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I’m
writing to you this month from New Zealand, where I’ve been
travelling around and doing quite a bit of boating on some of
the world’s most beautiful waterways, lakes and fiords, as
well as meeting with a wide variety of boat owners and marine industry
stakeholders. It’s noteworthy that, while the physical environment
over here is quite different to that we enjoy in Australia, we
seem to share a common bond in our national passions for spending
time with our friends and loved ones out on the water.
They tell me that NZ has the second
highest rate of boat ownership per capita in the world, and why
wouldn’t they? Look around
these islands and you’d do well to imagine a more exciting or
diverse place to get out amongst it. To those who love the outdoors
and have never been to NZ, do yourselves a favour; put down your copy
of CM Magazine, get in touch with your travel agent and get yourself
over here to check it out at your first available opportunity.
I stopped off in Queensland on my
way to NZ to check out the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
and the AMIF Australian Marine Awards. What better barometer of
the vitality of the Australian marine scene could one see than the
success of these superb events? Some of the biggest and best boats
ever seen in Australia were on display, as was the very best that
our own world-class manufacturers have to offer.
While I was in Queensland, I was
invited to address the conference of ANZSBEG – the Australian and New Zealand Safe Boating
Education Group – made up of representatives from government
boating agencies and maritime safety authorities from both sides of
the Tasman, the boating industry and rescue organisations, who come
together to coordinate a strategy to improve boating safety through
education.
The members of ANZSBEG include those
with responsibility for the development and implementation of government
policy on boating safety, organisations responsible for national
marine training standards, people who manage the network of organisations
involved in small craft search and rescue, those who represent the
interests of people making their living out of the boating industry
and representatives of boat owners and users.
The ANZSBEG members were very interested
to hear Club Marine’s
perspective on issues such as driver education and changing trends
in boat ownership and usage patterns and, more specifically, an overview
of the factors that drive our claims experience. It remains clear
that large numbers of boats in Australia and NZ go uninsured each
year, potentially exposing boat owners to significant liability and
leaving injured parties unable to seek adequate compensation for loss
of life, limb or property; and whilst the cost and complexity of the
insurance claims we receive continues to increase every year, perhaps
up to 80 per cent of boating accidents are never reported to the appropriate
government authority.
I know I’m preaching to the converted by saying this here (given
our readers are already members of Club Marine), but we believe that
a well-trained, well-equipped and adequately-insured boat owner is
a safe and happy boat owner; and we support the work being done by
ANZSBEG and other agencies to promote these issues to boaties, regardless
of whether they cheer for the Wallabies or the All Blacks.
As winter approaches, don’t
forget to carry out some basic maintenance to protect your boat
while it’s not in use over the next few
months. ‘Winterising’ your boat, including charging up
batteries, securing storm covers and carrying out routine end-of-season
servicing on your engines can save you cost and drama when it comes
to putting the boat back into use next season. Talk to your local
Club Marine dealer or repair centre to get all the best advice
about preparing your boat for winter, and don’t forget to check
out our list of exclusive benefits made available to Club Marine members
by our agents – many of whom offer very attractive discounts
for having work done during the winter months. Go to www.clubmarine.com.au
and follow the links to the Club Card Member Benefits Scheme in
the Clubhouse section, or call us on 1800 335 169 for more information.
Safe boating, and carn the Wallabies.
Mark Bradley
Publisher and CEO
Club Marine Limited
E-mail: ceo@clubmarine.com.au
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