The 50th Barcelona Boat Show Nov. 5-13, 2011, at the Gran Via Expo Center was a good one for Monterey Boats, extending its brand to more boat buyers and lifting its international presence.

With the show's golden anniversary, there were many commemorative events, highlighting the evolution of the marine industry in Spain from 1963 to the present. Monterey Boats has been a big part of that evolution, exhibiting at the Barcelona show since 1993 through its distributor, Don Marino Boats.

With Marino having a network of 13 dealers throughout Spain, it has helped make the country one of Monterey's biggest international markets.

At the show, Monterey models on display were the 184FS, 224FS, 264FS, 264FC, 275SCR, (260SCR in the U.S.) and the 328SS. The modern design and high quality finish of the Monterey models received a warm reception from Spanish boaters.

Despite the difficult economic climate in Spain, the results of the show were very good, according to Marino Boats' president and owner, Oswaldo Marijuan Ugalde. "Given that the global economic crisis hit us particularly hard in our country, with lower show attendance than in recent years, the final results for Monterey and, of course, Don Marino Boats, have been very positive, both for immediate retail sales as well as for new wholesale and retail contacts that will lead to future sales.

"That is why we want to thank both the current Monterey owners that passed along their great experience of this past season, and those new buyers who have placed their trust and hopes for next season with our brand," Ugalde said.

Florida-based Monterey Boats makes premium boats, from small sport boats to large sport yachts, for cruising, diving, skiing and wakeboarding.