Boat Shows through the Years

The Shows Must Go On! Boat shows —and the products and events they showcase— have changed significantly over the past 45 years.

You’ve come a long way, baby! Since 1972, when the first issue of Southern Boating hit the newsstand and subscribers’ mailboxes, the entire boating industry—from technology to boat shows to fashion—has greatly evolved.

Here, we highlight just a few of the many changes.

Swimwear

The Disco Decade brought with it women’s tight one-piece bathing suits that were high-cut to show off the hips and had a deep neckline. (Think Farrah Fawcett in her iconic ’70s poster wearing a rust-colored one-piece.) Bikini styles ran the gamut from high-waisted to “barely there” (the thong was introduced in 1974). Men fully embraced tightfitting swim briefs (Speedo®) and upper thigh-revealing board shorts. Colors were bright and often floral-patterned.

Today’s styles include roomier—and longer—board shorts for men, while bikinis and one-pieces in many different cuts and hues are still popular with women, although high-waisted “retro” designs are making a comeback.

Certainly, swimwear styles—and boating fashion in general—have played a role in the marine industry; indeed, Southern Boating started publishing its annual swimsuit edition (April issue) more than 30 years ago.

Boats

Southern Boating’s first cover featured a 55-foot motoryacht, with three double cabins, a convertible dinette and lounge and a spacious aft deck. At the time, it was considered quite a large and elegant boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that while large yacht sales currently may be on the rise, smaller vessels—water sports boats, day boats, pontoons—are attracting a whole new generation of boaters for their affordability and versatility. Yet, regardless of the size or style of the vessel, manufacturers offer the latest and greatest options; it’s not surprising to see center consoles with multiple livewells for bait and espresso machines for the anglers!

Power

As for engines, outboards in the ’70s were typically 100- or 135-hp, very large, noisy and fuel-hungry machines. Today, boatbuilders are experiencing a growing demand for outboards as the need for more horsepower increases. Manufacturers like Suzuki, Yamaha and Evinrude have answered the call producing smoother, quieter 300-hp and 350-hp outboards with greater fuel efficiency and dependable power. Triple and quad outboards are able to reach popular fishing and cruising grounds in record time.

Technology

Builders are incorporating advanced technology into their vessels, such as docking a boat with a joystick or using a smartphone or iPad to operate your boat. Helm stations that once integrated different brands of electronic components—chartplotters, radars, autopilots, etc.—that couldn’t share data have evolved with the installation of new one-brand systems that make networking easier and improve operations.

Navigation has also become more reliable these days with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Prior to GPS, boaters depended on LORAN, radar and their own intuition to help determine their position. Now, electronic charts and chartplotters provide mariners with accurate location information. Even on smaller boats, cruisers can navigate via GPS using a smartphone app.

Boat Shows

There’s no better place to find all of these products than at a boat show, where you have access to everything that comprises an on-the-water lifestyle. Boat shows showcase what the marine industry has to offer in new builds, concept vessels, the latest innovations, and accessories. In the 1970s, the shows mainly focused on the boats themselves, but today, you’ll also find seminars, clinics, demonstrations, and workshops—for adults and kids alike— where industry experts share their knowledge and advice with show-goers, in addition to equipment, water toys and marine products for sale.

Some displays flaunt exotic cars, helicopters and submarines, as well as a variety of food and entertainment; gone are the days of eating only hot dogs and stale potato chips. You don’t even have to be a boat owner to enjoy the show, since they’ve become a must-attend social event at which to see and be seen. Builders are eager to reach new buyers so now, boat shows are staged all over the world: Dubai, London, Monaco, Sydney, and so many other international locations.

Compared with boat shows in the early ’70s, the dollar value of products displayed has exploded. The precursor to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world’s largest in-water boat show, exhibited just 100 used yachts with an aggregate value of $1.5 million in 1972.

In 2016, along with toys, accessories, and equipment, there was an estimated $4 billion worth of products presented, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), which owns the event.

So, yes, the marine industry has come a long way since 1972. Boat shows are flourishing globally, technology is advancing to the point where even a beginner can comfortably take command, and popular swimsuit fashions of the past are still trending today. Bigger, better, faster, eco-friendly… it’s all in demand and available.

No one knows what the next 45 years of the boating industry will look like, but if the past four decades are any indication, the future will continue to evolve in ways we can only imagine.

By Bonnie Schultz, Southern Boating September 2017

The iconic pelican celebrates his 45th birthday as the grandkids of Southern Boating’s founders fondly recall the origin of the company’s mysterious mascot: Joe Pelican.

When Southern Boating & Yachting, Inc.— the official name of the company that publishes Southern Boating—first launched in September 1972, it comprised exactly two employees: Skip and Joanne Allen (aka Pop Up and Grandma).

Our grandparents operated the company from their home in Miami Beach using their house telephone to make calls to prospective advertisers and others in the marine industry. So, when Pop Up called, it would come across as “the business owner who cares so much about his associates he personally phones them from his home.” But when it came time for Grandma to collect payment for advertisements, she was reluctant to call as Joanne Allen, Skip’s wife. Instead, our imaginative grandparents “hired” a new staff member: Joe Pelican, their “Business Manager” who worked from a “remote location.”

You may be wondering where the new employee got his name. Well, “Joe” is short for Joanne, and on their frequent trips cruising The Bahamas with their six children, Pop Up and Grandma would regularly see pelicans cruising right along with them. Even in their backyard in Miami Beach, pelicans were everyday visitors and would fi sh the waters morning and night. To our grandparents, pelicans represented independence and strength, could fend for themselves, and could fl y coast to coast on a whim. Also, a pelican’s beak is large enough to feed an entire family in one swoop, an attribute the parents of six kids could appreciate. Thus, Joe Pelican was born.

Joe Pelican held a place of significance on the magazine’s very first masthead. Over the years, the company prospered through the incredibly hard work and perseverance of our grandparents, and various departments were formed: accounting, art, circulation, editorial, and sales.

It has now been 45 years since our grandparents invited Joe Pelican to join the Southern Boating team. People have come and gone, but we will never forget where we came from and how it all began—with Skip Allen, Joanne Allen and Joe Pelican who provided the solid foundation.

Happy 45 years, Southern Boating!

Tag: 45th anniversary