Photo: YachtBuyer
The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opened Wednesday as record king-tide flooding pushed saltwater into streets and neighborhoods. The show went on. On opening day, Port Everglades recorded its highest water level since that gauge was installed in 2018, according to CBS Miami. Around Fort Lauderdale, docks were overtopped, streets flooded and some visitors found themselves wading through water.
The event runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, across six sites, including the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Las Olas Marina and Superyacht Village. Thursday through Saturday, the show is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the official schedule.
The contrast is hard to miss: a waterfront showcase built around boats, unfolding amid water where it is not meant to be. The Everglades may feel far from the marinas, but South Florida’s water story runs from its wetlands to the Atlantic-facing canals, and flood resilience is part of the region’s business reality.
A larger, younger superyacht fleet
The latest YachtBuyer Intelligence figures count 216 superyachts at this year’s show, up 27% from 170 in 2025. Together, they measure 7.19 kilometers, compared with 6.02 kilometers last year.
The fleet is larger overall, but the average yacht is shorter: 33.3 meters this year, down from 35.43 meters. It is also younger on average, at 9.88 years compared with 11.34.
YachtBuyer counted 121 debuts, up 41% year over year. The show’s own materials separately tout more than 50 boat debuts, reflecting different counts of introductions across the event.
The lineup ranges from production models to vessels at the top end of the superyacht market. Leading the fleet is the 93-meter Oceanco Draak, converted for scientific research and marine exploration. It is joined by the 64-meter ice-class Scout and the 55-meter Amels Nomad.
The Pearl 100 Hybrid is the builder’s first model with hybrid propulsion. Photo: YachtBuyer
Debuts with new directions
Among the new models drawing attention is the Pearl 100 Hybrid, making its world debut as the builder’s first yacht with hybrid propulsion. The model has five guest cabins. Princess is introducing the C48 OB, its first model with outboard propulsion, while Viking is showing its 64 and 50 Sport Coupe models and Valhalla its 46-SY.
Other introductions include the U.S. debuts of the Prestige M8 EVO and Absolute Navetta 66, plus the world debut of Galeon’s 570 SKY. Delta Powerboats’ 72 is also making its U.S. debut. Together, the introductions give visitors a chance to compare new approaches to propulsion, layouts and onboard space across several segments.
Oceanco Draak is converted for scientific research and marine exploration. Photo: YachtBuyer
The show also carries substantial regional economic weight. MIASF CEO Phil Purcell said in the FLIBS ticket announcement that the event generates more than $1.79 billion in annual economic impact and supports more than 100,000 jobs across South Florida.
The flood is part of the visitor experience
For attendees, the record-setting fleet is only part of the day’s picture. Flooding affected streets near Sunrise Boulevard and NE 20th Avenue, and Fort Lauderdale warned that tidal flooding on low-lying streets could continue through Oct. 31. There have been delays, but no full street closures announced for the boat show.
CBS Miami reported that some visitors in town for the event were unable to reach their home amid the flooding. “It’s shocking; we don’t have boots,” they told the station. Separately, a video shared by Weather.com showed fish swimming across a flooded driveway.
Showgoers can check current conditions before setting out and plan for slower travel between venues. The Broward County Convention Center serves as the transportation hub, with more than 3,000 parking spaces at a flat $40 per day and complimentary shuttles and golf carts. FLIBS also encourages visitors to use water taxis; a daily pass costs $15 through WaterTaxi.com. Tickets are sold online only, with no onsite box office; adult one-day general admission is $48.
At Las Olas Marina, floating concrete docks are designed to accommodate yachts from 78 to 315 feet, NBC 6 reported. That infrastructure helps keep the show operating, but it does not erase the challenge of flooded roads and access routes around it.
Yachts line the waterfront at FLIBS. Photo: YachtBuyer
More listings, lower average asking prices
The brokerage figures suggest a market with more inventory and a lower average ask. YachtBuyer Intelligence counted 179 attending yachts for sale, 20% more than the 149 counted in 2025. Their combined asking value rose to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion, while the average asking price fell from $11.9 million to $10.9 million.
That points to a broader selection for buyers, alongside lower average listing prices. It does not, by itself, show that completed deals are closing below asking price: these are asking-price figures, not sale-to-list data.
In a city coping with exceptional tides, FLIBS remains open, and its expanded fleet is still drawing buyers to the docks. For South Florida updates from the Everglades to the coast, follow South Florida Digest.
