2026 Miami Boat Show Wrap Up

Posted February 28, 2026
Last Updated April 1, 2026 @ 11:09am

By US Harbors

The 2026 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show had a new layout designed to create what show producer Informa Markets called a “more connected and accessible experience.” The in-water portion of the show returned to the docks along Collins Avenue on Miami Beach — a fitting backdrop for some of the most beautiful boats on the water. Sailor’s Cove at IGY Yacht Haven Grande Miami was a new venue, while the Miami Beach Convention Center and Pride Park hosted smaller boats and accessories. US Harbors was there, and we came back with a few favorites worth sharing.

The weather was perfect, and the crowds were there on opening day to find their next boat. Complimentary shuttles and golf carts made it easy for show visitors get around the event, which is owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the International Yacht Brokers Association.

CONVENTION CENTER

Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider
Formula unveiled the new 360 Crossover Bowrider at the show, and the event drew a crowd of journalists and dedicated Formula owners to get a look at the latest model. Riding on a new FAS3Tech bottom designed specifically for outboards, the boat measures 38’6” with sterndrives and an extended swim platform. Twin outboards extend the length by 39’8” while triples take things even farther to 38’10”. With all the social zones on the same level, a spacious bow, and an outdoor kitchen, the Formula 360 CBR is built for entertaining. The glass sunroof integrated into the fiberglass hardtop allows you to switch between sun and shade. When shade is not enough, the 360 CBR has a 16,000 BTU cockpit air conditioning to temper those warm, humid times on the water. Belowdecks, the cabin and wet head have standup headroom, a small galley, and a full-sized memory foam berth. Formula Boats has been a family affair since Vic Porter founded the company in 1962, and that legacy continues with the next generation at the helm.

Chris Craft 27 Launch
For fans of classic sterndrive boats, Chris Craft has redesigned the Launch 27, a 26’8” runabout with a 7’5” beam and a draft of 3’1” with the stern drive trimmed up. The new version has upgraded high-backed bucket seats at the helm and a revised flow to facilitate passenger movement. The new windshield features a cross-curve glass design, and the helm is equipped with Garmin touchscreen electronics. Foldaway steps and a dedicated walkway make it easy to transition from the cockpit to the stern, where the center of the new swim platform lowers below the water’s surface for easy reboarding. Chris Craft offers the Launch 27 with twin-prop sterndrives from MerCruiser and Volvo Penta, ranging from 300 hp to 430 hp.

Zodiac X9CC
Another RIB making its North American debut at the Miami show was the Zodiac X9CC. With a pair of 250-hp outboards, this 28’3” fiberglass-hulled boat has a 10’11” beam and can reportedly reach speeds topping 50 knots. It’s available with a fiberglass hardtop that provides protection from the elements, and a private cabin has a head and space for the kids to take a nap. Fore and aft decks have space for sunbathing or fishing.

Flux Marine
More players continue to enter the electric propulsion segment, and Flux Marine showed its 115-hp electric outboard at the convention center and had it on a Scout 215 XSF for sea trials at the Venetian Marina. To maintain a continuous operating temperature and eliminate corrosion, the new motor has closed-loop cooling. A belt drive system makes for smoother shifting. For safety, top and rear lights that illuminate when the engine is operating, and a charging port positioned on top, making it easier to plug in.

Robert Youens and the Great Loop
One popular display at the convention center had nothing to do with the debut of a new boat. Robert Youens, 71, and his 16-foot aluminum jonboat, Ageless Wanderer, drew a crowd of their own. Youens recently finished the Great Loop — roughly 4,800 miles and 64 locks — in 19 days, 13 hours, and one minute, breaking the previous record by more than six hours. During that record-breaking run, he gained a rapidly growing fan base along the route and online, cheering him on. Powered by a single 60-hp Tohatsu outboard and fueled by something harder to measure – the many people lining the waterways to cheer him on, toss him sandwiches, and take photos. He’s not finished yet. Youens has announced he’ll be going after the unlimited record — and we’re sure his fans will be cheering him on again.

A man wearing a blue shirt standing next to a boat on a trailer — Robert Youens, Great Loop record-holder, alongside his jonboat, Ageless Wanderer.

COLLINS AVENUE

Boats line the docks on Collins Ave, Miami Boat Show 2025

Sacs Rebel 55 Outboard
Italy’s Sacs Marine introduced the Rebel 55, a 56’9” rigid hull inflatable with a 17’4” beam. The boat on display at the show was powered by quad 600-hp Mercury V12 Verado outboards and has an estimated top speed of 48 knots. The 18.7-degree deep-V hull has a draft of 3’10”. Her cockpit has an open layout with folding bulwarks that add deck space. Belowdecks, there are dual master staterooms with queen berths in the bow and at amidships with total sleeping space for four plus an option for a fifth guest.

Sunreef 80 Power Eco Sol
Sunreef Yachts launched its 80 Power Eco Sol in 2023, and one of the Polish builder’s first customers was tennis star Rafael Nadal, who named his boat Great White.Sunreef will customize the power cat to the owner’s specifications and it uses updated green technology to achieve high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency. The boat is equipped with twin 360-kW engines powered by a set of 990kW batteries. Solar panels integrated into the boat’s composite structures give the boat extended range that lets owners stay at sea longer than most electric boats. Below decks, she can be designed with up to four cabins to accommodate eight guests. The master cabin is in the starboard hull, with guest quarters and crew cabins in both sponsons.

Sabre 51 Salon Express
Among the many boats attracting attention along the Collins Avenue docks, the Sabre 51 Salon Express drew a crowd. The newest model from the Maine-based builder is a worthy successor to the Sabre 48, one of the company’s most successful models. Updates are immediately noticeable upon boarding. “Stepping into the cockpit of the Sabre 51, folks immediately realize it’s a meaningfully bigger boat than the 48,” said Kevin Burns, VP of design and product development at Sabre. “The usable cockpit beam is about a foot wider than the 48’s.” The extended hardtop pulls together the space, and the wide side decks allow a captain get underway without entering the cockpit seating area. A new foredeck layout creates an additional outdoor lounge, and a cleverly engineered bow seat disappears when you don’t need it.

Below, the expanded galley-down layout has a well-thought-out pantry that should appeal to cooks during an extended cruise. The athwartship master suite, retained by popular demand, has been updated with additional storage. The aft utility space can be configured as a workspace or a third stateroom with an ensuite head.

The 51 also stood out where it mattered most, on the water. “Every single time I’ve brought someone on a sea trial, I’ve heard the words, ‘This exceeds expectations,” says Allie Alsup, marketing manager at Sabre Yachts. “People are just giddy when the 51 gets up and goes, especially when we hit some hard-over S turns, steering with the joystick.” Powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS 800 pod drives with a joystick, the Sabre 51 rides like a big boat but handles like a sport boat.

Sabre Connect, the company’s proprietary digital switching and telematics system, allows you to spool up the Seakeeper before arriving at the boat and to check tank levels and battery voltages remotely. New features can be added to Sabre Connect with future system updates.

New forward seating on the Sabre 51, which debuted at the Miami Show this year

Back Cove 39O

Back Cove has been building outboard-powered Downeast-style express cruisers since the launch of the 34O in 2018, and the 39O is the natural next step for many 34O owners. At 43’6″ with triple Mercury Verado outboards, the 39O can cruise comfortably between 28-32 knots with a top speed of 37 knots. Heading below, you’ll find a unique lower lounge, a spacious head with a separate shower, an owner’s stateroom with an island queen berth, and a double berth in the guest quarters. She’s a capable coastal cruiser with the classic lines Back Cove is known for — and as it turns out, a perfect Great Loop boat as well. Atillio and Cathy Cerqueira completed the Loop aboard their 39O in 2024, after seeing the boat for the first time at the Miami Boat Show. With the air draft at an even 13 feet, the 39O is low enough to clear every bridge on the Loop, and while it took the Cerqueiras considerably longer to complete the journey than Robert Youens managed in his jonboat, they had a far more comfortable cruise.