2025 Stuart Boat Show Guide

Boat Show visitors are encouraged to book hotel stays as early as possible. Consider whether you want to stay near the show, a little farther away, or perhaps enjoy an iconic landmark hotel. The show organizers have compiled a list of accommodations, so be sure to mention the show to ensure the best room rates. stuartboatshow.com/recommended-accommodations

PLAN OF ATTACK AT THE SHOW

If You Are Buying a Boat Have a Plan of Attack

Boat shows, especially large ones, can be overwhelming both in size and in the variety of boats offered. It’s best to do some pre-planning and go in prepared so you can find exactly what you want. Here are things to consider:

1. Determine which boat type is right for you – Think about how and where you want to use the boat. Is it for inland cruising or out in the ocean, long-range, or just day trips? What activities do you plan to enjoy onboard – fishing, watersports, or entertainment? Also consider if there are certain features or options you want such as a generator, storage for tender, crew quarters, etc.

2. Contact a Yacht Broker – It’s always a good idea to enlist the services of a yacht broker. The purchase of a yacht, particularly one that has already been used, is a big undertaking. A professional yacht broker can help you navigate the process. From researching yachts, negotiating the price, understanding financing, helping with a survey, and walking you through the closing process, a good broker is invaluable.

3. Determine which boat length is right for you – Will you be handling your own boat or will you hire a captain? Consider where your boat will be kept: If at a marina, you will likely pay by foot. If at your dock, consider dock length as well as how deep the water is and compare this to the boat’s draft requirements.

4. Know your budget – Search within your price range, but also look a little above your targeted price. Sometimes a little more money gets you a lot more boats or much better quality (which means lower ownership costs in the end).

5. Research your desired yacht or yachts – For the boat type you’ve chosen, read up on the style and popular models. In a purchase as significant as a yacht, always look for quality. This will be a more enjoyable boat that needs fewer repairs and has a better resale value than a lesser-quality yacht.

6. Research the dealer or broker – A yacht, whether new or brokerage, is a serious purchase. You want to make sure your dealer or brokerage has been in business for a while and has extensive experience with the yacht type you are considering. Make sure they have the financial stability and backing to support you after the sale.   

7. Make an appointment – If you are serious about a particular yacht, it’s best to contact the broker ahead of time and make an appointment. Things can get hectic at the shows.

8. Buying a boat – Boat shows are often used for seeing, in person, the boats you are considering, then making a decision and striking a deal at a later date. But because new boat inventory is so low these days, many new-boat displays are full of already-sold boats, which means you will be waiting for the next available model to arrive for purchase. On the used boat side, this is not an issue: if the boat is for sale, then you can have it as soon as you go through the purchase process. But keep in mind, that availability changes quickly and inventory is very, very low on the on the used-boat side. Quality used yachts often sell quickly, sometimes in just days or weeks, so proceed promptly while of course always doing your due diligence.

General Advice

1. Be straightforward with salespeople on timing and budget.

2. Look at a builder’s overall production to understand what they build and how. Many small-boat builders try to build big boats, but they are not big-boat builders. There is a difference.

3. Quality does not come cheap and should not be ignored. Remember, a boat spends its life banging into 3’ walls of salt water at 30 mph with all your appliances and belongings inside, so it better be well-built.

4. Overall, a boat is not an asset but a means to create memories and enjoyment, so make sure it ticks off as many boxes as possible.

5. Enjoy your new yacht!

Registration process

What to expect when you arrive at a dealership’s display

When you find a yacht you are interested in, the next step is to see it in person at the manufacturer’s or dealership’s boat show display area. Here is what to expect during the visit.

1. Registration – Go to the registration desk of the company’s display. You, or one person from your group, will be asked for some information to match you up with the most appropriate salesperson available.

a. In the case of a company like Ferretti Group of America, which represents multiple brands (including Riva, Pershing, and Ferretti Yachts), this will include stating which brand(s) of yacht you are interested in as well as which model(s).

b. You will be asked if you have worked with a company salesperson in the past, and if so, who it was.

c. You will be asked if you currently own a boat, and if so, what size, type, and brand.

d. You will be asked for contact information, such as country, city, state, and email address. You will also specify if you want to receive emailed materials such as event invitations, news, updates, etc.

e. You may be given a wristband that helps the sales team identify you and your boat preference and/or country of residence.

2. Paired with a salesperson – Based on the registration information you provided, a knowledgeable salesperson will be selected and given your boarding pass. He or she will learn your yachting preferences, interests, and goals, and take you aboard the yacht(s) you want to see.

3. Onboard the yacht – Your salesperson will escort you through the yacht where you can explore and ask questions. First, however, all people boarding the yacht will have to remove their shoes to protect the floors and carpets. Shoes are left on the dock, and there is often a basket to place them into.

4. Back on the dock – When the yacht tour is complete, your salesperson will answer any final questions, provide you with follow-up contact information, and then return you to the boat show.

NEW or USED

Should You Buy a New or Used Boat?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both new and used boats. Before Covid, depreciation was a buyer’s friend, as prices dropped significantly after the initial purchase. Today, lack of boat availability trumps depreciation and makes many used boats as expensive as new.

1. Used boats may have more extras, which are only valuable if you want or need those features. However, with a used boat, you may pay for the previous owner’s lack of maintenance and experience.

2. New boats have warranties and sometimes service plans, which can eliminate a lot of worries. The boat’s exterior and interior are in pristine condition, with clean, new softgoods throughout.