Maritimo eyes growth

With three new luxury boats drawing big crowds at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Maritimo boss Luke Durman is predicting a 15 per cent growth in sales in 2010 and an end to the worst of the global financial crisis.

"There is no denying that 2009 has been a challenging year to date," Durman told BoatPoint.

"Our 2009 forecast indicates a 20 per cent drop in total unit sales but the market outlook for Maritimo is very positive and our 2010 forecast indicates a 15 per cent increase on 2009 unit sales."

Durman says in the past year Maritimo has appointed new dealers in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezula, Mexico, Guadalupe and Florida. The company has also recently appointed dealers in South Korea and Singapore.

"The most positive sign is that our production schedule is full to September this year," Durman says. "I believe we have seen the worst of this recession and while we are not out of it yet, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel.

"I can't speak for other boat builders worldwide but I can speak confidently about our own yard.''

Durman says the company's current level of research and redevelopment spending will continue next year and at this year's Sydney Boat Show the new 73 cruising motoryacht (pictured) and the A50 Aegean Flybridge cruiser will be released.

Maritimo released three new boats, the C50 sports cabriolet, the 56 cruising motoryacht and the A60 Aegean enclosed flybridge, at the Sanctuary Cove show.

Durman says the reception for the A60 (also pictured with Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter) indicates it is clear there is a global trend toward enclosed flybridge cruising.

He says Maritimo's efficient manufacturing processes meant the company can compete on a global scale on a value-for-money basis.