Miami 2026 Boat Show Preview

The 2026 Miami International Boat Show is to be held between Wednesday eleven and Sunday fifteen February.  Considered as one of the largest boat and yacht show in the world, the Miami boat show offers everything water related, from kayaks to superyachts to the latest aquatic innovations. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Centre and Pride Park. The in-water components of the show will take place at Venetian Marina, Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina, and Yacht Haven Grande Miami. Historically, the Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show have attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees to South Florida and generated an estimated combined annual economic impact of $1.34 billion. The Miami boat show is located in the following locations; Miami Beach Convention Center for boats up to 49 feet, the Progressive Boat Show Experience at Pride Park for experiential boating lifestyle activations, Miami Beach Yacht Collection on Collins Avenue along Indian Creek for powerboats and motor yachts from 30 to 125 feet, and Superyacht Miami and Sailor’s Cove at IGY Yacht Haven Grande Miami. As World firsts go the 2026 Miami boat show will see the following debuts; Aquila 45 Sport, Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider OB, Galeon 520 Fly, Intrepid 35 Panacea, Pardo P43R, Regal 34 SAV, Riviera 5600 Sport Yacht, Sabre 51 Saloon Express, Sea Ray SLX 360, Tiara 39 LE, Tidewater 330 CC, and WallyPower 50X. 

www.miamiboatshow.com

The Miami boat show is the longest ongoing boat show in the World, an exhibition which has survived a World War, several recessions, and the luxury tax on boating of the nineties.  The show debuted in 1941 with the Biscayne Boat Show name as organized by the Miami Junior Chamber of Commerce and Marine Industries Association.  The 1947 edition saw the show move to the Municipal Auditorium at Bayfront Park. In 1950 the show had 92 exhibitors, with these becoming 143 by 1951, while 1953 saw the show reach a record breaking 50,000 of attendants.  The 26th edition of 1967 set the still unbeaten attendants record of 171,495 even though the show was asked to move its date to January so as not to collide with the New York boat show.  In 1968 the show gets named the Miami International Boat Show, returns to it's February calendar dates and debuts at the Miami Beach Convention Centre venue, which it will keep up till 2015. In 2016 the Miami Boat Show returned to where it started in Biscayne Bay.  During the seventies, eighties, and nineties the show expanded its size many times till we arrive to the six locations of today. 

Miami Boat Show circa 1950's

New Model: Prestige M7

Prestige continue to expand the power catamaran M-line with the M7 model.  Designed by Garroni and Marc Lomboard, the M7 is Prestige third power cat model; and second in size of the M-Line.  The Prestige M7 offers a four double cabins lower deck, with a forward owners stateroom which stretches the full seven meters beam of the yacht.  The M7 comes with a  layout option for the aft deck and two for the lower deck.  The aft deck can be optioned with a central U-shape versus the standard full beam living which offers an L-shape dinette to starboard and chaise lounge to port.  For the lower deck the optiona is to fit a four shower head serving the twin cabin in the starboard hull, and a single berth crew cabin to port side.  The Prestige M7 is powered by twin Volvo 550hp for speeds up to twenty knots and a cruise of seventeen.

Technical Data:

LOA - 17.94 m (58.8ft)

Hull Length - 17.6 m

Beam - 7.54 m

Draft - 1.54 m

Displacement - 39,499 kg unloaded,  51,457 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 2900 l

Water Capacity - 760 l

Accommodation - six guests in three cabins, two berths crew cabin, optional crew cabin aft

Engines - 2 x Volvo D8 550hp

Propulsion - V-drive line shaft

Speed - twenty knots max, seventeen cruise

Range - 290 nautical miles at cruise

Project - Garroni exterior, Marc Lombard

www.prestige-yachts.com

competition = Aquila 54 Yacht

Two Persons Saved as Flybridge Yacht Goes Ablaze Near Antibes, France

Two boaters were saved as a twenty meter flybridge motor yacht named The Bridge and under Belgian flag went ablaze between Cap d'Antibes and Lerins at about 1.5 nautical miles offshore to the coast at 09:30 morning time of Wednesday fourth February.  The two boaters of 71 and 65 years old alerted the Mediterranean Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre and after jumping in the water were assisted by a 24 meter motor yacht who was in the vicinity, with the Alpes-Maritimes, and Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours following later to the rescue and to fight the fire with 25 fire-fighters and twelve men respectively.  Ultimately the yacht was wrecked, but was saved from sinking and doing environmental damage, with the wreckage towed to Golfe-Juan for recovery.  The cause of the fire is not known, but was reported starting from the engine room.

The yacht in this fire is a 1994 Astondoa 68 GLX as produced from 1992 to 1996.  The 68 GLX was replaced by the Astondoa 72 GLX.  The yacht which assisted the boaters is a Falcon Yachts 82S as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 1994 to 1998.

Project: Eclipse Yachts 605 Shadow

Following the success of the 505 Shadow, Eclipse Yachts follow it with the larger 605 Shadow, which is currently under construction in South Africa and set to debut this year.  The 605 Shadow combines the head-turning luxury with effortless acceleration and revolutionary interior appointments as found on its smaller sister. Designed by Michael Peters the all-new Eclipse 605 Shadow embodies the pinnacle of engineering and design, delivering unmatched performance, thanks to the patented SVVT hull.  Innovative interiors sets new industry standards, with the Eclipse 605 Shadow offering a three stateroom, three head layout, and flush deck entertaining spaces typically found only on larger yachts. Its owner-centric design ensures it stands alone. Enhanced with surround view cameras, stunning fabrics and touchpoints, Starlink connectivity, the Eclipse 605 Shadow is to be standard powered by triple and or optional quadruple Mercury 600hp.

www.eclipse-yachts.com

Power Catamaran Ends Beached in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

An eighteen meter power catamaran broke it's mooring and ended aground in Muller Bay, on the Island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands on the morning of Tuesday third February.  US Coast Guard marine safety detachment of St. Thomas US Virgin Islands responded to the accident, as the catamaran also ended aground in a environmentally sensitive area.  There is no pollution from the vessel at this time, but a containment boom was placed as a precaution, as the ownership is working to organize a salvage of the power catamaran.

The power catamaran in this sinking is a Silent Yachts 62 3-Deck Open as produced since 2024.  Founded in 2018 and debuting in 2019 with the 55 model, Silent Yachts focuses on electric solar powered catamarans, and currently produces three models from sixteen to 24 meters.

New Model: Regal LX43

Regal present the LX43 a new flagship to its Outboard Bowrider range.  Sharing hull with the 43 SAV which arrived in 2024, the Regal LX43 is a unique offer in the current market presenting itself with bow-rider/dual console mix amenities.  It is a genre which is growing in size, since Grady-White launched the Freedom 415 as a new flagship in its Dual Console line in early 2024. Regal with the LX43 bring a more pleasure cruiser feel, although the new LX flagship comes standard with dual fish-boxes aft, and a few rod holders which can be increased.  That means soft-core fishing is being targeted with the LX43.  The amenities which make the LX43 special are also standard, like the drop down bulkheads, and the dual pressurized fish boxes and fold away bench seat aft, this can be optioned if fishing is really not your thing with the Ultralounge settee aft.  The LX43 comes with three dedicated entertainment areas; bow, under the hardtop at midships, and aft.  Cabin wise the Regal LX43 is also comfortable offering a lower deck sleeping four in convertible U-shaped lounger, midships cabin with twin berths, and head with enclosed shower to starboard.  The Regal LX43 is standard powered by triple Yamaha 450hp and or optional twin or triple Mercury 600hp outboards.

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.44 m (44.1ft)

Beam - 4 m

Draft - 1.12 m drives down

Displacement - 12,701 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 1885 l, plus 98 l diesel for generator

Water Capacity - 276 l

Accommodation - four berths

Engines - 3 x Yamaha V8 450hp, 2 or 3 x Mercury Verado 7.8l V12 600hp

Propulsion - twin duo prop outboards

Speed - 45 knots max, 38 knots fast cruiser, thirty knots cruise with twin 600hp

Hull Shape - Oceantrac2 hull modified Vee with eighteen degrees deadrise aft

www.regalboats.com

competition = Tiara LS43

Project: Apreamare Tender My Way 35

Elegance, luxury and nautical tradition come together in the Mediterranean, where a project is taking shape to redefine the premium day-tour charter sector. You Know! S.r.l., Italy's leading company in the charter segment, has announced the launch of the new Tender My Way line of boats, created in collaboration with Apreamare. Based on the Gozzo 35 the Tender My Way project marks a multi-year strategic agreement between Apreamare and You Know!, which involves the progressive replacement of the entire current fleet with new-generation boats. More comfortable and protected seating, optimised shaded areas, simplified accessibility and on-board equipment designed for comfort and operational efficiency will be the cornerstones of the new fleet. Each seat is equipped with a USB socket and integrated cup holder, the bow area is designed with dual versatility that allows it to be quickly transformed into a comfortable sun deck, while a side opening on the hull facilitates entry into caves and the most picturesque corners of the coast. The first two units of the Apreamare Tender My Way will be launched in March 2026.

www.apreamare.it

Eight Boats End Aground in Storm at Gumbet Bay, Turkey

Eight boats and yachts varying from four to eighteen meters in length ended aground and beached in Gumbet Bay, province of Bodrum, Turkey on Sunday first February.  The boats and yachts ended beached due to the strong winds, which the Meteorology Department had issued a warning about. The boats and yachts were anchored offshore of the bay, and some of them as the above picture shows collided into each other.  Following the calming of the winds some boats were later towed back in deep water, indicating that they did not sustain big damage also because they ended aground on a sandy beach.

The flybridge boat in this grounding is a Sealine 420 Statesman as produced in the nineties, while the hard top sport yacht deeper in the picture is an Off Course Comfort Class 60.

Three Yachts Wrecked in Fire at Van Isle Marina, British Columbia

Three yachts of nineteen to 21 meters in length were wrecked by fire at Van Isle Marina, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada with the blaze starting at 07:30 morning time of Sunday first February.  Sidney Fire Department responded to the blaze and were later assisted by North Saanich Fire Department, and the Canadian Coast Guard.  The fire took ninety minutes to be controlled, and started in the Marquis yacht, located in the center of the above photo, and then jumped to the yachts to its port and starboard sides.  No one was injured in the fire, as all yachts were not attended, with the cause of the blaze being under investigation.

This is the second fire at Van Isle Marina in just over four months, with a fire wrecking an eleven meter explorer cruiser the past eighteen September.

The yachts in this fire are a Marquis 720, the one in the center, a Horizon V68, and a Nordhavn 62 looking bow to the photo.  A Nordhavn 60 also suffered some fire damage to its starboard side.

Viking Skips 2026 Miami Boat Show

At the end of December Viking announced that it will not take part at the 2026 Miami International boat show.  This absence is for the Viking yachts range of sportfish cruiser and yachts that today starts from 46 and go up to 90 foot.  Valhalla the outboard center-console and  sport yacht range will still take part, as will do Princess Yachts which Viking distributes for the USA.  Viking declared that it has chosen not to display at the Miami International Boat Show saying that the in-water portion, which is moving from downtown Miami to Collins Avenue on Miami Beach, has become more of a venue for European cruising yachts than for sportfishing yachts. 

The news actually was first posted on social media by third-party pages, with following Facebook comments saying that shows are expensive and over the years have gotten greedy.  While the cost expense to benefit is a part of this, it is a small bit of the reason.  In recent years Viking is nearly alone in the production sportfish segment and has no competition.  Viking is the last one standing, and has the most complete sportfish range which fills all sportfishing sizes from fourteen to 27 meters.  For a customer the boat show advantage is to see and compare, and make one decide.  

Back in time past, sportfish genre used to have about ten brands.  We had the Bertram and Hatteras years dominating the sportfish segment, the first in the seventies and eighties while the second in the eighties and nineties.  We also had Ocean Yachts which had its own big successes from the eighties to the noughties, and also Post and Buddy Davis this last becoming a production sportfish maker in the late eighties and nineties.  Ocean and Post are gone, while the others offer some competition.  Bertram produces the new 50 Sport and 61 Convertible models, Hatteras is to come back after four years missing with a new 77 and is to be followed by a smaller model, while Buddy Davis builds the long standing 52, 58 and 70 models on order.  Sportfish yacht demand is not what it used to be, although fair to say the custom builders of the East coast have taken over a part of the market since the start of the 21st century as these have quadrupled over the past twenty years or so.  

Another note to make is that since last year Viking has also started to take part officially in the Palm Beach boat show.  As noted in two previous bloggers the Palm Beach show is currently the most growing boat show in the USA, with an interesting international mix of participation and a size focus from fifteen to thirty meters.  Viking also makes its Private Year VIP show at its Service Center in Riviera Beach, held at the end of January and always has a Factory Demo yacht, sometimes more then one at the important Sportfishing Tournaments of the USA and nearby areas.

In the meantime Yellowfin and Invincible, both owned by Warbird Marine Holdings also announced they are not taking part at the 2026 Miami boat show on the 22 January.  The two brands will be organizing a private event at Miami Beach Marina on the same dates of the show.

Is the Miami boat show suffering?  

Having a couple top names declaring to skip the show is not good news.  But in the mean time top brands like Boston Whaler, Formula, Grady White, Pardo, Pursuit, Regal, Sea Ray, and Tiara, just to name a few have all announced new World debuts at the show.  So the show might just make it in these challenging times.  While economics have to make sense to participate and take part at a boat show, a show is also about giving the boater, customer, and future owner the experience, and why he should choose you instead of the other.