October 14, 20264 min read

What to Do in the Two Weeks After a Boat Show If You're Serious About Buying

Heading to FLIBS 2026? Here's how serious yacht buyers keep momentum in the two weeks after the show, from a tight shortlist to private showings.

FLIBS 2026 runs October 28 to November 1 in Fort Lauderdale. If you're going as a serious buyer, the show is the starting line, not the finish. What you do in the two weeks after it decides whether a boat you liked becomes a boat you own.

Here's what I see every year. Buyers walk the docks for two or three days, find a few boats they love, and fly home energized. Then work picks back up. The notes sit in a folder. A week turns into a month, and the boat they wanted is under contract with someone else.

Industry research has long shown that most buyers don't decide at the show itself. The purchase usually comes later, often after more than one show. That's normal. Taking your time is smart. Losing the thread isn't.

Here's a simple plan to keep things moving.

Before the Show: Plan for the Follow-Up

Go in knowing you'll follow up. Snap a photo of each boat's name and listing card. Write down what you liked and what bothered you while you're still standing aboard. Note the questions nobody could answer on a crowded dock.

That list is your starting point the day the show ends. It's also the most useful thing you can hand me if we're working together.

Days 1 to 3: Revisit Your Shortlist While It's Fresh

Go back through your notes and photos within a day or two. After a few days on the docks, boats blur together fast. The saloon you loved might belong to the boat with the engine room you didn't.

Narrow it to the two or three boats that fit how you'll actually use one. Think about where you'll cruise, how many people will be aboard, and whether you'll run with crew. Then cut the ones you liked for the wrong reasons. A beautiful interior doesn't fix a layout that doesn't work for your family.

Days 4 to 7: Follow Up on the Boats That Stuck Out

Now it's time to get the details you couldn't get at the show. Ask for complete specs, maintenance and service records, recent work and refits, and any survey history. Ask why the boat is for sale. It's a simple question, and the answer often tells you more than the brochure.

Pay attention to how those answers come back. Organized records and clear explanations are a good sign. Gaps, delays, and vague answers aren't automatically a dealbreaker. They're just worth digging into before you go any further.

Days 8 to 14: Get Back Aboard

A boat on a quiet dock is a different experience than a boat with a line of people behind you. Ask for a private showing and spend real time aboard. Open the hatches. Look at the engine room. See how the systems are laid out. Picture a normal day on board, not just the best one.

This is where my background comes in. I spent years as a deckhand, captain, and yacht manager before I moved into brokerage. When I walk a boat, I'm looking at what needs attention, what's cosmetic versus structural, and what it will realistically take to bring it up to standard.

If a boat isn't local, I'll drive or fly to see it before you do. You'll get an honest walkthrough video that shows the good and the bad. More often than not, boats aren't exactly as described. Better to find that out before you book a flight.

One Boat Worth a Second Look: Ostara

LBY's flagship at FLIBS 2026 is Ostara, an extended Westport 130 at 142 feet. You'll find her at the Hall of Fame Face Dock.

Between 2021 and 2023 she went through a multi-million-dollar refit. That work added an ABS-approved cockpit, extra fuel capacity, two gyro stabilizers, and 360-degree sonar. She has crossed the Atlantic twice on her own bottom and sleeps 10 guests in five cabins.

She's the kind of boat that rewards a second, quieter look after the show. If she makes your shortlist, I can set up a private showing and walk you through her history in detail.

Set a Decision Date

Excitement fades faster than you think. Today's market gives buyers more room than they had a few years ago. There's more inventory and more space to negotiate. But boats that are well priced and in good condition still move.

So give yourself a decision date. Even if the answer is "not yet," a clear answer beats a slow fade. It keeps you from losing a boat you wanted to someone who simply kept moving.

Keeping the Process Moving

My job in those two weeks is to make sure nothing stalls. I'll track down records, line up showings, coordinate with the listing side, and give you a straight read on each boat. You focus on whether the boat fits your life. I'll handle the rest.

Anyone can help you buy a yacht. The right broker helps you enjoy owning one.

References

Written by

Paul Denton Jr.

Partner, Luke Brown Yachts · 500-Ton USCG Captain

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