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NEWS
MELBOURNE BOAT SHOW: Last day today!
Closing day is the time to snag a boating bargainDespite increasing exhibitor space this year to meet demand, you could still get around the 53rd Annual BIA Melbourne Boat Show in under an hour. But you wouldn’t be stopping to draw breath and drool over the latest trailerboats making their debut (see gallery with this article).
From the local fibreglass-fishing contingency there were new Haines Hunters with cool moulded lids; an ever-bigger Sea Legend from Whittley, which is celebrating 60-years of boatbuilding; Evolution with a big blue new fishboat; Streakers from the Savage family; and among the biggest-ever Savage (well it started in Vic) Fibreglass fleets at a boat show.
Of course it wouldn't be a Melbourne show without Caribbean, which had a new Cavalier MK II making its debut. At the other end of the spectrum, the Mustang 32 towered above the flotilla of trailerboats as the biggest boat at the indoor show. Keen price, too.
Bar Crushers reign in the plate-alloy stakes, but there are also Surtees and Stabicraft tinnies from across The Ditch. Which is to say nothing of all the other brands of plate and pressed aluminium boats with household names like Stacer, Quintrex and Savage again.
But perhaps the outstanding thing at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show was the bright array of towboats. From Malibu to Mastercraft, Tige and Century, and Nautique, the sport of wakeboard is clearly exploring hitherto new heights. And colours!
Among the star-spangled American launches: Element from Bayliner, a revolutionary entry-level boat for $24,999 that we tested and you can read about hereabouts; Robalo at its first Melbourne Boat Show; Sea Ray with its smart 190; Sea-Doo's GTX LTD IS 260 with a heap of cool gear; and plenty more.
The outboard-engine world had some finds, such as the new Suzuki 15 and 20hp models with power tilt -- prescribed for the retired fisherman with dodgy back -- and joystick piloting for outboards from Mercury.
It goes without saying that the fishing gear, water-sports kit, electronics, boating bits and clobber from wetties to wet-weather gear was omnipresent.
Take a tip: this is the last day of the 2013 Melbourne Boat Show, with the doors closing at 7.00pm. No-one wants to cart their marine wares home. Today’s the day to buy a boating bargain and some new tackle for a sea shanty or song.
Head to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Clarendon Street, Southbank (Melway Map 1C Ref G5). See http://www.biavic.com.au/melbourneboatshow/
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Written byDavid Lockwood
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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