The 15 Best Yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Re-post From robbreport.com | By Michael Verdon | Nov 7, 2025
FLIBS, as usual, did not disappoint, thanks to the range of styles and build quality. Of the dozens we toured, these were standouts.
The 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), billed as the world’s largest in-water boat show, is a quintessentially American show, with more than 1,300 vessels across seven locations. Unlike the Monaco Yacht Show, which focuses mostly on superyachts, or the Cannes Yachting Festival, which is European-focused, FLIBS is a sprawling, all-encompassing event. Its venues range from the convention center with hundreds of smaller boats, from 15-foot aluminum tenders built in Indiana to 25-foot center consoles from Florida, to the Superyacht Village which has a dozen-odd superyachts at the docks, to the Bahia Mar, with hundreds of brands from around the world sitting at the docks.
Also unlike Monaco or Cannes, most boaters come from across the Americas—more than 100,000 attended—from offshore sportfishermen looking for the latest convertible, to South Americans, flush with cash, looking to bring home a storied American or European brand. It’s not uncommon to see billionaires in sandals, who drive their own boats, peeking into engine rooms, or checking out the master staterooms of the brokerage superyachts.
Robb Report spent three days walking the docks, checking out global launches and US premieres. The launches came from leading boatbuilders and industry start-ups. Here are our 15 FLIBS favorites.
The Mag Bay 43CC
From the California desert comes a 43-foot center-console flagged as “yacht-quality,” but designed in a day-boat package. Mag Bay, whose principals launched Cabo Yachts back in the 1990s, was almost hidden at the show among the other high-end offshore boats. But the 43’s baby-blue hue stood out against the plain-jane vanilla packages. The details of the Mag Bay 43 were noteworthy, including the flawless stainless steel, 75-gallon bait tank (which looked like an aquarium on the stern) and two tiers of three seats with mahogany frames near the helm. Insulated fishboxes, a 32-inch-wide dive door, and 14 rod holders assure anglers can fish tournaments, but an impeccable foredeck with recliners and double lounges means double duty for socializing. The 43’s quad 450 hp Mercury engine package, along with its Michael Peters-designed Cross-Step hull, delivers a top end of 75 mph. The boat’s friendly cruise is a very respectable 40 mph.