Fort Lauderdale Show A Hit With High-Performance Powerboat Exhibitors

Closing this afternoon, the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has scored big points with high-performance powerboat builders that chose to exhibit in the South Florida event, which opened Wednesday. In short, the Fort Lauderdale happening—once considered a “yacht show” not worth exhibiting in for go-fast boat companies—has been a hit for the likes of Cigarette Racing Team, Fountain Powerboats, MTI, Mystic Powerboats, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, Sunsation Boats and Wright Performance Powerboats.

Go-fast powerboat builders from Cigarette and Fountain to Wright Performance and Nor-Tech established a commanding presence at the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and so far it’s paid off. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“The show has been incredible and the attendance has been huge,” said Brett Manire of Performance Boat Center, which carries the Cigarette, MTI, Sunsation and Wright Performance brands and has locations in Osage Beach, Mo., and Fort Lauderdale. “We moved a lot of inventory with sales of new Cigarette, MTI, Sunsation and Wright Performance builds, and even closed a few used-boat deals.”

Geoff Tomlinson of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Nor-Tech shared Manire’s take—and amplified it.

“Boat shows are back,” he said. “Last year was a good show for us, but this year has really felt like it should. We sold another 460 Flyer, a 500 center console, three 450s and a handful of 390s and 340s.

“And I am confident we will a close a couple more today,” he added.

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A closer look at the first open-bow Nor-Tech 460 Flyer.

In addition to a Fountain Powerboats factory presence that included chief operating officer Jeff Harris and Iconic Marine Group owner Fred Ross, the Washington, N.C., company has enjoyed significant dealer support at the Fort Lauderdale docks.

“We had a tremendous show—lots of interest generated,” said Harris. Our first quad Mercury Racing 450-powered 38 SC—the first 103-mph outboard center console—generated a lot of excitement. And our new 32NX center console made its debut and was a big hit for the mid-range center-console market”

Among the Fountain dealers working the show is Big Thunder Marine of Osage Beach, Mo.

“We had perfect weather and great crowds, and we sold a couple of brand new, just-arrived, Fountains—a 39NX and 43NX,” said Jeremy Anderson, the general manager of the multi-brand dealership. “There was a lot of interest in the new 32NX and we have a lot of people that want to demo our first boat when it gets to Florida in December. The 38SC with quad Mercury Racing 450R outboards got a lot of attention and it looks like we will be custom-ordering a couple for spring.”

Fountain Powerboats approached the event with strong factory and dealer support.

Despite that yesterday was “a little slow” for John Cosker and Greg Weber of Mystic in DeLand, Fla., both will depart delighted with their results even if they don’t make another deal today.

“It was slower yesterday than Thursday and Friday but I don’t mind,” said Cosker. “If we get the deposits we’ve been promised it will be the best show we’ve ever had.

“It thoroughly reinforces my Miami decision,” he added in reference to his choice to pass on the 2022 Miami International Boat Show.”

Added Weber, “It’s been a very good show for Mystic.”