Get up close and personal to Seabreacher at Melbourne Boat Show

by Clyde Batty on 17 Jun 2012 In addition to regular updates and a chance to win free tickets via Facebook, plus an all-new iPhone application, visitors to this year's Melbourne Boat Show will be kept fully informed of the many cutting edge products and services on display including an exclusive exhibit of 'Seabreacher', an innovative personal craft that resembles a great white shark, dolphin or killer whale, that can roll from side to side and jump 12-18 feet into the air.

The Seabreacher X model is a two-seat submersible watercraft that looks like a great white shark, it can even be painted up with menacing black eyes, gaping jaws and rows of dagger-sharp teeth.

At 16.5 feet in length, it is even the same size as the marine animal, and can reach up to speeds of
80kph on the water surface, or 40kph diving below the surface. Among the high-tech features on the luxury boat are a snorkel mounted video camera that can transmit live video to LCD screens for the pilot and passengers during dives, GPS navigation and on board stereo with iPod docking.

According to New Zealand designer, Rob Innes, the Seabreacher X is typically purchased by people with a disposable income looking to experience the ocean in a totally new way.

'It’s more of a cross between a plane and a boat,' Innes said. 'The Seabreacher X can sustain high speed dives and then breach the surface, launching the entire vessel clear out of the water.

'The new fully vectored thrust system mimics the tail articulation of real aquatic animals like sharks and dolphins. There is nothing quite like it in the world.'

In addition to getting a glimpse of this innovative vessel which will offer a thrill for family members of all ages, Show visitors can check out the more traditional types of recreational vessels including a full range of Australian built and designed Spy Boats, as well as Camero Ski and Wake boats presented by Performance Marine.

The SS21 Open Bow, family ski and wake boat has been designed with CAD computer technology, and rounds out the full range of eight quality vessels made for skiing, wakeboarding, barefooting and wake surfing.

BL Marine is offering the 545 Baysport Cuddy with packages starting from $37,990, plus the new range of 2012 FX HO Yamaha Waverunners and the recently released Crownline E4 24 foot
bowrider. Their Stacer line-up includes the first public viewing of a number of the latest runabouts.

Port Phillip Boating Centre will be showcasing the new Haines Hunter range such as the 760 and
650 Enclosed Hard Top; new release Haines Hunter 625 Offshore and Haines Hunter 400 Prowler, along with the top range of Yamaha motors and Mackay trailers.

Mercury’s brilliant new 150hp FourStroke EFI outboard engine will be of particular interest to those seeking unprecendented durability under all conditions and delivers superb fuel efficiency and tremendous performance. The manufacturer will also have their newly released Precision Lubricants range and high quality propellers including stainless steel and aluminium ranges, handcrafted racing props and a raft of patented technologies including Flo Torq, the X7 alloy, and Performance Vent System.

Mercury's extensive display also includes Verado Supercharged FourStrokes, OptiMaz and
OptiMax Pro XS - the world’s first Direct Injection outboards, Mercury Diesel - offering the cleanest diesel technology ever designed for the water, MerCruiser with sterndrives, inboards, jet drives and tow sport engines, and the Mercury Plus Series - reliable and powerful 4.3L to 8.1L, remanufactured engines which provide an easy and economical option for owners to re-power their boats at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Importantly, Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) will be providing information to help all community members understand the new marine safety laws that come into effect on July 1st including the introduction of an 'owner onus' system to ensure those responsible for marine safety offences are held accountable for their actions.

The laws focus on safety duties for those who participate in boating activities to take reasonable care to protect themselves and others. TSV will also have information available on weather, PFD’s and maintenance, Safety Equipment, EPIRBS and Trip preparation. Daily prize draws to win a PFD will be held, plus officers will be handing out boating safety handbooks, fact sheets and stickers.

Anyone interested in attending this year's Melbourne Boat Show will want to 'like' Boating Industry
Association of Victoria (BIAV) on Facebook to keep up to date on Show attractions as well as take advantage of their free ticket giveaway offer.

In fact, between now and July 5th - when the show commences at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre - one ticket will be given away each day.

Visitors can like BIAV on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BoatingVic.

Tickets can be purchased at www.biavic.com.au/melbourneboatshow