Boat building has been an unexpected feature of the latest round of electoral campaign promises, with shipwrights set to benefit no matter where opinion lands.

Kevin Rudd made a campaign promise late last week to fast-track the construction of two new Navy supply ships if his party is re-elected. The pledge is a response to reports the shipbuilding industry is dealing with a gap in major projects, Rudd promised to bring forward construction on the vessel which had been slated to start after 2016.

Boat-based news of a different kind in Tasmania though; where billionaire political hopeful Clive Palmer says he will consider having the life raft system for his upcoming replica of the steamship Titanic built by local crews.

Palmer was in Hobart over the weekend campaigning for the election and discussing his plans to build a 65,000 tonne replica Titanic II with Tasmanian ferry manufacturer Incat.

Using his unique brand of logic, Mr Palmer determined that the company Liferaft Systems Australia would likely do an excellent job.

“The exciting thing about his life raft system is you don't sell any in Australia, which means it must be good if people overseas are buying it Australians never buy things that are good they only buy things that are bad,” he said.