Big Boys' Sea Toys

The Sunday Age

Sunday December 2, 2007

Gary LaPersonne

The recreational sport has caught a wave

The boat people are taking over on Melbourne in a big way. Across Victoria, the popularity of boating and sailing is on the up. According to the Boating Industry Association of Victoria, there are 162,000 powered boats, including yachts, registered in the state, and sales of new boats are growing by 3 per cent a year.

Boating is now a $3 billion industry in Victoria and claims to be bigger than the local horse-racing market.

In keeping with the growth, marina berths in the state are expected to double in the next five to 10 years from the present 2200.

At Docklands alone there are 400 water berths, rising to 800 in the next five years.

There are also plans for new marinas at Wyndham Cove, which will have the capacity for up to 1000 wet berths, Frankston, Queenscliff and Portarlington. Upgrades are in the works for Sandringham, Williamstown, Mornington and Patterson Lakes.

As ports around the bay open up, people will take to the water in even greater numbers, says Scott O'Hare, of Aussie Boat Sales. A big attraction is that it's family friendly and offers a variety of recreational pursuits, from joy-riding and fishing to skiing, he says.

But if you want to sail with the tide, be warned - it doesn't come cheap. The entry price for a new, multi-purpose family boat starts at $35,000, O'Hare says. For that you get a fibreglass, four-stroke runabout that consumes about 10 litres of fuel an hour on the water.

In the prestige bracket, you wouldn't get much change from $1.3 million. A newcomer to these shores is the Jeanneau Prestige 50S Sports Cruiser by French manufacturer Jeanneau Yachts.

If you're looking to go to sea, here are some FAQs from the BIA, a non-profit, non-government organisation recognised as the peak recreational boating body in Victoria.

WHERE CAN I GET MY BOAT LICENCE?

Victorian recreational boating licences can be obtained from any VicRoads office, or you can sit your test at the Melbourne Boat Show through the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Boat Handling Course.

WHERE CAN I REGISTER MY BOAT?

Boats can be registered through VicRoads. Call 131 171 or visit vicroads.vic.gov.au

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY SECOND-HAND BOAT HAS CLEAR TITLE?

There is no positive answer for this question. Without a hull identification number system and a register of encumbered vessels scheme, there is no way of knowing if your boat has clear title.

The BIA suggests buyers insist the boat has clear title written into the contract by the dealer.

The Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show will be held at Docklands' NewQuay Marina and Waterfront City from February 1-3, 2008.

? Link: biavic.com.au

© 2007 The Sunday Age

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