Each week, get a concise wrap of the biggest boating and marine stories from around the country and beyond. We sort the signal from the noise with clear context, key takeaways, and what it means for Australian skippers, owners, and enthusiasts. Expect headlines, quick explainers, and practical insights you can use before the weekend. Dependable, jargon-free, and ready in minutes—your go-to weekly catch-up.
This Week:
This week: Perth Boat Show attendance jumped about 20% with positive sales and enquiry. Queensland launched a spring safety blitz targeting speed and lifejacket compliance, with extra patrols on busy waterways. Axopar is equipping flagship models with Simrads NSO 4 displays, highlighting how electronics affect price and resale. Victoria confirmed the St Leonards Pier rebuild for 2027 while keeping the current pier open this summer. Action points: use a boat loan calculator, consider pre‑approval, budget for safety and tech options, and plan berths and storage ahead of summer.
Hello and welcome to the Australian Boat Loans Weekly Boating News Wrap, Im Paige Estritori, its Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
First up, a confidence check from the west. The 2026 Perth Boat Show drew just over twelve thousand visitors, up about twenty per cent on last year, with exhibitors reporting solid sales and strong enquiry. That points to active buyer interest heading into summer. If youre shopping, get your budget sorted early with an online boat loan calculator and consider pre‑approval so you can move fast when the right hull or motor pops up.
Meanwhile in Queensland, authorities have kicked off a spring waterway safety blitz branded “cool your jets,” focusing on speed, lifejacket rules and lookout discipline. Expect extra patrols on busy rivers and popular spots, and remember most incidents actually happen in good weather close to shore. If a personal watercraft is on your list, factor licensing, safety gear and insurance into your total ownership budget alongside finance.
On the tech front, Axopar is adding Simrads new NSO 4 multifunction displays to selected flagship models, with faster start‑up and deeper integration for radar, sonar and engine data. Its a useful reminder that electronics packages can influence purchase price and future resale. When you compare boat finance options, consider whether you want to roll factory options and upgrades into the loan or pay for them separately.
And in Victoria, the St Leonards Pier rebuild is locked in, with a contractor appointed and construction slated to begin in early 2027. The current pier stays open over the peak summer, and the upgrade will add accessible fishing spots and easier water access. For Bellarine and Geelong boaters, thats more amenity on the horizon—so plan ahead for berths, storage and ramp access if youre timing a new purchase.
Thats your wrap. For clear guides, calculators and to compare competitive boat loan options with flexible repayments and transparent terms, head to boatloan.au. Im Paige Estritori—catch you next week.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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Knowledgebase
Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI): A personal finance measure that compares an individual's monthly debt payment to their monthly gross income.
