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.

``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.''

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.

``There were a lot of people talking -- not just strolling and looking,'' said Jay Reynolds, who chairs the boat show committee for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show. ``I'd be very surprised if the sales numbers aren't more than people expected.''

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 Florida'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'' that could turn into sales in the coming weeks.

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