License to Boat

A new entertainment precinct featuring the boats of James Bond - 007 will be just one of several attractions at this year's Melbourne Boat Show, which has a stronger than ever family focus.

The show, featuring a strong line-up of trailerboat releases, will be staged at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from July 6 to 10. The hub of the show will be the Yamaha Entertainment Precinct, grouped around the main show stage.

Once again the show will cater to hardcore fisherfolk as well as family boating. The Oceanic Dive Pool will feature, giving attendees the opportunity to experience scuba diving by participating in a class with trained instructors. Change room facilities will be available and diving gear and wetsuits will be provided.

And for parents wanting to research and possibly buy a new boat, the evergreen Flathead Fred will present his popular Fun Fishin' show. The kids can learn all about fishing from Fred and sessions will be held throughout the show. Show organiser Julie Walsh said the new entertainment precinct would highlight how diverse the offerings were.

"We have always given mums and kids plenty to enjoy while dads are looking at boats and fishing gear, and this year is even more of the same," she said.

"It's a win-win for exhibitors and patrons, as buyers have more time to consider their purchases while their families have an entertaining day out."

As always, the show will offer plenty of prizes and giveaways, the pick being an all-new Melbourne-built Savage 5.4m cuddy cabin with a Mercury OptiMax 115hp outboard and Dunbier trailer.

For those not lucky enough to win the major prize from Savage, there will be the opportunity to purchase some of the best new models from the likes of Quintrex, TABS, Bayliner, and Glastron, while leading accessories from the likes of Rugged Shark, AFN, and JV Marine will also be on display.

Any consumer who purchases a boat at the 2006 show will be eligible to take part in a free boat handling course.

The half-day course gives one-on-one instruction in the essentials of safe, enjoyable boating, and covers topic such as trailer maintenance, launching safely and efficiently, close quarter manoeuvring and overall care of your new boat.

Live AND LET BOAT
The Boats of Bond Exhibit to feature at this year's show will give attendees the opportunity to view five vessels that featured in some of 007's greatest onscreen moments.

The boats, and other Bond gear, have been collected from Thunderball, Diamonds are Forever, For Your Eyes Only, and The World is Not Enough for the exhibit.

Heading the list of Bond boats is the Thunderball underwater tow sled from 1965, as used by James Bond and the villain Largo. Of 14 boats originally built for the film, only two are still known to exist, with the other example owned by the original builder, Jordan Klein.

Closest to a familiar production boat is the sleek Moonraker Glastron Amazon Chase Boat of 1979, which is often compared to the Aston Martin DB5, with its hidden rocket launchers, floating mines and escaping hang-glider. For some Bond fans, the accompanying super spy accessories will be just as exciting as the boats. Melbourne will be the first stop on a national boat show tour for the Boats of Bond, which had its first showing in New York and is making its first visit south of the equator.