Most of the edit staff came to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show fixated on boats and power, or at least some genre thereof. Makes sense since it is the boat show, after all. But there’s always more to the show than boats, so I figured I’d share a few views of some of the “other stuff.”
Amazing Glass Work
Every year at this boat show, I swing by the booth of Cocoa-based glass artist Chris Channell (channellglass.com) in big tent adjacent to the show entrance. I’m always astounded by the look of his work. This year, I was particularly taken with his backsplash designs, two of which are shown here. Although designed with large yacht galleys in mind, I think one of these would look great in my kitchen. I’ve already started throwing spare change in a jar and figure by March of 2019 I’ll be at least halfway to the $12,000 to $14,000 going price.
**Monsters in the Bahamas **
Places as well as things get play at the boat show. This year, I stopped at the Rum Cay booth with SF senior editor__ Mike Mazur, shown here talking to the resort’s Bobby Little (left). Rum Cay is now one of Guy Harvey’s outposts (guyharveyoutpostclubrumcay.com). Somehow Rum Cay had managed to slip beneath our radar screen; after realizing where it’s located — in the particularly fertile big-game grounds just southwest of San Salvador Cay — we’re already making plans for a visit! Check it out on Google Maps — and be sure to see it in the satellite view. Look at the huge upwelling areas along massive submarine ledges. Hear Bobby tell of losing a wahoo a solid eight feet in length…. Yeah, we’ve got to get over there!
Slashing Snook in Fiberglass
Another of my favorite drive-by booths as I walk the show at the Bahia Mar is always King Sailfish Mounts (kingsailfish.com). This year Ray Douglas and his henchmen have several new species including less glamorous fish such as a black drum (which in the talented hands of the King Sailfish team somehow comes out looking pretty damned cool). I took a shine to this large snook, with a different look than their other snook mounts.
Handful of Life Insurance
I travel to often remote areas and often fish offshore in boats not my own, as well as fish in kayaks off the beaten path. In all such cases, I think it would add to anyone’s peace of mind to have one of these little units on hand. The new ResQLink is the tiniest of its kind yet from ACR (acrelectronics.com), the waterproof, palm-sized unit weighs in at just about 4 ½ ounces. Good insurance for anyone, I think, and particularly the more adventurous angler.
Not Too Cool for School
In addition to the cool stuff, there’s a whole lot of learnin’ going on for those smart enough to take advantage of those smart enough to be up on the stage of the IGFA School of Sport Fishing in the convention center. These are serious skippers and crew members, as evidenced by the expert on stage here, Capt. Ray Rosher (missbritt.com), one of Miami’s premiere and most successful skippers.
