BIA reports positive Melbourne show

AS reported last week the Melbourne Boat Show attendance totalled 40,000 for the five days, up some 6,000 from last year.

BIA Victoria GM Clyde Batty said the dominant theme of the Show was one of recovery across the board in the recreational boating sector.

“In effect, everything you could measure or count was up on last year, which is a good sign that the recovery is well under way,” said Batty.

“Every day of the Show had its own highlights, from the first afternoon when St Kilda Boat Sales signed up its first customer for the new Caribbean 35 Flybridge Mk III, to late on Monday evening when Rolco Boats sold its fifth – and most expensive – boat for the Show.

“These sales typified the different types of customers: the Caribbean buyer had inspected larger and smaller Caribbean models, but his was his first look at the new model, straight from the factory, whereas the Rolco customer simply came in unannounced and bought the boat.

“They also remind us of the Show’s broad spectrum, with ski and wake boats, luxury cruisers and specialist marine equipment to complement to huge number of fishing boats of all types and the vast array of fishing tackle and accessories which reflect Victoria’s love of fishing.”

Among the sales highlights Mr Batty reported were more than 20 boats sold by Inverloch Marine, a best-ever show for the innovative Boatcatch coupling device, and strong results for all the big dealers including JV Marine World, New World Honda Marine, Streaker Boats and Regal Marine.

Haines Hunter also reported a great success for its two participating dealers, New World Honda Marine and Port Phillip Boating Centre, with deposits taken on 34 boats at the show and solid follow-up in the subsequent week.

Batty said accessories sold just as strongly as boats, and expensive electronics sold just as strongly as budget-priced fishing gear.

“At one point, for example, Nautek Marine services sold $3,850 worth of marine electronics gear to just two customers in three minutes, not to mention doing a strong trade in marine chemicals and Fusion marine audio gear,” he said.