I can’t believe the Miami Boat Show is only a couple of weeks away! We love this show because this is the one display where we have all the boats together and, in the water, where they belong. With us not having inventory at dealers for customers to look at, this is the opportunity for you to see everything we build all in one shot. And it is an opportunity for me to speak with all of you to hear what you love, hate, and what we should build in the future. While the sales team is there to sell boats, I am there to mine for data from all of you, so please make sure to come and say hi.

Speaking of new models, our newest model the 345 Nomad has been a huge hit. I have to say that I am glad that we offered the more traditional T-Top with front entry console alongside the new Premium Top with side entry because our sales have been split 50/50 for each model and that was the goal. Everyone is different, and we want to be more flexible in order to meet everyone’s individual tastes without having to charge a customer for wanting to customize it. We designed it to have both designs from the beginning. Mission accomplished! And for those of you that have not had the opportunity to see the new 345 Nomad at the Fort Lauderdale Show, we shot an introduction video where yours truly goes through the 345 explaining some of the highlights of the new model. A big shout out to Mike Plante for producing the video and making me look better on film than I really am. You’re the best!

See the video here.

With us just finishing the 345 Nomad in time for the Fort Lauderdale Show, it really has not given us enough time to prototype another new model by this show but, we are close, so……. We will be taking preorders for the two different models that are soon to be released and I cannot wait to show everyone what we have in the pipeline, so be sure to come to the show and see what’s next!

For more information about the Miami International Boat Show, visit http://www.miamiboatshow.com/

Our booths will be located between piers 3 and 4 featuring:

• 475 Sport Yacht
• 475 Panacea
• 430 Sport Yacht
• 410 Evolution
• 407 Cuddy
• 407 Panacea
• 375 Valor
• 375 Center Console
• 345 Nomad SE and FE
• 327-I Center Console
• 200 Flats

Best belated wishes for a Happy New Year to all. 2019 is poised to be a great year for us here at Intrepid. We will share that good fortune with our customers by building many boats that will make lots of people happy for years to come. Our preparations for the Miami boat show are underway and we will have a great selection of what we build on display there this year. I always enjoy the shows because they are a good time to catch up with our friends and customers, so I look forward to seeing everyone who comes to visit. We will have our team from the factory there to meet everyone and answer any questions that you may have as well. In short, the Miami Show presents a great opportunity to not only see our boats but also to meet the people who build them as well.

We are enjoying the fruits of a pleasant Florida winter where boating is a year-round activity. Our friends in cooler climates are probably missing their boats during this time of the year. If you’re one of them, this is a great time to be proactive and plan winter projects that will improve your boat. In a few short months, the boat yards that are quiet now will be running at full speed, so if you have work that you’d like to get done, now is the time to schedule it. There are many things that can be done to prepare for a smooth transition into the Spring season. Engine service, systems checks, changing zincs, making sure that safety equipment isn’t out of date, installing electronics updates, prop reconditioning, battery load testing and maintenance, etc. are but a few of them. It’s best to take advantage of this slow time of the year to accomplish maintenance and updates that will make the upcoming summer more carefree.

We’ve had a lot of guests come to our factory since the beginning of the month. This usually is a harbinger of what’s to come during the Miami Boat Show. Visiting our factory and seeing the processes that are in place to build our boats is very enlightening. It’s a great preview of what our boats look like before they get to be clean and shiny for display in a boat show like the one in Miami. Hope to see you there next month!

Happy Boating,

Joe