BOAT SHOW ENTHUSIASM BACK AGAIN

ECONOMIC concerns have again failed to dampen vendor enthusiasm at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) with at least 15 new water craft making their Australian debuts at the May 24-27 event.

The annual show, which was launched today, is expected to attracted around 40,000 visitors – although it remains to be seen how many turn out to be buyers.

The Jetlev-Flyer watercraft is tipped to be a popular exhibition, along with Chris Craft’s ‘movie star’ tender Mistral, which has been restored over a decade by a Tasmanian boating enthusiast.

Jeanneau and Prestige will host the show’s largest exhibition, which is one of the few to grow on previous years.

Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers will be handling sailing boat sales for Jeanneau and Prestige. Director Ross Smith says he will have four new sail boats on display.

“We’re hoping to sell as many as we can, we will have some special show offers to push sales,” says Smith.

“In this climate people are being sensible about their money and the people coming along to view these boats will be people who are fairly advanced in their buying decision.

“If we sell anywhere from two to six boats we will be reasonably happy.”

In an indication of how important this show is to Jeanneau and Prestige, general manager Jean-Paul Chapeleau and Asia Pacific marketing manager Paul Blanc will both attend.

SCIBS general manager Sue Thomson says facilitating boat sales is the core business of the show, but it offers much more to the Gold Coast.

“If we can provide a platform to provide sales in the marine industry we have got to be seen to be doing our job in the first instance, but the show is about much more than that, it is about contributing to the event landscape in the Gold Coast region,’’ she says.

“It is not just about supporting the marine industry it is about supporting the peripheral industries like tourism and like lifestyle and leisure.”

Channel 7’s morning news program Sunrise will do a three-hour live broadcast from the show on Friday May 25, bringing the event into the lounge room of about 900,000 people.