Gold Coast luxury cruiser manufacturer Maritimo is gearing up for its strongest year on record with sales in the last twelve months up approximately 40 percent and strong interest coming from the USA.

Maritimo’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show display includes some of its most popular models ever including the M65 cruising motor yacht and the M58 cruising motor yacht. It will also showcase the new M61 cruising motor yacht, which is having its world premier at SCIBS.

Maritimo Sales and Marketing Manager, Greg Haines, said Maritimo was ‘on a roll’ with strong interest internationally. He said about 45 percent of the company’s buyers were from the USA with the remainder from Australia and New Zealand.

“We have a number of our international dealers here for the show and we are confident that the new M61 will be a winner for us,” he said. Five have already been sold.

Haines said that a new four-cabin version of the extremely popular M58 was also providing a winner with Maritimo customers.

He said many of Maritimo’s sales were to second and third time Maritimo owners who were staunchly loyal to the brand.

Maritimo has increased its international dealer network considerably in the last eighteen months and its partnership with Florida based distributor Galati Yacht Sales was paying big dividends.

“Galati has such a large network throughout the USA that the Maritimo name is appearing at marinas throughout the States and sales are particularly strong in the 48 to 65 feet sector,” said Haines. “Several representatives from Galati will be at Sanctuary Cove this year.”

He said the current Australian dollar exchange rate was a positive for local manufacturers. “The Aussie dollar at these levels helps exports and is a barrier to imported boats so we expect our USA exports to continue to be strong,” said Haines.

He said SCIBS would be a good indicator of how 2016 will pan out. “With our dealer partners coming out from the USA and the new 61 foot motor yacht, which we believe will be a strong performer, we are confident that the rest of this year will be very positive for Maritimo,” said Haines

“We also have dealer partners coming from Europe, Asia and parts of the Americas and some of them are bringing clients with them.

“We have found over the years at Sanctuary Cove, because it is such a lifestyle event with multiple facets, that our international contacts are always very keen to be involved.

“For many of them it is a big commitment in time and effort, being so far away, but many wouldn’t miss it.”

Haines said in 2015 Maritimo’s staffing numbers increased by approximately 30 percent and with sales on the increase the company was very solidly positioned