A paradise for the serious boater
28th Lido Yacht Expo, Sept. 7-10

Among the yachts to be previewed at the show is the Sunseeker XS Sport, featured in the new James Bond movie 'Casino Royale.'

NEWPORT BEACH, August 28, 2006 - For serious mariners, those for whom boating is truly a lifestyle and not just a twice-a-year two-hour ride around the bay or up the river, the Lido Yacht Expo, September 7-10, is a four-day paradise. When the West's biggest "Big Boat" Fall extravaganza returns for its 28th annual showing at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach, big boat shoppers will have plenty to choose from, depending upon their budget, taste, and purpose.

Lido shows serious stuff for serious boaters. While exhibitors, traditional and new, are still sending their entries in, it is evident, judging from the 180 or so vessels already confirmed for the show two weeks before its start, that the 2006 Lido show will live up to its reputation. More than 70% of the boats entered are in the 40-feet class and above, and more than one-third of these are yachts 50 feet or larger. Almost half of the exhibits are new 2006 and 2007 models, and many of them will be seen for the first time at a boat show in Southern California or on the West Coast.

Looking for a multi-million dollar luxury "entry level" mega-yacht to entertain on long ocean trips to Cabo or San Juan Islands? You should check out the new Ocean Alexander 80 cockpit motoryacht offered by Orange Coast Yachts at $3.6 million; the new Offshore 80 Voyager with sport cockpit available at Offshore West for $4.1 million, or the 2003 Queenship 72 Admiralty Super Salon Sport cruiser with Extended Cockpit, offered by Dana Island Yachts for just under 2.5 million.

Just a notch below, in size and price, if not in amenities, are a couple of British-made sleek and fast Sunseekers exhibited by Orange Coast Yachts - the 75 Predator and the 66 Manhattan. Speaking of speed, no boat in the Lido show can match the new Sunseeker 38 SX Sport's 80-mile an hour performance. This boat makes its debut at Lido two months before the release of the new James Bond movie Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig and directed by Martin Cameron.

Also at the 60-and-above luxury dock: the four-stateroom Dyna Craft 70, the Johnson 70, the Italian-built Azimut 65, and the Nassau 60 presented by Randall Burg Yachts; the Halmatic 65 "Empress" (Boats of America), the Viking 65 Sport Cruiser from Crows Nest Compass Point, the Westide 75 (Ensign International yacht Brokerage), the Ocean Alexander 64 (Orange Coast Yachts) and the Offshore 62 (Offshore West).

Cruisers of all types and ranges will be abundant at Lido from traditional makers like Carver, including the new Marquis 59 Avalon, a West Coast premiere, and the new Carver 43, the first hybrid motoryacht from Carver and BMW Designworks; a full line of Meridian yachts, including the flagship Meridian 580 long-range cruiser; the new McKinna 57 Pilothouse, making its Southern California debut; Cranchi will introduce the new models 2007 of the Cranchi 50 Mediteranee Hardtop, and the Cranchi 41 Endurance; Newport Boats / Renix Corp. will have on display a dozen of new Sea Ray models, from the 26 to the 44; Chuck Hovey yachts will present two Fleming 55 raised pilothouse motoryachts. Other attractions include the Hampton 558, Atlantis 55, Mediterranean 54, DeFever 52, Cruisers 525, Navigator 48, Regal 4460 and Renzo 4.0 Express.

Sportfishers are always popular, and the Lido show offering will be spectacular. Major bigger regulars include: the new Hatters 50 Convertible, capable of going to the big fish at 40 knots, by Stan Miller Yachts; a Viking 48 by Crows Nest Compass Point; Mikelson Yachts will display its new 43 sportfisher model; Ellsworth Marine, the West Coast dealer for the Australian-built Riviera, will exhibit the brand new Riviera 47 Series II. In the pocket to mid range look for the new Albermarle 410, the first on the West Coast, the Albermarle 410 convertible, along with Albermarle 320 at the Horizon Yacht & Ship Brokerage; the Cabo 40 flybridge, the Cabo 35 flybridge and the Cabo 32 Express at Stan Miller Yachts' display; Sun Country Marine will have four Luhrs models, the 41 open, the 41 convertible, the 38 convertible and the 28; D'Anna Yachts will showcase the new Albin 28 Tournament Express and the Albin 26 Center Console. Crows Nest Compass Point will have no less than a dozen Tiara's, from the smallest, Tiara 29, to the largest, Tiara 52.

Those who like powercats should visit the Boat Depot exhibit of the Glacier Bay boats, shown for the first time at Lido - the 34, 26, and 22 models.

At the sailboats dock, Suncoast Yachts will show for the first time on the West coast the 2007 Island Packet 440, and Columbia Yacht Corporation, a new company that inherited a great tradition, will have the Southern California premiere of the Columbia 30 Sports Yacht.

Lido show hours are: Thursday, September 7: Noon to 7 p.m.; Friday, September 8: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, September 9: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, September 10: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under. For more information call Duncan McIntosh Co., at (949) 757-5959, or visit www.goboating.com.