BRISBANE BOAT SHOW: Bigger than last year

Sell-out of exhibitors to display their wares at imminent Brissie boat show

With less than four weeks to go before the 2014 Brisbane Boat Show opens, the number of exhibitors already has crept past last year’s total. Sixty-two exhibitors already are locked with more still finalising their participation and preferred areas.

That means display space is on track for a 100 percent sell-out. And in addition to the major exhibitors, the tally does not include ‘subsidiary’ displays.

For example, the Keep Australia Fishing Tackle Precinct includes multiple displays by companies which are members of the Australian Fishing Tackle Association, but is being counted as just one exhibitor under a unified fishing banner.

Likewise, the precinct includes the BCF Fishing stage which is not counted in addition to the Keep Australia Fishing Tackle Precinct itself.

Marine Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Mr Don Jones said: "The very high take-up of space so far out from the show points to it being one of the best on record.

"Last year was great in terms of crowds, the quality and diversity of displays, the number of exhibitors and the amount of new products and services forming the core attraction for attending.

"Many exhibitors described it as the best show they had been to in the previous five years — it’s clear we have the foundations in place to improve on that performance when the show opens on Friday September 12 at the Brisbane Showgrounds," Mr Jones said.

TOP TRAILERBOATS

On the trailerboat scene, inflatable and pedal-powered fishing kayaks, imported fibreglass centre console rigs and locally built offshore aluminium boats from one of the largest names in the Australian marine industry will create great diversity at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show.

Stacer will display its Ocean Ranger 679 Hardtop for the first time at a show in south-east Queensland – it’s part of an entirely new plate range for Stacer – as well as the Assault Pro range of tournament styled boats and a redesigned version of one of the company’s most popular models, the Seaway 429.

Hobie Cat Australasia will display the latest addition to the Mirage Pro-Angler range – the Tandem 17 with mirage drive which allows people to power the kayak with their feet. And Compact Fishing Australia will be a first-time exhibitor and will use the Brisbane Boat Show to launch its range of Nifty inflatable boats.

Fishing and Leisure Boats from Ashmore will have an 18 foot Carolina Catamaran on display for the first time in Brisbane. The company specialises in powered catamarans with franchises for Livingston Boats which is part of the Powercat Group. The company also builds World Cat and Glacier Bay cats in North Carolina in the U.S. as well as Suntracker pontoon boats.

Fishing and Leisure also are hoping its new Mako 23 will arrive in Australia in time for the show – it currently is scheduled to hit our shores just four days before the Brisbane Boat Show opens.

Northside Marine has confirmed that in addition to the Axis T22 which it already has announced will be making its debut at the show, the dealership also will be showing the 2014 version of the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV which, according to its Tennessee-based manufacturer, is based on a model that has been one of the best selling in the history of water sports.

These latest rigs will be in addition to other new models including CruiseCraft’s Explorer 595 hardtop; Australian Master Marine’s Tournament 7800; the Quintrex Trident 690 hardtop which will be lined up alongside sistership blue water models, the 650 and 610; and the Haines Group’s unveiling of the Signature 650F which has three options of transom configurations suited to different aspects of cruising and fishing.

The Brisbane Boat Show will be open from 10am to 8pm on the Friday September 12 and Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday and Monday September 15. Tickets are available on-line at www.brisbaneboatshow.com.au.

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW: Bigger than last year

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