1997. From the Miami Boat Show, the latest trends made in the U.S.

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Trends from the Miami show

From Boats to Motor 1997, no. 3, April, pp. 40-49.

An analysis of the latest trends coming out of the United States and a review of novel solutions, bewildering fashions and “Americana” that are sure to leave a mark soon on this side of the ocean as well. More than three thousand boats on display, lots of novelties and a flood of curious things and gadgets: this is what the Miami Boat Show, the world’s largest boat show, has to offer. Four separate exhibition areas several miles apart but connected by a efficient shuttle service. Plus a large section dedicated to used boats, all moored along a canal in the famous Biscayne Bay. But that’s not all, the Miami Boat Show is also a gathering occasion for the most prestigious megayachts, from all over the world.

Optimism and prosperity have won America back. The crisis of years past is now just an old and sad memory, the economy has picked up more than ever, and boating is no longer just a dream. Full confirmation of this comes to us from the International Boat Show in Miami, the largest and most important American motor boating show, now in its 56th year, which ended on a positive note, for many even well beyond expectations. It was here that the first signs of recovery were already noticed last year. From the three large exhibition areas dedicated exclusively to motor boats and their accessories, between tradition, timeless myths and technology, new ideas, new trends and new fashions were born, ready to launch themselves to the conquest of foreign markets. The return to the desire to spend on the part of the “medium class,” the one that really makes up the numbers and reflects and determines the real health of a country’s economy, explains the high concentration of new models precisely in the medium-small boat segment, up to 12 meters. To the younger and more sporty user, the one who made the jet ski fashion his own, the shipyards now offer a wide and very colorful range of small hulls with jet engines, much more comfortable than motorcycles but no less fun. The traditional speedboat, the one with the bow pontoon and so beloved by Italians, overseas can now be considered to be dying out, in its place the more habitable bow riders, which have already been on the American market for some 20 years, but are constantly evolving. Now the bow area is being exploited more and more and better, so much so that the very latest trends have almost entirely transformed it. Indeed, stern and bow have become virtually the same, the same width and both equipped with a swim platform and ladder.

But the real star of this show is, as always after all, the fisherman. In America, in fact, deep-sea fishing is a real mass phenomenon. To reach the most fishy waters, such as those in Florida, that is, those where the Gulf Stream transits, true enthusiasts travel hundreds and hundreds of miles. It is therefore necessary to have fast, safe boats with great autonomy: basically the fisherman in all its types. Obviously, for the most demanding fishing trips that require long stays at sea, the ideal boat is the classic convertible over 10 meters with a high, flared bow, to cope with even the most inaccessible sea conditions with extreme safety, and a stern with a very low freeboard, to facilitate the boarding of prey. Also of this size, the fashion for “open fisherman” is definitely gaining popularity, launched in recent years by the best-known shipyards in the industry and already very popular in the Mediterranean as well. These are hulls that, while reproducing the same lines as convertibles, are without the superstructure that houses the flying bridge, and have the wheelhouse in the cockpit. The latter generally has two levels, a lower, uncluttered aft level, where the fighting chair and live and catch tanks are located; the other, slightly higher level, houses the pilot seat and seats for the co-pilot and other guests. This area also is often overlooked and protected by a tuna tower for spotting prey, the main accessory that avid fishermen simply cannot do without.

Dedicated to fishing and very successful are also the smaller walk-around cabin cruisers, which are increasingly rich in equipment stowage volumes. The cabin is comfortable enough to allow one to spend, obviously without too much pretension, even a few nights on board. For shorter fishing trips, moreover, open hulls such as center consoles are very popular, and they have begun to gather a lot of support from the Italian market as well. Typically American, on the other hand, are those boats with flat hulls and large outboard motors, ideal for moving in the shallow waters of the fishy lagoon areas. Turning to the classic cruising sector, of note are the great advances achieved by day and express cruiser manufacturers in the exploitation of interior volumes. Spaces are now spacious and bright, and the trend of a few years ago of manufacturers competing to fit more berths on boats of equal size has finally disappeared. The same considerations can be echoed with regard to flying bridges, which, however, often find themselves in competition with convertibles, which are now able to offer maximum comfort even to those who really don’t want to know about fishing. For quiet, unhurried sailing, trawlers are regaining ground; in the wake of the now legendary Grand Banks other yards are producing good boats. Even pilothouses, a middle ground between the trawler and the traditional motoryacht, which have not yet managed to conquer our seas, are appreciated by several American boaters.

So much so that there is a growing fashion for what can be called “houseboats'”, aesthetically not beautiful but exceptionally comfortable and practical, despite their small size, for prolonged stays on board, with nothing to envy the comfort of home. But even Americans who love pure speed have nothing to complain about: in fact, there are numerous shipyards that devote at least part of their production to building superfast hulls, monohulls or catamarans. Very narrow, with completely flat decks, wrap-around seats, the ever-present aft sundeck cushion, cozy but stripped-down cabins, and roaring engines, these boats are becoming increasingly colorful and flashy, with dashboards and engines strictly matching.

By Elena Gaggini and Leonardo Zuccaro

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