The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) has always been a headline event on the global boating calendar, but the 2025 edition promises to be one of the most memorable yet. Running from 29 October to 2 November, the show sprawls across nearly 36 hectares of exhibition space, with more than 1,300 boats on display and 1,000 exhibitors representing 52 countries. Over 100,000 visitors are expected, drawn by everything from sunglasses and watersports gear to the largest, most luxurious superyachts afloat.
This year, Australian boatbuilder, Riviera, is set to steal the spotlight. Based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Riviera will present a record-breaking fleet at FLIBS 2025: twelve motor yachts across five distinct lines, including three much-anticipated America’s premieres. The scale of this showcase makes it Riviera’s largest-ever display in the United States, a milestone underscored by a world-record shipment of 15 yachts sent from Brisbane to Florida in September.
FLIBS: A show with momentum
Last year’s 65th anniversary of FLIBS set a high bar. Despite stormy opening conditions, more than 100,000 people passed through the gates. Close to 100 new boats debuted, and the Superyacht Village dazzled with stars such as the Mangusta Oceano 44, AMARYLLIS and MARGUERITE. Innovation took centre stage, with electric and hybrid propulsion systems from brands like Axopar, Evoy, and Candela drawing widespread attention.
The seminar series captured another key theme: the rise of younger yacht owners seeking sustainable technology, flexible layouts, and family-oriented designs. That focus on the next generation of boaters will only intensify this year. Riviera’s commitment to innovation, comfort, and blue-water performance makes their 2025 lineup well placed to meet those expectations.
Record shipment, record presence
The logistics of Riviera’s presence at FLIBS 2025 are a story in themselves. In September, 15 luxury motor yachts were carefully craned onto a single cargo vessel at the Port of Brisbane, destined for Florida after a 34-day journey. The yachts ranged from 43 to 72 feet and carried values between $1.6m and $6.8m.
Riviera’s owner, Rodney Longhurst, described the achievement as a proud milestone:
“It’s an amazing sight, seeing these luxury motor yachts being lifted into the air and onto the ship. This is a proud achievement for our highly skilled team that create our world class motor yachts, right here in Queensland.”
It is believed to be the largest number of yachts ever loaded onto a single cargo ship anywhere in the world. For Riviera, the operation reflects not just global ambition but also the strength of Australia’s boating industry, which now generates more than $10 billion annually and employs over 35,000 people.
The 2025 Riviera premieres
The Riviera 4300 Sports Express will take its America’s bow at Fort Lauderdale. Longhurst is bullish about its appeal:
“Amazingly versatile. You get so much with the Sports Express.”
The model features a lowering boarding platform that doubles as a sea deck, a fully equipped alfresco barbecue centre, and a flexible sports deck that can serve as both a lounging and dining space with its own TV and air conditioning. Below deck, the 4300 offers a master stateroom, guest cabin, and full galley, creating a true home afloat. Powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s or 650s, it delivers effortless performance above 30 knots with joystick manoeuvrability.
The other two debuts are the Riviera 64 and 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II models. Both represent a refinement of the Series I line, incorporating feedback from Riviera owners worldwide. Longhurst explained the philosophy:
“Feedback from our worldwide family of owners has helped our team of engineers and designers to undertake a holistic refinement approach throughout both these yachts.”
Features include walk-around decks, a foredeck lounge, an all-weather alfresco deck, and a fully enclosed flybridge connected by an internal staircase. Luxury accommodation ranges from three to four staterooms, with options for four bathrooms and a full-beam master suite. These yachts combine sports performance with long-range blue-water capability, positioning them in what Longhurst calls “a league of their own.”
A fleet that reflects every lifestyle
Beyond the premieres, Riviera’s 12-boat display will showcase the breadth of its portfolio:
Sport Yacht Platinum Editions – including the 4600, 5400, 6000, and 6800 models, designed with single-level living, indoor-outdoor flow, and refined styling.
SUV models – from 39 to 64 feet, including the 505 and 585. These versatile craft combine the blue-water pedigree of the Sports Motor Yacht with the practicality of a single-level cockpit.
Belize Motor Yachts – the 54 and 66 Daybridge, which blend retro-inspired design with contemporary luxury and advanced propulsion systems.
Each line represents a different flavour of Riviera’s approach, but all carry the hallmarks of what Longhurst calls the company’s DNA:
“Our motor yachts are sought after around the world for their blue-water heritage, supreme luxury and built-to-last quality.”
Festival of Boating returns
Adding further depth to Riviera’s Fort Lauderdale presence is the return of the Riviera Festival of Boating. Across four days, Riviera owners will be invited to participate in a program of workshops covering navigation, offshore seamanship, radar, weather, power management, and annual maintenance. A dedicated ladies’ skippers program is also on the schedule, alongside social events that celebrate Riviera’s growing international community of more than 6,200 owners.
For Longhurst, the festival reflects the company’s commitment to customer experience:
“The Fort Lauderdale show gives our team the opportunity to demonstrate the amazing ease of boating that we have created, which is now being enjoyed by more than 6,200 Riviera owners around the world.”
A statement of intent
Fort Lauderdale is often called the “boating capital of the world,” and its annual show generates an estimated $1.7 billion in economic impact. Against that backdrop, Riviera’s expanded presence is more than just an exhibition — it is a statement of intent from one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most successful builders.
Longhurst summarised it simply:
“Our spectacular display, the largest for Riviera in the Americas, will provide the opportunity for visitors to fully appreciate the exceptional quality of our range; the finest yachts we have built over the past 45 years and all in one convenient location.”
Looking ahead
From the record shipment of 15 yachts across the Pacific to the triple Americas Premieres, Riviera’s presence at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2025 marks a high point in the company’s history. It is a showcase of Australian craftsmanship on a global stage and a celebration of boating as a lifestyle.
