The Miami International Boat Show sprawls across 2.5 million square feet of exhibition space and fills the 145 boat slips at the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center across Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami.

Billed as one of the largest consumer boat shows in the world, the Miami venue draws more than 146,000 people, including representatives from more than 1,000 manufacturers of boats and marine accessories.  The stars of the show, however, are really the customers.

During the last survey in 2005, the show generated $818 million for the state economy, said event manager Cathy Johnston, the Vice President of National Marine Manufacturers Association, a major trade organization for the recreational marine industry.

Judging from the goods, water-lovers fancy larger and faster boats, as well as hordes of electronics to stay safe, connected and amused at sea.

"The biggest trend I see is first-time boat-owners, people who used to buy 18- to 25-foot boats, now buying in the 25- to 35-foot range," said Johnston, who has organized the annual show for the past 12 years.

There are new boats and "previously enjoyed" boats. Boats for fishing, boats for cruising, boats for racing. There's a $1,000 portable boat that can fold up and fit in the trunk of a car and a 85-foot yacht selling for $4.5 million.

Debuting this year: a 104-inch motorized kayak weighing in at just 128 pounds, including its 9.5 horsepower engine.  "It's the lightest craft ever made," said sales manager Chris Phelps with Michigan-based Surfango, the designer and manufacturer of the kayak, as well as motorized surfboard. Both sell for less than $3,000.

Three hundred grand will buy the SeaVee 390, a 39-foot fishing boat by outfitted with four 275-horsepower engines built by Mercury Verado. The boat, which can go as fast as about 68 mph, features a built-in fish door in the port aft quarter, stowaway jump seats and an automated push-button system to pop out a drink cooler.

Those aren't even the most powerful engines on display. Yamaha has unveiled the world's first 350-horsepower outboard engine, designed for offshore boats 30- to 40-feet long and weighing at least 10 tons.  Paired with an electronic control panel, the engine can be harnessed for variable-speed trolling.

For those jonesing flat-out speed, Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats is selling a 50-foot catamaran outfitted with twin 1,700-horsepower racing engines that go almost 200 mph. It'll set you back a pretty penny though: about $1.5 million.

And for boaters who can never stay out long enough, Rampage debuts a 41-foot fishing boat that can hold 700 gallons of fuel. Of course the Miami Boat Show folks hope you'll be back in time for next year's gala.