2016 Brisbane Boat Show open today

Those with a love of Queensland’s waterways will be delighted with the opening of the three-day Brisbane Boat Show today (Friday August 19) at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The famous family and fishing orientated show, with a history spanning over 50 years, has long been popular with locals and those from the city’s surrounds looking for a new-season trailerboat and the latest gear.

"With Australia’s recreational boating headquarters and manufacturing hub at Brisbane’s doorstep, visitors can be assured that the industry will put its best foot forward for this show," said Howard Glenn, National Chief Executive Officer for the Boating Industry Association, which own and operates the Brisbane Boat Show.

"Boat manufacturing plays a big part of the Queensland economy and this event is symbolic of the quality and ingenuity that Australia has to offer."

More than 70 organisations for the 2016 Brisbane Boat Show. As such, there will be an excellent array of boats for all bents including fishing, waterskiing, wake boarding, personal water craft, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boards as well as others.

Taking centre-stage will be the evolving dual-purpose family cruisers, crossovers and veritable all-in-one crown pleasing boats.

"Boating has seen its share of activity-specific boats over the years, but the increase in popularity of boating as a family activity has seen the need to evolve our designs to be multi-purpose. Fishing one day, family cruising the next," Mr Glenn said.

The show openly boasts that it’s the best place to see boats and the best place to buy boats. But it does not fall short in its effort to educate and entertain.  Working off the core principle that 'Good Boating is Safe Boating', show organisers have pulled together an excellent line up of agencies to help boaties better understand how to enjoy their time on the water.

Representatives from Maritime Safety Queensland, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, SEQwater, Queensland Water Police, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard will be at the Boating Safety Zone to answer any questions or help with assistance that visitors may need.

On stage will be an eclectic mix of educators and entertainers: accomplished anglers Tim Simpson and Paul Burt, adventurers Peter Sayre and Andrew Abrahams, and Australian cricketing legends and keen fishos Lenny Pascoe and Jeff Thompson.

The show will open from Friday August 19 until Sunday August 21 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank. Adults can enter for $15, a family ticket is $35 with concessions for kids, seniors and pensioners.  Those in the city late can enter for $5 after 5 pm.

All the details about the show, ticket prices, where to park, show hours as well as the special show-only lifejacket trade-in offer can be found on the website at http://brisbaneboatshow.com.au.