by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Since 1997, Metropolitan Park has been the site of what has become one of the largest in-water boat shows held on the East Coast each year.
This weekend’s 11th Annual Jacksonville International Boat Show will offer visitors what Stuart Lackey, who is in charge of organizing the weekend’s special events and entertainment, called, “A true festival atmosphere.
“We’re going to have a Happy Hour party Friday after work for the people Downtown to come to the show and wait for the traffic to let up. Saturday and Sunday, we’ll have everything from real pirates to wakeboarding demonstrations to a treasure hunt for the kids. There will be food and beverages of all types and live music. Having the show outdoors and with Metropolitan Park filled with every kind of boat and accessory imaginable is awesome,” he said.
The show offers the full range of the boating experience from the most basic kayak to some of the fastest fishing and racing boats to one of the most luxurious cruising yachts available on the market.
With their custom paint schemes, the brightest boats in the “Thunder Alley” area will be the seven Velocity high-performance offshore racing powerboats at the show, manufactured by Initial Marine Corp. in Sanford, Fla.
Based on the American Power Boat Association-sanctioned offshore racing results, they are also the fastest vessels that will be on display at Metropolitan Park this weekend and some of the fastest in the world.
In 1981, company President Steve Stepp, with his racing partner Gene Whipp, were the first competitors to go past the 100-mph mark in a V-bottom boat. One of this year’s models has hit more than 130 mph.
Stepp designs the boats and invented what he calls the “pad-style bottom.”
He said the key to record-setting speed is the proprietary-design hull that, “Allows the boat to ride on top of the water. In terms of top speed, one of these boats will run faster than any other boat with the same horsepower that has a step or ventilated bottom.”
He also said his designs hold more than 10 world speed records, including records in the E and F-1 offshore powerboat classes.
Depending on the model and how it’s equipped, a Velocity will set you back at least $75,000 and if you just have to go home with a new half-million dollar toy this weekend, Stepp said he can help with that, too.
McKinna Yachts President Bob Million is bringing one of his 60-foot luxury cruising yachts to this year’s show.
He said this year marks the first time the company has exhibited at the show, and decided to expand their marketing efforts beyond the annual Miami and Ft. Lauderdale events because the Jacksonville International Boat Show has grown so much since it debuted.
“We have watched this show get bigger and better each year.”
Million also said with 120 yachts delivered in the past 10 years his company doesn’t build as many yachts as other manufacturers, “But they’re hand-crafted and fully equipped out the door. It’s ready for a guy to put his family on board and head out for a two-week or two-month cruise.”
Million said his company has built success based on a philosophy of taking the amenities and equipment you’d expect to find on a 100-foot “megayacht” and putting it on a smaller vessel that’s easier to handle.
“Our yachts come fully equipped with plasma TVs that rise up out of hand-crafted wood cabinets, granite countertops in the galley and marble floors. We include hydraulic bow thrusters and dinghy davits plus a 27.5 kilowatt generator that’s got enough amperage to allow someone to cook while another person uses a hair dryer while another person takes a hot shower. Every system we could upgrade, we did,” said Million.
With all that standard equipment, it’s no wonder the McKinna 60 also comes with a $1.5 million price tag.
The Jacksonville International Boat Show is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fri.-Sun, with $10 admission for adults, free for children under 16.