Download Marine masters set to take on apprentices in Battle of the Boat

Marine masters set to take on apprentices
in Battle of the Boat Builders at Expo
Press release for immediate release 12th May 2016
The masters have thrown down the gauntlet to their apprentices ahead of the longawaited return of the Battle of the Boat Builders at the Gold Coast International
Marine Expo.
And it seems the apprentices feel they are most certainly up to the task.
Trades teachers from TAFE Gold Coast’s state-of-the-art Marine Training Centre
issued the competition challenge to add even more fun to ‘the boat show with so
much more’ from May 19-22.
“The apprentices are willing to put their skills to the test to show their teachers and
their families the skills they have acquired throughout their training,” said competition
coordinator and TAFE Gold Coast Director of Faculty Industry Trade Skills, Rob
Jones.
The Battle of the Boat Builders – lasted staged on the Gold Coast more than 10
years ago – will be contested on Saturday (Day 3) of Expo’s fun-filled, four-day
program, commencing from 9am.
Mr Jones said each team of three people will build a 2-person boat from supplied
materials – two sheets of ply measuring 2.4m x 12m, a limited amount of timber for
the internal frames and oars, a set number of screws and some adhesive.
“The design is totally up to the competitors,” he said. “The challenge is to build a boat
that can be safely rowed out on to the Coomera River, around a buoy and return,
with independent judges also taking into account a degree of finesse.
The Battle of the Boat Builders will be a terrific new attraction for the Expo, to be
staged right in the heart of Australia’s Boating Industry Capital: the Gold Coast
Marine Precinct at Coomera.
The competition – which is open for any company or group to enter – was once very
popular within our marine industry and the Champion title was very keenly contested.
“Bringing it back for Expo in 2016 is generating quite a deal of interest within our
boat-building community and it will certainly grow in years to come,” said Expo Event
& Marketing Manager Emma Brown.
“The Expo vision is to be recognised as a truly international event that draws people
from all over Australia and the world for four fantastic days of fun on the Gold Coast
in May – a massive showcase of all things aquatic comparable to anywhere in
Australia, and anywhere in the world,” she said.
“Our industry’s not-for-profit Expo is held right in the heart of the largest recreational
shipyards and boat-builders in the Southern Hemisphere where, each year, over
13,000 boats are manufactured, some 6000 boats are slipped, serviced, repaired or
refitted, and over 2500 people are directly employed.
“The value of the supply chain servicing the major marine exporters located within
this thriving hub runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars – which means
Australian jobs and valuable Australian export revenue from the manufacturing
sector.”
In 2015 – with over 17,020 visitors, over 500 boats on display and over 230
exhibitors – our completely new paradigm of Australian boat show achieved
confirmed direct sales well in excess of $50 million.
That, of course, is in addition to the wider and ongoing economic effects of the event
for the Australian marine industry, for Queensland and for the Gold Coast, especially
tourism with so many people visiting the Gold Coast in May.
Expo was also named as Best Exhibition at the 2015 Australian Event Awards – the
nation’s pinnacle awards for the events industry.
Love boating? You’ll love the Gold Coast in May!