Boat show floats more sales

SARASOTA — The Suncoast Boat show, held in downtown Sarasota April 19-21, had one of its best years ever, event organizers say.

Attendance was up 17% compared with 2012, according to a release, and exhibitor revenue rose by 9% versus last year. There were 155 new and used boats on display in the water, compared to 133 in 2012. The category with the largest increase was new boats under 45 feet, the release states, with a 28% jump over last year.

Fort Lauderdale-based Show Management produced the show, held at Marina Jack. “This year's Suncoast Boat Show was a strong finish to our show season,” Show Management CEO Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III says in the statement. “This is the fifth boat and yacht show we have produced in the last six months and are pleased to say that the marine industry continues to head in a positive direction.”

Darren Plymale, vice president of Anna Maria Island-based Galati Yacht Sales, says he was impressed with the attendance and the quality of prospects. “We were able to write several contracts during the show,” Plymale says in the release, “and provide our team with many leads as we make our way into the spring selling season.”