If you need yacht contractors in Fort Lauderdale before FLIBS 2026, the honest answer is that some trades are already closed and some are still wide open — and knowing which is which is the difference between a finished boat and a boat with tape on it. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 across seven venues. That is roughly seven weeks out. This guide is the week-by-week booking calendar, trade by trade, with the vetted contractors to call for each.
The short answer
- Already closed for FLIBS: full exterior paint, teak deck replacement, structural fiberglass, major refit work, anything requiring a haul-out and a yard slot.
- Closing in the next two weeks: canvas and enclosures, upholstery rebuilds, major AV and electronics installs, stabilizer and hydraulic overhauls, interior joinery.
- Still very bookable: detailing, hull cleaning and dive service, varnish and brightwork touch-up, systems service and commissioning, survey, photography, crew, provisioning.
- Book on-call, not scheduled: air conditioning, generators, watermakers, AV troubleshooting. Something always fails on Wednesday morning.
The single most useful thing you can do today is decide honestly which of the three buckets your job is in. Contractors in this town will not tell you no in September — they will tell you yes, take your deposit, and then run out of calendar in the third week of October. That is the failure mode this guide exists to prevent.
Why the last six weeks before FLIBS are the hardest booking window of the year
Fort Lauderdale’s marine trade has one immovable deadline and roughly 100,000 visitors arriving behind it. Every broker with a boat in the show wants it perfect. Every owner who was going to “deal with it later” has run out of later. The result is a compression window where the good crews are fully committed six to eight weeks out and the crews still answering the phone in mid-October are, with real exceptions, the ones who did not get booked for a reason.
There is a second, quieter squeeze: the same weeks are the tail of hurricane season, so storm damage and insurance work jump the queue on planned cosmetic jobs. A named storm in early October will vaporise a week of everyone’s schedule and the show date will not move.
The FLIBS countdown: what to book, and when
Seven weeks out — early-to-mid September (now)
This is the last honest window for anything that needs the boat out of the water or out of service for more than a few days.
Paint and coatings. A full exterior Awlgrip or Alexseal job is a multi-week, weather-dependent, booth-dependent process, and it is realistically gone for this show. What is still possible is a targeted repair: a scuffed transom, a damaged boot stripe, running gear. Call Newmil Marine, CHI Yacht Refinishing or Cachi Marine Yacht Painting and ask them plainly whether the job fits before the show. A painter who says yes to a full hull in September is telling you what you want to hear.
Yard time. If the job needs a lift, you needed the slot last month. Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center is the largest repair and refit yard in the country with 200-plus on-site contractors, and it is also where everyone else is calling. Ask about a cancellation list rather than a booking.
Structural and fiberglass. Gelcoat matching and non-skid refinishing still fit if you start now. Scotty Fiberglass is factory-authorised for Azimut, Princess, Sea Ray, Viking and Sunseeker finishes; J&E Fiberglass Marine Corp and American Marine Repair handle hull and transom work.
Teak. A full deck replacement is out. Recaulking a section, repairing a soft plank, or laying Flexiteek on a cockpit sole is still live. WS Yacht Teak Carpentry and Teak Techs Marine Carpentry are both preferred vendors inside the major yards.
Five to six weeks out — late September
Canvas and enclosures. This is the deadline that catches people. A new set of Strataglass or EZ2CY enclosures is a template, a build and a fitting, and the shops fill up fast in September. Admiral Canvas has been doing South Florida superyacht canvas since 1986; Bluewater Yacht Canvas builds everything in-house, which matters when a panel needs re-cutting with two weeks left.
Interior joinery and cabinetry. High-gloss finishes need cure time you cannot compress. Best Marine Carpentry, Dennis Boatworks and Teak Techs cover custom woodwork, countertops and refinishing.
Electronics and AV installs. A new Garmin or Furuno suite, a Starlink install, a Crestron system — these are commissioning jobs, not plug-ins, and they need bench time plus sea-trial time. Concord Marine Electronics (NMEA-certified, on site at LMC since 1988), Electronics Unlimited (NMEA Master Dealer, in business since 1973) and Nauti-Tech (25 years of integrated electrical, nav, AV and comms) are the three to start with.
Metal fabrication. New rails, a swim platform bracket, a custom tuna tower — fabrication is a shop process with a queue. DolFab (ABS, Lloyd’s and USCG certified since 1978), Engineered Yacht Solutions and K&G Marine Solutions all work in aluminium and stainless.
Stabilizers and hydraulics. If a fin is weeping or a thruster is slow, deal with it now, not in October. Quantum Marine Stabilizers is headquartered here with in-house engineering; Stabilized Marine is the authorised NAIAD service specialist. For steering, gangways and platform hydraulics, High Seas Hydraulics is on site at LMC and CF Boatworks runs a dedicated 7,500 sq ft shop.
Three to four weeks out — early October
Mechanical and generators. Service, not overhaul. Get the oil samples pulled, the injectors checked and the gensets loaded-tested while there is still time to order a part. RPM Diesel Engine Co. has been at it since 1956 and is authorised for Detroit Diesel, Bosch and Yanmar; Diesel Services of America covers MAN, Volvo Penta, John Deere and Cummins/Onan; Scarano Marine is a certified MTU facility. For gensets specifically, Atlantic Marine Power Systems services 30 to 300 ft vessels.
Electrical. Shore power problems get embarrassing fast when the boat is on display and plugged in for five straight days. Wards Marine Electric is third-generation with 75-plus years in switchgear and dockside service; Fine Line Marine Electric is ABYC-certified at LMC; TESS Electrical handles megayacht power management and switchboards.
Safety and certification. Life raft servicing, extinguisher and suppression certification, LSA checks. These have hard expiry dates and a surveyor or a buyer will look. Fire Water Marine Services is ABS and Lloyd’s approved, Summit Marine Fire & Safety covers Florida and the Caribbean, and Inflatable Services Inc handles life rafts and inflatable safety gear.
Survey. If the boat is going into the show as a listing, a current condition survey is leverage in a negotiation that may start on the dock. Elite Marine Surveyors, Simex International and SAMS-accredited Suenos Azules Marine Surveying all work Broward.
Photography. Shoot before the boat is surrounded by 100,000 people and a forest of masts. Aerials, walkthroughs and listing stills want a clean morning and open water. AH360 Photography does drone, virtual tour and 360 work; Helm & Halo shoots editorial-quality marketing imagery on location.
One to two weeks out — mid to late October
Detailing. The highest-return money you will spend and, mercifully, still bookable this late — but book it now for a slot then. Mega Yacht Cleaning works the Fort Lauderdale marinas directly; Freedom Yacht Services has been doing ceramic coatings and teak restoration since 1995; Beluga Yacht Services covers gelcoat restoration and full cleaning.
Dive and bottom cleaning. Non-negotiable if the boat moves under its own power to the show dock, and it is the cheapest line on this entire page. Hulldivers and The Barnacle King both cover Broward and Miami-Dade, including zincs and prop service.
Crew. Show week is a staffing event — extra stews for traffic, a relief deckhand, a chef for owner entertaining. The Fort Lauderdale agencies place temporary and daywork crew as well as permanent: Crewfinders International, Crew Unlimited, The Crew Network, Elite Crew International and Luxury Yacht Group.
Show week itself — 28 October to 1 November
Provisioning. Five days of hosting on board burns through stores faster than any charter week. National Marine Suppliers and Yacht Chandlers are both headquartered here and deliver dockside; Just Provisions delivers fresh produce and proteins to the gangway; Owen Doyle Provisions is chef-run for crewed vessels.
Fuel. Top off before the show, not during it. Pier Sixty-Six Marina offers high-speed in-slip fuelling and tax-free fuel for qualifying vessels, with deep-water dockage to roughly 400 ft; Lauderdale Marina runs a 365 ft fuel dock with diesel and ethanol-free gas.
On-call trades. Have these numbers in your phone before Wednesday, not after the air conditioning quits with guests aboard. Thomas Marine Systems runs 24/7 emergency AC service and is Dometic-authorised; ARW Maritime has been on marine HVAC and refrigeration since 1971. For watermakers, Halden Marine Service answers a 24/7 line for Spectra and Katadyn systems, and Watermakers Inc manufactures on site here. For heads and sanitation — the failure nobody wants during an open-boat — Headhunter Inc, Environmental Marine Services (VacuFlush master distributor) and American Marine Plumbing cover it.
How to book a contractor with six weeks to go
- Lead with the date, not the job. Open the call with “this has to be finished by 24 October, can you do it?” A contractor who hedges on the date is already telling you the answer.
- Ask who is actually doing the work. In show season the good shops subcontract overflow. That is not automatically bad, but you should know it before the work starts.
- Get the material lead time in writing. Most blown FLIBS deadlines are not labour, they are a fabric, a panel or a part that was never ordered.
- Pay for a written scope, however small the job. Verbal scopes in October become disputes in November.
- Build in a buffer week. Target completion for 21 October, not 27 October. Something will slip.
- Ask about show-week standby. Several shops will hold an on-call tech during FLIBS. It costs little to ask and it is worth a great deal at 8am on the Thursday.
Red flags this time of year
- Large deposit demanded up front for a job that has not been scoped or scheduled.
- No physical shop, no yard affiliation and no verifiable certification — ABYC, NMEA, ABS, Lloyd’s, SAMS or a factory authorisation, depending on the trade.
- A promise to do a full exterior paint job before the show. It is not a schedule, it is a sales pitch.
- Unwillingness to name the yard or marina where the work will happen.
- No proof of marine liability insurance. Every marina in the show will ask; you should ask first.
Trade-by-trade: what still fits before FLIBS 2026
| Trade | Latest realistic start | Still possible late? | What to do instead if you have missed it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full exterior paint | Passed | No | Spot repair and a heavy cut-and-polish detail |
| Teak deck replacement | Passed | No | Recaulk and repair the visible sections |
| Structural fiberglass | Passed | No | Cosmetic gelcoat and non-skid refinishing |
| Canvas and enclosures | Late September | Repairs only | Clean and re-stitch existing panels |
| Upholstery | Late September | Partial | Deep clean plus replace the worst cushions |
| Electronics and AV install | Late September | Small installs | Service and update what is aboard |
| Metal fabrication | Late September | Small parts | Polish and repair existing stainless |
| Mechanical and generator service | Mid October | Yes | — |
| Electrical service | Mid October | Yes | — |
| Safety certification | Mid October | Yes | — |
| Survey | Mid October | Yes | — |
| Photography | Mid October | Yes | — |
| Detailing | Late October | Yes | — |
| Dive and bottom clean | Show week | Yes | — |
| Crew placement | Show week | Yes | — |
| Provisioning | Show week | Yes | — |
The move nobody makes: book the week after the show
The first full week of November is the softest yard and contractor calendar of the entire Florida season. The show ends, a hundred boats leave, and the crews that were flat out for six weeks suddenly have space. If your real job is the paint, the teak or the refit that will not fit before FLIBS, stop fighting for October and book the first available slot in November instead. You will get better crews, better attention and a schedule that is not competing with a deadline.
It is also the right moment to line up winter work with a manager rather than trade by trade. Maverick Yacht Management, Yacht Management Services and Yacht Management South Florida all run maintenance programmes across South Florida. For a larger refit with a real budget, an owner’s representative earns their fee: Yacht Logistics has 40-plus years of shipyard selection and bid negotiation, and Foster’s Yacht Services is ABS-certified for full refit project management at LMC.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When is FLIBS 2026?
A: Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, the 67th edition, across seven Fort Lauderdale venues including the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina and the Superyacht Village.
Q: How late can I book yacht detailing before the boat show?
A: Two to three weeks out is realistic for a full exterior and interior detail, and you should book the slot four to six weeks out even if the work happens later. Inside of ten days you are into whoever has a cancellation.
Q: Can I get a yacht painted before FLIBS if I start now?
A: A full exterior job, no. Fairing, priming and topcoat is a multi-week weather-dependent process and the booths are booked. Targeted repairs to a transom, boot stripe or running gear are still achievable — ask the painter to commit to the date before anything else.
Q: What does it cost to get a yacht show-ready?
A: It ranges from a few thousand dollars for a detail, dive and provisioning package on a smaller vessel to six figures where paint, canvas and interior work are involved. The variable that moves the number most is not the size of the boat, it is how late you start, because rush scheduling carries a premium in October.
Q: Do contractors charge more before the boat show?
A: Many do, either as an explicit rush rate or as overtime built into the estimate. The premium is real and it is not unreasonable — they are turning down other work to hit your date. Ask whether the quote includes overtime rather than assuming it does.
Q: Should I haul out before FLIBS?
A: Only if you already have a slot. Yard space in October in Fort Lauderdale is the tightest resource in the calendar. If the work does not strictly require a lift, an in-water dive team gets you a clean bottom without the queue.
Q: How do I find emergency yacht service during the show?
A: Line it up in advance. Identify an on-call contact for air conditioning, generators, electrical and AV before Wednesday, confirm they know the boat and where she is berthed, and save the numbers to the bridge phone. During show week the trades are stretched across the entire fleet and the boats with a prior relationship get answered first.
Q: Can I hire temporary crew just for the show?
A: Yes. The Fort Lauderdale crew agencies place daywork and temporary crew as well as permanent positions, and show week is one of their busiest placement windows. Start two to three weeks out to get people who have done a show before.
Q: What paperwork should be current before the show?
A: Documentation and registration, insurance certificate, safety equipment certifications and any flag or class paperwork. If a serious buyer appears on the dock, missing paperwork is the thing that stalls the conversation. Yacht Registry Services handles USCG documentation, foreign flag registries and closings from Bahia Mar.
Q: What is the single highest-return job before a boat show?
A: A professional detail combined with a fresh bottom clean and clean, tight canvas. It is the cheapest work on this page and it is what every person walking the dock actually sees.
Get connected to a vetted contractor
ZipYacht lists vetted marine contractors across every trade in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida, with no commission on the work and no vendor paying for placement. If you are working against the FLIBS deadline and want the right shortlist for your specific job, tell us what you need and we will point you at the contractors who can actually make the date.
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Related: Yacht haul-out cost · Detailing & cleaning contractors · Refit & project management · Electronics & navigation