Doller Offshore Open House During Lauderdale Show

After a day or two—best case—at a boat show, I get a little stir crazy. The buzz that comes with seeing new performance-boat models and connecting with old friends eventually falls prey to sore feet and monotony.

So for me, any excuse to step away from the show, if only for a few hours, is a good one. Hats off to Doller Marine in Hollywood, Fla., for planning its Open House event for Saturday, October 30, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. It’s no accident that’s also the second to the last day of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and by then attendees, especially of the go-fast kind, should be ready for a little field trip. And Hollywood is just minutes from Fort Lauderdale.

I have to admit, I’ve never been to Doller Marine, but I’ve known of it since I started writing for Powerboat magazine 16 years ago this month. Back then, the company only sold parts for high-performance powerboat, and had a solid reputation for customer service. Doller’s reputation hasn’t changed, but now the company also is a dealer for Active Thunder, Spectre and Sunsation performance boats.

For go-fast boat enthusiasts looking to escape the Fort Lauderdale Show, the short trip to Doller might be worth the effort, if for no other reason than to hang out with fellow performance-boat lovers and enjoy complimentary food and beverages. Trust me, if I were headed to the show—not going to happen this year—I wouldn’t miss it.