New boats and products feature this week - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 20 Oct 2022 15:00 PDT
X43 MKII © X-Yachts
While the economic pressures prepare us for a testing budget to be revealed next week, new boats and gear continue to be added to the boating marketplace.
From Europe, and replacing the popular X43, the X43 is the second generation of what has been one of X-Yachts most popular performance/cruisers. Mark 2 versions of a good yacht are often a lot better than the original with many small changes that improve ergonomics and collectively make life on board easier and more comfortable.
Kevin Wallis, Managing Director of X-Yachts Australia and New Zealand, explains that the new X43 MKII goes a stage further with a new hull and deck shape that creates an outstanding yacht. The new design incorporated many of the detailed improvements that have gradually been introduced into other models in the "Pure X" range. It also has more space in the aft cabins, better ventilation throughout and will sail faster, especially in light airs, explains Wallis.
And with more than 40 years of experience in high-performance sailing boats, X-Yachts has now introduced a new and extraordinary initiative, based on deep experience accumulated over the years. The X-Power 33 C is a 33-foot open powerboat for quality-conscious boaters with the same well-proven X-Yachts ethos: fast and safe on the water, pride of ownership, innovative development and design.
The X-Power 33C is designed and built with one overall strategy - to comply with what is expected by X-Yachts: Ease of Use. The technical equipment gives for an intuitive experience, as you only need to push one button and then you are ready to drive!
Also from Europe, and a long way from the shores of the Baltic Sea to Moreton Bay, there was strong interest shown in the new Hanse 460 at its recent Australian and New Zealand launch. The 460 was the star attraction of a mini boat show held by Windcraft Yachts at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in the Brisbane bayside suburb of Manly.
Dockside admirers were appreciative of the award-winning luxury cruiser's exterior aesthetics: angular looks, sleek and powerful hull lines, and reverse bow. The 460's huge cockpit, generous freeboard and ample beam were also commented on, and there was high praise for the yacht's stylish interior and superior appointments.
At the recent Cannes Yachting Festival, Fountaine Pajot unveiled their ground-breaking new model, the Aura 51 Smart Electric. The new-generation catamaran is the first stage of the shipyard's Odyssea plan before the development of fuel cells that will allow Fountaine Pajot to install hydrogen-powered motors on all their boats for optimal eco-sustainability.
The first model was developed in collaboration with all the Fountaine Pajot teams and other leading French companies and was rigorously tested in various conditions on a successful month-long delivery voyage from La Rochelle to Cannes.
As the first fully electric boat, the Aura 51 Smart Electric is distinguished by the absence of an internal combustion engine. In its place in the duplicate compartments in the starboard and port hulls are batteries and advanced electronic systems that manage the motor and all the energy flow onboard. The electric motor lies beneath the battery underneath the waterline. The Aura 51 is distributed in Australia and SE Asia by Multihull Solutions.
Multihull Solutions are very active on home soil and Western Australia's cruising enthusiasts have the opportunity to inspect two of the world's most popular sailing catamarans in Mandurah in November. Multihull Solutions is showcasing the Fountaine Pajot Isla 40 and NEEL 43 trimaran at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club from 10am until 4pm on Sunday 27 November.
It is the first time the Isla 40 will be on display on Australia's west coast, and the Multihull Solutions WA team will be on hand to discuss all queries regarding sailing, buying, importing and selling a multihull.
A strong attendance is anticipated for the special Gold Coast Open Day hosted by The Yacht Sales Co and Multihull Solutions on Saturday 5 November. The free day will showcase an expansive range of quality new and pre-owned sail and power yachts at the Out-of-Water display at the companies' Gold Coast Sales Centre in The Boat Works Marine Precinct. There will be multihulls and monohulls on display to suit all budgets including models by Grainger, Lagoon, Perry, Wharram, Leopard, Simpson, Formosa and many more.
Open from 9am until 3pm, the event will also include a schedule of free information sessions by industry experts covering a range of topics, including First Aid for Cruisers Sailing to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, and a Maintenance Advice seminar.
New equipment revealed this week includes Lumishore: The manufacturer of high-performance marine LED lighting systems has announced its advanced LED lighting solutions can now be controlled directly through all Humminbird SOLIX G3 and APEX Series multifunction navigational displays.
This partnership brings together Humminbird's market-leading boating products and technology with Lumishore's unique lighting systems, both above and below water, including their recently launched 'ECLIPSE' lighting system, as well as their established underwater and LUX above water lighting systems to enhance the Humminbird customer experience.
SOLIX G3 and APEX Series users can quickly and effortlessly select the lighting that best suits their mood or current on-the-water activity - directly from their MFD. The easy-to-use Lumishore interface panel is intuitive and powerful and allows complete personalization of any vessel.
Meanwhile two industry organisations in Australia have decided not to merge. On behalf of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) board, the President Eleni Savva has announced that the proposed merger with the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) will not go ahead. The due diligence process in relation to the possibility of merging with BIA Ltd continued in earnest during the August to October period.
This process has resulted in the BIAV Board coming to the decision not to proceed with the merger process at this stage. This follows extensive dialogue and consideration, and a sense that the option was positively and thoroughly considered. It remains the wish and intention of the BIAV Board to continue to work closely with BIA Ltd on a range of programs and initiatives, and on all matters of national significance.
The Board remains optimistic about the possibility of merging at some stage in the future, and can see many mutual benefits of alignment between the two associations.
But true to the expression "The show must go on", the BIA is pleased to welcome Stella Marine, Lightwave Yachts, Telwater, Riviera and Gold Coast City Marina as Industry Partners of the Boating Industry Academy. These businesses are part of a growing cohort of members putting their support behind the project delivering a pipeline of talent for the industry.
As part of their involvement in the Academy, they will provide young people with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the boating industry through site visits, excursions, extensive work experience and practical learning as they complete their final years of schooling.
Following our ongoing report regarding the attempt at a World Record: frustration from South Australia. The creep of water was accompanied by the creep of frustration on Lake Gairdner for Glenn Ashby and the team as near-perfect winds blew across the wetted lake surface restricting any sailing again.
"Unfortunately, again we're greeted with a really super thin layer of water pretty much across the whole lake surface," Ashby explained. "The craft is ready to go. The boys are all ready to go. We've got really good breeze forecast for this afternoon, but unfortunately with that bit of rain the surface is not going to be ideal for us."
Due to the large catchment area that is Lake Gairdner, just a few millimetres of rain can be swiftly moved into a small area resulting in a compounding depth too deep to get out on the lake.
And not forgetting the importance of the fishing community, hundreds of Quintrex boat owners are set to join forces across the country as they unite for the inaugural Quintrex Community week this Saturday 22nd - Sunday 31st October. The events conception comes twofold - driven towards bringing Quinnie owners together to celebrate the brand and the shared community, whilst providing local Aussies the opportunity to enter the lifestyle and learn about safe boating practices from industry experts.
The Community Week is scheduled to encompass a diverse range of events, mapped out across a number of key Australian boating hot spots.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com