This year marks a major sea change for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show—one that probably won’t be noticeable to the thousands of yachting enthusiasts who attend it. The biggest in-water boat show in the world is now under new management. But the new boss doesn’t plan to fix what’s not broken. "We are improving it around the margins," said Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, chairman and CEO of Active Interest Media (AIM), the California-based group that purchased Yachting Promotions and its Show Management operation last winter. Kaye Pearson, who has long been associated with the Fort Lauderdale show, stayed on as a consultant. "The biggest change is that we’re not going to have a hurricane this year," Zimbalist said.

A freak late-season storm, Hurricane Wilma, blew through Fort Lauderdale right before the 2006 edition of the boat show. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Show Management team and hundreds of exhibitors working around the clock to repair the damage, the postponed show went on. Unfortunately, representatives from some shipyards in Europe and Asia were forced to cancel their plans to attend. But this year, "They’re all coming back," Zimbalist said. "It’s going to be the biggest and best show ever." (Click image to enlarge)

The Superyacht Builders and Designers tent, the air-conditioned oasis of international style where designs for the world’s largest yachts are on display, will be filled to capacity once again. An amazing array of multimillion-dollar megayachts will line the show docks. (Turn the pages of this guide for ShowBoats International’s exclusive preview of these luxury vessels, ranging to nearly 200 feet in length.) Tenders, toys, engines, electronics—everything needed to fully equip the yacht of your dreams—can be found in the show’s six different locations.