Description
Lyn and I kick things off at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, a favorite stop that always feels like a laid-back reunion with friends, viewers, and vendors. We grab our obligatory coffees and hit the docks, catching up with long-time subscribers, fellow boaters, and people who’ve been following our engine-rebuild saga. (Yes — the engine is finally fixed! And yes — it only cost $24,000.)
Between handshakes, laughs, and a few “Wait, I know you from YouTube!” moments, we chat about plans for the winter, swap repair stories, and climb aboard a few beautiful boats like the Axopar 37 — “for a friend,” of course. There’s plenty of joking, dreaming, and the usual justification for things we definitely don’t need but somehow want anyway.
Then it’s off to Fort Lauderdale, ten years after our last visit — back when we didn’t even own a boat. We make the trip down from Titusville for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), and right away, it’s clear this event is massive.
We navigate endless docks, luxury yachts, and tech tents, bump into familiar faces (including some viewers who’ve bought boats after watching our videos), and even stumble onto some cutting-edge gear. Between laughs, gear demos, and a few “We’re lost again” moments, we celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary at the show — the perfect way to mark four decades of boating dreams, chaos, and teamwork.
By the end, we’ve walked miles, seen more boats than we can count, and confirmed one thing: both shows are incredible, but Fort Lauderdale wins for sheer scale, and Annapolis for charm.
As always — too many boats, not enough wallet… and maybe just enough beer (vodka).
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