This year will be the 16th year for the Southeast U.S. Boat Show. It is currently set for April 20-22 at Metropolitan Park & Marina in Jacksonville, Florida. This year's event has been expanded and offers seven acres of all things nautical. It will also include floating docks with all types of vessels on display. Included will be Sailing Showcase East - an exhibition that all sailors will be sure in enjoy. Admission price is reasonable and Kids 16 and under are FREE so come out and enjoy the spring weather at the show.

Friendly Tax Law in Florida makes for Happier Days for Everyone! Enough time has passed (almost a year and a half) since Florida instituted the $18,000 sales/use tax cap on boat sales. A group of Florida boat dealers were recently surveyed. The survey findings show in the first year sales tax collections on boats selling for more than $300,000 reached 5.5 million. This reflects roughly 291% increase from previous tax receipts of 1.4 million! It is a win/win situation. These numbers show that it is fairly clear the new law has more than paid for itself in the form of extra tax revenue. A nice side benefit is the preservation of marine related jobs. And in addition businesses of all kinds benefit because boat buyers keep their boat in Florida and spend money here. There are a lot of reasons to love Florida and one of the best is being able to enjoy the beautiful waterways. The new law has opened the door for more people from other states and from countries around the world to purchase and leave their boat in Florida so they can enjoy them year round. In a world where we often tire of useless new laws or laws that don't do what they were intended to do it is a very pleasant change to see one that works for everyone. Hey everyone...come on down to Florida...the water is fine AND it is now more affordable!

The internationally famous Rolex Swan Cup is now open for entries for the 2012 racing regatta. This event is held every two years and attracts Swan yachts from around the world. The event will be hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Italian waters September 10 - 16. To see a beautiful example of the Nautor Swan Yacht check out our listing on Lightheart, a Nautor Swan 46 Mark 1 currently located in Brunswick, Georgia.

March 10th through 24th, 2012 has been set for the date of the South Florida's 25th Annual Waterway Cleanup - "Where Green Meets Blue". This event is presented by The Marine Industries Association of South Florida along with Florida Inland Navigation District. This is a great opportunity for youth groups to become involved in helping clean up our waterways and thereby learn a valuable environmental lesson. Of course participation from all age groups is most welcome and encouraged. Join the group (usually numbering at least 2000) in helping to keep our beautiful Florida waterways clean. Contact the Marine Industries Association of South Florida at 954-524-2733 for more details.

If you know anyone who has fought or is fighting the battle against Leukemia here is your chance to help with the fight. THE LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA will be held March 24-25, 2012 at Isles Yacht Club, PUNTA GORDA, FL. Learn more at www.leukemiacup.org/sun OR April 28, 2012 at St. Charles Yacht Club, FORT MYERS, FL. Check for more information at www.leukemiacup.org/sfl. Sail in honor of someone you know who is fighting or has fought the battle against cancer by participating in one of these fun and profitable events.

Thinking about donating your old boat? It can be a great way of turning that hopeless vessel into a gift that can help others but it's not an easy process if you don't do your research. First make sure the charity you have chosen is a qualified organization for the donation. If in doubt check IRS Publication 78 at www.irs.gov/app/pub-78. To obtain the fair market value you will probably want to do a survey by a qualified surveyor. It may also be determined by asking a broker to analysis the current market and research the prices that this particular model is selling for. For boats with a value greater than $5000, an appraisal from a surveyor is required. When choosing a charity make sure the charity is engaged in activities that include the use of boats, such as a boating school, marine research organization, or youth groups like the Boy Scouts. When you donate your boat, the charity must, within 30 days of the contribution date, provide you with a 1098-C form and written acknowledgement. The 1098-C form must indicate that the vessel will not be sold prior to significant intervening use or material improvement (box 5a checked). Also the charity must provide the Donee Acknowledgement (part IV) of IRS Form 8283. You (the donor) must submit this with your tax return when claiming the deduction. This must indicate the donated property will not be used for an unrelated use. If the charity sells the boat in less than three years from the date of donation, the charity is required to file IRS Form 8282, which informs the IRS of the sale price of the boat and what usage the boat was put to. Contacting an IRS specialist prior to donating a boat may help clarify whether the intended use will be adequate to substantiate a fair market value donation. Donating your boat is an excellent way of giving to a favorite charity but a little research and the advice from a qualified tax professional may be needed.

If you are one of those boaters who likes the latest and greatest electronics it is time to get excited! The latest equipment from Raymarine and FLIR Commercial Systems Inc. are being introduced at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show. Like the Raymarine e-Series line of multifunction displays with the new CP450C ClearPulse CHIRP Sonar. This new package of equipment usually includes a new thermal-imaging system from FLIR (parent company of Raymarine) and the sonar and thermal imaging can be tied in to the new e-Series 12.1-inch multifunction displays with HybridTouch touch-screen capability. The sonar technology uses two independent sonar transceivers to deliver 10 times the resolution of traditional fishfinders. Raymarine last year came out with its E7 multifunction display with the same touch-screen technology. The new line of E12 products includes a wider selection of screen sizes and control options. Raymarine also introduced a less expensive version of its multifunction displays — the c-Series, which has no touch-screen capability. Both series offer connectivity with mobile devices. It is now possible to stream anything on the screen to your Smart Phone or iPad. The new line includes 12.1- and 9-inch displays. We've heard the MSRP of the CP450C system is around $1,999. The c-Series ranges from $1,799 to $2,599, depending on screen size and the sonar option. The e-Series ranges from $2,799 to $3,599.

For the past 22 years BoatUS has released its list of the Top Ten Boat Names. The 2012 list includes: 1. Seas the Day 2. Nauti Buoy 3. Aquaholic 4. Dream Weaver 5. Pegasus 6. Serenity Now 7. Second Wind 8. Liquid Asset 9. Miss Behavin' 10. Blew By You. For some owners coming up with a name for their boat is as important as naming their child. However when choosing a boat name you can have fun and be a lot more creative. The boat name tends to reflect the owner's character, likes, dislikes, and lifestyle. There are certain names that are always favorites but there were three new names on the list this year - Nauti Buoy (believe it or not it was "new" this year), Serenity Now, and Blew By You. Can't wait to see what you clever folks come up with next year!

U.S. brokerage sales increased in January 2012 by 4 percent compared to the same month last year. Total valuation of the boats sold rose by 9 percent according to sales reported by YachtWorld.com member brokerages. Sale of boats over 55' increased by 24 percent. Mid-size boats between 36' to 45' went up by 7 percent. Boats 26' and under gained 7 percent. The average sale price remained relatively level in several categories but while more boats sold in each category the total sale value went down in both small boats and larger boats. This still seems to reflect a strong buyer's market. Overall the figures were good and hopefully reflects a resurgence in the market.

The Spring Nautical Expo is better than ever!There will be many FREE events for both sailors and powerboaters. The seminar facilities, restaurant, marine exhibitors and the boat show yachts are waiting for you. Learn how to get the most out of your sail or power yacht, meet marine industry experts and enjoy boat rides and an in-water boat show. Celebrate the nautical lifestyle at Regatta Pointe Marina on the Manatee River in Palmetto, Florida. Call Jeanelle at Whiteaker Yacht Sales today for more details or to register for one of the many free seminars. We'll see you at the Expo!

Have you had a Coast Guard safety check of your boat lately? It is a very good idea to do one from time to time. A vessel safety check is done as a courtesy and with no risk to the boater. You will not be in trouble if discrepancies are found. A safety check will point out, in a very friendly manner, where you can improve your boat’s safety and help you to keep your boat in a legal status. Having a vessel safety check done on your boat will help prevent dangerous things from happening and ensures that if something does happen, you will be prepared. If you are ever stopped by law enforcement or by the Coast Guard the fact that you have recently had a vessel safety check can help prevent tickets by ensuring that your boat meets federal, state, and local safety requirements. Inspectors will also check to make sure the boat is properly documented/titled and official numbers are properly displayed. It will show the officials that you are a responsible boat owner and that you are doing your best to follow the rules. To arrange a safety check contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron.

The Tampa Outdoors Expo & Boat Show will be held March 2-4 at the state fairgrounds. This will mark the show's 21st year. The event has 140,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space plus outdoor display areas and several lakes. There will be lots of boat dealers along with a huge selection of personal watercraft in addition to ATVs, motorcycles and scooters. For the first time, the show will feature a section devoted exclusively to boating concerns. Experts in their fields will be available to answers questions. You can learn about everything from building a boat to financing a boat to servicing a boat.

The Florida Yacht Brokers Association and Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club will sponsor Shake-A-Leg Miami at the Miami Yacht & Brokerage. The theme will be “Mojitos, Mambo and the Macarena!” There will be live music, drinks and appetizers. The fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Show Management tent on Cocktail Barge No. 1 in the 4700 block of Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. Tickets ($30) may be purchased online. Sponsors are also needed - if you are interested in being a sponsor you are urged to contact Florida Yacht Brokers Association. Proceeds from the event will benefit Shake-A-Leg Miami, a charitable organization that helps people of all ages with disabilities enjoy and learn the sport of sailing. Shade-A-Leg Miami has helped many children and adults overcome their physical, developmental, and economic challenges and this event is well worth your support.