The 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show turned on the weather, the products and the visitors.
Headlining with the announcement of its new ePropulsion partnership, the 36th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show bristled with Power Equipment brands and products – and a whole lot more.
Described as a “vivid snapshot of where boating is headed”, this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) provided the ideal platform to showcase Power Equipment’s suite of products and expertise.
Each year SCIBS elevates the marine lifestyle game — and in 2025, the 36th edition did just that. Set against the glistening 202‑berth marina at Hope Island on Australia’s Gold Coast, the four‑day event, (complete with stunning weather over four days), broke records both in scale and attendance.
There was a veritable sea of 824 boats on show — 422 afloat and 402 perched on land — a nearly 10% increase over 2024, and the highest ever seen at SCIBS.
Power Equipment CEO Luke Foster captained his company’s presence for the opening days of the show and was proud of the team effort at SCIBS.
“Boat shows such as Sanctuary Cove are not only a sales opportunity for Power Equipment’s products, they cement our position as leaders in bringing innovative products to market and expertise,” Luke said.
Most excitingly, Power Equipment’s newest distributorship – ePropulsion electric marine engines – was afforded its own display area in the primary indoor exhibit area, (the impressive entrance to the show). The company’s more established brands including Yanmar, John Deere and PSS Shaft Seals were highlighted in a larger outdoor display area adjacent to the Sanctuary Cove Marina’s impressive on-water boat exhibits – the go-to zone for boating enthusiasts, prospective buyers and dreamers alike!
More than 300 international marine exhibitors filled 15,000 m² of exhibition space, supported by over 2,500 marine-related products ranging from cutting-edge navigation tech to opulent lifestyle accessories.
New and established brands in the spotlight
The reach of Power Equipment’s suite of products continues to expand at such boat shows, and SCIBS 2025 was perhaps a standout for this.
Most impressively, Power Equipment’s latest distributorship partner ePropulsion electric marine engines could be found across multiple exhibitor sites, particularly in tender and smaller recreational boating displays.
It seemed like everywhere you turned at SCIBS, an ePropulsion electric outboard was featured on the transom of both new and established boat brands.
With Australia being a market on the cusp of change when it comes to electric power options, it is no surprise that boat shows focused on innovation would be highlighting the ePropulsion product. (You can read more about Power Equipment’s new ePropulsion partnership and the ePropulsion product range in this edition of Power News)
Meanwhile Smart Gyro was also front-and-centre at Power Equipment’s main exhibit site, with this blossoming new player in the vessel stabiliser market continuing to make its mark.
With Smart Gyro stabilisers now available for boats from 2.5tonne up to 1,800tonne, the product had pretty much every recreational and commercial vessel application at SCIBS covered, and more!
Power Equipment’s Australian-built generator partner Eniquest also displayed a new commercial marine generator featuring the robust and quality componentry of Eniquest generator design and ever-reliable Yanmar diesel engine power. From a 500 watt electric ePropulsion outboard to unstoppable horsepower of high performance Yanmar and John Deere marine diesels, there really was something for everyone from Power Equipment at SCIBS.
A marine industry “mecca”
Power Equipment representatives at SCIBS 2025 were pleased to welcome new friends and old to their exhibits.
It is not unusual for dealers and Power Equipment product representatives to turn up at SCIBS each year for both business and convivial contact. It was most pleasing however to have special visits on day one of the Show from Power Equipment dealers Cairns SIM Trans (a Power Equipment dealer from Far North Queensland) and Mariner Engineering representatives (marine mechanical experts and Yanmar specialists) from Victoria.
An official count tallied 45,865 visitors across the weekend — surpassing many expectations. With an estimated on‑site value of boats alone at over A$750 million and a total economic impact, (direct and tourism), of close to half a billion Australian dollars, SCIBS will continue as the aspirational mecca of the Australian boating scene. Don’t miss out on next year’s show, (the 2026 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is scheduled for 21–24 May). Power Equipment will see you there!
