Axius diesel due early next year

"We will start to see stock arrive early in 2009 to be available around the same time as the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show," said David Meehan, director MerCruiser Australia, NZ and Pacific.

"We've been speaking to Australia's leading cruiser and catamaran manufacturers and they can't wait to get their hands on it," he said.

Since Axius wa first introduced earlier this year, it's taken the sportscruiser market by storm, said Mercury Marine, with some of the worlds largest boat builders - including Bayliner, Sea Ray, Rinker, Formula, Crownline, Four Winns, and Bavaria - already offering the sterndrive docking system.

"Manufacturers love Axius not only because of teh performance it offers, but because it doesn't require any alternations to the hull", said Meehan.

In a nutshell, the Axius sterndrive control system gives boaters an unprecedented level of manoeuvrability, said the manufacturer.

The Axius joystick system, working through two independently articulating Bravo Three drives, lets the skipper move the boat precisely where they want it - forwards, backwards, sideways or spin on the spot, said Mercury Marine, with electro-hydraulic power steering providing a smooth lock-to-lock turning response.

Axius means a novice driver can dock a sportscruiser with virtually the same control as an experienced baoter, said the company.

"Avante Marine have Bayliner 320 and 340 models on the water at their dealerships all around the country so custoemrs can test Axius, and the response has been phenomenal," said Meehan.

The Axius system also offers a range of piloting features, said Mercury Marine. Standard witht he Axius plus system is Vessel View which includes a wealth of information, from engine management, diagnostics, trip information and fuel management, while the Auto Heading system makes piloting a boat simple, said the company.

For more information, visit www.mercurymarine.com