Fort Myers Boat Show to return to Fort Myers for 47th year
Hundreds of boats, both new and used, as well as boating accessories, will be on display during the Fort Myers Boat Show this week in Downtown Fort Myers.
The 47th annual Fort Myers Boat Show, hosted by the Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association, will take place on Nov. 21-23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The show entrance will be at the west side of Centennial Park, at First and Carson Streets next to Joe’s Crab Shack. The show expands through the park and east along the river to the Fort Myers City Yacht Basin, where there will be new and used boats on display in the water.
“Downtown Fort Myers is really cool. It makes for a beautiful show,” show manager John Good said.
Admission is $13 per person and free for children under 16 years old with a paid adult. There are no pre-show tickets available.
Good said the show will feature a large number of new products, due to new innovations in electronics, boat handling systems and technology.
“We will have a number of new boat models with the latest technology in terms of products,” he said.
The annual show will feature more than 130 different manufacturers displaying between 500 to 600 boats ranging from skiffs to yachts up to 65 to 70 feet. In addition to boats there will accessory exhibits featuring engines, electronics, boat lifts, boating services, fishing gear and clothing.
Good said he tells people that the show is perfect for those looking for a boat, or upgrading their boat, or for those who just want to see what is new and talk to experts.
The Boat Show also will feature fishing seminars, which are sponsored by Coastal Angler Magazine. He said there will be local guide seminars on a variety of subjects.
“They will talk about what people want to hear about. It’s pretty interactive,” Good said.
Such organizations as the Lee County Marine Task Force, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S Power Squadron will be in attendance to share information on how-to and boating safety.
He said they work all year to put on the show, which is their largest, attracting anywhere from 13,000 to 15,000 people.
“This is arguably the biggest show on the west coast of Florida. If you are looking for boating products you are going to see it at our show,” Good said. “From a business industry this is a very important show.”
Last year the show exceeded $60 million in sales.
“Marine industry boat shows are a big part of marketing boats. People still like to feel and touch. If you are in the market for a boat you spend two weeks driving around from Tampa to Naples. For the consumer it’s a great way to shop for a boat and buy boats,” Good said.
Since it is such a big show, he encourages people to come early, stroll around for a while and then take a break and enjoy one of the Downtown Fort Myers restaurants and relax before returning back to the show again.
“It makes for a fun day,” he said.
For those who attend the show, he advises parking at a remote parking lot on First Street at Altamont, across from Publix, one block north of McGregor Boulevard. For just $5, attendees can park there for the day and ride the free shuttle that will take them to the show’s entrance a half mile away.
For more information, visit www.goboatingflorida.com.