2019 Melbourne Boat Show: Boating's time to shine is coming

Southern Formula comes to the show with the freshest member of its expanding fibreglass fishing boat line-up, the

Using the same shallow-entry vee and Carolina-style flared bow to provide a soft, dry and comfortable ride as the larger 21 and 24 boats, the more compact Southern Formula 19 is engineered to provide almost the same amount of fishing space as its larger siblings.

Equipped with up to 150hp of Mercury outboard engine power, the Southern Formula 19 will also feature plenty of range to head offshore when the conditions suit.

Whittley Marine, meanwhile, will show a very different version of its 6.3-metre Whittley SL20, a member of its Sea Legend range launched at the 2018 Melbourne Boat Show.

How different? Radically. While the 2018 show boat wore a Volvo Penta V6 200 G SX sterndrive and a soft-top, the new Whittley SL20 OB will come with the option of a hardtop with an optional lockable cabin for the first time, and a Yamaha F130 four-stroke outboard engine. It has also teased on its website that as well as the hard-topped 20, it will also have 22 and 25 versions of the new Whittley models, tagged the “Coast Tour Edition”.

Melbourne-based Bar Crusher has teased on social media that it will have at least one new boat to reveal at the show. It has released a single image revealing almost no clues other than it's a trailer boat light enough for what appears to be a single-axle trailer.

Stejcraft boats will arrive at the show via a new tie-in with Williamstown-based Aussie Boat Sales.

Models on display will include the Stejcraft 580 Islander, Stejcraft 610 Monaco and Stejcraft 640 Monaco, all powered by Honda outboard engines and sitting on Easytow trailers.

Aussie Boat Sales will also have the Polycraft range of tough plastic boats on display. The highlight will be the debut of the all-new 3.0-metre Polycraft 300 Tuffy, the entry-level model in the unique boat brand’s line-up. At the other end of the line-up is the 6.0-metre Polycraft Cuddy model.

Regal Marine will have the TABS 5100 Territory Pro centre console on its stand. The open aluminium boat on show will hang a 100hp Mercury outboard engine off the transom, and sit on a Dunbier dual-axle trailer.

JV Marine and Streaker Marine both will introduce Melbourne to the new Yellowfin Plate line-up by featuring the Yellowfin 7000 Southerner Hardtop. It’s the first time the fishing-focused, premium Yellowfin Plate range has featured a hardtop option, with the “Southerner” indicating this is one of the flagship models in the new range.

Malibu will have the new Malibu Wakesetter 22 LSV on display for the first time. Its compact but roomy size features seating for up to 14 people with easy access throughout.

The Australian-made wake and surf boat’s interior features radically redesigned seats behind the console, and marks the rollout of two new toquey 6.2-litre Monsoon V8 engines that set a segment benchmark for fuel economy, clean emissions and quietness.

Crawford Marine, meanwhile, will show the Campion Explorer 542 Sports Utility. Featuring a Kevlar-reinforced hull, Campion claims the boat’s configuration is ideally suited to all types of Australian conditions.

Chapparal Boats will introduce Melbourne to the Chaparral 23 Surf, the sixth and newest member of the wake, ski and surf boat brand’s growing line-up.

This boat will carry up to 13 people keen to hit the wakeboards, and to help the Chaparral 23 Surf features Malibu Surf Gate technology to make all the wave-forming magic happen.

Mastercraft Melbourne will bring its new Mastercraft X22 direct from its Australian debut at the 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

This pro-level wake surfing craft with its pickle fork bow is built with the style, interior space and refinement we have come to expect from this leading US boat brand.

A change of pace: French brand Jeanneau will have the salt water and fishing-friendly Jeanneau Merry Fisher 605 Marlin on display.

The Jeanneau Merry Fisher 605 Marlin is a strong-selling model in Europe. It features a high-performance hull – Jeanneau claims it is ideally suited to Port Phillip Bay – and fishing-friendly features including large rear-mounted swim platforms, a recessed side deck and good all-around visibility from the wheelhouse.

Its party trick, though, is a sliding helm station that allows the skipper to drive from the cockpit.

Jeanneau will also have the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show. It’s an outboard engine-powered cruiser with three cabins, and boasts more interior space than inboard-engined equivalents.

Sirocco Marine will introduce its newest member of the Brig inflatable boat line-up, the Brig Eagle 8. Measuring 7.98 metres long with a 2.9-metre beam, the second largest member of the Brig family includes a plumbed toilet, a table with space for up to eight people, a taller helm console and improved seating.

The Multihull Group will visit the Melbourne Boat Show for the first time in 2019, bringing Lagoon models ranging from 40 to 78 feet. Lagoon is one of the brands offering European pick-up before Australian delivery, meaning you can enjoy the boat on a European tour before bringing it back to Australian waters.

Late last year Suzuki updated its range of “big block” outboard engines to feature more performance and introduce a raft of new technology, including the ability to recognise if water, and not fuel, is entering it.

The Japanese outboard engine maker will have a range of the new 115, 150, 200 and 250 horsepower units on display.

Australian winch maker Savwinch will have a new range of drum winches on display. The Commercial XL and Commercial XXL winches are made for boats ranging in size from 8.0 to 30 metres.

The 2019 Melbourne Boat Show will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, from June 13-16.

Tickets are available online, with even more discounts available for RACV members.