What you missed at the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show

Four days of great weather and a massive and varied range of boats made for a memorable 2023 Melbourne Boat Show. Read on to see what you missed!

If you would prefer to watch our overview of the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show, simply click on the thumbnail below. More exclusive footage coming later this year.

More than 42,000 people, up from ~32,000 at the last Show, from all over Melbourne and Victoria came out to immerse themselves in the boating lifestyle. Trade A Boat was at the Show on Friday, roaming, speaking to manufacturers and exhibitors and shooting some awesome exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

Boats for as far as the eye can see

The sheer number of boats on display at the NewQuay Promenade in Docklands was impressive, ranging from a very simple tinny to a 60-foot Italian power yacht valued at $4.4 million (more on this incredible vessel coming) — and everything in between. It was also great to see new technology being displayed on some newer models, showcasing how far the boating pastime has evolved.

There were more than 100 exhibitors at the Show, both local and international, including boat manufacturers such as Edencraft, Whittley, Jeanneau, Yamaha, Cetera and many more, displaying various-sized models, with newly released models getting the most attention. The sunny weather on the Friday we attended was perfect for checking out the models displayed on the water, and we wasted no time getting some exclusive tours (click here or on the video above for more).

Although the lineup of boats captured the most attention, the array of fishing gear available at the Show at special prices was huge. From rods to new fish-finding gadgets, the Show is a great opportunity to stock up on your fishing equipment.

Learning from the pros

We were lucky enough to get some exclusive walkthroughs of some recent models at the Show, learning about these beautiful watercraft straight from the manufacturers themselves. (Click here or on the video above to see the full rundown and exclusive footage.)

MY Marine

Theo Rozaki, from MY Marine in Mornington Peninsula, led us through the exciting range of Parker boats, which are imported from Europe. He took us on an in-depth walkthrough of the 850 Voyager, a versatile bowrider, starting at the beautiful lounge area at the rear of the vessel. The area is perfect for entertaining and allows you to view the activities behind the boat comfortably, such as water skiing or watching the kids have a swim. The seating is adjustable to join with the central seating area and can be configured in a number of ways to seat up to 10 people. In the fore deck area are beautiful wrap-around lounges which are undercover, ensuring a comfortable, shady environment. In the cabin area below is a sleeping berth, suitable for three people, and a separate, enclosed shower and toilet. There’s also a luxurious, cushioned sunbathing area on top of the bow, which is easily accessed by three steps leading from the helm. This is a great versatile vessel, and we can see why it’s such a popular model.

Boats & More

Mark Frost and Simon Ryan from Boats & More (based in Shepparton, Vic) were more than happy to show us some of their range, including some Sea-Doo jet skis, skiing boats and the stunning range of Barletta pontoon boats. Mark showed us one of their newest Sea-Doo jet skis, which is the 170hp Explorer Pro model released just last year. It’s quite an impressive setup as it can seat up to three riders and features some extra comforts including an inbuilt Garmin GPS, a windscreen for protection against wind and spray and detachable extra storage boxes on the back.

Simon gave us a run-through of the Barletta pontoon boats, made in Chicago in the US. This range of premium pontoon boats spans from 20 to 25 feet in length and comes in either twin-hull or tri-hull configurations. The most impressive feature, we learned, of the Barletta Pontoons is actually their stability. Barletta is the inventor of an innovative stability technology called VIP — Vibration Isolation Pads — which sits between every contact between the hull and deck. These rubber pads minimise the transfer of vibration from the water to the cockpit, which is why a trip on one of Barletta’s pontoons will be the smoothest ride you’ll likely experience. These pontoons are very spacious and comfortable and offer seating that can be configured in a number of ways to suit many applications. They also look the part and are perfect for entertaining a larger group on calm waters.

If you would like more information regarding the Explorer Pro or any other Boats & More products, just hit this link.  

Edencraft International

Josie Maher, General Manager from Edencraft International, headquartered in Geelong, Vic, showed us some of their impressive range of offshore fibreglass fishing boats. Josie gave us a detailed run-through of the 565 — this particular model was custom-built for The Block’s Kyal and Kara! What we found most interesting during her description is how these boats are built for tough waters. Josie noted that when the weather starts turning and most people want to pack it in and go back to shore, the Edencraft boats shine the most. They’re built to withstand exactly these sorts of conditions. What aids this is their unique construction of the layup of the boat and foam flotation technology, designed to tackle the most robust conditions with the peace of mind of getting home safely. The range of Edencraft boats was impressive and you can see much more by clicking on the video above.

Boating Industry Association of Victoria

We were extremely lucky to bump into Steve Walker, CEO of the BIAV, the Show’s host. Steve shared with us what it has taken to get the Show to grow to the level it has achieved in 2023 and what it takes to put on this incredible free event. According to Steve, compared to last year’s Melbourne Boat Show, this year’s Show has grown massively in such a short time span in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors. This is an incredibly impressive result and gives testimony to how popular the boating lifestyle is in Australia, and more and more people are getting into the leisure activity.

With so much to see, Steve said you can’t miss the Welcome to Boating Hub, which includes dozens of presentations over the four-day event, where you can immerse yourself in learning about everything there is to know about boating, with a special focus on marine safety. There were detailed presentations on the steps newcomers need to take to become a boating family or boating individual. Steve also proudly told us that the Heritage and Wooden Boat precinct is a new feature of the 2023 Show, featuring more traditional wooden vessels and other fun stuff.

As he stood in front of the hundreds of various vessels in Docklands, he noted the market shifting from suppliers struggling to keep up over the last few years to them finally catching up, so more boats are finally available for those who have been waiting out the supply crunch. He said the market is in a real “sweet spot, and there will be some really good deals for those looking to upgrade, repower or get into their first boat.”

Steve was overwhelmed with how “well-received” the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show was and looks forward to an even better Show next year in 2024.

Tips for new boat buyers

We asked some of the experts, including Alan Whittley from Whittley Boats, about their insider tips for people buying their first boat, and the most common answer was to really take your time when purchasing. Figure out exactly what you want and what applications you want to use the boat for and a realistic budget before you start looking. Manufacturers noted that there are many different kinds of boats in a large market in Australia, so it’s important to be informed about all the options available before jumping into a purchase.

Alan gave us some great tips in that many first boat buyers don’t think about where they’re going to store their boat and how they’re going to tow it. These are very important considerations as if you don’t have the space the store the boat or the ability to tow it, you have to look at storing costs and the costs to purchase a towing vehicle/boat trailer.  

Looking for a new boat?

If you were inspired by some of the awesome boats at the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show, the range on Trade A Boat is extensive and caters to almost every type of boating need. Check out our range of powerboats, sailboats, marine engines, parts and accessories, sport cruisers, trailer boats and more. With a format that makes comparing online ads a visual breeze and with sellers happy to help answer any inquiries you may have about the products advertised for sale, Trade A Boat makes buying your next boat an easy task.

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