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Ten years ago, the Marine Industries Association held the first on-the-water boat show at the Viaduct Basin in downtown Auckland.
It was a showcase locally and to the world that we are leaders in design, building and marketing of boats and marine componentry.
Thanks to the massive changes in and around the Viaduct Basin and Downtown area, where new hotel and restaurant developments have changed the ambience so that the whole area now rivals any Northern Hemisphere port, it's the perfect venue to experience the best our marine industry has to offer.
The association's executive director, Peter Busfield, says since its inception, the show has played a major role in developing a vibrant marine industry now enjoying $1.8 billion turnover. It creates $600 million in exports and employs 10,000 New Zealanders, including 600 Boating Industry Training Organisation apprentices.
For this year's show, which opens on Thursday and runs to Sunday, a purpose-built marina has been constructed within the Viaduct.
That's to allow the display of a huge array of boats, ranging from trailer boats, launches and yachts to mega boats. And nearby, everything marine - from engines to anchors and a sea-themed fashion parade - will be on show.
A show highlight this year will be the release of the new range of French Beneteau power boats, presented by Rogers Boat shop, one of New Zealand's oldest marine dealers.
Beneteau has been building boats since 1884 and at the show will present a range from a trailer boat to a 9m launch through to the magnificent 13.6m 42 Swift Trawler. Interest is likely to be high as a growing number of local boaties are starting to follow the world trend to trawler-style boating.
Traditional trawler hull design gives the owner a more roomy, comfortable boat, offering economical yet limiting cruising, as displacement speeds are only around 7-12 knots, which can make long passages.
What makes the Beneteau 42 Swift Trawler a standout is the combination of the trawler concept, with a hull design that allows the boat to get up on the plane for a fast passage while retaining French style and flair.
Many boaties over the past few years have stepped up to large trailer boats looking to spend more time away with friends and families cruising fishing and diving.
Fitting this category perfectly is the popular New Zealand-designed and built Superior 1050 which has stamped its mark on the local boating scene for a number of years.
