The 32nd edition of the Palm Beach Boat Show held in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, closed its doors at 6pm yesterday after a successful four days of superyacht showcases, boat builder exhibitions and watersports demonstrations.
Kicking off on Thursday 22nd March, the 2017 event experienced heavy downpours on its opening day but, thankfully, sunny skies and fairer weather over the weekend attracted larger crowds to the show venue along Flagler Drive.
The event featured more than $1.2 billion worth of boats, yachts and accessories from the world’s leading manufacturers. Larger yachts were displayed in the north end of Palm Harbor Marina, while superyachts were lined up in the deep-water Rybovich Marina.
Overall, the number of boats at the show increased by four percent this year to 717 vessels, and new boats were up 12 percent across all categories of sizes. Such figures mean the 2017 edition was the biggest in the show’s 32-year history.
Indeed, the Palm Beach Boat Show is said to be the fastest-growing boat show in Florida, and feedback from exhibitors and industry brokers confirm how successful the four-day event has been, with solid turnouts in leads, sales and charter business reported.
This year also saw a strong turnout from European boat builders, with Dutch shipyards Feadship, Heesen and Amels exhibiting for the very first time. Likewise, Italian manufacturer Benetti made its Palm Beach debut.
As always, there was a fine selection of charter yachts in show, headlined by the 70m/230ft superyacht ‘Martha Ann’. Delivered by Lurssen in 2008, she was unmissable thanks to her elegant lines and wowed all those lucky enough to step aboard with a long list of facilities.
Also impossible not to spot over the weekend were the 65m/213ft charter yacht ‘Double Down’ from Codecasa, Trinity Yachts' 58m/190ft superyacht SKYFALL and the 55m/180ft Feadship offering, charter yacht ‘Huntress II’.
Other highlights of the show included tents full of the latest electronics and accessories, seminars, fishing clinics, hands-on boat handling classes, live music and food vendors, and the AIM Hospitality Pavilion for guests with exclusive VIP passes.
Also impossible not to spot over the weekend was Trinity Yachts' 58m/190ft superyacht SKYFALL
For more information on any of the charter yachts at the show, speak to your preferred charter broker.
Alternatively, view all luxury yachts attending the Palm Beach Boat Show 2017.
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