Confident air at Brisbane Boat Show

by Bob Wonders on 28 Aug 2009 A strong turnout by show visitors on opening day as given Brisbane Boat Show organiser Marine Queensland a boost in confidence and a positive outlook for the remainder of the exhibition, with the busy weekend still to come.

According to Marine Queensland event manager, Jason Plant, attendance on the opening day (Thursday, August 27) was up 15 percent on the corresponding day last year.

'We don’t have the Friday figures as yet, but there has been steady flow of visitors through the doors all day,' he added.

More than 20,000 entries had been received as at close of play Friday for the Courier-Mail promoted ‘door prize’, a $40,000 Suzuki-powered, 4.8-metre Traveller boat from The Haines Group and a Dunbier trailer package.

The fortunate winner’s name will be drawn on Sunday at 3pm by none other than John Jnr and Greg Haines.

Tomorrow (Saturday, August 29) in a moving gesture Marine Queensland will call for one minutes silence in tribute to the late John Haines, A.M., a Life Member of the association and a man who dominated recreational boating for nearly 50-years.

Exhibitors at the show, and there was in excess of 115 of them, deserve credit for the effort put in to the displays.

Without exception, the halls of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre ‘looked the part’, with efficient lighting and easy, unobstructed walk-ways through the exhibits. Some exhibitors said the success they had experienced at the recent Sydney International Boat Show had ‘re-ignited their enthusiasm’.

If the Brisbane Boat Show can emulate Sydney, which attracted more visitors than in 2008 despite being only five instead of six days, then perhaps the boating industry can really start believing the worst of the downturn is behind us.

Powerboat-World will have a full wrap up of the show next week as well as revealing who had all the luck in the $40,000 prize.