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Firefly44 · 29-01-2015, 18:45

Planning to drive over to Miami for the Friday 2/13 boat show. Any tips or advice about the show, or parking, etc?

Thanks much - David S. -- Tampa

DotDun · 29-01-2015, 18:54

Head for Miamarina
Parking = $10 @ Bayside Parking Garage
Show Entrance Fee = $20
Ride the bus to in-water power boats and/or the convention center
Walk your butt off.

Firefly44 · 29-01-2015, 19:03

Thanks Dot. I was hoping Bayside would be a good try. Planning to be there at opening on Fri....

David

Firefly44 · 31-01-2015, 06:59

Is everything for sail at the one venue? Or do the other venues have sailboat stuff too?

letsgetsailing3 · 31-01-2015, 07:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefly44

Is everything for sail at the one venue? Or do the other venues have sailboat stuff too?

It's called "strictly sail".

DotDun · 31-01-2015, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefly44

Is everything for sail at the one venue? Or do the other venues have sailboat stuff too?

The convention center will have the larger selection of electronics, generators, dinghies, etc., stuff common to all boats. Also the outside tents at the convention center has sail rigging, led lighting and stuff. It's worth spending 2-3 hours (or more depending on your affinity to distractions) at the convention center.

RKsailsolo · 03-02-2015, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefly44

Thanks Dot. I was hoping Bayside would be a good try. Planning to be there at opening on Fri....

David

The show opens on Thursday. Friday is day two, general admission. I prefer trade day as tickets are a bit more but it's Thursday so the crowds stay away. You can get thru the whole show in one day...no waiting. Beautiful venue.

bstreep · 03-02-2015, 19:06

Go to Strictly Sail first. It closes earlier than the show at the Convention Center. If you haven't been, it's great. Wife loved it too!

Tetra · 04-02-2015, 06:02

Crew and I will be there on Friday and Saturday. We usually attend one of these events each year and are looking forward to the Miami show.

HopCar · 04-02-2015, 19:34

My guys will be manning the Gill booth at strictly sail. We've also got one of the rooms upstairs at the convention center. We'll have specials on weather gear">foul weather gear, Rocna, Vulcan, and Fortress Anchors, Lehr Outboards and lots more.

**Tellie** · 04-02-2015, 20:49

I will be doing the Spectra watermaker booth right at the entrance and the Applied Membrane watermaker booth at the convention center. Try to make the Saturday night party at Strictly Sail, all are welcome.

I'll be raffling off a brand new Spectra Ventura150 at the cruisers party.

I'd love to see a CFer get it this year. We will also be introducing the new Catalina340MPC5000 at this show. 15gph, a lot more features and for a very short time the same price as the old Catalina300.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

JulieMac · 06-02-2015, 11:52

My partner and I were thinking about travelling down to Florida to see the show. We couldn't believe the price of the hotels, however!

Is anyone else going to the show from out of town? Seems like $2-300 per night is the standard rate. Does anyone have any suggestions for other areas that won't be so high?

HopCar · 06-02-2015, 15:13

Downtown hotels are going to be expensive. Try further away.
Look for something near Metro Rail's southern leg that ends at Dadeland South or near the airport Metro Rail Station. You can ride Metro Rail to the Government Center Station, switch to Metro Mover and that will drop you off near the Sailboat Show. Shuttle busses will take you to the other venues.
Here is a link to the Metro Rail map.
http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/lib...rorail-map.pdf

You're probably going to have a hard time finding a room at this late date.
If you'll have a car you can go further away.

RKsailsolo · 06-02-2015, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieMac

My partner and I were thinking about travelling down to Florida to see the show. We couldn't believe the price of the hotels, however!

Is anyone else going to the show from out of town? Seems like $2-300 per night is the standard rate. Does anyone have any suggestions for other areas that won't be so high?

Hopcar gives good advice but does not tell you that Broward county is a viable hotel site still within range. Book a hotel in Hollywood, Dania Beach or Ft Lauderdale and ride TriRail down to transfer to connecting public transport. Dade, Broward and Palm beach mass transit is coming of age now and is a great way to see SE FL without the stress of negotiating I-95 and event parking.

I have a condo in Delray and regularly use mass transit to go to Bayside in as much time as it would take you to drive your rental car down there. There's a ton of stuff for you to see in S FL beyond the show.