Australian Marine Awards winners

by Australian Marine Industry Federation on 25 May 2007 CEO of the Australian Marine Industries Federation (AMIF), Sherry Donaldson, said the high quality of nominations and fierce competition for the annual 2007 Australian Marine Awards indicated the nation’s marine industry was in its best shape ever.

Ms Donaldson said the more than 150 nominations this year was only the tip of the iceberg of an industry that employed 36,000 and generated $6 billion across the country.

Ms Donaldson said the nominations were reduced to 69 finalists across 24 categories to face the judging panel.

'Finalists represent excellence in quality and winners are the best of the best, but this is just the tip of an enormous body of marine related industries that offer Australian consumers outstanding quality in locally produced and imported products,' said Ms Donaldson.

'Feedback from judges indicated nominations this year across the wide range of categories represented the best quality in the history of the awards.

She said the Australian marine industry was better than ever and consumers had a better choice than ever before.

'But consumers may have a difficult choice, as did our judges, because in most categories, only a hair’s breadth separated one product from another,' said Ms Donaldson.

'The awards are a celebration of the recreational marine industry in Australia, recognising the country’s finest manufacturers and importers of vessels; innovative products; and exporters associated with recreational boating.'

Ms Donaldson said, although the glamour award was The Australian Manufactured Boat of the Year, because of strong competition across a large number of boat manufacturers and importers, each category was equally important in its own right.

'Each category makes a major contribution to Australia’s recreational marine industry and being a finalist in any category is an enormous achievement. All self nominated and media nominated vessels were eligible for consideration for a finalist position' said Ms Donaldson.

'Judging criteria for finalists includes an exhaustive checklist of more than 40 items covering overall impressions, presentation, ergonomics, performance and safety.'

The judging of finalists was held in two locations - Sydney and Queensland.

Judging in Sydney was held at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, March 26 to 28 and judging in Queensland was at Hollywell Yacht Club, April 16 to 19.

This year AMIF benefited from the knowledge and experience of eight judges, with one half assigned to power vessels and the other assigned to sailing vessels. Four of these judges were independent of the media partners.

Two of the judges were dedicated solely to safety issues.

The Australian Marine Awards is supported by media partners Club Marine, Modern Boating, Gold Coast Bulletin and Yaffa Publishing, and sponsored by Department of Industry Tourism and Resources, Alcoa, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Saint-Gobain and Club Marine.


Results of the Australian Marine Awards are:

Ski
Winner : Matrix Expression - Matrix Marine
Commendation: Matrix Sorrento - Matrix Marine
Other Finalist: Viper Cielle - Viper HPS Boats

Dayboat
Winner: Quintrex 580 Freedom Cruiser - Telwater
Commendation: South Beach Sports 240 - Kencraft Marine

Sailing Trailerable
Winner: NA
Commendation: NA
Finalist: Melges 24 - Northshore Yachting Services

Sailing Non-Trailerable Over 10m
Winner: NA
Commendation: Ocean 35 Series - Tasman Catamarans
Other Finalist: Sydney Yachts, Sydney 36CR - Azzura Marine

Fishing Trailerable – Fibreglass Under 6m
Winner: Haines Signature 580F - The Haines Group
Commendation: Clearwater 1900 - Whittley Cruisers

Fishing Trailerable – Fibreglass Over 6m
Winner: Powercat 2500 Sports Fisherman - Powercat Marine
Commendation: Theodore 720 ‘Pro-Fish’ - Theodore Marine
Other Finalists: 600 Classic - Haines Hunter
.. Predator 650 - PM Marine Manufacturing
.. Signature 632F - The Haines Group

Fishing Trailerable – Aluminium Under 6m
Winner: Quintrex 580 Coast Runner - Telwater
Commendation: Quintrex 580 Top Ender - Telwater
Other Finalist: 485 Northerner - Horizon Aluminium Boats

Fishing Trailerable – Aluminium Over 6m
Commendation: Plate Master Sports Bridge 8000 - Plate Master Aluminium Boats
Other Finalist: Ocean Pro640III - Cougarcraft

Fishing Non-Trailerable up to 10m
Winner: DVM 310 Express Gold Coast - Deep Vee Marine

Fishing Non-Trailerable Over 10m
Winner: Steber 3800 Sports Fisher - Steber International
Commendation: Mustang M43 - Mustang Marine

Imported Trailerable Power
Winner: Glacier Bay Catamaran 2270 Isle Runner - Glacier Bay Catamarans
Commendation: Air Nautique 226 - The Haines Group
Other Finalists: 21’Proline Walkaround - Wholesale Marine - Going Boating
.. 195 CC Triumph - Wholesale Marine - Going Boating
.. Crownline 210LS - Vail Imports
.. Cobalt 272 - Cobalt Boats Australia
.. Fisherman 238 - Fibrafort Boats
.. Scout SF 205 Centre Console - Sportsfishing Boats Australia
.. Regal 2700 - Chapman Marine Sales
.. Formula 240BR - Macarthur Marine

Imported Non-Trailerable Power
Winner: Predator 62 - Sunseeker East Coast
Commendation: Sealine F42/5 - 5 Star Motor Cruisers
Other Finalists: 45’ Alaska Sedan - Gold Coast City Marina
.. 48’ Alaska F/B Euro - Gold Coast City Marina
.. Nimbus 320 Coupe - Nimbus Boats
.. Nimbus 340 Commander - Nimbus Boats
.. Grand Banks 47 East Bay FB - Atlantic Motor Yachts
.. Sealine F34 - 5 Star Motor Cruisers
.. Manhattan 60 - Sunseeker East Coast
.. Cobalt 323 - Cobalt Boats Australia
.. Regal 4060 - Chapman Marine Sales

Imported Trailerable Sail
Winner: NA
Commendation: NA
Finalist: Precision 185 - Daysailer Australia

Imported Non-Trailerable Sail
Winner: NA
Commendation: Bavaria 33 Cruiser - North South Yachting
Other Finalists: Hunter 45CC - US Yachts
.. X-35 - North South Yachting
.. Hanse 370e - Windcraft Australia
.. Elan 37 - Navsail
.. Beneteau Oceanis 50 - Vicsail

Cruiser Non-Trailerable up to 10m
Winner: Powercat 3100 Sports Cruiser - Powercat Marine
Commendation: Sunrunner 3100 - Sunrunner Cruisers
Other Finalist: Mustang MPV 3000 - Mustang Marine

Cruiser Non-Trailerable Over 10m
Winner: Riviera 4700 Sports Yacht - Riviera
Commendation: Riviera 56 Enclosed Flybridge - Riviera
Commendation: Maritimo 48 - Maritimo Offshore
Other Finalist: King Cat 38 - King Catamaran

Cruiser Trailerable – Fibreglass Under 6m
Winner: Haines Signature 580C - The Haines Group

Cruiser Trailerable – Fibreglass Over 6m
Winner: Haines Signature 600C - The Haines Group

Cruiser Trailerable – Aluminium Under 6m
Winner: Stacer 549 Seascape - Telwater
Commendation: Quintrex 540 Freedom Cruiser - Telwater

Club Marine Safety Award
Winner: Riviera 56 Enclosed Flybridge - Riviera

Exporter of the Year
Winner: Ronstan

Innovative Product
Winner: Metal Anode - Marina Protection Systems
Commendation: ISS1040 - EVRSafe Marine Technologies
Other Finalists: The Cookout BBQ - Southern Stainless
.. Sea Pen - Sea Pen
.. Suzuki DF150/DF175 - The Haines Group
.. Dockside Discharge Unit Marine Sanitations

2007 Marina of the Year
Winner: Soldiers Point Marina
Other Finalists: Sandringham Yacht Club
.. Meridien Marinas Abel Point

2007 Australian Manufactured Boat of the Year
Winner: Riviera 4700 Sports Yacht - Riviera

www.amif.asn.au