Safety First – Part Two
FLIBS organizers have just released their latest safety video “Know Before You Go – Part 2” giving the latest updates on how they plan to ensure everyone keeps safe in these times of Covid-19. It talks about the additional measures being taken to implement the show’s stringent AllSecure health and safety standards. At the numerous food stations, it means plexiglas protection at each counter, six-feet-apart socially distant seating, all sealed containers for food, and constant area disinfecting. It reiterates that masks will be required to gain entry to the show and that everyone will get their temperature checked. As for water taxis, it reassures show-goers that boats will be sanitized before and after every trip, occupancy will be dramatically reduced, and standing in line, people will be required to stay six feet apart. The nice lady giving the video presentation sums it up perfectly – “Remember it’s not too much to mask”.
Watch the video:
Intrepid Powerboats and FLIBS
“FLIBS is vital to a company like Intrepid Powerboats,” says Ken Clinton president of the Florida-based builder. “We don’t have a big showroom to show-off all our product, so FLIBS is where we can talk to our customers and sell boats. Naturally, we’re extremely pleased that this year’s show is going ahead and we’ll be there with 13 or our newest boats. And everyone in the company will be on hand to show people around. Of course, we’re going to make sure everyone stays safe – we will have extra cleaning crews there, and we’ll all be socially distancing, making sure everyone feels comfortable. As an aside, this year we’re supporting the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation, donating $1,000 for every boat we sell. So come and see us at FLIBS,” he says.
Show-stopper – Intrepid 438 Evolution
One of the 13 new Intrepids Ken Clinton is bringing to FLIBS will be his new pride and joy, the stunning 438 Evolution outboard-powered sport yacht. Designed for total family fun, this hard-charging 43-footer packs a huge rear cockpit for fishing, while beneath the hardtop there is no shortage of seating for guests. Below decks, the beautifully-fitted, super-wide cabin has all mod-cons, including a well-stocked galley, dinette and separate cabin with double berth and spacious head with shower. With a trio of 450-horse Mercury 450 Racing outboards and Intrepid’s proven wave-slicing hull design, performance will be nothing short of electrifying.
Hot Boat of the Week
Making its global debt at FLIBS is Italian Monte Carlo Yachts’ stunning new MCY76 Skylounge which takes the traditional flybridge concept and transforms it into a sumptuous, enclosed pilothouse. A sleek, sexy glass staircase leads up into this aptly-named skylounge with its cushy sofas, desk area, high-tech helm and vast glass windows. Miss the feel of an open flybridge? At the press of a button, a huge portion of the roof powers open to let the sunlight flood in. This new 76-footer is the work of Italian design studio Nuvolari Lenard which which has redesigned the hull with even bigger porthole windows and reconfigured the interior. As for power, a pair of honking 1,650-horse MAN diesels can punch the 76 to a top speed of 29 knots.
Flashback of the Week
Before there was political correctness and Me Too, FLIBS lured boat lovers to the show with a bevy of bathing beauties. Back in the Swinging Sixties, the show held fun-filled “Miss Dreamboat” beauty contests, featured bikini-clad models in its advertising, and held daily beauty pageants. One year they even had swimsuit models cruising up and down the Intracoastal in motorized Venetian gondolas. Our favorite; this 1970 show poster (above) with a bikini-clad hottie on tippy-toes complete with sailor hat clutching her water-ski. Oh, the good old days.
FLIBS 2020 will run from Wednesday October 28 through Sunday November 1. One-day general admission tickets from Thursday through Sunday cost $35, with Wednesday afternoon Prime Time Preview tickets costing $55. To purchase go to www.flibs.com.
Facebook Comments