The Australian Marine Awards & Boat of the Year

by Bob Wonders on 16 May 2007 Thursday, May 24, is the Australian boating industry’s ‘big night’, the ‘Oscars’, when the Australian Marine Industries Federation (AMIF) names its winners in a variety of categories before a packed ballroom at the Marriott Resort and Spa, Surfers Paradise.

The awards have been staged in conjunction with the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show for several years, one of the main factors being that the Cove is the first major boat show of the calendar year.

Being named in May means the winners have time to publicise their product and prepare their displays for subsequent boat shows, namely the world-renowned Sydney International.

While the industry generally accepts the awards as they are (and boat manufacturers take great pride in a victory), they have come in for a solid share of criticism, primarily because boating magazine publishers are involved.

Is this fair? Who’s to say?

The AMIF conducts the awards in association with those it terms 'Media Partners', comprising Club Marine Magazine, Modern Boating, Yaffa Publishing and the Gold Coast Bulletin.

These organisations fund the expenses for the judging.

Understandably, the AMIF simply could not afford to stage the awards without the help of its media partners.

AMIF president and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show manager, Barry Jenkins, said that staging the awards independent of any media outlets would demand major sponsorship, which is not easy to find, or comprehensive rises in entry fees and tickets to the presentation.

'And that’s just for starters,' he added.

One who has had first hand experience as a Boat of the Year winner is Peter Jenkins, marketing manager for Bill Barry-Cotter’s Maritimo yard.

Through the eras of his ownership of Mariner Cruisers, Riviera Marine, The Riviera Group and now, Maritimo, it has been said that Barry-Cotter has more Boat of the Year awards than some have had hot dinners!

Jenkins feels that having boats evaluated by just a few boating writers could not be termed an ideal situation.

He also points out that the current situation is somewhat unfair to smaller manufacturers who may not have the necessary advertising budget to appease the magazines involved.

Of course, there are two sides to every story and there are winners (and losers) who feel the awards are on target.

Over the years, I have personally seen a number of problems with the judging.
I recall on Sydney Harbour being involved with the judging of a high performance ski boat.

One judge declared it was 'a dreadful little boat, I got wet.'

This judge was a yachtsman who had never been aboard a ski boat in his life.

And here he was given the task of evaluating an 80mph runabout.

It’s difficult to eliminate such problems.

Also, how severe (or knowledgeable) do we want the judges to be?

Ok, they’re boating journalists and they know how to handle a boat (in most cases).

Are they fibreglass technicians who can recognise fine work?

Marine engineers, perhaps? Sail makers, naval architects?

I’m not knocking the current judges, far from it, they’re doing the best job they can for the industry at large. It’s definitely not a role I would wish to be saddled with.

The way I see it, if, say, 10 boats make the finals, the eventual winner thinks the judges are geniuses, the other nine figure they don’t know port from starboard!

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place…….

Here is the line up for 2007

2007 Australian Marine Awards Finalists
Sailing Trailerable	Model
Sydney Yachting Centre	Sports 8
Northshore Yachting Services	Melges 24
Cruiser Trailerable (Fibreglass/GRP under 6m)	Model
The Haines Group	Signature 580 C
Cruiser Trailerable (Fibreglass/GRP over 6m)	Model
The Haines Group	Signature 600 C
Cruiser Trailerable (Aluminium Under 6m)	Model
Telwater	549 Seascape (Stacer)
Telwater	540 Freedom Cruiser (Quintrex)
Ski	Model
Viper HPS Boats	Viper Cielle
Matrix Marine	Matrix Expression
Matrix Marine	Matrix Sorrento
Imported Boats (Imported Trailerable Power)	Model
Glacier Bay Catamarans	Glacier Bay Catamaran 2270 Isle Runner
Penrith Powerboat Centre	Stingray 230sx
Penrith Powerboat Centre	Sanger V215
Wholesale Marine – Going Boating	21’ Proline Walkaround
Wholesale Marine – Going Boating	195 CC Triumph
Vail Imports	Crownline 210LS
Vail Imports	Crownline 190LS
Cobalt Boats Australia	Cobalt 272
The Haines Group	Air Nautique 226
Fibrafort Boats	Fisherman 238
Sportsfishing Boats Australia	Scout SF 205 Centre Console
Chapman Marine Sales	Regal 2200
Chapman Marine Sales	Chris Craft Woody
Chapman Marine Sales	Regal 2700
MaCarthur Marine	Formula 240BR
Imported Boats (Imported Non-Trailerable Power)	Model
Gold Coast City Marina	45’ Alaska Sedan
Gold Coast City Marina	48’ Alaska F/B Euro
Nimbus Boats	Nimbus 320 Coupe
Nimbus Boats	Nimbus 340 Commander
Atlantic Motor Yachts	Grand Banks 47 East Bay FB
5 Star Motor Cruisers	Sealine F34
5 Star Motor Cruisers	Sealine F42/5
Sunseeker East Coast	Manhattan 60
Sunseeker East Coast	Predator 62
Cobalt Boats Australia	Cobalt 323
Chapman Marine Sales	Chris Craft 28 Launch
Chapman Marine Sales	Regal 4060
Chapman Marine Sales	Chris Craft 33 Corsair
Imported Boats (Imported Trailerable Sail)	Model
Daysailer Australia	Precision 185
Imported Boats (Imported Non-Trailerable Sail)	Model
US Yachts	Hunter 45CC
North South Yachting	Bavaria 33 Cruiser
North South Yachting	X-35
Windcraft Australia	Hanse 370e
Navsail	Elan 37
Vicsail	Beneteau Oceanis 50
Sailing Non-Trailerable (Over 10m)	Model
Azzura Marine	Marten Yachts – Marten 49
Azzura Marine	Sydney Yachts - Sydney 36 CR
Azzura Marine	Azzura Yachts – Warwick 67’ Sailing Yacht
Tasman Catamarans	Ocean 35 Series
Fishing Non-Trailerable (Up to 10m)	Model
Deep Vee Marine	DVM 310 Express Gold Coast
Fishing Non-Trailerable (Over 10m)	Model
Azzura Marine	Azzura Yachts – Warwrick 76’ Sportfisherman
Mustang Marine	Mustang M43
Steber International	Steber 3800 Sport Fisher
Cruiser Non-Trailerable(Up to 10m)	Model
Sunrunner Cruiser	Sunrunner 3100
Powercat Marine	Powercat 3100 Sports Cruiser
Mustang Marine	Mustang M.P.V 3000
Cruiser Non-Trailerable (Over 10m)	Model
Maritimo Offshore	Maritimo 48
King Catamaran	King Cat 38
Riviera	Riviera 4700 Sport Yacht
Riviera	Riviera 56 Enclosed
Cruiser Non-Trailerable (Day Boat)	Model
Kencraft Marine	South Beach 240
Telwater	580 Freedom Cruiser (Quintrex)
Fishing Trailerable (Fibreglass/GRP Under 6m)	Model
Whittley Cruisers	Clearwater 1900
The Haines Group	Signature 580F
Fishing Trailerable (Fibreglass/GRP Over 6m)	Model
Haines Hunter	600 Classic
Powercat Marine	Powercat 2500 Sports Fisherman
Theodore Marine	Theodore 720 ‘Pro-fish’
The Haines Group	Signature 632F
PM Marine Manufacturing	Predator 650
Fishing Trailerable (Aluminium Under 6m)	Model
Horizon Aluminium Boats	485 Northerner
Telwater	580 Top Ender (Quintrex)
Telwater	580 Coast Runner (Quintrex)
Fishing Trailerable (Aluminium Over 6m)	Model
Plate Master Aluminium Boats	Plate Master Sports Bridge 8000
Cougarcraft	Ocean Pro 640III
Exporter of the Year
Ronstan
Innovative	Model
Southern Stainless	The Cookout BBQ
Sea Pen	Sea Pen
EVRsafe Marine Technologies	ISS1040
The Haines Group	Suzuki DF150/DF175
Marine Sanitations	Dockside Discharge Unit
2007 Marina of the Year
Meridien Marinas Abel Point
Soldiers Point Marina
Sandringham Yacht Club