Davidsons, Beach Balls take people’s choice award at Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Dec 18, 2025 By NATHAN MAYBERG 5 min read

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Kim and Dapper Davidson won the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade people's choice award for their boat "Beach Balls." In the background is Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak.

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Kim and Dapper Davidson received more than 800 votes for their "Beach Balls" boat to take down the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade people's choice award, with a record number of votes. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Kim and Dapper Davidson Kim and Dapper Davidson won the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade people's choice award with a record number of votes for their boat "Beach Balls." In the background is Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The "Happy Hour" boat group of (left to right) Mary Jo Timmons, Rick Nelson, Pete Planton, Sara Planton, Little Debbie, Brigitt DeMarzo, Tom DeMarzo and Pete Cremona. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The Tiki Pub team (left to right) of Lexi Kuenzel, Mila Kuenzel, Reagan Shemon, Darcy Kuenzel, Josh Kuenzel, Stefan Kuenzel and Vinnie Mebwin. Their boat "Darcie Rae" was runner-up in the medium sponsored boat category of the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The "Don't Stop Believin" boat won best sponsored medium boat, which featured (left to right) Joe Brobst, Paula Brobst, Capt. Dale Donzi, Mazie (the friendly dog), Peter Schram, Karen Florence. Sam Florence. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Three years ago, Hurricane Ian wrecked the home of Dapper and Kim Davidson but it could not take away their beloved boat. Neither Hurricane Ian, Helene or Milton could take away their holiday spirit and love for the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade which they entered their decked-out “Beach Balls” boat in and were rewarded this past week as the “People’s Choice” award winner as well as the sponsored small boat winner.

More than 800 votes came in for the Davidson “Beach Balls” boat, a records for the parade.

For the Davidsons, the boat parade is all about community and the spirit of the holidays. “It’s all about having fun,” Mr. Davidson said. “Everybody is having fun on the water.” Davidson said he gets a kick out of people he knows yelling out his name during the parade, or others calling out the number of the boat. “Watching everybody have fun gives me tingles,” he said.

Davidson said he spent two years perfecting the decorations on the boat including a color-changing mechanism and what he and Kim call “fireworks” that light up and change colors on each end of the boat.

“When I am working on the boat in the day, people stop by and some people are crying,” Davidson said.

Davidson, who is semi-retired now after a career in which he has worked as a car mechanic and fixing houses, calls himself a “handyman.” He was able to get the whole boat running off a car battery.

The Davidsons are still working on the rebuild of their home, which still has an iconic “I love (in the shape of a heart) Fort Myers Beach” sign on it. The Davidsons have even made their own stickers with the phrase that they passed around at the awards ceremony at Marina Cantina Waterfront Tin Tiki at Salty Sam’s Marina, where the parade took off a week earlier.

With more than 40 boats partaking in this year’s Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said this year’s boat parade brought out the most boats in the 37-year history of the event.

Liszak said the parade was among the most well-attended the event has seen. Boats along the parade route were viewed by restaurant guests who filled up local restaurants and by dozens of people who attended house parties along the bay. Folks even lined up along the Matanzas Pass Bridge to get an overhead view of the lit-up boats.

“It was a beautiful night,” Liszak said. “It was magical.” Liszak thanked the owners of Salty Sam’s Marina for hosting the parade start.

More than 70 people attended the awards banquet at Marina Cantina.

Liszak thanked the restaurant for providing a “warm and festive atmosphere, exceptional hospitality, and delicious food prepared by the chef. Special appreciation goes to Dru Hanni, General Manager of Marina Cantina, whose leadership ensured an unforgettable evening for all attendees.”

Stefan Kuenzel, speaking at the awards banquet, said he entered in four boats to the parade. Kuenzel, who runs the boat tour business Tiki Pub, said this was his third year partaking in the parade. Their boat “Darcie Rae” was runner-up in the sponsored medium boat category.

“It’s a great community event. It brings everybody out,” Kuenzel said. “It’s great for our crew.” Kuenzel said the business, which is based near Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, was able to book guests to go out on the parade.

Rob Jones, who runs Pelican Bay Charters out of Moss Marina, took part in the parade for the first time. He also donated free boat tours as part of several raffles at the awards ceremony.

His boat “Shark Teeth and Shells” was runner-up in the large, sponsored boat category. Another boat he entered, “Chiki Tiki,” was second runner-up in the people’s choice award.

“It’s cool. This is my first year. I had no idea what to expect,” Jones said. Jones said business has been improving lately with boat tours. “I think it will be a good year,” he said.

Mr. Davidson is already thinking about his plans for his boat next year and said he is feeling the pressure to top this year’s success. Davidson said the success of the parade this year is part of the comeback on Fort Myers Beach. “Fort Myers Beach is rising,” Davidson said. “Things are getting better and better.”

2025 BOAT PARADE WINNERS

Power Small

Winner: #33 The Jolly Jelly and 8 Mates

Runner Up: #38 The Maverick

Power Medium

Winner: #23 Fin

Runner Up: #34 No Name Yet

Power Large

Winner: #7 Next Evolution

Runner Up: #8 The Doghouse