2016 Sea Fox news

Jeff McNiven, proprietor of JSW Powersports on the Gold Coast, has just been awarded International Dealer of the Year at a global Sea Fox dealer meeting in South Carolina, where the purpose-built sportsfishing and family boats are built with pride and care.

The Australian importer and distributor of Sea Fox boats was on hand to collect the coveted  award. He returned home with the good news for his loyal staff, the latest 2016 news to excite Sea Fox buyers, and bragging rights after releasing a solid king mackerel (second photo above) to show off his Aussie angling prowess.

From humble beginnings just a few years ago, Sea Fox has now made a solid name for itself on the competitive Australian boating scene. Producing a range of centre console, dual console and walkaround boats from 18-28 feet, Sea Fox is the sixth largest boat manufacturer in the US.

But the burgeining boatbuilder is now focussing on producing less boats of greater quality, rather than cranking up production to the 7000+ boats it was once building, to entice more discerning fishing and family boaters to the marque.

This focus on quality and fitout was among several key news items that McNiven told BoatPoint and boatsales after his recent US visit.

ALMOST 200 SEA FOX IN AUSTRALIA
McNiven’s passion for Sea Fox boats dates back to when he owned a 2008-model 206 centre console seven years ago. He will tell you that it was at that point that he realised the evolving brand just had to be available to the Australian public.

Sea Fox has been gone to be a great fit locally, thanks to the yard’s clear governing philosophy to develop and build quality hand-crafted saltwater boats that are durable, dependable and affordable, he says. We will add JSW Powersports' professional backing has something to do with the success here, too.

Since importing the first Sea Fox in 2011, after being appointed the national distributor, JSW Powersports has now  delivered almost 200 Sea Fox into Australia to boaters as far afield as Groote Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

NEW 32FT SEA FOX CENTRE CONSOLE
"The big news from Sea Fox is the fresh focus on attention to detail, build quality and finish," McNiven says, adding that the value quotient remains with Seafox boats bought here thanks to factory incentives by way of more bundled kit.

"When you buy the boats from us all you need to add are electronics," McNiven enthuses. "JSW Powersports is the official Sea Fox boat distributor, an Evinrude OEM outlet, and Sea Fox can also be imported pre-rigged with Yamaha."

On the new model front, Sea Fox is going bigger with an all-new flagship centre console designed, as indeed all the boats are, from the keel up with CAD programs.

The new 2016-model 328 Commander will be a dual rig running twin 300-350s outboards. The boat is expected to be launched early 2016 at Miami boat show.

But we understand McNiven has one of the first new 328 centre consoles on order.

SIDE DOORS AND PRESSURISED LIVE WELLS
The upgrades for 2016-model Sea Fox boats include a portside side door with boarding platform, pressurised live-bait wells on the bigger models to prevent splash and keep your bait kicking, and even a twin-bed sleeping arrangement on that new 328 flagship.

Besides kicking goals with Sea Fox, JSW Powersports is the biggest Sea-Doo dealer in the world, for the third year running, pulling off the hat-trick after the news was announced at the recent Club Sea-Doo dealer meeting Nashville.

Meantime, your BoatPoint and boatsales crew is fresh from some very solid Gold Coast boat testing, aboard the new 186 Commander — a cracking centre console that passed our rough-water test with flying colours — and the latest 226 Commander.

An intermediate 206 Commander model has also been released for 2016. More at seafoxboats.com.au.