Miami International Boat Show - Strictly Sail

[welshkc]

Looks like we will be attending a few days of the Miami Strictly Sail boat show.

Strictly Sail Miami

Does anyone familiar with the area have tips we could use?

Speed and economy are the subjects most interested in.

BTW// We are brand new - fresh and non-sailing landlubbers. The closest we have gotten to ocean sailing was a Royal Caribbean cruise where they pumped sea water into the pool. No kidding.

Although, I've read enough of these forums and other sources to tell the difference between a bowline and a rolling hitch.

Ed

[tallyhorob]

Well good luck and do not let the sky hi price tags of the new boats put you off, lots of used boats out there with lots of life in them to be had a whole lot cheaper.

Heading to the same show at the end of the month over in Chicago.

As for the area, traffic is a pain every time I was there and check the web site for the show they most times get a discount at a hotel near by. And always try priceline too.

[welshkc]

We are not even looking at prices..

There are two drivers behind our visit to the boat show.
- Get out of the cold for a short bit of time. (primary)
- Walk on and inside different boats. (excuse to go to Miami)

We are still years away from boat ownership. Who knows, some of the boats we visit this year could be nicely used and for sale by the time we purchase.

The discounted rate hotel was available and it is within walking distance of the marina with the show. It is all good on that front.

[Geoff S.]

Yo, Boat Show Groupies, Old n' New!

By all means, come down to the show. Chicago and Miami are very different shows, for obvious reasons of geography and weather. Chicago is usually 'toopid cold, so everything is indoors. Lots of boats, but all inside at Navy Pier Festival Hall on jack-stands. Very good assortment of gear vendors. Best part of the Chicago show (IMHO) is the Continuing Ed. An amazing series of seminars, on topics varying from racing tactics to cruising tips to electronics how-to's. Miami is an in-water show, and this year it's not "strictly" sail, as they've merged the power and sail shows; still lots of vendor booths and some good seminars in tents. If you're coming to the Chicago show, see if you can still get into the group rate at the 4-star Fairmont. Usually the rooms are $300+, but they're offering an amazing $99 Strictly Sail rate. Not sure if there's a deadline on geting in on that rate (as the show starts Thursday).

If you come, stop by the Show Office and say ahoy. Full disclosure, I'm both a rank-n-file Cruisers Forum member and a staffer for Strictly Sail/NMMA.

See you at the show!

Geoff

[tallyhorob]

well Geoff,

I'll be seeing you at the chicago show this weekend. Leaving out of Detroit heading to Toledo to pick up 2 others and heading over. Good info on the Fairmont, but using some old Hyatt Points to stay at the hyatt Regency for the weekend.

Any good tips for the show, any must sees? We got 2 day passes for sat and sun and will play Fri by ear depending on the wives and all.

[Geoff S.]

Hey, Rob;

Excellent, glad you can come. Most of the big manufacturers are here (Hunter, Catalina, Island Packet, Tartan, Jenneau, Beneteau, etc. The usual vendor fare of everything from winches to ginsu knives. Seminars all day every day. Many good free ones, but if you feel like dropping some coin on some intensive edumacation, I can recommend the all-day Offshore Cruising course Saturday, led by John and Amanda Neal of Mahina Expeditions. It's $175.00 per person, $285 for a couple. The textbook alone is a wealth of info and worth the money. There's also an excellent 2-day meteorology course taught by Lee Chesneau, former Senior Meteorogist for NOAA. It's $325.00, but it'll feel like money well-spent the next time you peer up around the dodger at that menacing cloud formation. Of the free seminars, don't miss Capt. Jack Klang's very entertaining and informative sail trim and single-handing presentations down on the show floor. Here's a link to all things seminar at the Chicago Show: Seminars – Strictly Sail Chicago. There's also a Kids' booth, with model boatbuilding, drawing and knot tying, and a contest booth where you can enter to win a Moorings Charter and a week's stay at the Bitter End Yacht Club.

See you at the shoo! I'm the 6'2", 260-lb bald guy with the big smile and loud hawaiian shirt behind the Exhibitor Services counter.

Geoff