2010 Miami International Boat Show

Not much going on between now and the Miami International Boat Show Feb. 11-14. OK, the Florida Powerboat Club has a run to Hawk’s Cay January 22-24 but that might be a little much for those planning to attend the Miami show and the poker run to Islamorada the following week. And if there’s one boat show to attend in any given year, the Miami event is it.

Want to see the turbine-powered Copeland’s Phenomenon catamaran up close? How about NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s new MTI 48-footer? Both those boats will be there.

A bigger booth—as well as big news—is in the offing for Cigarette Racing Team at the show. And you can always count on something special from Mercury Racing.

Here’s your Miami Boat Show strategy: Spend Thursday and Friday walking the show. Check the weather so you can pick the nicer day to walk the exhibits outside the convention center. Either way, getting there before noon is completely unnecessary, as well as unlikely if you dedicate any significant time to South Beach on Wednesday or Thursday night. Use Saturday to see what you haven’t seen at the show, use Saturday night to see what you haven’t seen on South Beach and fly home Sunday afternoon.