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Boat Show sales top €10million

28th April 2008

Buoyant times remain for the Irish Marine industry following sales worth over ten million euro worth reported yesterday at the biennial On­the­water boat show in Malahide, Co. Dublin.

5,000 people attended the four-day show run by the Irish Marine Federation (IMF) that was officially opened by Minister for Eamon O Cuiv last Thursday.

Over 150 boats were on display including a 60-foot Sunseeker motorboat from Dun Laoghaire's MGM marine.

The majority of craft displayed were power boats, RIBs and jet skis but dealers selling several major sailing brands were also represented, including Jeanneau, Beneteau, Bavaria and Hanse.

BJ Marine was the largest of the 50 exhibitors and sold 45 per cent of its 35 boats on display.

"We weren't happy after the first two days but it came right at the weekend" said the company's managing director, Bernard Gallagher.

An exhibitor from Lough Derg, Billy Shaw of Portumna marine in Co. Galway reported sales of €1.2million. Shaw operates on Lough Derg and sold a Broom 425 to an Irish client for €600,000.

The IMF claims that further growth in the industry is possible but it is being limited by the lack of national marine policy. It has called on Government to provide more marinas around the coast.

Afloat.ie Team

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