Australian States ponder opening borders ahead of Christmas - MarineBusinessWorld.com newsletter
by Peter Rendle 23 Sep 2021 15:00 PDT
705 Sportsfish © Arvor Australia
With mixed messages from State Premiers and mass demonstrations against compulsory vaccination for the construction industry in Victoria, any precise dates as to when border restrictions will be eased is still up in the air. However, the marine industry continues to show resilience with several new dealer announcements this week.
Arvor Australia has announced an extension to their dealer network with the appointment of Derwent Boat Sales as their Tasmanian distributor. The Arvor brand has been established in Australia for over 25 years with bestselling models such as the Arvor 20 still in the hands of customers across the country. In 2021 Arvor released the new generation Sportfish range with the 805 and now the 705 models already leading the market due to their price point, power options, and comprehensive fishing capability. Mid 2021 Arvor Australia also released the first of the new cruising orientated Weekender models. The 675 Weekender is the most compact in that range, is trailerable, and again at a price and option selection that is very appealing to the Australian boating market.
Australian multihull distributor TMG is dedicated to providing their customers with the best online cruising resources. Here you will find a new way of discovering the Lagoon Catamaran and Dragonfly Trimaran range. Their new blog is built to be a reliable place for boaties to explore; keeping them updated on the latest boating trends, giving them trustworthy reviews and detailed walk-throughs so they know they are making an educated decision. TMG aim to make the Inspire and Learn Series into the leading place to learn about multihulls and to be inspired by real experiences.
Receiving an award this week is Short Marine of Sydney, Australia. They have received the International Sales Achievement Award for excellence in sales volume by Grady-White Boats for the model year 2021. The award is presented to international dealers who have achieved one of the top tiers in retail sales. "Short Marine continues to attract and satisfy many new Grady-White customers," said Joey Weller, Grady-White's Vice President of Sales. "The superior product knowledge, customer skills, and overall excellence of Short Marine has proven their commitment to the customer as well as the Grady-White experience."
Further evidence of the emission reduction trends is Navico's news this week. Navico announced a partnership with the E1 Series, the world's first electric powerboating championship, scheduled to kick off in early 2023 with up to 12 teams set to race on a tight, technical course reaching speeds up to 50 knots (58mph; 93km/h). The announcement coincides with the E1 Series unveiling its first full-size model of the RaceBird electric powerboat at a presentation ceremony early this week at the Yacht Club de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Simrad® electronics will be the Official Marine Electronics Partner of the E1 Series, while C-MAP becomes the Official Cartography Partner. Both brands will assist to support the development of onboard systems and RaceBird's cockpit for use in a future E1 Series powerboat racing championship.
Further environmental developments include outboard engine builder, Suzuki. Suzuki Motor Corporation has developed the world's first Micro-Plastic Collecting Device for installation on outboard motors. In addition, as part of its global testing, Suzuki have installed a prototype onto a DF115A, which is on the transom of a BRIG Navigator 610HJ. Marine plastic waste is a growing environmental issue with a huge amount of mismanaged waste flowing into the oceans each year. The waste then breaks down into micro-plastics in the ocean's ecosystem, significantly impacting marine life.
The Marina Industry Association do a great job looking after their members. The MIA has recommenced the planning of its deferred Marinas22 International Conference & Trade Exhibition which will now take place 23-24 May 2022 at the JW Marriott Gold Coast. While much of the content planned for its 2021 event has been rolled over to 2022, the MIA makes a further call for relevant content for presentation at the conference. MIA CEO Suzanne Davies noted, "While the program was almost finalised prior to our postponement late last year, we recognise that the world has changed a lot in the last 12 months. Many countries around the world are seeing a boom in recreational boating, the labour market has tightened, and supply chains disrupted. Add to that the announcement that Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games and the huge interest from superyachts coming to Australia and the Pacific, we recognise the need to review what we had planned, to ensure we are providing delegates with the most relevant and topical conference content available.
And last, but not least, more and more women are taking the helm and enjoying all the freedom and empowerment that boating has to offer. In the last 18 months leisure boat sales have skyrocketed with so many people looking to our beautiful backyard for holidays, adventure, and the chance to reconnect with family, friends and nature. Coral Sea Marina (Whitsundays) is proud to welcome a diverse group of women to their docks. As part of the Coral Sea Academy, a series of innovative events designed to engage people with the marine environment and encourage better boating practices, Coral Sea Marina will be hosting a "Women in Boating" networking event, at The Lookout Lounge on Saturday 25th September, from 3pm - 5.30pm.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com