2009 SANCTUARY COVE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW: OUR BOATS OF THE SHOW.
There are oodles of honorary mentions for our best boats of the show — Riviera’s new 5800 Sport Yacht with triple IPS is a world-class craft; Grand Banks 41 Heritage with Zeus drives (watch this space for our test) is a classic cruiser with a modern turn of speed; Maritimo’s new 56 Cruising Motoryacht has long legs for going places; and we like the classic lines of the rafts of passagemakers and picnic boats at the show.
But in terms of imported boats, the Lazzara 75 LSX is a cut above the pack. This in one extraordinary boat, with quadruple IPS drives, a wonderful atrium-style galley and dinette, and a brilliant fit and finish. The discerning boater’s boat. It takes our gong for the Best Import.
The Best Yacht of the show was unquestionably the Marten 49, a go-fast cruiser racer with interior that wows. Iain Murray is behind the Australian yard with Kiwi roots. A great yacht bound for Hamilton Island where it will operate as a luxury charter vessel.
The Best Budget boat is a tight category, but we like the new Bayliner 245 from Avante Marine. It’s got a better integrated deck layout with sink and superior upholstery. That said, locals Mustang announced it will have a new 2850 sportscruiser at next year’s show for $130,000 that will rock the fleet.
So to our best local boat. It was hard-fought, with Riviera presenting its new 5800 Sport Yacht with triple IPS. It’s a great boat, the company’s most global boat ever, with a full-beam stateroom.
But it’s the Maritimo Aegean 60 Enclosed that is the most innovative Australian-made boat of the show. We returned on numerous occasions and spoke with Mr Maritimo, Bill Barry-Cotter (pictured above), who was proud as punch of his new A60E.
The flying bridge is a cool all-weather cruising station, the saloon puts many penthouses to shame, the stateroom has great pulling power, but below are the foundations of a fabulously efficient and well-engineered boat.
When times are tough the tough get going. The Aegean 60 Enclosed is a world-class cruiser designed to invigorate the boating market. The best Aussie boat of the show. – David Lockwood
The Best Yacht of the show was unquestionably the Marten 49, a go-fast cruiser racer with interior that wows. Iain Murray is behind the Australian yard with Kiwi roots. A great yacht bound for Hamilton Island where it will operate as a luxury charter vessel.
The Best Budget boat is a tight category, but we like the new Bayliner 245 from Avante Marine. It’s got a better integrated deck layout with sink and superior upholstery. That said, locals Mustang announced it will have a new 2850 sportscruiser at next year’s show for $130,000 that will rock the fleet.
So to our best local boat. It was hard-fought, with Riviera presenting its new 5800 Sport Yacht with triple IPS. It’s a great boat, the company’s most global boat ever, with a full-beam stateroom.
But it’s the Maritimo Aegean 60 Enclosed that is the most innovative Australian-made boat of the show. We returned on numerous occasions and spoke with Mr Maritimo, Bill Barry-Cotter (pictured above), who was proud as punch of his new A60E.
The flying bridge is a cool all-weather cruising station, the saloon puts many penthouses to shame, the stateroom has great pulling power, but below are the foundations of a fabulously efficient and well-engineered boat.
When times are tough the tough get going. The Aegean 60 Enclosed is a world-class cruiser designed to invigorate the boating market. The best Aussie boat of the show. – David Lockwood