MELBOURNE BOAT SHOW: The huge trailerboat display opens today!

Holding the mantle of the biggest indoor trailerboat show in Australia, the Melbourne International Boat Show will open its doors from June 16-19 as a sell-out exhibition at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Riding on the back of the boom in trailerable fishing boats, watersports and tow boats, family cruisers and affordable tinnies, the four-day Melbourne boat show will be mudguard-to-mudguard with new boats including some significant releases for 2017 and, as ever, plenty of keen deals.

Australian manufacturers are especially well represented with popular brands and launches from Bar Crusher, Caribbean, Cruise Craft, Edencraft, Haines Hunter, Northbank, Revival, Seafarer, Signature, Streaker, Whittley and Spy Boats plus others.

Keeping things real and affordable in the factory-rolled alloy market, Quintrex, Stacer and Savage will head up big displays, while Yellowfin and Formosa and Sailfish cats are among the local plate-alloy boat brands.

The Kiwi contingency are coming on strong in plate, too, with Surtees (new 700 Game Fisher), Stabicraft (new 1550 and 2750 Walkaround) and Extreme boats on show. To which you can add imported Harris Pontoon boats and Tracker alloy craft,

Among the wake- and ski-boats making waves are those from Chapparal, Hallet, MasterCraft and Malibu, plus Cobalt and Four Winns bowriders. The Parker boats from Europe are well worth a look if you're chasing a fibreglass family cruiser.

Beneteau boats will be displaying two of its most popular models — the Gran Turismo 40 and the Swift Trawler 30 — while Axopar will showcase the latest in cutting-edge day boats via its 37, 28 and 24.

While gracing the transom of most of the boats on show, the big outboard brands will be well represented with corporate stands. In watercraft, Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner and Kawasaki have the latest cool machines.

Along with today’s push-button electronics, plenty of fishing tackle, clothing, marine wares and accessories, the Melbourne boat show will be a great buying opportunity ahead of the snapper season.

Volunteer and rescue services, marinas and boating clubs, safety authorities and family entertainment are all part of the mix. Exciting on-stage presentations will cover seafood cooking, fishing, sailing and wakeboarding.

More on the 2017 Melbourne International Boat Show from June 16 to 19 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and online tickets from Melbourne boat show.