Rosehill Boat Show ramps it up

SHOWING positive signs for this year's boat show season, Sydney's Rosehill Trailer Boat Show was held last weekend with increase in visitor attendance, more exhibitors and an overall bigger show.

“We had just over 11000 vistors, 11062 to be exact, which was about seven or eight per cent up on last year," said NSW BIA marketing and events manager Domenic Genua.

"The show worked very well in that we able to tell visitors it was all about trailerboats ... and they came out in droves, we were very lucky.”

“We had to expand this year, the industry really wanted it and we ended up having to open up an extra area down the end of the show. It was about 18 percent more demand for square metres than previous years. It was an expense, it was an area we hadn't hired, but we went ahead with it an I think it was very good.”

Genua said the average exhibitor wanted more space and the bigger show was a combination of returning exhibitors seeking more space along with a handful of new exhibitors.

Webbe Marine was exhibiting overseas at the time of last year's Rosehill show and returned this year with a range of new look Webstrer's Twinfishers.

“We were happy with the show's outcome and deposited a couple of Websters Twinfishers,” said Webbe Marine's Gavan Daly.

"We had the new Twinfishers with the flat sides and they were well received with a couple of sales and a few leads to chase up."

“I think things are starting to turn around, it was very positive”

John Wilshire of Northern Beaches Marine sold two Aquamaster boats and has since received more enquires following the show.

Wilshire was also showing two Hooker fibreglass boats along with the alumium Aquamaster rang,e which he said was is popular with the Rosehill crowd.

“There were definitley more people and more people that were there to buy compared to last year,” said Wilshire.

Organisers, on the back of last year's success, provided parking free, free entry and dropped the number of show days from three to two, opening Saturday and Sunday only.

The BIA's Domenic Genua said Rosehill shows a strong start for the industry and to this year's boat show season.

"I have absolutely no doubt that Sydney will be a sell out again, if this show was any indicatation. Clearly we can read into it that the trailer boat market is seeing some really positive signs and like they did at Rosehill, I'm sure they will show up in droves at Sydney," said Genua.