More new boats brand Brisbane Boat Show as a spectacular showcase

by John Daffy on 21 Aug 2014 The addition of even more new model boats at the Brisbane Boat Show including inflatable and pedal powered fishing kayaks, imported fibreglass centre console rigs and locally built offshore aluminium boats from one of the largest names in the Australian marine industry, will create even greater diversity for this year’s Show.

Their addition follows on from a flotilla of new models already foreshadowed for the show as well as new boat engines, electronics and fishing gear.

Stacer will display its Ocean Ranger 679 Hardtop for the first time at a show in south-east Queensland – it’s part of an entirely new plate range for Stacer – as well as the Assault Pro range of tournament styled boats and a redesigned version of one of the company’s most popular models, the Seaway 429.

The Ocean Ranger Hardtop, also available as a 739, features 5mm plate sheets below the waterline based on the EVO hull design.

A sharp entry and 20 degree deadrise combine with a 750mm freeboard, reverse chines and a chequer-plated floor to make a definitive statement about how serious these new rigs are for offshore work.

Stacer’s new offshore assault weapon also features welded rod holders, live bait tank, cutting board, burley bucket, a 100 litre kill tank and also a 60 litre live bait tank in the transom with a viewing window.

The kill tank can be swapped to become a secondary 80 litre fuel tank to the 215 litre one fitted as standard.

The redesigned Stacer Assault Pro 459 is a seriously minded fishing rig with a rear casting platform including a live bait tank, as well as a front casting platform with a dual battery set up designed to accommodate an electric motor.

This new version features sides which are 100mm higher, a sportier console and wind deflector and is rated for outboards up to 75hp.

The new Seaway 429 is wider and deeper than its predecessors and like the Assault Pro 459, features greater freeboard this time around.

There’s a new dual position rear lounge and a lean-through windscreen hatch with a newly designed, moulded anchor well.

Hobie Cat Australasia will display the latest addition to the Mirage Pro-Angler range – the Tandem 17 with mirage drive which allows people to power the kayak with their feet.

Adapting the concept of 'pedalling', the system drives two under water flippers which work like a penguin’s fins to propel the kayak while leaving hands free for fishing.

As well as the Pro-Angler 17 Tandem, Hobie will display others in the mirage drive range of kayaks as well as paddle kayaks, stand up paddleboards and accessories.

Compact Fishing Australia will be a first-time exhibitor and will use the Brisbane Boat Show to launch its range of Nifty inflatable boats.

Rated to carry three people or 225kg (whichever comes first), the Nifty can be inflated in a few minutes and comes with a carry bag, foot pump, two alloy oars, two alloy seats and two fishing rod holders.

It also is rated for a 3.5 hp.

And living up to its name of compact fishing, the company also is releasing a range of stainless steel, coil fishing rods.

With a lifetime warranty, these small, light rods in eight coil, 2.3kg; six coil 4.5kg and four coil 11.3kg load ratings, have inter-changeable rod tips.

They are designed for people who want to fish, but who have limited space to carry gear such as backpackers, kayak fisherfolk and some holiday-makers.

Johnny Boats from Bundaberg will have a FinCraft 19 centre console which has come out of the Larson stable in the United States and which the company says is about to be rebranded to a Seaswirl Striper 1905.

It has been rigged with a 130hp Evinrude E-Tec for the show which also marks the company’s entry into importing Twin Vee catamarans ranging from 12 to 35 footers in Australia.

Still in the catamaran configuration, Fishing and Leisure Boats from Ashmore will have an 18 foot Carolina Catamaran on display for the first time in Brisbane.

The company specialises in powered catamarans with franchises for Livingston Boats which is part of the Powercat Group.

The company also builds World Cat and Glacier Bay cats in North Carolina in the U.S. as well as Suntracker pontoon boats.

Fishing and Leisure also are hoping its new Mako 23 will arrive in Australia in time for the show – it currently is scheduled to hit our shores just four days before the Brisbane Boat Show opens.

Northside Marine has confirmed that in addition to the Axis T22 which it already has announced will be making its debut at the show, the dealership also will be showing the 2014 version of the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV which, according to its Tennessee-based manufacturer, is based on a model that has been one of the best selling in the history of water sports.

These latest rigs will be in addition to other new models including CruiseCraft’s Explorer 595 hardtop; Australian Master Marine’s Tournament 7800; the Quintrex Trident 690 hardtop which will be lined up alongside sistership blue water models, the 650 and 610; and the Haines Group’s unveiling of the Signature 650F which has three options of transom configurations suited to different aspects of cruising and fishing.

This year will be a major one for electronics with Navico breaking new ground on a number of fronts including smashing apart the price entry point for a colour fish finder.

It will be unveiling the Lowrance Elite-3X for under $150 and that includes a dual-frequency 83/200 kHz broadband sounder transducer and features including an LED-backlit display with detailed 240x360 pixel resolution.

Also on display will be the next generation of Lowrance Elite 7 and Elite 5 fish finders and charter plotters featuring CHIRP sonar – that’s an acronym for Compressed High Intensity Radiated Pulsing.

In layman’s terms, instead of one pulse wave, several are sent simultaneously and that gives better separation of targets.

Navico also will have its latest Simrad brand of multifunction navigation systems on display along with the new B&G Zeus chart plotters designed for cruising yachts, cruising racers and outright racing boats.

This year the Brisbane Boat Show will have a greater focus on diversity of marine-related experiences including tackle industry display, cooking and fishing equipment demonstrations, free advice on how to get into boating, or for those currently enjoying a boating lifestyle, a 'how much is your current trailer boat worth' brokerage advice service.

Displays from bayside marinas and businesses, fishing groups and clubs will provide an introduction more of the facilities available on Brisbane’s doorstep.

For example, East Coast Marina which has been operating on the bay at Manly for 34 years, will have information about its new dry rack storage facility, a solution worth exploring by people who face a boat storage problem.

The new rack storage is the latest to be built in Australia and a first for Brisbane. It can hold 240 craft up to 10 metres in length and complements the marina’s existing 365 secure water berths.

You can speak with representatives who will explain the seven day a week valet parking system where you can arrive at the marina with your boat expertly launched into the water and waiting your arrival. On your return, she will be lifted out, washed and motor flushed, before being returned to storage.

A display of new engines with new capacities, new technologies and wild new colour schemes are among the other features which will make this the best Brisbane Boat Show ever.

The Brisbane Boat Show runs from Friday, September 12 to Monday, September 15 at the Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills.

Adult entry to the Brisbane Boat Show is $18, concession is $12, there are discounted prices for ‘after dark’ admittance on the Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m., children under 15 are free; an adult two-day pass is $25 and tickets are available through the website.