Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026: a fresh leather grip for your helm

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs from 28 October to 1 November 2026, spread across six waterfront venues in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Now in its 67th year, it is billed as the largest in-water boat show in the world – more than 1,300 boats are expected this year, from tenders and sportfishing boats to sailing yachts and superyachts.

Shows like this are where owners spend hours stepping from one helm to the next. And it is often at the wheel that you notice the difference between a boat that has been looked after and one that simply looks shiny from the dock.

Why the helm matters

Your hands are on the wheel for every hour under way. Bare stainless steel gets hot in the sun, cold and slippery in the rain, and hard on the hands on a long passage. A well-fitted leather cover gives you a warmer, softer and more secure grip – and it protects the wheel itself.

Made to your size

Every helm is different, so we don't sell one-size covers. Our yacht and boat helm covers are made to your measurements: wheel diameter and the grip circumference of the rim. Larger wheels are made in sections, so the cover follows the rim between the spokes. You choose the leather and the thread colour; we cut and stitch the cover by hand in Devon and send it as a sew-on kit with needle, thread and instructions.

Fitting

You lay the cover on the rim and lace the two edges together with the supplied thread, passing it under the stitched loops on each edge – no holes to punch and no tools to buy. Use a separate thread for each section between the spokes. Our step-by-step fitting video shows the whole process: https://youtu.be/BwuLqsF9bY4

Before the season

If your boat is being laid up for winter, this is a good moment to measure the wheel: write down the diameter, wrap a tape around the rim for the grip circumference, and take a photo of the spokes. With those three details we can make a cover that is ready for spring.

Dispatch is within 3 working days. Colours shown are for reference only and may vary slightly depending on your screen settings and resolution.

Sources: Denison Yacht Sales – Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026 guide, https://www.denisonyachtsales.com/news/fort-lauderdale-boat-show-guide ; FLIBS – 2026 show maps, https://www.flibs.com/attend/2026-show-maps/ ; Boating Magazine – 2026 FLIBS: Everything Attendees Need to Know, https://boatingmag.com/boats/2026-fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-attendees/
Image: a customer's helm, shared with permission.