Top 10 trailer boats of the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

Here are 10 of the best and most interesting boats from new and established brands.

Anglapro Trixta 48

Several Anglapro pressed alloy boats caught my eye on the Marine Care Queensland stand at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. They included the Sniper 454 Pro side console bay fishing boat, along with the more general-purpose Trixta 48. 

The latter was also configured with a side console helm station and open interior - but has more seating and storage space to function as a family/fishing crossover boat. 

The Trixta has an interesting layout. The side console helm is positioned well forward, just behind a bow seating area with an infill cushion. A bench seat/storage box is situated on the port side, directly opposite the side console. The layout is effective for both fishing and family boating as the bow can be configured into a casting deck or sunpad. 

In the rear of the boat, the Trixta has a spacious full-height cockpit stretching aft to a compact island outboard motor well flanked by two more seats. 

The Trixta comes in six hull sizes between 4.2 metres and 5.6 metres in length. 

The 5.2-metre-long Trixta 48 accepts single longshaft outboard engines ranging between 70hp and 90hp.

Packaged with a Yamaha 75hp four-stroke outboard engine and a single-axle Dunbier galvanised steel trailer, the boat show-optioned Trixta 48 was priced at $57,450.

Arvor 625 Sportsfish

European boat maker Arvor displayed two new trailer boat models on the marina at this year's Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. They included the entry sized Arvor 625 Sportsfish and the family-orientated Arvor 675 Weekender. 

Both boats drew plenty of admirers, but the standout for me was the smaller model due to its compact dimensions, yet clever, space-saving interior layout.

The Arvor 625 Sportsfish has the features and fit-out to attract family boaters and serious anglers. 

The enclosed, lockable, walkaround wheelhouse cabin with an open-plan forward vee berth provides complete protection from the weather to fish wide offshore, or to cruise the bay and harbour whilst staying warm and dry.

From the enclosed saloon you step out to a spacious rear cockpit with fold-out seats to each side, along with a three-quarter width fixed seat/storage box at the transom.

Key cockpit features include a plumbed live well, underfloor kill tanks, horizontal gunwale rod racks, a high cockpit freeboard with padded coaming bolsters and toe-rails, and wide side decks with built-in rod holders, twin transom doors, and much more. 

The 5.9-metre-long x 2.54-metre-wide Arvor 625 Sportfish is priced around $125,000 from Brisbane dealer, John Crawford Marine.

Axopar 22 Spyder

Axopar distributor Eyachts displayed the Axopar 22 Spyder at the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. This Finnish made centre/forward-console craft is an award-winning, trailerable day cruiser/sports boat.

Similar to the larger Axopar models, the 22 Spyder stands out from the crowd with a slim, sleek shape, "sharp entry" bow and twin-stepped hull bottom, which is said to be both soft riding and stable.

The Axopar 22 Spyder is well designed for family boating with ample seating, storage and walkabout space. 

The double-width console helm station with height-adjustable Plexiglass windshield is fronted by a pair of deluxe buckets seats, while extra seating is found at the bow and the stern.

The Axopar 22 Spyder is available with a choice of rear seating layouts. For maximum deck space, the single transom bench seat is the way to go. 

Alternatively, consider the U-shaped wrap-around transom lounge or the fore and aft multi-storage box/lounge that leaves side cockpit space to walk back to the full-height transom. 

Other key features include an enclosed toilet, transom boarding platforms and swim ladder, subfloor storage lockers, and more.

The Axopar 22 Spyder is priced between $135,000 and $144,000 depending on seating options and outboard engine size. 

Blackdog Cat 680HT

New Zealand's Blackdog Cat powered catamarans are making a splash in Australia with this Kiwi company exporting boats direct to Australian customers.

Blackdog's flagship model, the Blackdog 680 Hardtop, was displayed on the water and available for sea trials during the 2022 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. This unique, single outboard-powered plate alloy catamaran is designed for rough water sport fishing.

The Blackdog 680HT is a tough-looking boat with a 2.27-metre-wide, 4.0mm plate alloy pontoon tube catamaran hull topped with a semi-enclosed half cabin with overhead hardtop and surrounding side windows. 

Interior features include a twin-berth forward cabin (with infill to convert to a double), a centre-opening glass windscreen, wide dash and instrument fascia, deluxe bucket helm chairs mounted on storage boxes, as well as a spacious, self-draining aft cockpit with a welded checker-plate alloy floor.

Cockpit fishing features include a hardtop rocket launcher rod rack, extra-wide side deck coamings for installing rod holders, a live well, transom door with aft boarding platforms with ladder, sub-floor storage compartments, two 300-litre fuel tanks, and more.

The Blackdog 680HT display boat was paired with Honda's silky smooth BF250 V6 four-stroke outboard engine but accepts single extra-longshaft outboard engines between 135hp and 250hp. 

With a 200hp Honda, the Blackdog Cat 680HT is priced from around $125,000 landed in Australia.

Boston Whaler 170 Montauk

The Boston Whaler 170 Montauk has been a popular Boston Whaler model for some years. This shallow-draft fibreglass centre console is a classic bay and harbour fishing boat. 

Epically stable, and with a surprisingly smooth ride for a moderate vee hull boat, the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk delivers on all fronts. 

Unsinkable, like all Boston Whalers, the 170 Montauk is beautifully finished, and built using Boston Whaler's patented Unibond construction technique that not only keeps the boat afloat, but adds great strength and rigidity to the hull.

The clever foam-filled Unibond construction technique also dampens hull noise and slap underway, making these hulls quiet and vibration-free underway.

The Boston Whaler 170 Montauk is one of four Montauk models between 4.7 metres and 6.5 metres. Similar to its siblings, the 5.3-metre-long 170 series model has a wide, squarish bow shape to maximise the size of the front casting deck and to shed spray away from the topsides. 

As well as the bow casting platform, the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk has a dual-width centre console and cushioned helm seat box with a reversible backrest. This broad seat box is also plumbed as a live well. 

Behind the helm seat, the low, flat cockpit floor stretches aft to the outboard well and two transom corner jump seats. 

Paired with a 115hp Mercury outboard engine, the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk achieves a top speed just shy of 40 knots. 

As pictured, the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk is priced at $117,000 from Gold Coast Boston Whaler dealer, Queensland Marine Centre.

Maven V11 Catamaran

Gold Coast newcomer Maven Boats launched its first model at the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. 

The Maven V11 is a 7.0-metre-long by 2.5-metre-wide centre console powered catamaran. Towering up high on its dual-axle trailer, the Maven V11 is made from heavy-duty aluminium, though it looks like fibreglass at first glance. 

The V11 is designed primarily as an offshore fishing trailer boat, but with the features and fit-out to double up as family day boat. 

The hull has a high-tunnel catamaran configuration with broad sponsons aft which narrow to a fine entry at the bow to cut through the waves. 

In addition to the dual-width centre console helm station with port side offset controls, the Maven V11 has a U-shaped seating/storage area at the bow which converts into a casting deck.

A storage box/leaning post fronts the centre console, providing seating for two people, along with tackle and general storage. 

A reversible seat back-rest allows the crew to face aft when the boat is at rest. 

The Maven V11 has a wide, self-draining fishing deck and cockpit, flanked by broad side coamings with padded bolsters stretching the length of the boat.

Other features include a transom live well, gunwale rod racks, T-top rocket launcher, flush-fitted rod holders, dual fish boxes, and more. 

The Maven V11 is rated for a pair of 135hp outboard engines, but was displayed with twin 115hp Mercury four-strokes.  

Quintrex 420 Renegade

A number of Quintrex models were displayed by Gold Coast dealer Surf Coast Marine, but the model that drew my attention was a tricked out Quintrex 420 Renegade.

Whilst not a new model, the 420 Renegade is a terrific side console boat for a mix of bay, harbour and estuary boating. Paired with a longshaft 50hp Suzuki four-stroke outboard engine, you can also expect spritely performance. 

As well as the side console helm configuration, the Quintrex 420 Renegade has front and rear casting decks separated by a main floor area with high – you can also read that as "safe" – freeboard.

The Renegade has ample storage areas under both of the casting decks, as well as inside the compact side console, and in the elevated cockpit side pockets. 

The display rig was outfitted with an electric trolling motor plate on the bow, a plumbed live bait tank, an extra seating floor spigot/base, anchor well, bow and stern rails, transducer brackets, safety gear and 12 months registrations. 

Riding on a Quintrex single-axle aluminium trailer, Surf Coast Marine was offering this excellent inshore boating package for the boat show special price of $26,990. 

Ranieri Voyager 19S

Ranieri International is an established Italian boat-maker headquartered in Soverato, in the southern Italian region of Calabria. This family-owned and run company has been producing a large range of fibreglass boats, inflatable boats and RIBs, for many years.

Relatively new to Australia, Ranieri boats are distributed locally by Australian Marine Centre. 

At the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, AMC displayed several Ranieri craft. Two boats caught my eye, the Ranieri Next 285 LX centre cabin, and the entry sized Voyager 19S centre console. 

The Ranieri Next 285 LX is 8.8 metres long and 2.89 metres wide, so does not really classify as trailerable. In contrast, the much smaller Ranieri Voyager 19S can easily be hauled about behind a mid-size family car or SUV.

The Ranieri Voyager 19S is designed for a mix of fishing and family sports boating. Key features include a bow seating area/sun pad, a dual-width centre console and box helm seat with reversible backrest, a three-quarter-width rear lounge, and a port side transom entryway and boarding ladder,  

The Ranieri Voyager 19S has a stepped hull bottom to reduce drag on the water for improved efficiency, fast hole-shots, and for powering the boat with as little as 40hp. 

Packaged with a 135hp Mercury four-stroke outboard engine and single-axle galvanised steel trailer, AMC had the display boat on special for $89,990. 

Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT

The latest model from New Zealand's Stabicraft is the innovative Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT. Similar to the 2250 Ultra Centrecab launched a few years ago, the new Stabicraft Ultracab WT has a trawler-style enclosed cabin structure with a reverse-angled windscreen. 

The big difference with the new model, however, is that it has a walkthrough cabin layout with a front deck area instead of a forward vee berth cabin.

The new Stabicraft has already won international design awards for its clever layout and configuration. 

As you can see from the accompanying photos, the Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT has a full shelter enclosed cabin, but there is also a centre-opening door and windshield alongside the helm station with steps leading up and out to the front deck platform. 

A section of the cabin roof slides back with the centre windshield to provide ample headroom as you step through to the front deck. 

For fishing, exploring, and disembarking off the beach or boat ramp, this ability to easily access the front deck area is invaluable. 

Elsewhere, the Stabicraft 2250 Ultracab WT has all the excellent features we have come to expect from this renowned Kiwi boat brand, including a soft, safe, stable pontoon tube monohull, robust construction and an excellent fishing cockpit.

For pricing and availability contact Brisbane's Northside Marine.

Surtees 650 Game Fisher

Another terrific Kiwi boat displayed by Northside Marine was the Surtees 650 Game Fisher. Priced from around $130,000, this semi-enclosed hardtop cabin boat is ideal for offshore sportfishing.  

A full-shelter hardtop and open plan forward vee berth cabin (with optional toilet) also make this craft suitable for family day cruising/overnighting. 

That said, the Surtees 650 Game Fisher is a bluewater fishing boat first and foremost, with features that reflect this objective. They include a welded, checker-plate self-draining cockpit, high freeboard, extra-wide side decks, elevated battery platforms, flush-fitted rod holders, walk-through transom with live well, boarding platforms, bait station with a rocket launcher, and more. 

The Surtees 650 Game Fisher has a deep vee, water-ballasted plate alloy monohull to provide a comfortable, stable ride. 

The Surtees 650 Game Fisher is quite a big, weighty trailer boat, but it can still be hauled behind a large-size SUV/dual cab ute. 

Other Surtees Game Fisher models include the smaller 610 Game Fisher, and the larger 700, 750, and 800 Game Fisher boats.