Boat Show to Pull in an Estimated $15 Million for Palm Beach, Fla.-Area Economy

By Lori Becker, The Palm Beach Post, Fla.

Mar. 25–Downtown West Palm Beach will be transformed this week into a boater’s paradise, as more than $350 million worth of megayachts, fishing boats, runabouts and skiffs cruise into town.

The Palm Beach Boat Show opens Thursday, with 1,000 boats and a sea of marine accessories spanning more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space.

Hosted by Palm Beach County’s marine industry, the annual bonanza draws about 40,000 visitors and generates an estimated $15 million in local economic impact.

The four-day show boasts three locations this year, with a new megayacht showcase at the revamped Rybovich Marina.

It’s there that the show’s largest vessel will dock: The 147-foot Sterling named Tooth Fairy is up for grabs for $15.5 million.

For a closer look at the Tooth Fairy — and the Sea Cloud, the first queen of Palm Beach yachting — go to www.PalmBeachPost.com/business.

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Palm Beach Post, Fla.

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