SANCTUARY COVE BOAT SHOW: Fun watertoys and cool watercraft

Along with the five-star luxury cruisers, cruising cats, family and fishing trailerboats, the 30th anniversary Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) from May 24-27 will showcase a diverse array of watercraft and watertoys for fun times afloat.

Personal water craft or jet skis, wake boats, tenders, RIBS, Stand Up Paddle Boards, kayaks and dive devices are a drawcard at SCIBS. Australians love taking to the water and Sanctuary Cove will be bedecked with the best home-grown and imported watercraft in every category.

But amid the inflatable and fringe fun will be a new breed of boat built just for kids - the StarterCraft.

Based on the Gold Coast, StarterCraft specialises in the production of locally made, high quality, fibreglass, electric-powered boats designed especially for budding boaties.

Around two metres long, each boat weighs 80kgs and suits kids aged five to 12 years old.

The boats are designed for use in calm, non-tidal waters in good weather conditions, but are large enough to fit two young children or even a child and a small adult for those initial training runs.

Top speed of the boats in calm waters is around 8km/h or 4.5 knots. Speed can be reduced for trolling.

Each StarterCraft is equipped with a heavy duty 110 AH battery which equates to 2.5 to 5 hours of fun on a single charge. They are also designed and built with a significant air cavity meaning they will always float.

Also new at SCIBS this year is the versatile and powerful Scubajet from GW Marine Sports. The world's smallest and easy-to-use hand-held underwater jet is ideal for maximising recreational or watersports activities including diving, paddle boarding, canoeing and snorkelling.

Greg Shipton from Scubajet said he was looking forward to exhibiting the Scubajet at SCIBS. He will display the SJ200 and SJ400 models, which offer the same power but with a longer battery life.

"Thanks to its versatile adapter system, you can attach the Scubajet to a kayak, small dinghy or SUP. The unit is lightweight, battery-operated and salt-water resistant and can reach speeds of up to 11 to 14km/h.

Specialising in leisure products, inflatables and accessories, Marine Riley will be exhibiting its products on various showboats to demonstrate their attributes in situ.

Director Mark Riley said the FunAir products always attracted attention for the novelty and extra dimension they bring to boating.

"We will have a FunAir slide on show, an inflatable climbing wall on a Horizon motor yacht, the stinger-proof swimming pool developed especially for Australia, the Splash Mat, Jet ski dock and Seabob dock," Riley said.

For people looking to bike on water for fun, fitness and as a great mode of transport, the Schiller bikes on show can be pedalled to your destination. Look for the Mistral brand of hard and inflatable stand up paddle boards, Seabob water scooters, Nautibuoy inflatable pontoons, Ribjet inflatable, Grande inflatable RIBS and more.

"We are going big this year for the 30th anniversary event. Our products are all about amping up the family fun on your boat or on water. We can't wait to share all the new products we have at SCIBS!"

WILLIAMS
Long-time exhibitor Sirocco Marine North will boast the largest inflatable display at SCIBS.
On show will be the full range of BRIG RIBS, a selection of Williams Jet tenders and Sirocco tenders, including the Queensland premieres of the BRIG Eagle 10 metre super-tender and the Williams 285 MiniJet.

With twin 300hp engines for loads of 50-knot top-end oomph, the Eagle 10 is the largest model in the BRIG range and said to be ideal for family fun, as an island hopper, luxury boat tender, chase boat, aquatic sport platform, coastal cruiser and so on.

JSW Powersports will occupy a bigger space in its usual position on Masthead Way at SCIBS 2018, with a huge range of models on display across its Sea-Doo and Malibu portfolios.

Principal Jeff McNiven said will the complete line-up of Sea-Doo watercraft, including the three-seater models built on the new ST3 hull, will create a real showcase.

"It's the latest and greatest, offering a more stable, smoother and drier ride than any PWC before it," McNiven said.

"The ST3 is a version of the race hull modified to suit the recreational market. We are sure people will be impressed!"

Also on show from JSW will be a selection of Malibu wake and ski boats, alongside the Sea Fox family-friendly fishing centre-consoles and dual consoles.

RIB FORCE
In the RIB and soft-bottom inflatable tender-boat market, RIB Force inflatables will be at SCIBS in 'force', with as many as 30 boats on display in The Marine Village close to the Main Pavilion.

Dealer principal Mike Orsmond said the team would be showing a variety of boats from the AB Inflatables brand, as well as hosting the release of the AB Jet boat and Oceanus 21, the Aurora V250 and 280.

SACS
On the marina, SACS Marine Queensland will unveil an incredible new Strider 13m RIB supertender with 'all the bells and whistles', as well as the SACS Sports 9m and Sports 7m models.

The brand-new Strider 13 is described as jaw-dropping dayboat that takes RIB watercraft to the next level, with a cabin, WC and joystick control, plus twin 370hp Mercury inboard diesel engines. It's fully kitted up with generator, air-conditioning, Fusion sound, Raymarine screens and more, making the SACS Strider 13 the ideal day cruiser, entertainment platform, and watersports boat for extended family and large groups. It's also a comfy overnighter for a couple.

POWERDIVE
Powerdive is a return exhibitor from WA who has had a presence at SCIBS since 1997. The compact 12V surface-supply diving system liberates divers from the limitations of snorkelling or carrying around cumbersome air tanks. Even inexperienced divers can be exploring the depths in minutes, the company says.

"PowerDive also offers users substantial benefits over traditional 'hookahs' which can have drive belts and oil filters. Our light, simple and maintenance-free PowerDive means easy, hassle-free diving," said company director Aaron Hawke.

TIWAL
Olympic sailor Melinda Henshaw from Henshaw Yachting will return to SCIBS 2018 with the ingenious, French-designed Tiwal 3.2 Inflatable Sailing Dinghy and its accessories, many of them new to the market.

"Tiwal is continually improving," said Ms Henshaw. "This year, we will present padded racks so you can keep your Tiwal alongside your boat to act like a fender, for towing on longer journeys, plus you can hike (lean out) off them and be more comfortable. In addition, there's a new reefable sail for the ultimate in versatility and choice."

WALKER BAY
Walker Bay Boats Australia will be exhibiting the Walker Bay Original Series Rigid-injection moulded plastic dinghies, which are pitched as ideal tenders with the option to add a sail or tube kit. Airis inflatable kayaks - and a new inflatable airdock ideal platform for watersports, sunbathing, cleaning your boat and more - bring a wrap to what is, by any measure, a lot of inflatable fun afloat.

Tickets for the 30th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show from May 24 to 27, 2018, are now on sale.