Gates close on 'first-class' 2022 Melbourne Boat Show

More than 25,000 people pre-booked tickets or walked through the gates to attend the free four-day event, held on Melbourne’s Victoria Harbour and featuring an on-water display and static ones cramming almost every available space along the Newquay waterfront.

Several dealerships with boats on display reported good inquiries from potential customers, including a number of them keen to lay down a deposit – one sale was to a new buyer who walked into the exhibitor’s stand and walked out with almost half-a-million dollars' worth of boat.

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Boating Industry Association of Victoria chief executive Steve Walker said last week he was “absolutely delighted” with how the show – the first since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019 that forced a string of cancellations – had been received.

“The site and overall layout has really exceeded our expectations and what the exhibitors have put forward is absolutely first-class,” Walker said.

The weather was also kind to the event, with forecast heavy rain largely staying away.

The event also saw Zach Murphy, an apprentice working at Seaford-based Volvo Penta service specialist Aqua Power Marine, awarded with the marine industry’s 2022 Apprentice of the Year Award.

Mitchell Dean, the marketing manager for JV Marine, said he was happy with the new format and location of the show. JV Marine had a number of trailer boat brands on show including Revival, Quintrex and Yellowfin.

“An open-air show right on the water, and free to attend for the public – how can that not be a great thing for boat lovers?” Dean told boatsales.com.au.

“For dealers, it’s always going to be a challenge this time of year to attend any show, but the interest and sales we achieved over the four days certainly made it worthwhile.”

38 South Boat Sales managing director Rohan Veal said the highlight of his show was the sale of a $425,000 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 on its on-water display. 

“It was far better than any of us were expecting, with a huge amount of people through every day regardless of the weather, lots of great feedback,” Veal said.

“We also had a walk-up customer buy our Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 at $425,000 on Friday morning, so we are very happy.”

BIAV chief executive Steve Walker said the show had recorded record crowds with initial signs showing that the demand for boats, boating and boating lifestyle were very strong, with positive feedback from exhibitors.

“It has been really pleasing to get this great feedback,” Walker said. “Exhibitor satisfaction is KPI number one at the end of the day and this feedback makes me think that it's been achieved, and maybe even exceeded.”

As for next year's show? The BIAV says it will “complete an event review, consult with the industry and work towards a boat show plan for 2023 that will be best for exhibitors”.