Cape Town set to enthral boating world

Great line-up of products from exhibitors

SOUTH AFRICA: With just 10 days to go before the opening of this year’s edition of boatica – Cape Town hosted by Messe Frankfurt at the iconic V&A Waterfront, enthusiasts should not delay in purchasing their ticket to a catalogue of great products from the exhibitors.

With close to 50 companies ready to wow visitors, the line-up includes both boats and gear for boat owners. And, a comfortable set-up allows you to engage with vessels on the water or in the marquee as well as the opportunity to catch your breath between events in a “garden” where you can sip a drink and dream of your own ocean adventures.

Powering up the line-up

Well-known to the commercial as well as recreational boating sectors, Seascape Marine Services represents a range of propulsion options from brands such as Cox, Yanmar Marine, Hamilton Jet and Kholer to name a few.

More than just a sales company, Seascape operates a servicing department that offers a global 24 hour a day service throughout the year with engineers that can travel if necessary. Seascape Marine Services is constantly growing its product range offering high quality marine and agricultural products that evolve with current consumer and commercial needs.

Also no stranger to the commercial and recreational markets, Southern Power is the Volvo Penta Marine Market Centre for South Africa and Namibia. They are also the official importer and exclusive distributor of leading international brands such as Oxe Diesel, Webasto, Whisper Power, Humphree, Torqeedo, FCI watermakers, Sonihull & Doen Waterjets.

These are supported through a combination of internal marine engineering support and a service dealer network across Southern Africa.

Popular outboard brand, Suzuki, will be well-represented at the show with Suzuki Atlantic as well as Suzuki South Sea on hand to answer all your brand-related questions.

Suzuki Marine is considered a market leader in 4-stroke outboard engines in South Africa. From the lightweight DF2.5 to the award winning power of the DF350A, they have an outboard to suit your way of life on the ocean.

Offering a range of products, Vetus, design and develop solutions in-house to ensure an optimum boating experience. With subsidiaries in 18 countries and supported by a worldwide distribution and service network, Vetus provides marine engines, exhausts, thrusters and more.

With some 65 years of experience, Yamaha Marine, promises to showcase a range of both watercraft and outboards to visitors this year. See their latest range of 4 and 2 stroke outboards available for both recreational and commercial use – including the new Yamaha F200 outboard that has recently landed in the country.

Another popular outboard exhibitor joins the line-up. Mercury’s range of outboard motors includes Verado, Pro XS, FourStroke, SeaPro, and Jet. Backed by decades of innovation and leadership, Mercury outboards are built to go the distance, delivering performance driven by forward-thinking technology.

Ensuring safe seas

Visit the South African Maritime Safety Authority’s (SAMSA) team in the marquee to discuss training, certification and all things safety related. SAMSA’s mandate within the South African ocean space is all-encompassing and includes the development and implementation of national and international maritime safety and marine environment protection standards.

Their team of experts is a great place to start when considering the life-changing decision to engage in ocean activities – whether buying your first boat or signing up for your skipper’s licence.

Of course, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is legendary in the country’s coastal waters and operates a network of response centres manned by thousands of volunteers along the coastline. They do not discriminate and respond to fishermen, swimmers, anglers, hikers, paddlers and surfers in distress at sea. They believe that, through water-safety education and active rescue, they can save lives, change lives and create futures.

With a range of safety products, Viking Life-Saving Equipment is a must-stop on your boatica visit. Viking manufactures, markets and services safety and fire-fighting equipment for passenger and cargo ships, offshore installations, offshore wind turbines, fishing vessels, navies, helicopter services, fire departments and leisure yachts around the world.

Viking SA was established in 1998 and is located in Cape Town and Durban.

Equally committed to keeping you safe on the ocean is Lalizas - manufacturer and distributor of marine equipment, lifesaving equipment and miscellaneous items directly related to various sea sports and activities. The company holds a leading position in the European Marine market with decades of experience and expertise in lifesaving equipment.

Lalizas product quality is verified by international bodies such as Germanischer Lloyd, Bureau Veritas and Lloyd's Register.

Recognising that there is no room for mistakes at sea, Ikaros offers a wide range of sea safety products for the boat owner and crew. Get your rockets and flares directly from the show and ensure you are always visible in the event of an incident at sea.

Drop in at the International Marine Certification Institute’s (IMCI) stand and learn more about the importance of purchasing certified marine products. The core business of IMCI is the CE-certification of watercraft and their components according to the Recreational Craft Directive of the European Union.

With so much to see and experience at the show, set aside a good few hours if not the full weekend to engage with experts and other enthusiasts.

As a Maritime Review reader you can benefit from a special discount on your tickets by clicking HERE and using the promo code: MARITIME.

PHOTO: boatica 2022 (Hugo Attfield)