Miami International Boat Show Highlights

For years the Miami International Boat Show has been the place where boat and engine manufacturers show off their latest and greatest new products and this year was no exception. Held at the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key from February 14 to 18 inclusive, North America’s largest consumer boat show offered all sorts of new gear debuts this year, from hand-held accessories to luxury yachts. Boat.com was there to see it all – here’s just a sample of some of the new gear on display.

Sea-Doo Fish Pro

Sea-Doo Fish Pro

One of the most interesting additions to the Miami International Boat Show was the all-new Sea-Doo FISH PRO is a personal watercraft designed with fishing in mind. Able to negotiate shallow waters and access spots that are impossible to reach in a larger boat, the comparatively inexpensive Fish Pro comes fully rigged and ready to fish. Built on an extended hull that accommodates a massive 13.5-gallon onboard cooler with bait and tackle storage, the Fish Pro features rod holders, a top-of-the-line navigation system, a Garmin Echomap Plus fishfinder with CHIRP technology, and a unique trolling mode that provides throttle-less low speed control. It even features a specially-designed seat that allows anglers to easily turn around to access gear stowed in the stern, as well as footrests along the gunnels for comfort when facing sideways. Beyond that, it’s also just a ton of fun getting to and from the spots.

Mercury Verado 400 Outboard

Mercury Verado 400

Mercury celebrated its 80th anniversary by filling a void in its outboard motor lineup between the popular 350 Verado and its top-dog 400 R racing outboard. The new Verado 400 uses the same 2.6L supercharged inline six-cylinder, DOHC 24-valve powerhead as Verado 350, now tuned up to redline at 6,800 rpm rather than the 6,400 rpm of the older engine. Sequential multi-port fuel injection, a 70-amp alternator and advanced midsection with perimeter mounts provide the quiet, vibration-free ride that Verado customers demand while ensuring the engine provides plenty of power to keep batteries fully charged.

Raymarine DockSense Assisted Docking System

Raymarine DockSense

For many boaters the hairiest part of any day at the water comes at the end when they return to the dock – an intimidating task even without currents or winds. A great solution we saw at the Miami International Boat Show is Raymarine’s DockSense assisted docking system, which makes docking easy by creating a virtual bumper around the boat so it becomes impossible to crash into the dock or someone else’s yacht. Stereoscopic cameras mounted around the boat monitor how close the hull comes to foreign objects – get too close and it automatically adjusts the engines to prevent a collision. Once you’re lined up properly with the dock, pressing a button overrides the system and lets you pull alongside. The system can even hold the boat in place while you go tie off the mooring lines – a huge help when you’re operating solo in windy conditions.

Yamaha 275 Jet Boat

Yamaha 275 Jet Boat

Yamaha’s all-new 275 Series jet boat comes in three different trim levels – the base 275E, the deluxe 275SE and the flagship 275SD. All come with twin, supercharged Yamaha 1.8L SVHO marine engines and a super-cool floating digital helm display that gives the boat a sophisticated look. At anchor, two removable seats that sit just below the water’s surface can be added at the stern, providing comfortable in-water seating facing the transom of the boat.

Scout 530 LXF Super Console

Scout 530 LXF

The largest luxury center console from Scout Boats made quite a splash at the Miami International Boat Show, especially being rigged with five Yamaha 425 XTO Offshore outboards. In development for two years, the all-new Scout 530 LXF comes with every imaginable luxury including a Seakeeper gyro stabilization system, a smartly designed cockpit island, a 16,000 BTU air conditioner/ heater, electrically-sliding sunroof, heated seats, full Garmin digital dash, and more. Below decks there’s a huge master stateroom, a galley, a full head with a shower, and luxurious seats, furnishings and décor throughout. Cockpit side walls that drop down flat are a sweet touch, while the overall feel is more like stepping aboard a private jet than a fishing boat, making this ride stand out in a crowded market.