A Sunshine Coast marina has joined a boat storage campaign aimed at making boating safer, simpler and more accessible.
The Pelican Waters Marina has joined a region-wide Dry Stack Boat Storage initiative, as part of the Boating Industry Association’s Discover Boating Australia campaign.
The campaign brings together several leading South-East Queensland marinas, including Pelican Waters Marina, d’Albora’s East Coast and Pacific Point Marinas, Redland City Marina, Runaway Bay Marina and Scarborough Marina, to promote the benefits of dry stack boat storage and responsible boat ownership,
Campaign spokesman Luke McCaul, from Zeal Marinas, said Pelican Waters had been instrumental in shaping the initiative, which promotes the benefits of dry stack boat storage and responsible boat ownership, from the outset.
“Pelican Waters was at the forefront of driving the conversation to establish a coordinated Dry Stack network that genuinely benefits the South East Queensland boating community,” he said.
“It is an exciting recreational boating destination, particularly because boating here is still in its relative infancy compared to more established locations. With strong residential growth and significant untapped potential, Pelican Waters is perfectly positioned from a boating perspective.
“The protected waterways of the Pumicestone Passage offer so much to explore and are the perfect training ground for people new to boating, right up to the most experienced boating enthusiasts. It is a recreational boating destination with exponential growth in demand.”
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Pelican Waters Marina director Hamish Pressland said the marina was pleased to be part of a collective industry effort to encourage more people onto the water.
“We’re glad to be on board and working alongside other marinas to send a consistent message about the enjoyment and accessibility of boating to the more than 75,000 registered boat owners across South East Queensland,” he said.
“What we consistently hear from customers is that many simply didn’t realise how easy boating can be when their vessel is stored at a marina in a dry stack facility.
“Once people understand that they can arrive, have their boat launched for them and head straight out onto protected waterways like the Pumicestone Passage, it fundamentally changes how often they use their boat.
“Dry stack boat storage plays an important role in making boating simpler, safer and more convenient, particularly for people who want to spend their time on the water rather than managing logistics.
“Dry stack storage also makes boating more financially accessible for new owners, allowing people to enter the market with a smaller, more affordable vessel while still enjoying the security, convenience and service benefits of a full marina environment – without the higher costs of on-water berthing.”
Fellow Pelican Waters Marina director Les Binkin said dry stack boat storage removed many of the traditional barriers to boat ownership.
“This type of vessel storage takes many of the pain points out of boating,” he said.
“Walk-on, walk-off use, motor flushing, wash-down, secure storage – even getting your driveway back at home – are all handled by Dry Stack facilities, allowing owners to focus on enjoying their time on the water.
The campaign includes a dedicated online platform connecting boat owners with their nearest dry stack facility, alongside educational resources designed to improve understanding of storage options and promote responsible boating.
The Boating Industry Association reported national industry turnover last year across recreational boating sectors of more than $10.2 billion, with around 35,000 people employed across more than 2000 businesses.
Marinas and boatyards contribute $2.24 billion to the economy, according to the Marina Industries Association.
