The Miami boat show used to look like that? See pictures from 1950s through the ’80s
By Miami Herald Archives
It’s boat show time again in Miami.
The majestic yachts. The sporty sailboats. The lightning-quick go-fasts.
But first, let’s go back in time to see the earlier days of the boat show. What did it all look like back then?
Here are photos from the Miami Herald archives:
Miami International Boat Show in 1985. Pete Cross Miami Herald File
Fletcher McLane, dressed as Batman, aboard the Bat Cat ahead of the Miami boat show in 1989. Chuck Fadely Miami Herald File
An aerial view of the Miami International Boat Show in 1988. Randy Bazemore Miami Herald File
Lynn Powers strikes the pose of a seafaring ballerina on the bow of one of the hundreds of boats displayed at the 1983 Miami International Boat Show. Miami Herald File
Katherine Clemans promotes the Miami boat show in 1986. Miami Herald File
A 1969 view of the Miami International Boat Show. Bill Sanders Miami Herald File
Driver Bill Joule stops to survey the situation as his semi-truck is dwarfed by his cargo, a 66-foot yacht. Joule was towing the big boat to the Intracoastal for its trip back north after the 1986 Miami boat show. Miami Herald File
Miami model Nilda Rice roars down the beach a driving snowmobile. It was a gimmick to promodte the forthcoming Miami International Boat Show. Miami Herald File
In 1956, for the 15th annual Miami International Boat Show at Coconut Grove’s Dinner Key, a 61-foot-yacht took the spotlight. Miami Herald File
At the 1954 Miami boat show, the Miami Power Squadron and its auxiliary. Miami Herald Staff Photo
The boat shows spreads out at Dinner Key in 1965. Miami Herald File
Boat Show Queen Bonnie Maudsley in 1965. Miami Herald File
Peggy Eschenbrenner poses at the wheel of a luxury boat on display at the boat show on Dinner Key in 1965, when admission was $1. Miami Herald File
Yacht Libra arrives at the Coast Guard base on Miami Beach. The yacht was stolen from the Miami Boat Show in 1982. Marice Cohn Band Miami Herald File
This Hatteras 58-foot yacht arrived in Miami for the opening of the Miami International Boat Show in 1974. The 63,000-pound vessel sleeps 10, has three heads with showers, color TV, icemaker and stereo. Price is $209,380. Miami Herald File
Joe Caimi looks at Miss Budweiser at the Miami Boat Show at the Coconut Grove Convention Center in 1986. Brian Smith Miami Herald File
Large Motor and sailing yachts are being hauled across the MacArthur Causeway to the Miami Beach Convention Center in 1983. Marice Cohn Band Miami Herald File
Boat show at the Miami Beach Convention Hall in 1970. Richard Forgham Miami Herald File
This story was originally published February 14, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
