BRISBANE BOAT SHOW: Opens today!

The number of exhibitors has surpassed last year's total and this year's show is tipped to be bigger and better than ever.

Marine Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Mr Don Jones said: "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," Mr Jones said.

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 be on display.

Broadwater Boating will have on display the new-release Quintrex Trident (pictured) powered by the Yamaha F200 with digital electronic controls.

The new Stealth Centre Console (pictured) is the latest creation from AMM. The super durable plate alloy fishing boat is based on the class leading AMM 4900 hull which includes an 18 degree deadrise, large reverse chine, fully welded self-draining floor and is constructed from an upgraded 5mm high tensile plate alloy bottom and 4mm sides.

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.

There's plenty of cool new stuff as well. Check out the see-through kayaks (pictured) from Clear Kayaks (stand 658). Not only can you cruise around the Bay, you see what's underneath too!

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.

Northside Marine has the Axis T22 which 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.

Tickets are available on-line at www.brisbaneboatshow.com.au