Matt Trulio

What did you think—positive and negative—about this year’s Miami event? https://www.offshoreonly.com/article...view-your-turn

From the OSO home page. You can post your comments in this thread or at the bottom of the story—or both.

pstorti

iTrader: (2)

Getting to and from is terrible, parking prices are crazy, nice to have boats in the water to go for rides, prefer seeing boats out of the water in the AC and see what the whole boat looks like.

Hope they end up back at the convention center someday. If they can resolve the transportation and parking issues will be better but I used to go 4-5 days, the last two years only 2, next year will probably be 1.

WavetoWave

I would have to agree with everything Matt said. Working the show and visiting are two different things but it is a great show all around. The site is really good but as others have said, getting to and from the show is the biggest problem. The simple thing would be more water taxis of all sizes and a more efficient Uber pickup and drop off location.

Matt is bang on about the Cigarette display, it's awesome and great that a local company like Cigarette puts on such a great showcase.

omerta one

Bad: water taxi waits; restrooms, kids in strollers clogging up the docks.
Good: much to look at in one location, all the newest product. Ran into my buddy Brad Schoenwald.
Observations: there were more things with outboards hung on them than one could ever imagine...
Fact: Cigarette display won best in show.

Tim G.

Well I guess I'll get a car to put in my boat show booth next year..

Good to see you in Miami Tom..Thanks for coming by... Hopefully we see more of you at the lake this summer. Don't be a stranger..

omerta one

Wont b, looking forward to catching a ride(s) in Gerry Hellebush's new MTI CC!!! (A Lambo would look good). BTW it might be my imagination, but the talent in the Cig display appeared stronger when you were there?

Cash Bar

The fact that it's hard to go more than one day is the biggest change for most people. The CC used to allow people to walk to the show, spend a few hours and go back to the hotel, pool, beach, bar, etc. Repeat each day as needed. Now most of us do one day at the show and the rest of the time relaxing at those same places. Now the show is a one day, ALL DAY excursion.

I do like the in-water parts and I know some of the builders like the ability to show and demo from their displays.

With some planning the transportation isn't the nightmare most people seem to make it.

Skater30

You are spot-on CB! We were back there for 4 days, and only went to the performance boat show one day. I thought the manufacturers and exhibitors did a great job, it's just the logistics of the location that make it tough. I definitely would recommend putting some portable restrooms down on the docks. Constantly having to walk back on shore for the restrooms was a big time consumer.

Apexwarrior

Stayed in Jupiter with friends. 1 hour and 15 minutes to Miami (90 miles). Another hour on a bus to go 6 miles from AA area to the show. A 40 minute wait to get on a water taxi back, then a 30 minute boat ride. Then 4 hours in Friday afternoon traffic back to Jupiter. Nightmare!!!

Great show and I know staying in Jupiter is on me, but an hour on a bus and another hour plus just to get back to my car??

Can't see doing this again..

PremierPOWER

My wife and I brought electric scooters and drove to and from our hotel each day. Then locked them up near the bike racks. 0 traffic issues and it was a lot of fun. This was our first time at the show since the venue change, as we didnt think we would like it. Having the boats in the water with the A/C on makes it a lot nicer and feels like a real boat show. I now much prefer this venue, but our scooters made it very convenient. It does suck not being able to stay on South Beach and being able to walk there, but being on the water and the ease of getting test rides makes up for it IMO.