End of year wrap

The year 2013 will be remembered for many things: the hottest Aussie summer on record, a decisive election, the end of the Aussie-built Holden ute… and a pleasure boating industry on the improve. Of course, BoatPoint and boatsales were at the coalface, breaking the news, driving the launches and getting stuck into the big issues.

By December 20, we will have published more than 1020 news articles -- up from 847 last year and 388 the previous year -- 71 expert boat reviews that are exclusively our own, and 51 videos, which is to say nothing of social media (our Facebook page had almost 5500 likes at the time of writing), the features, engine reviews, tow tests and more.

Our cumulative boat-test archive now numbers 1672 reviews dating back to August 1997, in effect creating the biggest and richest source of expert boat-testing opinion and data at your fingertips in the country.

Of our more than 60 listed contributors, Marine Editor, David Lockwood, heads the list with 515 tests, Rick Huckstepp climbed the ladder to 235 tests, including some great video reviews, while Jeff Webster has racked up 27 tests mostly this year. Boating buff and inhouse Chief Sub Geoff Middleton has more than 50 tests of which seven were clocked up in 2013. We plan to bring you more of what you enjoy on our sites in 2014.

Meantime, what 2013 lacked with the sheer number of new models launches (and subsequent tests) compared with other years, it more than made up for with quality. Following a year of naval gazing, 2013 was all about less being more, reinvigorating the market with affordable craft, innovation and better quality. The top end proved resilient, too, with existing boaters moving into bigger yachts and motorcruisers.

Bayliner made some more waves with The Element, a new-concept boat to inspire the entry-level and first-time family boating markets. That it did and after testing that boat over three days we emerged with a glowing report.

Not to be outdone, Savage released the 515 Bay Cruiser as “the ultimate weekend warrior built to make the most of summer holidays and laid-back Sundays.” The Stacer 449 Seaway was pitched as being another perfect budget boat. To excite the market, Sea Ray said it was building a jet boat, only to pull back from that market later in the year.

According to official data, the U.S. recreational boating industry began to see the tide turn for new powerboat sales with an estimated 10 per cent increase in 2012, said the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Early projections indicated the industry would see additional increases in 2013 by as much as 5-10 per cent. That seemed about right.

We saw the international release of the Crownline 19 XS at the annual Melbourne Summer Boat Show. The American-made bowrider bore testimony to the Aussie contribution in its design. Chapparal unveiled a 257 SSx at the same show. Thus, the American boats started arriving again.

We stopped the super trawler, as Sea Shepherd intercepted the whaling fleet, and a cheat was ousted for using outside assistance in the Vendee Globe around-the-world yacht race. Then six heavily bearded, exhausted but jubilant adventurers landed ashore at South Georgia Island during their Shackleton Epic retracing the steps of that great Man.

The war over Marine Parks was heating up, with lobby groups loading up on all sides.

More American-boat launches arrived, buoyed by our strong dollar. They included the Four Winns H200 Horizon bowrider, and a Sea Ray 190 Sport package for $44,900. Compatriots Back Cove announced plans for a new 41-footer flagship.

In respect of big boats, Riviera revealed its 565 SUV, the second boat in the new all-purpose range, while Maritimo revealed its M50 was being warmly received in the USA. Alaska made everything old new again with its accommodating 49 Aft Cab, as German boat builder Bavaria delivered new sportscruiser, flybridge and yachting releases to Australia.

In the fast-paced electronics’ world, Raymarine’s high-performance Dragonfly Sonar/GPS brought the power and crisp detail of advanced CHIRP sonar to inland and coastal anglers at a very affordable price of $945rrp. There was also a new glass-bridge series for high-end boaters.

Sean Langman’s radical 60-foot trimaran Team Australia took the Tasman Sea express lane and smashed the previous fastest time from Sydney to Hobart by a whopping 12 and a half hours. They set a new elapsed time of 29 hours 52 minutes and 23 seconds, bettering the previous time set last December by Wild Oats XI by 12 hours 30 minutes 49 seconds.

Anglers had bigger fish to fry, namely the hasty processes by which marine parks were being fast tracked by Tony Burke and the Labour/Green alliance. The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation and the Commonwealth Fisheries Association strengthened their calls for genuine consultation on Commonwealth marine park plans.

With a change of government, management plans for marine parks would be scrapped by year’s end. But there could be an element of truth about global warming, with a barra’ weighing 10kg landed in Wallis Lake in NSW. Plenty of fishers were being nabbed for dodgy practices elsewhere.

It was Sea-Ray time again, with the release of the 540 Sundancer in Australia and an all-new 220 and 240 Sundeck Outboards. Sales of outboard-powered boats accelerated in all markets as inboards continued to slow. But when you look at the new inboard-powered Chris Craft Carina 21, a cool retro bowrider with vertical stem, that drew inspiration from the 1920s, you wonder why.

On the catamaran front, the super-fast Catana 42 broke the news it was heading Down Under, while Moody was touting the room aboard its 54 Deck Saloon, and Fountaine Pajot had some great deals to woo you back to the multihull flake or fold. Serious cruising buffs were get aboard Maritimo’s motor yachts, while other Queenslanders weren’t so lucky with local storms claiming their craft.

The flying tris of the America’s Cup started getting going, as more than 1000 anglers fished tournaments in Port Stephens, and the Boating Industry Association introduced a certified used-boat warranty program. Then Guo Chuan became the first Chinese person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, the China Boat Show opened, and an all-girl crew was forming for next year’s Volvo ocean race.

New boats from Grand Banks were journeying to Australia, as indeed were more and bigger Horizon motor yachts, and news of a returning Ocean Alexander. Yamaha sold its 10 millionth outboard engine, Shimano release its best reel ever in the $1500 Stella 3000SW, and Robalo sportfishers were launched.

There’s was a lot of talk about lifejackets and rightly so, as drowning stats are none too pretty for those who don’t wear them. There was more news about fishing, changing oceans, climate and increasing wave heights. More reason to wear your lifejacket.

Quintrex, Australia’s most popular aluminium boat manufacturer, announced a raft of changes to its line-up at a media conference on the Gold Coast. Several new models were launched -- including a new series of entry-level half cabins and two new additions to the Hornet series of fishing boats.

Marine13, a big marina and industry expo, opened, as the Barra Classic got underway up north, and the rest of the country slipped into late-spring weather. Sanctuary Cove boat show was steady, Riviera staged its own Festival up the Coomera River, while sailors started migrating en mass for the tropical regattas.

American aluminium-boat maker Crestliner had some local debuts, so too locals Stacer, while in the luxury market Princess Australia bought Grant Torrens Marine and Absolute Yachts made the announcement it was delivering boats here (we tested the 56 in December). Sadly, a crewman drowned when the America’s Cup tri Artemis flipped and Formula closed up shop in NZ.

But Maritimo celebrated 10 years and released a Sedan version of its 50-footer intended for founder Bill Barry-Cotter… until dealers sold it. Rodney Longhurst bought the plant and real estate at Riviera to shore-up its foundations. Sanctuary Cove delivered good sales of sailing multihulls.

We slipped into a forecast wetter-than-average winter. Whale-watching season began, and a national boat register was launched to help combat boat theft. Independent Rob Oakshott cast his vote to back the marine parks and anglers were livered. Vale Jim Swanson, yacht builder among greats, but welcome the boom snapper season in Vic.

A CSIRO debris survey revealed five pieces of rubbish along our foreshores for every Australian. Melbourne Boat Show was strong, with a new Caribbean Cavalier among the many new launches. Haines Signature announced it had bought Tournament.

A month or so later, the Sydney show revealed a new 550hp QSB6.7  (and QSB8.3 soon after) Cummins engine, a Hanse 575 debut, and Riviera’s new 50 that was a long time in the making. At the other end of the spectrum, Stacer’s 309 Stinger packs a lot of punch for tinny tinnie weighing 70kg.

Princess launched its V48 at a private function in Sydney, as Mercury brought joystick piloting for outboards to the market, and the world’s biggest mega yacht was launched. At 590ft (178.78m), Azzam surpasses Roman Abromovich's Eclipse by 57ft (17m+). The yacht boasts twin gas turbines and two diesel engines producing 94,000hp and it's claimed to be capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. This makes her not only the longest but also the fastest mega yacht in the world. Cost? A cool $650 million.

Back Cove launched its 37 Down East, due here in January, Fountaine Pajot has an all-new Lipari 41, a Mastercraft CX46 arrived, Horizon launches its PC60 powercat, Streaker Boats celebrates 40 years, and Four Winns announces its 2014 line-up.

Plenty are hooked on fishing, with Cabo unveiling some cool canyon runners or Express-style gameboats, Haines Signature releasing the 575F and Kiwi company Surtees revealing its 8.5 Game Fisher.

Riviera claims $37 million in sales in eight weeks, signalling improving markets, for which Quintrex builds a family-friendly 430 Fishabout for about $24K driveaway.

Meanwhile, global boating giant Bayliner tells us in an exclusive interview it’s adopting a strict entry-level focus. Growth continues with pod drives and Volvo Penta has two new models, an IPS800 and IPS950 using its D11 engine. The lightest in their class, the 9.9hp and 15hp Suzuki outboards make a splash.

The summer of 2103/2014 is looking pretty exciting for Sea Ray. There are new boats for all bents including an innovative Venture 370 sportscruiser powered by twin outboard due to arrive in December. A survey reveals another 5000 berths will be needed on Sydney Harbour by 2021. They’ll have to build them soon and we heard of plans for several dry stacks well underway.

Princess launches a new 43 footer and a 35M superyacht, as Tony Abbott meets anglers and promises them he won’t lock them out. Momentum grows for the Gold Coast International Marine Expo, which has a bigger display this year. The Clipper yacht race starts (boats now in Sydney), an election is held, and the boating industry has a spring in its step as a new government and season begins.

The big Azimut Benetti yard in Italy launches 20 boats at Cannes boat show in France. But nothing can rival the Sea-Doo Spark for attention. The $6999 watercraft is poised to ignite the market. The Australian-designed folding Quickboat for $4375 is pretty clever, too.

As for events, the comeback to beat them all is Oracle’s win in the America’s Cup with Aussie James Spithill at the helm. The International Fleet Review celebrating 100 year’s of navy presence was unforgettable on Sydney Harbour, as Australia announces its challenge for the next America’s Cup.

Maritimo builds a new raceboat for Europe, and Team Australia with Sean Langman sets the trans-Tasman sailing record averaging 18.8 knots to New Zealand. The Hobie World Fishing Championships are held in Victoria.

Productivity is on the rise with our boat builders, as Riviera announces a new 515SUV and Maritimo works on a stunning 65-footer. That said, NAB reveals we import more than five times as many boats as we export. At the same time, both of our big boat builders say they are exporting more than half of their production. Things ARE improving in America.

Last but not least, there will be 79 yachts sailing from Sydney to Hobart on Boxing Day, ending what has been a year of building fortunes, a change of government, and exciting new launches with greater design smarts. Things will only improve going forward, with boating an ideal antidote to the increasingly fast-paced electronic world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you out there, afloat.