily tops 60 mph.

And with that cool tuna tower fish beware!!!




Growing up on the Lafayette River in Norfolk, VA the boat of choice was a 14' Boston Whaler with a 50 Merc that literally flew on the cavitation plate!

So I really got stoked when I found the Boston Whaler display being setup where I got to see how things have changed over the last 50 years.



Whalers are all grown up now sporting triple white Mercs that will get you to the Gulf Stream in a flash.



Add some length and a tuna tower and you have one bad arse fishing machine!



When I grew up you could have any color outboard engine you wanted as long as it was black so I was glad to see that if you talk real nice to the salesman you can still get black Mercs!!



And the numbers are staggering, last year they did about 80 units at FLIBS and this year they did around 100 at the Miami Show so don't be shy if you have ever considered a Whaler!

Boy have they come a long way baby!!

On the Intracoastal on their way to the show on having just taken their place in the line up I was able to snap some biggies!

First is My Seanna a 183' Delta built in 2001 that was just refitted this year and thus a real looker!




Allegria which means Happiness in Italian is a 162' Hakvoort built in 2004 and has an impressive 5,000 nautical range.




Maghreb V is a 144' Burger built in 2006 boasting 7 cabins with an accessory I would love to have, an elevator to all decks!




Here we have an IAG who shall remain nameless unless one of you can fill in her details.




Next we have a beautiful Ferretti Custom Line 100 motor yacht which has a side opening glass door on the main deck which extends the salon onto a purpose-built balcony with large openings enabling plenty of natural light to bathe the interior.

I saw several Westport 130s on the Intracoastal, Redemption and one with no name perhaps a new one from inventory.

Redemption is a 2010 copy with all the bells and whistles including flat screens that pop down on all three outside decks. Her interior
is a very pleasant calming slightly contemporary design that immediately welcomes you to relax and enjoy.




The second Westport 130 appears to me to be one of two at the show from inventory along with a 164.
Note all the glass screening on the sky deck and forward of the wheelhouse to provide wonderful views
with lots of protection from the wind.





Lyons Pride is a Westport 112 who splashed in 2013.




Emilina is a 167' 2008 steel hulled Codecasa whose 10' draft and 4000 mile range at 14 knots make her a serious, safe, and comfortable globe trotter.




We also have our first official spotting of a YF member at this years show watching an IAG go by!

There is not shortage of sportfishermen at this year's show as you see here.

Sorry but I am not up on this segment of the market so if any of you know about these beauties please chime in.

I will say that tuna towers really turn me on!!! Momo, Momo, Momo!

The next 3 shots remind me of those Russian Ladies, you know the kind where you open one up and then there is another a little smaller, you open her up and there is another a little smaller until, well you get the idea.

In this case however all the Russians happen to be Princesses!

First we have the V62S that will lift your skirt when you hit 37 knots!




The V52 is not slouch either clocking in at a heady 36 knots.




The V52 looks good coming or going!




Sea Delight is a Hatteras 78 that is attending the show as a charter offering.





Now this one has be a little befuddled as she has no markings that I can see although she does carry the markings of an Azimut.

The double set of vertical windows has me stumped.

What say ye all?

Funny you should ask!

Yes there are kayakers, paddle boarders, and sailors too!

I can hardly wait to see the first guy speed up and start pulling his tubes.




A paddle border with a cowboy hat and ink, only at the Greatest Boat Show on Earth, FLIBS!!




Row, row, row you board, gently down the Intracoastal!




Sailors on the stern of Magic Dragon look like they might be related to Puff!




Sailors and their happy smiling crew on the lookout for kayaks!

Check out Allegria as she performs an excellent stern to maneuver getting ready for the show all with only inches to spare.

For all you Broward fans here is a sweet one indeed!

Revelry is an 87' Raised Pilot House built in 1996 that is absolutely pristine as she has been updated and maintained to the highest standard being custom, custom, custom!




Dorothy Ann is a 125' Trinity built in 2001 is certainly looking spiffy in her new paint job, has a maximum speed of 15 knots, and a range of 3500 miles.





Forever Yours is a 97' raised pilot house Hargrave composite yacht sporting a recent refit featuring neutral soft furnishings, warm cherry woods, granite tops, and plenty of natural light.




I am glad to see that not only is my waist line getting wider but so are today's sport boats.

In this case of course it is for the reason of having fold out sides increasing her deck space, party space, and sporting space.




I was glad to catch a glimpse of the Wider 32 which is designed to more closely integrate as a custom tender with the Wider 150 Yacht that is currently in build.

Sun pictured here is one of six colors that are available.

When it comes to curves not only do you find them on paddle boards you also find them on Azimuts like this 56' 55S made of VTR/GRP and carbon fiber!

They have some of the curviest glass in the business.




In the hood it all seems to be about grill work these days, well it seems to be the same on the docks as well.

What would you do if you saw this grill bearing down on you on in the channel at 35 knots like a 55S is likely to do?




If I was to hazard a semi-educated guess I would say this beautiful dark horse is a 115 Sunseeker Predator here all the way from Sag Harbor, NY for a little fun in the sun.




Maximus II is a 106' Horizon that was built in 2005 to accommodate 6 guests in 3 suites along with 4 crew to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.




Here we have a stunning example of Viking's 82 enclosed bridge yacht that tops 30 knots when going after the big ones!

There is little doubt with this one that you both fish and cut bait.

I came across a real beauty today that really captured my eye!




She is a Blue Coast 95 Catamaran named Cartouche.

Bow on she is quite an imposing and powerful looking cat, perched, and ready to pounce!




Her sensuous lines continue along her sides from the mast, boom, fly bridge hardtop, curvaceous side windows, to the stern.





Her color and detailing like matching fenders are all quite beautiful.




Her stern is all business where you have easy access to enjoy the water of launch the dingy.




She has an owner's cabin on the main deck, 3 guest cabins with ensuite bathrooms and 1 crew cabin with separated bathroom and shower.

If her interior is as stunning as her exterior I am ready to move in!!






In cat territory I came across these neat gadgets that will hold hulls from 5 to 55 feet!




They look a little like Transformers to me!




The next cat down the dock is this 60' Sunreef aptly named Grace.




She is easy to board using the passerelle or the steps built into the hull.




And speaking of cats does anyone recognize the rig of this famous yacht?

Hint: She is one of the 3 largest sloop rigged cats on the planet.



The the other two are the 102' Sunreef 102DD Ipharra and the Sunreef 114 Ché.

In this video see Yacht Maghreb V do her backing down Med style to take her place in line on the Face dock. At about 2:20 minute you start to see a tour South from there of the rest of the Face dock and a few yachts as they are waiting their turn to dock. What you see is about 1/2 of the dock that runs along the Intracoastal from Bahia Mar Marina to the Las Olas Marina so there is much more to come. This was taken on the Sunday before the Show.

For the first picture posted on the first day of the Show and before all you Old Pharts go ballistic I figure I should introduce you all to Miss Vulcan Couplings!

When I told her she would be my life saver since I would be keel hauled if I came back from the Show without some beauty shots she was only too glad to oblilge!!




One the first day of the Show I am also happy to be able to post the 3rd largest yacht in the Show Unbridled by Trinity who follows Felecita West and Swan at 191'.




The coolest and most colorful yacht in the show is a 72' purpose built Triton 3300/3 submarine tender Thunderbird II by Brilliance boats with transatlantic range and a top speed of 22 knots.

The sub is sitting on a platform that lowers into the water about 6' so you can just drive the sub off/on the tender.




My personal show favorite is this Chapman Transition 28' Custom Bow Ramp Tender whose ramp is hydraulically operated and wide enough for wheel chairs to roll on and off the beach or dock unassisted!

This copy was rigged with dual outboards but can just as easily be configured with inboard options as well.

North of $200K she is a super high quality and obviously well built fully custom half tube tender.




On the first day of the Show there was a YF Tee Shirt sighting this time at the SeaClean exhibit.

Special Feature: SeaClean Diesel Particulate Filter System

Here are pics of the Delta 54 Carl spotted.

Check out YF's Delta Welcome thread for more details, pics, and information.

Welcome Delta Powerboats!




In 2013 the 54 IPS received the Motor Boat of the Year Award in the category "Sports Cruiser over 45 ft" where it competed against the Azimut 55S, Fairline Targa 62GT, Sealine C48 and Mangusta 72 which says quite a lot about the capabilities of this wonderful pocket yacht.




The hydraulic swim platform that is almost the width of her 15' beam can lift and lower 900 pounds worth of tender.



When fitted with triple Volvo Penta 600 IPS drives she can hit 38 knots and cruise easily at 32 knots.