When Hurricane Ian knocked the Fort Myers Boat Show out of its traditional November dates, it was rescheduled for last weekend. The show was shrouded with uncertainty but it boomed!
“We really had no basis to know if the show would work well in January,” said John Good, executive director of the Southwest Florida Marine Industry Association. “But our members believed we could put a good show together on these new dates even though full recovery from Ian’s devastation will take years.”
“In addition,” continued Good, “we were all convinced we would need the show to regenerate enthusiasm and sales in this region going into 2023, especially with media speculation of a possible recession. We’re celebrating our results.”
Four perfect days of Florida weather greeted the show. Exhibitors and visitors were upbeat. Saturday delivered the biggest single-day attendance in the show’s history. The show typically attracts more than 15,000 attendees.
“The place was packed on Saturday,” says Good.
And this was despite the fact that there were no in-water displays, as the marina in the River District was wiped out by Ian. Still, more than 500 boats covered Centennial Park, a new amphitheater that survived the storm, and the adjacent convention center.
“We didn’t talk to anyone who was not happy,” Good said. “Boat sales across the board appear strong. Just about every dealer we’ve talked with reported double-digit unit sales. What we didn’t expect was the reported high interest from new boaters. Yes, some hurricane replacement boats were sold, but we believe much of that business is still ahead.”
Good thanked the city of Fort Myers for helping accommodate the show just three months after Ian hammered the downtown. The show is set to return to its traditional slot this year, Nov. 9-12.
New Electric Boat Player
Chuan “John” Vo, former global head of manufacturing at Tesla, has unveiled his newest electric project under the banner of the Blue Innovations Group, and it’s a boat.
Vo said BIG will be focused on electric boats and sustainable marine technology. The R30 is a 30-foot electric boat with a dual-motor powertrain that delivers 800 hp and has solar charging capabilities. The boats will be built at the company’s manufacturing facility Pinellas Park, Fla.
The R30 made its first big splash at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
BIG, which began operations a year ago, said it will test the R30 and related technologies throughout 2023, with plans for retail sales in 2024. The R30 is expected to run eight hours on its 221-kilowatt battery.
In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Vo said he believes electric boats are the next step in sustainable transportation, after electric vehicles popularized alternatives to gasoline. The electric-boat market is expected to grow 13.7% to $11.35 billion by 2028 in the United States, according to a study published last month by market research firm Insight Partners.
Vo contends that it’s much more expensive to mass-produce cars, and boats don’t require the same quantity to be profitable. But for electric boats to capture the consumer, they need to be cost-effective. The target is that the price for the R30 be comparable to any other boat, but Vo points out boaters will save money in the long term because charging is cheaper than gasoline.
In addition, BIG plans to develop more durable parts that require less maintenance. Moreover, its engineers are developing what the company calls a Blue Fast Charger. BIG plans to begin implementing them across Florida, then nationally.
“With sunny Florida, you can charge the boat every day for free. Doesn’t cost you anything,” Vo said. “The economics is what’s going to propel people toward adopting.”
