With boaters fleeing Covid claustrophobia by taking to the water in higher numbers, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is ready to cater to them all — albeit on a smaller scale.

Though past shows have seen crowds of 100,000 people hailing from across the globe, this year’s capacity has been limited to only 28,000 people during the show’s usual five-day run from Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Those heading to the show, now in its 61st year, will have their temperatures taken before admittance via contactless thermal imaging systems.

Exhibitors and visitors will sport the now-familiar, county-required PPE, and an increased number of entrances and exits are expected to assist with traffic flow. Other changes include wider aisles, non-contact registration and physical distancing at food stations and everywhere else.

Printed promotional materials generally supplied by exhibitors are discouraged in favor of digital networking.

Yet, some features will remain the same in the event put on by London-based Informa Markets and the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, (MIASF) which owns the show.

Participants will still have seven sites to explore touting $4 billion worth of yachts, boats, marine equipment and associated products. About 900 exhibitors and some 1,300 boats will be on site.

Other major regional events such as Art Basel and the iconic Winterfest Boat Parade have cancelled due to concerns of keeping people safe. The logistics of those events make coordinating and implementing safeguards more problematic, boat show supporters have said.

“It is vital that we get our economy back on track,” tweeted Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis in early September after the Broward County Commission agreed to allow the show with conditions.

“The upcoming Boat Show is critical to accomplishing that because the show has a major positive economic impact on Fort Lauderdale by supporting local businesses and their employees.”

Broward’s marine industry pumps $8.9 billion into the local economy and supports 111,000 “middle class jobs,” according to the MIASF.

As Waterfront Times went to press on Sept. 23 Broward County had recorded 76,146 COVID-19 cases and 1,369 deaths according to local health statistics.