Sportsfishers aplenty at Sanctuary Cove

Showgoers with a penchant for sportsfishing were well catered for at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, conducted on the Gold Coast, May 19-22.

Eagle Yachts displayed the fully-imported Bertram 570 which is the first of several Bertram models that will hit Aussie shores by the end of 2005. Precision Cruisers' new 58-footer turned plenty of heads as did a couple of beauties from Salthouse and Coracle Marine.

Riviera had its new 47 Series II complete with tunnels, and alongside was its popular 51 and the all-new 60. The company reported more than $50 million in sales over the show.

Australian stalwart of the sportsfishing scene Sylvania Marina displayed the tried and proven
35- and 40-footers as well as the new 47ft model from Caribbean. Another Aussie icon, Black Watch, showed off its 36 and 40 while Deep V Marine had its full range on display including the 260, 280, 310, 340 and a re-vamped version of the centre-console 25.

The new kid on the block and a boat that received plenty of attention was the 34 Pirate Sportfish built locally at the Gold Coast City Marina. This express-style boat complete with Black Marlin tower and centre helm really looks the goods. Look out for a full review of the Pirate Sportfish in an upcoming issue of BlueWater.

Sunshine Coast-based powered catamaran specialist Kevlacat had a few of its twin-hulled sportsfishers on display and SA-based boatbuilder, White Cap, showed off its new 25ft trailerable sportsfisher.

There were the usual bevy of classy imported centre-consoles and walkarounds from the likes of Boston Whaler, Striper and Trophy. Although it didn't have any on display, Cruiser Yachts was touting the pending arrival of the US-built Rampage boats.

Other US-import gameboats reportedly heading Down Under very soon include the latest from Viking, Cabo, Ocean Yachts and Albermarle.

Expect reviews on the best of these new boats within these pages in the near future.