Discoveries at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show: Onslow Bay and Fabbro
Any experienced skipper knows that no matter how much time you spend on the water, there is always something new to learn. I was reminded of that truth while wandering the docks at Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale. After a long day at a major boat show and more than 20,000 steps on my Apple Watch, I was ready to head home. But one glance at the clean sheerline of a boat I didn’t recognize changed my plans. I turned toward the stranger at the dock and spent the evening exploring.
In a quieter corner of the show I found the 37 Tournament Edition from Onslow Bay Boatworks. Though the display spot wasn’t the most prominent, the boat still drew a steady stream of attention. Brad Knight, the company’s president, was manning the booth and shared some background: the company was founded 20 years ago by a boatbuilder and now operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Holly Ridge, North Carolina. Onslow Bay produces a focused line of four offshore sportfishing boats, and Knight actively campaigns their boats on the Southern Kingfish Association tournament circuit.
Talking with Knight and with a few Onslow Bay owners was informative. Owners at the display were combing through the 37 and comparing notes. One owner praised the builder’s approach to live wells, calling them among the most efficient he had sailed with—an interesting detail that highlights how boatmakers can stand out through the small but important systems that matter to anglers. The combination of practical design and tournament-proven performance explains why this builder has an avid following on the tournament circuit.
The following morning I returned to the show with the simple goal of finding another boat I didn’t know. On D Dock I discovered the Fabbro F45 Cabrio, a striking day yacht with European styling and a powerful plumb stem. Positioned in a prime location, the F45 welcomed heavy foot traffic across its substantial deck. The design attracted a lot of attention not just for looks but for its robust engineering and layout suited to cruising and entertaining.
The company’s COO, Omer Tumkor, was aboard, engaging with curious visitors and answering questions about the brand. Fabbro is a relatively new builder based in Turkey, with a facility in Istanbul, and this show marked the company’s first appearance in the U.S. market. Tumkor, who recently relocated to Fort Lauderdale to establish a U.S. presence, mentioned the opportunity to explore this coastline by boat—something many industry representatives relish when attending shows in South Florida.
Tumkor also mentioned that Fabbro planned to debut a new 33-foot model at the Miami show in February, and he offered to reconnect there. It’s exactly the kind of invitation that keeps me returning to boat shows: the chance to follow a builder’s evolution and to learn more about how fresh designs perform in real-world conditions. For readers who follow new boat introductions, the combination of European styling and thoughtful engineering on the F45 suggested a company intent on making an impact in the U.S.
Boat shows reward curiosity. Walking the docks off-the-cuff led me to two very different builders—one with deep roots in tournament fishing and a reputation for practical, performance-driven boats, and another bringing new European lines and fresh engineering perspectives to the American market. Both encounters reinforced a simple point: whether you’re an owner, an angler, or simply a boat enthusiast, taking the extra step to inspect a boat you didn’t plan to see can lead to meaningful discoveries.
If you’re attending regional shows or the big events in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, leave room in your schedule for detours. A short diversion might introduce you to the next boat that changes how you think about fishing, cruising, or entertaining on the water.
Jeanne Craig
Email: [email protected]
February 2025