Power boats at Melbourne Boat Show

by Helen Hopcroft on 29 Jan 2008 Aussie Boat Sales is set to be the biggest on water exhibitor at this coming weekend's Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, 1st-3rd February. Aussie Boat Sales will unveil their display of over twenty vessels which range from a 24 foot sports boat to a multi million dollar luxury cruiser. Aussie Boats Sales is the exclusive southern states agent for a number of exclusive brands, so prepare to be awed and inspired by immaculately turned out Maritimos, rugged Glacier Bay catamarans and specialist Deep V sportsfishing boats!

Boat Show organisers expect that the event will attract visitors from outside Victoria, with a number of South Australians and Tasmanians expected to take advantage of the opportunity to view the massive on water display. With over 150 boats in one location, prospective boat owners will be keen to compare brands and search for their dream vessel.

We asked Scott O’Hare why Aussie Boat Sale’s display is this year’s must see attraction.

‘The Melbourne Boat Show is a great opportunity for potential boat-buyers to come and have a chat and inspect these boats up close...If you’re looking for anything from a waterskiing, cruising, sailing or fishing boat, and price range from $35,000 to four million dollars, you only have to go to the Aussie Boat Sales stand and it’s all there.’

At the lower end of this price spectrum is the Polish built Delphia 24; a nippy little sportsboat that has steadily won the heart’s and minds of the Australian public since its introduction just over a year ago. The Delphia 24 is a light weight flyer that comes with a jib, asymmetrical spinnaker and mainsail included in the price. She has a plumb bow, open transom, flared sides and tiller steering with a design and rig layout that screams speed.

At the upper end of the price spectrum is the magnificent Australian built Maritimo fleet. One particular boat that is expected to draw crowds is Martimo’s flagship: the 550 Offshore Convertible, a flybridge sportsfishing rig which was launched late last year. The Maritimo 48, Maritimo 52 and Maritimo 60 Cruising Flybridges are also expected to stun.

Aussie Boat Sale’s Scott O’Hare said that he was surprised by the number of Maritimo’s that his company had sold to local customers. He joked that there must be ‘a baby boomer/superannuation thing going on.’

‘Everybody knew that Melbourne was a good potential breeding ground for Maritimo buyers, but we didn’t realise it would be as strong as what is has been.’

In 2007 alone, Aussie Boat Sales sold six boats from the multi million dollar Maritimo range; ‘we’ve sold pretty much one of everything; they’ve got a 48, 52, 60 and they’ve just introduced a 70 foot Flybridge Cruiser…The first one hasn’t even been built yet, but we still managed to sell one.’

Other brands which performed strongly for Aussie Boat Sales in 2007 were Deep V, the renowned sportsfishing boats, and Glacier Bay catamarans with their well known twin slim hull design and reputation for delivering a smooth ride.

‘We can’t believe how many Glacier Bays we’ve sold…They’re unique in their ability to handle rough conditions because they’re a semi displacement boat and they’ve got different hull geometry than any other catamaran.’

‘They’re proving to be popular for Port Phillip Bay because of the conditions, it can get pretty ordinary, and it basically doesn’t faze them at all. They’ll sit on 30-35 knots through anything and do so without spilling your cup of tea!’

Both Deep V and Glacier Bay will be on display at the Melbourne International Boat Show. One to look out for will be the Deep V 280 Twin, a twin diesel shaft drive flybridge described by O’Hare as an ‘amazing boat’ and sure to set a keen fisherman’s heart racing.

If you’re visiting the show with family and friends, you’ll be pleased to hear that much of the show is free to the public. Organisers have worked hard to create a festival atmosphere, something that Melbourne events always seem to do well, and the show will feature family entertainment, dozens of marquees, live music, giveaways and other fine attractions.

Aussie Boat Sales recently celebrated its second birthday and since its 2006 launch has gone from strength to strength. In 2007 the company joined forces with Crawford Marine, which was good news for customers in the Gippsland Lakes area and for customers interested in Crawford’s existing range of trailer sailers.

‘We now have a presence on the Gippsland Lakes at Paynesville to look after our customers in that area, or any people that buy boats through our network now have back up on the Lakes.’

This year Aussie Boat Sales announced further expansion via an alliance with industry stalwarts Dockside Marine and Bull’s cruisers. Dockside Marine brings to the deal two well known brands: Wakemaster and Steber. Wakemaster is a dedicated wake boarding boat and both brands will be on display at the Melbourne Show.

If you can’t get along to the show, the Aussie Boat Sales brokerage at Anchorage Marina has up to 60 vessels in stock at any one time. With vessels ranging in price from about $15,000 to two million dollars, there’s a good chance that you will find just the boat you’re looking for at a price you can afford.

‘It’s like a permanent boat show’ said O’Hare. ‘If they want to come and have a look, they don’t have to go traipsing around different yacht clubs and all that; it’s all here in the one spot.’

Aussie Boat Sales also helps resolve the perennial problem of boat storage by offering deals on a berth when you buy a new or used vessel.

‘It’s a problem which a lot of people struggle with; they’ll go to buy a boat off an independent broker or dealer and they don’t have anywhere to put the boat afterwards.’

Further information:
Aussie Boat Sales – (03) 9397 6977 (Melbourne) / (03) 5134 6522 (Gippsland) or visit: http://www.aussieboatsales.com.au

Full Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show details http://www.biavic.com.au