Brunswick Corp. and Viking Yacht Co. reported excellent showings at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, setting records and setting the table for 2022 and beyond.
“[FLIBS] is one of the most important boat shows in the world — it sets the tone for the U.S. fall boat show season and is a good indicator of consumer sentiment carrying into the following year,” Brunswick Corp. CEO David Foulkes said in a statement.
Brunswick and its subsidiaries were well-represented at the show. The company said Mercury Marine had more outboards on display than any other manufacturer, and that more than half of the boats with outboards were powered by Mercury engines. (The 600-hp V-12 Verado made its FLIBS debut.)
Brunswick said products from the Advanced Systems Group were on more than 70 percent of U.S. OEM boats, as well as international models.
In addition, Boston Whaler reported record sales, and Sea Ray had a 30 percent increase in revenue compared with last year’s show.
“Our success in Fort Lauderdale is further demonstration of our incredible momentum across the entire Brunswick enterprise,” Foulkes said. “I am thrilled by all that our teams have accomplished this year.”
Viking and Valhalla Boatworks had a 13-boat display that included the world premieres of the 64-foot Convertible and 54 Open. The builder also showed the Valhalla V-46 for the first time at FLIBS and teased a 90-foot flagship.
And buyers turned out. The builder reported that it sold 27 boats sold between the two brands, including two 90-footers.
“The boat show was just incredible — everything we thought it would be and then some,” Viking president and CEO Pat Healey said in a statement. “Even with our significant backlog, we were able to sell 16 Vikings and 11 Valhallas.”
