High Seas Yachting
Playbook
Growth7 min read

Palm Beach International Boat Show

The PIBS-specific playbook — move-in schedule, display etiquette, co-brokerage rules at the show, and the offer-strategy buyers expect during boat-show week.

PIBS is the Super Bowl of our sales calendar. Qualified buyers, post-show price reductions, and a window where March–April produces a disproportionate share of our annual closings. Show up prepared or don't show up.

Move-in & setup

  1. 1
    Saturday — boats move in

    Display boats depart the dock at 6:30 AM (60 ft Az leads from Las Olas). Photo/video content gets shot in transit — Formula and Reva listing content captured underway.

  2. 2
    Tuesday — display setup

    10:00 AM at Palm Harbor. Whole team is expected. Display materials staged, broker intro videos filmed, signage and giveaways set.

  3. 3
    Wednesday — VIP day

    Show opens to VIPs. Booth is staffed front to back; nobody disappears mid-shift.

  4. 4
    Thurs–Sun — show runs

    Public days. Split your time roughly 50/50 between walking the show and being present at the HSY display.

Co-brokerage at the show

Offer strategy during PIBS week

Do
  • Encourage buyers to open at 88–89% of asking. Leaves room to negotiate again on the survey.
  • Set expectations that real boat-show price reductions land during and immediately after the show.
  • Get clients back to the display on the last day — competitive pressure closes deals.
Don't
  • Don't open at the asking price 'because it's the boat show.' You lose your survey lever.
  • Don't let a hot buyer leave the show without their info logged in Runnerr.
  • Don't bad-mouth a competing display — it always gets back.

Activations on the schedule

  • Thursday 6–8 PM: New Coast Financing + Raymond James private party.
  • Saturday night: exclusive after-party — invite-only for qualified buyers.
  • Rolling: Awake e-surfboard giveaway tied to the first show-week sale (broker or buyer).
  • Superyacht walk-throughs scheduled mid-week — raise your large-boat literacy.

Show-week presentation standards

  • Boats fully detailed. Engine rooms cleared of clutter.
  • Fresh flowers on the salon table. AC running, music low.
  • Carry the show 'Bible' — every boat's location plus a place to take notes.
  • Burner email for booth sign-ins — never feed your client list to a competing display.