The 2022 Sydney Boat Show returns to the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour this weekend after a three-year shutdown due to coronavirus lockdowns.
All three major personal watercraft brands – Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner and Kawasaki Jet Ski – will be represented at the show, the first of its kind since 2019.
And a Taiga Orca – the world’s first customer-ready electric personal watercraft – has been air-freighted from Canada as the start-up firm announces plans to enter the Australian market.
The 2022 Sydney Boat Show will be the first time Australian customers will be able to compare the 2022 season models across all three personal watercraft brands under one roof.
Displays for Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner and the Taiga Orca are on the ground floor of the main hall, while Kawasaki’s Jet Ski display – the first public outing for its 2022 models in Australia – is located upstairs on level four.
Sea-Doo has one of the biggest stands of the entire show – near the ground floor entrance – and with almost every model covered.
Yamaha WaveRunners are represented with just two display models – a 2022 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO and a 2022 Yamaha FX SVHO Limited – courtesy of the Sydney Watercraft Centre after Yamaha Marine corporate elected to sit out this event due to chronic stock shortages.
And Marina Bayside has a Yamaha SuperJet alongside its big boat displays.
Kawasaki Jet Ski dealers along east-coast Australia recently had their demonstration sessions for the highly-anticipated 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310 series, however they are yet to receive display stock or customer stock.
For the show, Kawasaki has pulled together an example of every 2022 model, including the first exhibition outing for the 2022 Kawasaki STX160 range, 2022 Kawasaki Ultra LX range, and the three highly-anticipated models that make up the 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310 supercharged series.
The 2022 Sydney Boat Show will be the first opportunity for Australian customers to see the 2022 line-ups across all three personal watercraft brands under one roof.
A late entrant – and a special surprise – is the arrival of the Taiga Orca electric Jet Ski from Canada.
It is a display model only and is not equipped with an electric motor or battery pack due to airfreight restrictions, however representatives at the show are taking pre-orders for buyers willing to part with a $US1000 refundable deposit.
Unlike the US which has multi-brand Jet Ski dealerships, in Australia Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki have standalone showrooms that are not associated with rival personal watercraft brands.
This means large exhibitions such as the 2022 Sydney Boat Show are among the few opportunities for customers to compare Jet Ski rivals side-by-side – or a short walk across the exhibition floor.
Normally, the Sydney Boat Show brings out big discounts and special offers on Jet Skis and personal watercraft as sales slow in the middle of winter.
Historically, discounts of up to $3000 on certain runout models are not uncommon. Extended warranties and low-interest-rate finance deals are other popular enticements.
However, there are no discounts or special deals on Jet Skis or personal watercraft at the 2022 Sydney Boat Show because there is still not enough stock to meet local demand.
With that in mind, the advice from Jet Ski dealers canvassed by Watercraft Zone in the lead-up to the show: order now in time for summer.
“There are stock shortages across all industries: cars, caravans, boats and Jet Skis,” said Sea-Doo specialist Simon Kendrick from Beaches Sea-Doo.
“The smartest thing for people to do is to use the Sydney Boat Show to do their research and then get an order in, so at least they’re in the queue. By the time summer rolls around it could be too late.”
Yamaha WaveRunner specialist Joe Boyagi from Sydney Watercraft Centre said: “It’s not like it used to be where there was lots of stock in winter and plenty of deals around.
“The current shortages mean most of us are still waiting on new stock to arrive, and we still have a lot of backorders to fill.
“So our advice to anyone who wants a (personal watercraft) in time for summer, is to place an order now. At least that way you can be sure that you will secure a ski in time for the warmer months.”
Kawasaki specialist Mark Perlowski from the Newcastle Jet Ski Centre said: “We’re very excited about the 2022 Ultra 310 series and we are already fielding a lot of enquiries. But we know stock will be limited, so we encourage customers to put down a deposit because these will sell fast. In fact, most of our first allocation is already sold.”
Representatives for all three Jet Ski and personal watercraft brands said production numbers have been allocated for Australia, but the new challenge is overcoming shipping bottlenecks.
While Sea-Doo and Kawasaki have corporate stands at the 2022 Sydney Boat Show – staffed by dealer personnel and head office employees – Yamaha Marine has elected to sit out this year’s event for the first time in memory.
Yamaha WaveRunners are represented by Sydney Watercraft Centre with two display models alongside its range of boats.
Experts representing Jet Ski and personal watercraft brands at the 2022 Sydney Boat Show are most likely dealer staff, which means they will also be able to assist with customer orders for those who want to get in the queue.
The 2022 Sydney Boat Show is the 53rd running of the exhibition and the second time it has been held at the revamped International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
The event runs across five days from Thursday 28 July 2022 to Monday 1 August 2022, from 10am to 7pm daily.
More than 60,000 visitors are expected to attend Australia’s largest recreational boating exhibition.
One-day tickets can be bought online for $25 (plus a $1.68 order fee), or at the door for $29.50.
Entry is free for children aged 15 years and under.
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