Marine Electronics
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All indications from The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show are that the Australian and the international boat markets are improving. Over 39,000 visitors gathered at the event along with 424 exhibitors. There, the record-breaking crowd examined over 576 watercraft as well as numerous engines, electronics and other marine products and services.
What differentiated the event this year over the last few were that customers also came. So many so that vendors were taken off-guard. Major boat vendors as well as smaller engine and electronics companies reported that they were actually seeing sales levels they haven’t seen in years. One of the most well known Australian boat companies, Riviera, reported over $20 million in sales from the show.
Riviera was not shy about the fact that show sales were far greater than what it had expected, “This remarkable result far exceeds all expectations with a total value of more than $20 million in sales being achieved from across the award winning range. Sales were across the board from 36 to 61 feet including multiple sales of 5800 and 5000 Sport Yachts, a number of Flybridge models including a 61 Enclosed.” Of those total sales at the show, a number of orders came from the international market. Riviera is expected to receive about $5 million of the total $20 million from customers outside of Australia. All in all at the show, Riviera sold 19 new boats including the sale of nine new 43 Open Flybridges.
Indicating that the increase in sales was not just a result of being at the show, but more of a continuation of Riviera’s market acceptance, was Riviera’s CEO, John Anderson, “The result firmly speaks of the market’s continued love of Riviera design, quality and integrity. Our new 43 Open Flybridge has truly excited the market with its exterior timeless design. Our clients like the way the cockpit and saloon flow together to create one giant entertaining space, they appreciate the latest technology including IPS drives and digital switching and of course they admire our superior interior design and finish. These elements have been combined to create a very special pleasure boat and a new breed of Riviera flybridge boats.”
The IPS drives, also known as Inboard Performance System (IPS) drives, which Volvo first introduced in 2005 with much fanfare, give boats like Riviera’s 43 Flybridge Cruise a level of maneuverability and drive ability that is for the most part far above other drive systems.
Besides Riviera, Tournament Pleasure Boats was also busy at the cash register. The company, which builds its boats at Yatala on the Gold Coast, landed an order to export 100 boats to South Korea. Tournament offers trailable sports cruisers, day cruisers and fishing boats that are in the 16 to 26 feet range.
Among other companies that were up market on sales were Boats International, a producer of the luxury Horizon Cruisers, Australasian Marine Imports, a company that imports Hampton Endurance motor yachts, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and Maritimo which said it was the best show for sales in over five years.
Maritomo, like Riviera, also introduced a design based on Volvo’s Inboard Performance System. Maritoma’s C47 Sports Cabriolet features twin Volvo Penta IPS 600 power plants and positive buoyancy chambers.
Marine Spares, which launched its new line of Craftsman Marine diesel engines, indicated that there was definitely a current need for its Craftsman Marine engines in the Australian market.
Navico, a well-known marine electronics company received significant interest at the show. There it debuted its Sonic Hub entertainment system and featured its range of Simrad marine navigation electronics. Navico focuses its efforts on the recreational boat market through its SimRad, B&G, Eagle, Lowrance, and Northstar brands.
Speaking at the show was National Marine Manufacturers Association president Thom Dammrich. He indicated that the market would stop its slide in the second half of 2010 and that strength in the market was expected to come from the sub thirty-foot segment.
