Top 10 trailer boats of the 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

This year, organisers dedicated another 20 per cent of space to the show's trailer boat section alone, indicating the interest for vessels that you can park up in the driveway are as much of a drawcard as the ones you can't.

Here's our pick of 10 of the best, comprising a mix of new releases, budget beaters and best buys.

Following the launch of the VR5 Cuddy Cabin last year, US giant Bayliner has released a new open deck bowrider model named the DX2000. Displayed by local dealer CWorthy Marine, the DX2000 is a cleverly designed boat that has the maximum beam carried almost all the way to the squared-off bow. This maximises the interior seating, storage and living space.

Boaters can choose from two models; the sterndrive-powered DX2050 and the outboard engine-powered DX2000 as pictured. Both are available with three different internal configurations.

CWorthy Marine's display boat is the dual-console model with the full centre-opening windscreen. There are also two side console versions with a short windshield for the skipper, with either extra seating or a sink on the opposite side.

The DX2000 has a low-set, car-like driving position with a slick looking instrument panel and bucket helm seat. The luxurious L-shaped aft seating area is reconfigurable to create different seating and lounge set-ups.

CWorthy Marine has the Bayliner DX2000 demonstrator package priced from $80K with a Mercury ProXS 150hp four-stroke outboard and a tandem axle alloy trailer.

More information: www.cworthymarine.com.au

Strictly speaking, the Blackdog Cat 630 Hardtop Walkthrough is not a brand new model, but this particular model has only recently arrived in Australia and it does have a unique configuration and internal layout.

Blackdog Cats are made in New Zealand, and distributed locally by Aussie Boat Sales ACT/NSW. The range encompasses numerous models ranging from 4.4m to 6.7m in length.

The boat pictured is the 6.3-metre 630 Walkthrough, complete with an overhead hardtop and an innovative walk-through cabin design that leads forward to a casting deck on the bow. This allows anglers to fish from the bow and the stern, with a sheltered hardtop helm station in between.

The rear cockpit is large and ideally set up for sport and game fishing with a high freeboard, wide side decks and ample storage space.

Similar to its siblings, the Blackdog Cat 630 runs a single outboard engine between two thin, wave-slicing pontoon tubes that are said to provide a very soft ride in the rough stuff.

More information: www.aussieboatsales360.com.au

Now for something a little different. NSW company Caraboat revealed its latest model, the 870. Enlarged from the popular 7500 series model introduced around four years ago, the company's latest caravan/cruiser houseboat has an improved, restyled interior and more spacious living areas.

The Caraboat 870 sleeps four adults and comes with all the amenities of a road-going caravan, including hot and cold running water, toilet/shower compartment, fridge/freezer, galley, lots of comfy lounge seating, and full standing headroom throughout.

It is is designed to operate in sheltered waters.

There's even a rear deck for you to sit, nurse a cold drink and watch the sun go down.

Powering the Caraboat 870 is a pair of Suzuki 50hp four-stroke outboard engines

More information: www.caraboat.com.au

The Formosa 580 Centre Cabin is a Boatsales favourite in the mid-size plate alloy fishing boat category. It isn't a new model – we reviewed it in late 2017 – but does classify as a best buy given its popularity and good value price point.

There are several versions of the 580 Centre Cabin available. Pictured is the deluxe Sea-Rod model equipped with Formosa's four-chamber water ballasted vee hull. The ballast helps to improve stability at rest, and to resist side to side rocking.

The Formosa Sea-Rod 580 Centre Cabin is a terrific value fishing boat. Its compact size makes it easy to tow and to stow, and the vee hull is sturdy and seaworthy.

Inside, the 580 Centre Cabin has a large cockpit, dual-width centre cabin with seating/storage area, and 360-degree fishability around the perimeter of the boat.

The SCIBS display boat was well priced at $61K with a Yamaha 130hp outboard, dual-axle Dunbier steel trailer, folding hard-top, bow trolling motor plate and a transom bait station/live bait tank.

More information: www.goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

Budget buyers, retirees and down-sizers were well served at the 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show as we spotted a number of very well-priced entry boat packages.

One of the stand-outs was the Makocraft 445 Commander. As displayed with a tiller-steer Mercury 30hp two-stroke outboard engine and quality single-axle Dunbier trailer, the 445 Commander was on special for just $11K. That's terriffic value.

Better still, the Commander is surprisingly well equipped. Inside it has two big seat cross thwarts, a carpeted half-floor in the cockpit, a carpeted casting deck at the bow, side pockets, fully-welded side decks, anchor well and shelf, dual carpeted fuel tank pads, bow and stern rails, and external boarding platforms.

The 445 Commander has an all-purpose vee hull bottom shape with high topsides to suit smooth water fishing in bays, harbours, lakes and impoundments.

More information: www.makocraft.com.au

US ski and wakeboard tow boat giant Mastercraft has expanded its X Series line-up with the new X22, a pro-level wake surfing craft built with the style, the interior space and the refinement we have come to expect from this leading manufacturer.

Remarkably, the X22 is rated to carry up to 15 people, so you never need to worry about leaving any family or friends at home. More to the point, there is ample luxurious seating inside the boat to accommodate them.

The Mastercraft X22 has a new 6.8-metre shaft-driven, wave-making hull shape with a pickle-fork bow. Power comes from a choice of three Ilmor inboard petrol engines starting with the 365hp 5500 GDI.

The X22 is bristling with new, high-tech gear and equipment, including Mastercraft's latest Switchback ballast system that speeds up the side-to-side transfer of water ballast so surfers can switch quickly from riding waves on one side of the boat to the other.

More information: www.mastercraftgoldcoast.com.au

The 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show saw the debut of a new range of trailerable alloy powered catamarans. Brisbane's Ocean Cat Marine revealed two big, high-sided 8.1-metre plate alloy cats sporting dual Yamaha four-stroke outboard engines.

With symmetric catamaran hulls designed by acclaimed Kiwi naval architect Roger Hill, the two new models are said to provide a very comfortable, stable ride with the ability to carry a 660-litre fuel supply to achieve a 300nm cruising range.

The two new cats include the Weekender 26 family cruising overnighter and the Offshore 26 day fisher. Both feature a queen-size berth forward, along with an enclosed head/shower compartment, fibreglass galley unit, fridge, and ample seating and storage space.

The Weekender (pictured, above) is set up for family boating and has a larger galley with induction cooktop, a longer hardtop and a four-seat dinette area.

The Offshore 26 (pictured, top) is rigged for sport and game fishing and features a larger rear cockpit (with cavernous sub-floor storage compartments), a bench style back-to-back helm chair for four adults, a transom live bait tank, tackle storage drawers, and more.

More information: www.oceancat.com.au

The Haines Group has refreshed the long-running and hugely successful Seafarer Victory 6.0-metre by adding a fibreglass hardtop and semi-enclosed helm station.

Launched originally in 1992 as the Victory 5.9, the Seafarer Victory is regarded as a modern classic. Hundreds of these low-profile cuddy cabin boats have sold over the decades and the design and layout has remained largely unchanged throughout.

It is worth noting that the 1992 Seafarer Victory was actually the Mk2 version. There was a 5.8m Seafarer Victory available in the 1980s, but it was never as popular as the subsequent models.

Adding a lid to the Victory 6.0m brings this model into line with other hardtop-equipped Haines Group boats, such as the Tournament 2000 Bluewater and several of the larger Signature cabin fishing models.

The new hardtop is quite elegant in appearance and the curved deck-to-hardtop front windscreen blends in nicely with the Victory's shapely cabin superstructure. The display boat also featured a stainless steel rocket launcher, dual overhead hatches to provide light and ventilation, and a panel for installing marine radios.

More information: www.lagunaboating.com.au

The Sea Fox 228 Commander is the latest in the Sea Fox range of sea-going centre console sport fishing boats. It follows the release of the larger Sea Fox 248 Commander we tested last year.

The new model is a bit cheaper, a little lighter and easier to tow. It is only marginally smaller, which makes it a very capable, seaworthy offshore fishing trailer boat and a worthy rival to more expensive centre consoles from competing US brands.

The Sea Fox 228 Commander is designed as a crossover fishing/family boat with features to suit both applications. Family boaters will appreciate the wrap-around bow seating area, the moulded stern bench seat and the head compartment under the console.

Anglers are sure to be happy with the uncluttered aft fishing deck, the wide side walkways, the rocket launcher-equipped hardtop and the massive, aquarium-style live bait tank built into the port side transom corner.

Paired with a single Evinrude E-TEC G2 150hp extra-long shaft outboard engine, the Sea Fox 228 Commander is very quick, topping 40 knots at wide open throttle.

Look out for our full test on this excellent new boat in coming weeks.

More information: www.seafoxboats.com.au

Rounding out our top 10 trailer boats at Sancturary Cove is another excellent budget beating package, the Stessl 440 Apache Pro side console available from Gold Coast Boating Centre.

Rigged with a Yamaha 40hp four-stroke outboard engine and a single-axle Dunbier trailer, this bay busting family/fishing boat package was on special for just $25K.

The boat came with lots of good gear too, including the side console helm station, a 100-litre plumbed live well, 25-litre live bait tank, 50-litre sub-floor fuel tank, elevated front and rear casting deck, bow-mounted trolling motor plate, a pair of pedestal seats with four in-floor seat sockets, a flat carpeted floor, welded side decks, boarding platforms, and more.

Similar to the larger Stessl 485 Apache Pro we tested last year, the 440 series boat is an excellent fishing platform with an easy-handling, seaworthy pressed alloy hull bottom combined with smooth, two-tone painted alloy topsides.

More information: www.goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au