Sunny skies open up over 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

This year’s event is the largest ever in the show’s 35-year history, with more than 320 boats showcased on the water alone – a huge step up from the 300 or so that sat on the water at last year’s event.

It’s estimated the show contributes around $500 million to the Queensland – and Australian – economy each year.

The show is always a place for Australia’s two premium motor yacht brands, Maritimo and Riviera, to wow the world with new releases. Riviera chose to do this in a physical form this year with the reveal of the Riviera 6800 Sports Yacht Platinum Edition, an all-new sedan model that can swallow an amphibious tender in its garage, while Maritimo gave the world a first look at two new 50-foot models, the S50 and M50, that will join its ranks in 2026.

Martitimo also had two Black Edition boats on show, featuring a more bespoke layout than the models they’re based on.

 Among the smaller boats, plate boat specialist Yellowfin has a new look with some new engineering, restyled hull graphics and larger pilothouses on the bigger models. There’s also a tweak to the line-up’s naming convention so each model starts with a “YF”.

That wasn’t the only surprise. Makocraft had a boat called the 631 CCX, or Canyon Console Xover that it had told no one about, but there it was. 

It is built as more of a crossover boat, with a forward casting platform that can convert to a bow lounge so it can fish one day and do family duties the next.

Priced at around $150,000 – the boat on display is almost standard apart from a deck wash, trolling motor bow plate and two-tone paint – and featuring a 2.5-mere beam, it’s still light enough to tow behind a trade ute.

Powered by a 200hp Mercury outboard engine, it’s good for 17.0L/h at between 20.0kt to 24.0kt.

Makocraft also had its 731 Centre Cabin on display featuring the fully enclosed hardtop, as well as its new 445 Commander tinny.

Other surprises? Kiwi boatmaker Sealegs has the first 3.8TE amphibious tender off the production line on display. A week old, it was built specifically to fit inside the garage of the all-new Riviera 6800 Sports Yacht Platinum Edition revealed at the start of the show.

The new circa $120,000 tender is a perfect solution for anyone who doesn’t want to drag their tender up and down a beach while ashore, or if they’re just stepping ashore briefly to let the dog out for a run – and a pee – on dry land.

The Sanctuary Cove show also marks the official global debut of the Quintrex Freestyler X, a radical new boat design that uses a special Rotax “Stealth” outboard engine to provide more space onboard.

The outboard engine makers were out in force with the new Honda BF350 and on-water demonstrations of the Yamaha F350. Suzuki brought out its cool-looking Stealth Line, a matte black satin finish on 115hp, 140hp and 200hp mechanical models that don't have digital controls. It also adds raised Suzuki badging, and $600 to the bottom line.

Meanwhile, another surprise appearance is the Canndela C8, an all-electric foiling boat built in Sweden. It’s not the latest model featuring technology adapted from car-maker Volvo’s Polestar performance arm, but it gives a taste of what we can expect to see when the brand officially goes on sale here later this year.

Dealers who spoke with boatsales were happy with the opening day of the show. One said a softening in sales due to rising interest rates appeared to have bottomed out, with buyers out in force. Another dealer was hunting around for extra stock after putting buyers’ names against almost everything they had on show at Sanctuary Cove.

The biggest boat at this year’s event is the circa $10 million Nomad 101, a tri-deck liveaboard cruiser built by UAE-based Gulf Craft.

However, don’t think this is a high-end luxury cruiser. Instead, it’s marketed as a family boat featuring easy-care recycled materials and ease of use. It even has exclusive zones where owners can escape the children for a breather, and where children can escape the adults.