Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Guide 2021

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Guide for 2021

The 62nd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will take place on October 27 – 31, 2021. Come out to see the industry’s latest boats and yachts while shopping for marine products and accessories. Enjoy tasty cuisine and cold drinks while visiting the many attractions, including seminars, sustainability presentations, Aquazone, and the Super Yacht Village.

Back for 2021 – Bigger and Better. You Don’t Want to Miss! 

Superyacht Village

The Superyacht Village and marina will feature super yachts reaching over 300 feet in length. Superyacht Village is an exclusive marina that features some of the most spectacular vessels in the show. Superyacht Village is located at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina’s new “Pier South” property, adjacent to the southeast corner of the 17th Street Causeway bridge. 

Aquazone 

Presented by Nautical Ventures, AquaZoneTM is back for 2021 with a bigger and better display than ever before. AquaZone will give boat show-goers a front-row experience with various water sports and innovative marine products. The AquaZone is open during the same hours as the boat show. Demonstrations start one hour after the show opens and end one hour before the show closes.

Weather Forecast 

This weekend’s weather is looking great! The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures with a high of 87 and a low of 67. 

Transportation and Parking 

Many options are available for transportation to the show, including the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi, Uber, and Lyft. A personal favorite is riding bikes down to the show. Parking is available at the new garage at 200 Las Olas Circle.

Purchase Tickets to the Boat Show Online Only

New for 2021, there is no box off at the show. All tickets need to be purchased online in advance, and your digital ticket will be scanned at the door to enter. 

Purchase your tickets online

Where to Store Your Boat During a Hurricane

Where To Store Your Boat During A Hurricane

NOAA predicts another above-average hurricane season in 2021. Where will you store your boat should a storm hit? 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, predicts another above-average hurricane season with 17 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. The season starts on June 1 and goes through November 30, with the peak of storms affecting Florida in August and September. 

Last year was a busy season, with a record 11 storms making landfall in the U.S., including six hurricanes. No matter the prediction, it is essential to have a hurricane preparedness plan, and a location to store your boat should a storm hit your area.

The Best Place To Store Your Boat During a Hurricane in Miami

Most boating experts would agree that the best place to keep your boat during a hurricane is an indoor dry storage facility like North Beach Marina or any dry inland location away from tidal surges and strong winds. If you cannot remove your boat from the water, the next best option is to look for shelter in a canal or “hurricane hole” with land protection on all sides and secure your boat to a boat lift or dock using strong lines with plenty of slack to account for the tidal rise. 

When moving your boat inland, you will want to check the condition of your boat’s trailer to make sure it’s working correctly, as it is your best option to transport your boat away from the storm to a more sheltered location. Our friends at Happy Trailer Storage recommend inspecting your trailer tires and bearings now to make sure you’re not scrambling to make repairs as a storm approaches. 

Top Ten Hurricane Season Boat Preparation Tips

  1. Create a Hurricane Plan for Your Boat
  2. Secure In-Door Boat Storage
  3. Update Your Boats Insurance Policy
  4. Move Your Boat to Dry Land
  5. Secure Your Boat to a Trailer with Tie Down Straps
  6. Remove All Loose Items
  7. Seal the Openings
  8. Remove Drain Plugs to Let Excess Rain Water Drain Out  
  9. Inspect the Bilge Pumps & Float Switches to Make Sure They’re Working Properly
  10. Check Your Boat’s Trailer to Ensure it’s Working Properly 

Contact Us for Help

At North Beach Marina, we have seen our fair share of hurricanes over the years and are here to help you prepare. For more information on how to protect your boat during the hurricane season contact the marina at 305-758-8888 or click here.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2020

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2020

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Will Go On In 2020 With Enhanced Safety Protocols

The 61st annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will come to port on Fort Lauderdale Beach, October 28-November 1, 2020. This year’s boat show is making several safety precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including thermometer checks, requiring maks, sanitation stations, and winding the dock space.

With more than 90 acres of event space, there will be plenty of room to enjoy a lovely day with your friends and family exploring the latest and greatest in the boating industry.

Purchase your tickets ahead of time to avoid the lines. There are 13 entrances for this year’s show along A1A. Parking is available at the new garage at 200 Las Olas Circle, on the north side of the Las Olas Boulevard Bridge.

Purchase Tickets to the Boat Show

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Website

2020 Lobster Season Tips Miami

2020 Lobster Season Tips Miami

Lobster Season Tips for a Successful Hunt in Miami-Dade

The Lobster Mini Season in Miami will officially begin at 12:01 am on Wednesday, July 29, and ends at midnight on Thursday, July 30. The regular 8-month lobster season will start on August 6 and runs through March 31, 2021. This year is forecast to be very active, with more permits sold than last year, and excellent weather conditions. Before you head out on the water, review our tips below to ensure a safe and successful bug hunt!

Remember- Safety First

There is always a risk associated with scuba diving, especially during the lobster mini-season. With thousands of recreational boaters on the water at once, make sure to have your dive flag visible, bring a spotter, and keep your eyes and ears open. The 2020 Lobster Season will see more divers on the water than in the past with a 9% increase in permits sold vs. last year. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 176,190 resident lobster permits and 41,509 non-resident lobster permits sold this year.

Know Your Limitations

During the mini-season, recreational divers and snorkelers can take a maximum of twelve lobsters per person per day in Broward and Miami Dade Counties except for Biscayne National Park, where you can only take six. In the primary lobster season, one can take a maximum of six lobsters per person per day.

See the official Lobster Season rules.

Size Does Matter

It is important to remember the lobster’s body excluding the tail should be larger than 3″, measured in the water. One should carry a measuring device at all times. Possession limits are strictly enforced on and off the water. Also, be sure to check to see if the lobster is pregnant. You can see visible orange eggs on the bottom of the tail. Be sure to leave these bugs for future generations to grow. 

Buy a Spiny Lobster Permit

You must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and a spiny lobster permit to participate in Lobster Season. To acquire these items, one can easily pick them from a local Publix Supermarket or online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. The process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete.

Purchase the Correct Lobster Catching Equipment

There is nothing more frustrating than malfunctioning equipment during a dive. From a leaking mask to a broken regulator, make sure to have your gear tested and prepped for this season. There are many specialty lobster catching equipment you can purchase online or at a dive shop. These items can include an underwater measuring stick, tickle stick, a net, noose, and lobster bag. 

View our blog post on the best lobster catching equipment to purchase, click here.

For more information about the 2020 Lobster Season in Miami-Dade County, please call the marina at 305-758-8888 or click here.

How to Prepare Your Boat for the 2020 Hurricane Season

Top 10 Tips to Protect Your Boat from Damage this Hurricane Season: June 1 – November 30

While we may be a bit fatigued from preparing for the unknown, Florida’s hurricane season runs June 1st – November 30th, with the peak of the season in August and September. This is the sixth year in a row that a tropical depression has formed before the official start of hurricane season, kicking off what experts predict will be an active season. 

Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane researchers are predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2020, with the likely absence of El Niño as a primary factor. Tropical and subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures are also warmer than usual, a factor supporting an active hurricane season ahead. The Weather Company calls for 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes.

As many south Florida boaters know from experience that it only takes one storm to cause complete destruction- so now is the best time to prepare your boat for a potential hurricane.

Hurricane Season Boat Preparation Tips

Create a Hurricane Plan for Your Boat

The first step in preparing for hurricane season is to create a hurricane plan well before a storm approaches. When formulating a hurricane plan, always keep in mind that life comes before property. Customers are our key priority, so to ensure your safety we strongly encourage that you heed all evacuation notices issued by your local county emergency management office regardless of the vulnerability of your boat.

Know Your Insurance Policy

Secure all of your important boat documents in an easily accessible location on dry land and make sure your insurance policy is up-to-date. Become familiar with your policy and contact your provider prior to a storm if you have any questions. To help with claims, take photos and videos of your boat before and after to show proof of damages, and inventory all equipment on your boat. 

Get on Dry Land

The best place to store your boat during a hurricane is indoors at a dry boat storage facility, like NorthBeach Marina. If you do not have access to indoor dry storage,  smaller boats under 35-feet can be safely stored on land. Whether the boat is on a trailer, next to your house, or at a dry storage parking, boats that are stored dry typically see less damage than those left in the water during a hurricane. In this case, it is better to have a sildenafil pill with you. Be sure to store the boat on high ground to avoid flooding and place additional jack stands along with areas of the hull that are reinforced by bulkheads. Place pieces of plywood under the stands to prevent them from sinking into the ground, and chain together jack stands to prevent them from spreading apart.

Securing Your Boat on a Trailer

Tying your boat to its trailer helps prevent it from floating away in the storm surge or flooding a hurricane brings. If you’re keeping it on a trailer outside, choose a location away from trees and electricity poles, preferably next to a building or other structure that provides a shield from the wind. Place blocks beneath the frame on either side of the wheels, and deflate the tires. Tie the boat to the trailer and secure the boat to ground the best you can.

Remove and Secure Items to Reduce Wind Damage

If you leave the boat outside during a storm, remove anything that has the potential to fly off, like covers, especially if they are expensive or custom-made. Even if the storm does not damage your boat, it is likely that your canvas will be damaged or destroyed by wind, the strain from rain collecting, or by flying debris. Boats are made to get wet, so leave it uncovered during a storm.

We also recommend that you take anything above and below deck off the boat if it is not waterproof, or if it is light enough to fly away in a heavy wind. This includes (but is not limited to) cushions, dock lines, flags, Bimini tops, and GPS/radios. Make sure to secure anything else that cannot be removed from the boat. To prevent chafing, wrap protective covering around your lines wherever the ropes touch the boat. Fully charge batteries in case the bilge pump has to work overtime, and shut off fuel lines.

Seal All Openings

Seal all openings (hatches, cabinets, doors, etc.) on the boat to keep it watertight. To help keep things secure during a storm, use duct tape for an easy remedy.

Remove Drain Plugs

If you are storing your boat on dry land, remove the drain plugs. Marinas typically do this when storing. If the boat fills up with water, the added weight can negatively affect the way it sits on your trailer or dry-rack. Just remember to put the plug back in before using the boat.

Inspect the Bilge Pumps & Float Switches 

Make sure your bilge pumps and bilge float switches are working and are hard-wired to your batteries. If your boat is on a lift, make sure the lift is in good working order and lift your boat higher than normal.

Securing Your Boat to at Lift 

Boats on lifts are more susceptible to damage in a serious storm due to collapsing lifts, flooding, being blown off cradles, etc. If you must leave your boat on a lift, raise your boat as high as the lift allows but do not secure the boat to the lift. Secure long ropes to anchor points (do not secure to floating docks, use pilings) in case the surge lifts the boat off the lift.

Securing Your Boat to a Dock 

Boats tied to docks are at greater risk than boats kept at moorings or on anchors since they suffer more windage. If you have no other option but to dock your boat, make sure your dock is in good shape and make any necessary improvements to ensure it holds up during the storm. As crunch time approaches, double or triple tie your boat to the dock. Adjust all lines to account for tide surges, the wind, and rain, and ensure each line has adequate chafe protection on the boat and at the dock cleats. Also, use buoys and fenders to protect from impact against floating debris, the dock, and seawall.

Final Advice for the Hurricane Season in Miami

Don’t Wait

Evidence shows that boats stored on land fare better on average in a hurricane compared to boats kept in the water. If you plan on hauling your boat, coordinate in advance with your marina. Don’t wait until three days before the storm to make your hurricane plan. 

You can take all the precautions in the world to secure your boat, but Mother Nature sometimes gets the best of us. Be prepared and stay safe. Should you need assistance preparing your boat for the hurricane season, call us at 305-758-8888

Miami International Boat Show 2020

Miami International Boat Show 2020

The Miami Boat Show Returns to Key Biscayne over Presidents Day Weekend

The 2020 Miami International Boat Show is at the Marine Stadium Park & Basin on the Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne over President’s Day Weekend, Thursday, February 13 through – Monday the 17th. Browse and test-drive boats of all sizes, makes, and models while shopping for the latest in marine accessories, technology, and clothing. Tickets start at $35 for adults and admission is free for children 12 and younger.

How to Get to the Miami Boat Show

There are several options for getting to this year’s show including the water taxi and shuttles buses. Water taxis operate from 9 am to 7 pm during the event. Downtown lots are located at Marlins Park and American Airlines Arena. Pick-up and drop-off locations are Bayfront Park, American Airlines Arena, and downtown parking garages.

Learn more click here