Miami Boat Show

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The Miami Boat Show, the largest event of its kind, is less than a month away. Rooms for this world-class event typically book up a month in advance so make your reservations now.

The nation’s boat industry has been rocked by the downturn in the economy, so with sales down, manufactures are ready to wheel and deal. Consumers looking for a bargain boat should find plenty of boats to choose from when the doors open Feb. 12.

Here are a few tips for first-time boat buyers or veterans boaters looking to upgrade to a larger vessel:

Plan your day. Make a list of the manufacturers that you want to visit and then hit them one by one. Take notes, so you can compare and contrast standard equipment and options.

Don’t buy the first boat you see. Look around. The Miami Boat Show will have hundreds of models on display, you might find three or four different models that will suit your needs.

Once you decide on a boat, don’t be afraid to haggle. The sticker price is just that. The bottom line might be something entirely different.

Sailing enthusiasts will also enjoy Strictly Sail Miami, which runs concurrent with the 68th Annual Miami Boat Show. Mark your calendars. The shows run Feb. 12-16 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center and the Miamarina at Bayside.

Features at a Glance

WIN A $1000 BOATER’S WORLD GIFT CARD

Enter for your chance to win a $1000 Boater’s World Gift Certificate. To enter simply complete an entry form available in the show lobby. One lucky person will be awarded a $1000 Boater’s World Gift card. No purchase necessary. Complete rules available at the show.

Big Game Room

The Big Game Room celebrates it’s 6th Year and returns with all of your favorite events.  Have a drink at the Marlin Bar while waiting for the next educational seminar to begin.  Take a walk over to the Bait Rigging Station and improve your rigging techniques or try the new Chair Fighting Challenge – the Mechanical Bull of the Fishing World.  And of course you’ll see the latest in products for the fishing world and destinations with the best sport fishing in the world. Don’t forget to sign up for the Exhibitor Prize Give Away!! The Big Game Room has it all – don’t miss it

Discover Boating Center

Your one-stop resource for boating information and advice. Staffed by experts who can answer all your questions and set you on a course to choosing a boat that will give you and your family years of enjoyment, the Discover Boating Center is here to help you become a boater.

• Straightforward answers to all your boating questions
• Expert, unbiased advice on buying a boat
• Information you can trust and local resources to help you get started

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Sea Tow Foundation for Boating Safety & Education

The Sea Tow Foundation for Boating Safety & Education (located in booth 1765) is scheduled to help raise awareness for boating safety.  Visitors to the show are encouraged to “Take the Sea Tow Challenge” and try boating safety activity while at the show.  The challenge encourages recreational boaters to learn more about boating safety concepts and the importance of wearing a life jacket while on the water.

We encourage all boat show attendees to stop by the Sea Tow Foundation booth and try a boating safety activity.  Prizes will be awarded for various levels of participation.  People come to boat shows to learn more about boats and boating.  These activities will give them something fun and interesting to do while shopping and will hopefully make folks aware that they can never know enough about boating safely.

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Custom and Border Protection

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers will be at the show to enroll eligible participants in the CBP Local Boater Option (LBO).  Participants must be U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders).  The LBO is a new voluntary, free of charge, program which allows a participant, under certain circumstances, to telephonically report the arrival of their private vessel, make customs declarations, submit any necessary additional information, and be cleared for Immigration purposes without the need to report to a port of entry in person.  The program is only available to private vessels arriving into ports of South Florida, Tampa, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.  To enroll in the program, an individual must present him/herself to a CBP officer with the appropriate documentation (passport is preferred) to verify identity, citizenship or lawful permanent immigration status.  PLEASE, all family members must be present to register; registration is on an INDIVIDUAL basis.  The office will then register the individual into the program, and create a Boater Registration Number (BR).  This number will then be used during the telephone arrival notification process.  

 Officers will be available all days of the show from 10 am – 6 pm. in booth #1747 in C Lobby.  

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Block Party

Celebrate the South Florida sunsets with food and drink specials from 5 pm to 7 pm, Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15, along Convention Center Drive at the Miami Beach Convention Center.