LIVE - Sydney Boat Show Weekend

LIVE - Sydney Boat Show Weekend

Judging by the shoe count —
that is, the number of visitor's shoes parked outside the boats bobbing at the marina —

this weekend's Sydney International Boat Show is in full swing. As you no doubt know, you need to remove your shoes before traipsing inside the luxury boats at the boat show. I do hope you donned your best socks. No holes please.

Having premised this little news item with that, there is more to see at the boat show than just glorious big boats —
or big toes. I just lugged a 20kg-plus inflatable sailing boat to my car. It was half price! How could I resist? The Aquaglide 4.1 can be sailed, rowed, towed, and lazed upon. Take a tip and buy your summer toys for a song at the boat show. Fishing tackle is cheap, too.

Back to the boats... a couple of must-sees today.

From the gate on the western side of Darling Harbour and then around: the Beneteau Swift Trawler 36 (pictured above and a smart single-engine holiday home making its boat-show debut), the Maritimo 73 Motoryacht (the biggest production cruiser ever built in Australia), the Riviera 5800 SY (a world-class single-level entertainer), the Mustang 480 Sports Euro (nice interior); the Grand Banks (high quality); the Outer Reef 63 (engineered to go places); impending around-the-world sailor Jessica Watson's PINK S&S34; Spirit of Mystery (replica from Peter Goss), Jeanneau's 3200 Sunfast (two-handed ocean racer), Hanse's yachts (chic German design), SeaRay with Axius (any dummy can dock it), and do look around and find what floats your boat

Indoors, I really enjoyed the latest electronics. Cartography in chartplotters is getting smarter, the ultrasound antifouling devices have got me wondering, and there are lots of trick gadgets and gear across all boating bents. The new season is just around the corner. Time to upgrade, accessorise and score a bargain. And do marvel at the classic boats inside the halls. Yep, we've come a long way. Happy hunting. - David Lockwood.