Last year, the producers of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrated better than expected attendance numbers, although the looming global economic downturn led to a significant drop in sales.

At this year's show, which ended Monday, attendance was down almost 30 percent, but vendors were happy to trade lower turnout for a higher concentration of serious buyers, and there was a sense that the troubled industry might be beginning to rebound, the show's organizers said.

``This show was better,'' said Dave Bearden, sales manager of Lauderdale Marina, which sold seven boats at the show. ``There were more people last year, but they weren't all buyers. There were a lot of people going on dates and taking their kids out to see the boats.''

Many of the frugal window shoppers that populated the 2008 boat show may have decided to stay home this year, but those who showed up were serious buyers with serious cash looking to strike a deal, said Jay Reynolds, who chairs the boat show committee for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show.

``There were a lot of people talking -- not just strolling and looking,'' Reynolds said. ``I'd be very surprised if the sales numbers aren't more than people expected.''

Total attendance was estimated at about 100,000, down from about 140,000 last year, according to Show Management, which produces the show. Sales figures were not immediately available, but the number of vendors was forecast to be down about 17 percent.

Despite the drop in foot traffic, the show's organizers and many vendors said the increased level of interest in new boats brightened the forecast for an industry that suffered major blows during the global economic downturn. The boat show, which is the largest in the world, serves as a bellwether for the year ahead for the maritime industries, said Frank Herhold, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. The marine industries contribute an estimated $18 billion to Flordia's economy annually.

``It was a very, very good sign of the times for South Florida's marine industry,'' Herhold said.

Bearden said that after solid sales interest at the show, he expects boat sales at Lauderdale Marina to increase through the holiday season.

Forest Roberts, a consultant with the Fort Lauderdale-based Anchor Yacht Sales, was able to sell a 70-foot yacht and a used 68-foot yacht at the show. Although he didn't sell the two new 58-footers he took the show, he said he had five or six ``hot leads'' which could turn into to sales in the coming weeks.

The economic impact of the boat show was estimated at $500 million.

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