2020 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show starts to take shape

The most glamourous of the new boats and brands keen to make their mark on the biggest event on Australia’s boating calendar is expected to be the arrival of luxury motor yachting brand Sirena, starting with a display of the plumb-bowed Sirena 58, the walk-up boat in the Turkish-built three-model range.

Australia and New Zealand-based brokerage eyachts will represent the brand here.

Another star on eyachts’ list of show-stoppers is expected to be the first of the new Axopar 37 line-up revealed globally late last year.

Axopar 37 SpyderThe most exciting part of the 37’s makeover is the addition of gullwing-style doors that lift up over the forward cabin, creating a large living space that’s open to the outdoors. That model is called the Spyder.

This year already is shaping up to feature more than 300 exhibitors and up to 600 boats ranging from trailer boats up to the latest in luxury superyachts.

“SCIBS is the Gold Coast’s major trailer boat show of the year,” SCIBS organiser Domenic O’Brien said.

“No matter what you’re looking for, there will be something for every budget and every interest, whether that’s day boats, family boats, tenders, RIB’s, sports boats, ski boats, wake boats or fishing boats – whatever you need to get out on the water.”

Northside Marine has attended every show since the inception of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in 1989, and will this year add another brand to its showrooms, Jeanneau Cruisers.

The boats are sourced from the Jeanneau Merry Fisher range including the 605, 895 and 1095.

JSW Powersports, meanwhile, has announced it will have the brand-new Sea Fox 268 Commander, a 26-foot cruiser optimised for angling. The new 268 Commander will be shown alongside a full range of Sea-Doo jet skis, a selection of Sea Fox boats, and Malibu and Axis wake boats.

Sirocco Marine North will have a 40-vessel line-up including all-new models from European RIB brand Brig, including the Eagle 350, Eagle 4 and Eagle 5. Brig chief executive Slava Rodionov is locked in to attend the show.

Whittley Boats, meanwhile, is expected to celebrate the opening of its new showroom at Coomera’s The Boat Works with the debut of an outboard version of its popular Whittley CR2600 pocket cruiser.

More details on this new Yamaha outboard-powered deep-vee model will come to light ahead of the show, but the new boat will sell alongside the 200hp Volvo Penta sterndrive-engined version.

Haines Signature, meanwhile, should have one of the brightest displays at the show. It is soon expected to reveal a new range of colours for its entire Brisbane-built product range – think hulls, upholstery and bow rails – that will give owners a gateway to a much high level of personalisation and presence on the water.

The Multihull Group, meanwhile, will use Sanctuary Cove to usher in the new Lagoon Seventy 8 motor yacht. This catamaran is dripping in luxury appointments and features a jaw-dropping 4000 nautical mile range, or about half the way around Australia.

Joining the 78 at Sanctuary Cove will be the Lagoon 46, the successor to the strong-selling 450F sailing catamaran. The new 46 introduces a racing-inspired square-topped mainsail sitting on top of a fresh hull design, and a big increase in the amount of interior living space compared with the model it displaces.

Mercury Marine is adding joystick controls for its V6 outboard engines for the first time. The US outboard engine maker will also be supporting its five Queensland dealers with what it will only describe as “some exciting new products making their debut”.

Queensland Marine Centre returns to SCIBS with an Australian debut for the Sea Ray 400 SLX OB and Sea Ray 350 Sundancer.

QMC will also show the Boston Whaler 280 Vantage for the first time, and the Australian premiere of a new Mastercraft model, which at this stage is either the new Mastercraft X24 or X26 tow sports boats.

Brisbane Quintrex, meanwhile, will give Queensland show-goers a close-up look at the new 115HO, 140hp and 150hp Evinrude G2 ETEC three-cylinder two-stroke outboard engines. The new engines are up there with the lightest in their class – particularly the 150hp.

The dealer group will also have the all-new 705 Baysport Offshore, the product of five years of research and development and fitted with a 225hp Yamaha outboard engine, on display.

The Haines Group, which represents the Haines Signature range, Aquamaster, Bar Crusher and Seafarer Boats, will also have the new 140hp Suzuki outboard engine launched at last month’s Miami boat show, which now includes fly-by-wire controls, on display.

The 2020 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show runs from May 21-24.