Only In Miami
Photo recap of boating’s largest show
By Brady L. Kay
Only In Miami
Photo recap of boating’s largest show
By Brady L. Kay
In February the boating industry converged on Miami Beach as the world once again came together in Florida for the five-day Miami International Boat Show. Each year buyers from around the globe descend upon southern Florida to shop the most comprehensive showcase of the newest boats, yachts, tech, gear and marine innovations. For us, it’s an excuse to break away from cold temperatures and see what’s new that pertains to the pontoon and deck boat world.

Bennington, Hurricane, Manitou, Paradigm, Sea-Doo, South Bay, Starcraft, Stingray, Sylvan, Tahoe, and Viaggio all had at least one boat on display. Here are the highlights from what we came across at the show.

A modern boat with red interior lights docked at night, with city lights in the background.
A dark blue and white motorboat with a "NEW MODEL" sign displayed indoors at a boat show.
Close-up of a boat's control console with gauges, a screen, and a steering wheel.
Hurricane Dominance
Hurricane officially launched its 32-foot SunDeck 3200 and its center console 24CC with an outdoor reception in Miami Beach the night before the show opened. The lighting on the 24CC caught our attention that night and the loaded fishing model really stood out on the showroom floor. (www.hurricaneboats.com)
Four black outboard motors in a row with metallic propellers.
So This Is 2,400
Even though the four, 600hp Mercury Verados weren’t on the back of a pontoon or deck boat, we felt it was worth noting the amount of power we’re seeing at shows across the country this year. Whoa! (www.mercurymarine.com)
Person speaking into a microphone on a modern white boat at a boat show, with a green "KICKER Marine Audio" banner in the foreground.
Kicking Things Off
Jeremy Bale (L) takes the mic at a press conference while introducing KICKER Marine’s new high-end M-Series system. Phil White (R) who helped engineer the system was on hand to answer any technical questions from the press. (www.kicker.com)
A blue pontoon boat with white seating on display at a boat show.
Bennington Twins
The QX series from Bennington has a solid reputation in the industry as a high-end luxury pontoon. At the show, the manufacturer had other models in its booth, but it was the 30 QXSBAX2 with twin 400hp V10 Verados from Mercury that attracted the most attention. (www.benningtonmarine.com)
Small utility truck at a marine exhibition with Suzuki outboard motors.
Suzuki’s Stealth Load
Last year at the Miami Show, Suzuki Marine unveiled its new Stealth Line of outboards. The display this year included a truck with a similar stealth look paint color. (www.suzukimarine.com)
Trade show booth displaying Sunstream industrial equipment with metallic beams and wooden support.
Sunstream Raises The Bar In Lifting Technology
LiftBar became the talk of the show after earning an NMMA Innovation Award. It is the first boat lift to incorporate a screw jack-based lifting mechanism that is all housed in one tube. The hidden structure delivers high speed, no sway, increased reliability and enhanced submersibility. The entire lifting mechanism of the LiftBar is hidden within a 6- by 7-inch bar with contained hoses and no external powerpack that needs to sit on the dock. (www.sunstreamboatlifts.com)
Pontoon boat with a white slide on display at an indoor exhibition.
Pontooning To A New Level
South Bay, a division of Forest River Marine, had three boats on display at the show including its all-new Ascension 529 RS. What makes this specific pontoon unique is South Bay paired up with Roswell Marine on its upper deck design that can be raised or lowered with a simple press of a button. (www.southbaypontoon.com // www.roswellmarine.com)
A Starcraft SVX 191 boat displayed indoors with a black canopy and white exterior featuring navy accents.
Starcraft Success
With a solid mix of pontoons and deck boats, Starcraft once again had a booth full of boats on display at the convention center. It seems its versatile lineup of both Starcraft and Sylvan pontoons attracted a lot of attention including its Starcraft SVX 191. (www.starcraftmarine.com)
A pontoon boat docked at a marina with a black canopy and seating.
Tahoe Demos
As part of Suzuki’s on-water display at the show, Tahoe Pontoons had its latest Cascade Platinum available for demo rides. Powered with a Suzuki 250hp outboard, the pairing gave attendees the chance to experience the luxurious pontoon lifestyle on Florida waters. (www.tahoepontoons.com)
Five men in gray shirts conduct a ceremonial sake cask opening in front of a "Suzuki 60 1965-2025" backdrop.
The Big 6-0!
Suzuki Marine USA is celebrating its 60 year anniversary this year and has plenty to be excited about. At the show, top Suzuki leaders kicked off the festivities with a Japanese celebration. (www.suzukimarine.com)
A modern black and white motorboat named "Paradigm" with cushioned seating and a canopy, docked at a marina.
A motorboat named "Paradigm" with five people aboard on a body of water.
A Surf’n Deck Boat
Until you have the chance to get the 266 Surf from Paradigm on the water, you can’t fully appreciate the pairing of its performance hull with Volvo’s Forward Drive 430hp V8 engine. She’s incredibly responsive and extremely fun to drive. The pontoon-like interior helps make it a very unique and comfortable option for those who love to surf. (www.paradigmboats.com // www.volvopenta.com)
Sea-Doo Switch pontoon boat displayed at an indoor exhibition.
Control console of a personal watercraft with handlebars and a mounted digital display.
Handlebar Steering
Since first releasing its Switch, an affordable pontoon with the heart and DNA of a personal watercraft, Sea-Doo has been a regular at the Miami Boat Show. The handlebar steering as well the versatile layouts always attract attention. (www.sea-doo.brp.com)
Display of a silver McLaren Performance 300 outboard motor at an exhibition, with other Honda motors in the background.
Honda & McLaren Team Up
We’re still waiting for the opportunity to test the new 300hp outboard that is a collaboration between Honda Marine and McLaren. The two companies have been working together on the race track for years, so it’s exciting to have a high performance marine engine with improved efficiency enter our industry. (www.marine.honda.com)
Rear section of a watercraft with a ROTAX 150 engine and a deck labeled "MAX DECK."
Rotax 150
The partially submerged Rotax 150 engine on the Manitou Explore includes the MAX deck platform that is 2 feet longer than the original version and slightly elevated, providing more than 6 feet of usable, unobstructed space at the stern. It’s an exclusive deck, only available on Manitou pontoons powered with Rotax outboard engines. (www.manitoupontoonboats.com)
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