Success for Ocean Alexander dovetails into Grand Banks plans

by Imprint Media on 24 Aug 2013 ,b>Re-launch of Ocean Alexander at the Sydney International Boat Show last week was an overwhelming success, according to Hank Compton who has taken up Australian distribution of the superyacht brand.

Compton, who has represented the renowned Grand Banks brand in Australia for the past six years, is expanding his team’s activities by including the Taiwan brand in his portfolio.

His team displayed an Ocean Alexander 72 Pilothouse Motoryacht at the show alongside a Grand Banks 59 Aleutian RP. He said the team had received a number of strong leads during the show and is currently negotiating a sale of the 72 Pilothouse.

'I can’t say whether the client will buy the display boat or will have a new one built,' said Compton at the end of the show.

Compton is also pleased with the continuing interest in new Grand Banks models.

'The new 54 Heritage EU has been a runaway success,' he said. 'We are also releasing an upgrade 43 Heritage EU.'

The company recently expanded his role to include European sales as well as his current job running Grand Banks Australia and handling sales and support throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

So why represent the Ocean Alexander brand in Australia?

For the forward-thinking Compton, the reason is obvious.

'Grand Banks builds stylish and high quality cruising motor yachts up to 76 feet long,' he said. 'And there are no current plans to build larger boats.

'We have clients who currently own some of our larger models and will one day look for something a little bigger. We don’t want to lose them from our close community. We also want to attract a new group of people to our community.

'Ocean Alexander’s range begins at 72 feet and offers models all the way up to 155 feet. Their most popular model is the 90-footer. So the fit is obvious.'

Compton said his team has earned an enviable reputation for client support all the way from first contact through the life of a Grand Banks.

'We care about our owners,' he said. 'We want them to have a fantastic boating experience with Grand Banks yachts. And we want to be able to service their needs no matter what size boat they require.'

Compton said that Ocean Alexander chief executive Johnny Chueh, who joined his team at the Sydney International Boat Show, is equally passionate about the owner experience.

'His craftsmen build beautiful boats,' said Compton. 'They are fully equipped. As Johnny says, they offer a turnkey solution. A new owners step on board with suitcases of clothes and toiletries and they need nothing more. Everything else is already on board, down to crockery, cutlery, towels and linen.'

Both Compton and Chueh expect to have an Ocean Alexander 90 in Australia early next year.

Compton is also busy around the world generating Grand Banks sales.

His team will deliver a new model 54 Heritage EU to a West Australian client in November.

The new 54 Heritage EU has been a particular success in his hands.

'Of the first 12 boat on order to the factory, we have sold five in our regions,' says Compton. 'Every one has been sight unseen. The first boat is not yet built. It says a great deal about the trust our owners have in the brand and in our team that they are ordering a boat simply on the drawings and specifications we are able to provide.'

Compton will have a 54 Heritage EU on display at the Sydney boat show next year.

'She is the largest of the Heritage classic style series and provides the perfect solution for a couple or a family looking for extended cruising capabilities.'

He said the 54EU shares the same acclaimed hull as the 53 Aleutian RP with its V-drive propulsion system.

She has a standard three stateroom layout. The main deck features expansive seating in the salon and a fully-covered cockpit, a dedicated dinette across from the mid-ships galley and a spacious helm area complete with both skipper and navigation seats.'

As well as the 54EU models, Compton has notched up sales for a pair of 43 Heritage Europas, a 53 Aleutian RP as well as two late model brokerage boats over the past six months. The team has also delivered a 59 Aleutian to Italy and will deliver a new 65 Aleutian within the next six weeks.