Sanctuary show has a silver lining

You could call it the perfect storm. The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) opening last May was battered on a number of fronts. Even before the heavens opened, there were dark clouds brewing due to the Global Financial Crisis. Consumer confidence was at rock bottom, we were told, and far from this being the time to buy or sell pleasure boats.

Well, think again. Although the Gold Coast was declared a natural disaster area where "the beautiful one day, perfect the next" catchphrase seemed laughable, there was bright news at the end of the boat show. And this was despite the four-day extravaganza being reduced to three days due to the freak weather.

People came, struck up deals, and sailed away with new boats. SCIBS general manager, Mark Jensen said total patronage numbers for the three days were 36,479, an excellent result given the extraordinary conditions. On a pro-rata basis compared with the four-day show that attracted 50,678 last year (the second-highest SCIBS attendance on record) would-be boaters voted with their feet.

STANDING TALL
For the hard-hit marine industry, SCIBS was a show of strength. There were almost 600 luxe boats and cool watercraft on display, with 224 yachts and cruisers bobbing in the miry Coomera River, and a further 365 boats and watercraft on the hardstand and in the pavilions, where rafts of cool kit and groovy gear fought for your attention.

If all the boats on the marina were lined in single file they would stretch almost three kilometres. But sellers of private luxury liners were crowing the loudest. Evidently, the top end of town hasn't heard of the R word. Boats from about $2 million-plus are hot property again.

Unbelievably, Horizon Boats International says it was finalising contracts amounting to almost $30 million in boat-show sales.

There were contracts out on a new 64 Vision ($3.5 to $4 million), a new 78-footer ($5 million), a new 97-footer ($9 to 10 million), and a second-hand 98-footer ($7 million), plus a 65 ($2.8 million).

The Horizon customers were all Queensland businessmen, we're told. And while it doesn't count till the money is in the bank, Horizon has committed to a display at the Sydney International Boat Show opening July 30 at Darling Harbour.

After its East Coast dealership was put in receivership last year, luxury motoryacht marque Sunseeker appeared with its Australian importer, Alf Barbagallo. We were told deposits were taken on two 52 Predators ($2.2 million) and a Manhattan 70 ($5 million), with the sale of the first 30M Mega yacht ($11.5 million) in Australia expected to be finalised soon after the show.

Dean Leigh-Smith from the famous Queensland boating family took an offer on his Endurance 650 from Hampton Yachts, a $3.45 million motoryacht with, among other things, a hand-painted old-world map in a sunken ceiling feature. Others with passagemakers pulled plenty of interest, too.

But things were no less encouraging for our hard-hit local yards. 

Whereas American boatbuilders are sitting on their hands, perhaps adding new decals and different coloured upholstery, Australian yards have invested heavily in research and development to reinvigorate the markets.

RIV RIDES ON LUV
After going into receivership two weeks before the show, Riviera said it took deposits for seven of its new 5800 Sport Yachts (about $2 million drive-away) with triple Volvo Penta IPS 600s, and sold 11 boats amounting to $18 million in firm sales. It also handed over the keys for its third 70-footer ($5 million-plus) to a South Australian couple, who made a speech designed to allay fears about the future of the big boatbuilder.

And full marks for the clever "I Luv Riv" marketing campaign, with staff adorned in logoed tee-shirts handing out 5000 stickers bearing the slogan. Apparently, Riviera owners have been overwhelmingly supportive since the receivership rocked the show.

At this stage, Riviera retains its local distribution and support network for the UK Princess boats.

But in even bigger news, Riviera announced a new range of Motor Yachts in 73, 75 and 85 model designations — the latter with a Jacuzzi on deck — to be built in Taiwan by a yard whose senior staff have apparently worked with Marlow, Hargrave and Horizon boats before.

And enthusiastic Stephen Milne, director of brand and communications at Riviera, said inquiry in the Motor Yachts has been strong.

"We are in discussions and quoting prices as we speak. The first boat could appear at next year's SCIBS," he boasted.

Riviera will bring its new 5800 Sport Yacht to the Sydney International Boat Show, as well as a new 51 Enclosed Flybridge with triple Volvo Penta IPS pod drives, and a new 5000 Sport Yacht with twin Cummins MerCruisers QSC 600hp engines with Zeus pod drives. There will be more detail on the new Motor Yachts and, we're told, surprise announcements.

Maritimo, the marque started by Bill Barry-Cotter two years after he sold Riviera in 2002, showed the fruits of its recent $10 million investment in new-product development, with an impressive display of 10 Maritimos including three new models. All eyes will be on the new 73 flagship debuting at the Sydney International Boat Show.

Meantime, the new 56 Cruising Motoryacht, without the usual moulded styling wings over its walkaround decks, looks like a much sleeker vessel than its sister ship. Yet its performance is in keeping with Maritimo's reputation for efficiency rather than all-out speed. On paper, the consumption figures looked compelling.
"I don't want to say too much, as we're firming up sales after the boat show. But we're quietly confident about what came out of the show," Barry-Cotter told Trade-a-Boat. Maritimo plans to expand down the line into 40-footer league soon.

OUR PICK
In respect of ease of use, the new C50 Sports Cabriolet proved a nice-sized single-level entertainer. But without question, the A60 Aegean Enclosed Flybridge is the most stylish new boat in the Maritimo fleet.

In terms of design and creativity, it's Trade-a-Boat's best boat of the show. Look for it in Sydney.

Naturally, Trade-a-Boat attended a rash of press conferences from our major boatbuilders. The common thread was to stay creative and maintain quality. That was evident with Mustang Marine's 430 Sports Coupe.

Mustang has announced it's building the hulls for its new small sportscruisers in the Philippines. The boatbuilder said it had registered its interest in rivals Riviera and won headlines in the Gold Coast Bulletin for as much.

Perhaps it's a sign of the tough times, but there was more scuttlebutt at the SCIBS than I have heard in my entire life of attending state boat shows. It would benefit everyone if our boatbuilders put forward a united front and worked for the common good of the recreational boating industry.

On to the 49th Melbourne Boat Show (mainly a trailerboat show) opening July 2 at the Exhibition Centre, the Adelaide Boat Show opening July 16 at the Convention Centre, and then Sydney International Boat Show starting July 30 at Darling Harbour.