Power and Sail do mix proves new Brindabella owner

by Media Services on 2 May 2007 The famous racing maxi yacht Brindabella has a new owner. Andrew Short, of Andrew Short Marine, is due to take delivery of the boat in the next few days.

A smiling Andrew Short this week revealed his plans for the boat.

‘Brindabella will be slightly remodelled and then raced at this year’s Hamilton Island Race Week. I’ve got a meeting with a designer later next week. Not till after then will we know for sure. But we’re looking at possible keel modifications, maybe a bowsprit and then new sails.’

He said that it was a great feeling to own a yacht with a legendary racing pedigree. Brindabella still holds the race records for the Sydney Mooloolaba, Sydney Gold Coast, Sydney Wollongong, Sydney Newcastle and the Bird Island races.

‘I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve done a lot of racing against Brindabella and watched it slowly disappear off on the horizon…I am looking forward to being further up the front end of the fleet’

Short has been racing sailing boats for 40 years, and selling power boats, running his own business for the past 25 years and it has to be said he ‘knows boats.’

His impressive Andrew Short Marine facility in Taren Point in the ‘Shire’ in Sydney’s South is unique in the industry; it’s the largest undercover boating display in Australia.

Last year Short won the coveted international award for the best Sea Ray distributor for the third year in a row.

The American built power boats have been selling extremely well in this country largely due to the strength of the Aussie dollar against the US dollar. High profile racing identities Matt Allen and Rod Skellet own Sea Rays. Allen has a 52 Sundancer and Skellet gets about in a 36.

Why are Sea Ray’s so popular with Australians? ‘Compared to other boats from overseas, Americans are big people, so their boats are very roomy. They’ve got nice wide doorways; they’ve got plenty of headroom. They’re very spacious. There are not a lot of little pokey cabins.

They’ve got an R & D department that employs 25 people. And they’ve got the latest computers and milling machines to make moulds. And yeah, they just do everything right.’

Sea Ray is the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats, producing more than 15,000 boats a year from 45 models ranging from 18 to 60 feet. No other pleasure boat manufacturer in the world offers such variety
For over 45 years, Sea Ray has used forward thinking to design some of the best built, most technologically advanced boats in the industry, which has resulted in our highest accolades ever...the NMMA Award for highest satisfaction in sport boats.

Sea Ray was the first pleasure boat manufacturer to be certified for meeting the high standards of ISO 9002 Quality Assurance and has maintained that distinction for over eight years. Every Sea Ray manufacturing facility has received this distinctive award celebrating Sea Ray’s dedication to producing superior boats.

He says that the secret to Sea Ray’s success is that the boats appeal to the whole family.

‘The sort of sailing people I mainly mix with are racing people. And racing yachts are all right for them and their mates. . But the powerboats are good too for a different reason. Our Power boats we sell are more suited to family type boating- They have got the creature comforts for the wife and kids and you don’t need a big team of crew to get out on the water’

‘So that’s how that works. They can still get out on the water and make the rest of their family happy.’

Sea Rays distinctive styling appeals to non sailing family members, with the plush appointments and stability an additional bonus.

‘(They like) the plush upholstery. They’re traditionally wide boats which make them stable so they don’t rock around too much… With all the curves they’ve got in them they’re just sexy looking boats.’

Andrew Short Marine’s huge Taren Point facility in Sydney houses more than 120 boats, with an additional on water space in Yowie Bay and at the Spit- Mosman. They don’t just sell Sea Rays. There’s also a wide range of Stacer boats for sale, Quicksilver and Aqua Pro inflatables, Boston Whalers and Hobie Kayaks.

The business offers ‘cradle to grave’ services for anything nautical. They provide servicing, spare parts, organise finance and handle second hand sales as well as trade ins.

The ceiling of the Taren Point facility is lined with sails from Shorts distinguished racing career. The sails serve a number of purposes. They keep sparrow droppings off the gleaming hulls; provide good insulation, and remind customers that they’re buying a boat off a guy who really knows his stuff.

‘We started business twenty five years ago and I was working out of a small factory, both making and selling alloy boats and fibreglass yachts. It had all the boats stored outside. It’s makes it really hard to keep boats clean and looking like new.’

‘As time went on we got better and better boats. It became more and more critical that the boats were kept in pristine condition.’

Ask any broker: it’s difficult to sell a boat when it’s raining, cold or overcast. People are happiest spending money when it’s sunny or in a nice environment with decent climate control. The massive indoor display space solves a number of problems at once.

‘With this indoor showroom you don’t have trouble with the rain and other elements. With the tight water restrictions as well it gives us a competitive edge.’

‘We’ve got more of a boat show environment here. You walk in and everything’s set up on display with all the extra accessories in them and all priced ready to go.’

Short observed that the Internet has had a big effect on his business. Today’s customer typically tends to thoroughly research their boat purchase online before setting foot in a showroom. Many people have already made up their minds before going to see a dealer.

‘…Especially with Stacer and with Sea Ray, they’ve got a lot of boats in their range. Sea Rays got 45 boats and Stacer’s got about 35. And it’s hard for the salespeople to know every boat.’

‘But the customer can get on the Internet and study the boat they’re interested in, in detail. You have to have switched on sales guys or they get left behind by the customer.’

‘Sea Ray have probably one of the best interactive websites that I know of…You can pick your boat, have a look at all the accessories, click on it and it adds up on the price. You can see what accessories you want. You can find them on the webpage as well. So it works really well...’

As well as supporting their customers online, Short is keen to help build up the network of Sea Ray owners. In November of last year they organised a very well attended Sea Ray rendezvous in Port Hacking.

‘The weather couldn’t have been worse, but the turn out to the event and activities still went ahead just fine.’

On the 21st and 22nd of July they will be holding their next Sea Ray event ‘Aqua Palooza 2007’, The Sydney Harbour event will feature activities such as fishing competitions, live entertainment, talent shows, inflatable racing, treasure hunts and much more.

‘And that’s an event that Sea Ray’s organising world wide, for those dealers that want to participate in it. So there will be dealers in America, Canada, all over Europe. All doing it either on that weekend or the weekend after.’

The Aqua Palooza will also be the first chance to see a new 55 footer that was launched internationally in December of last year. The boat is expected to arrive in Australia a week before the event, and then will be on show at the Sydney Boat Show (2nd -7th August.)

As well as the 55 footer, there will be two other new models on display at the show; a Sea Ray 345 Sundancer and a 36 Sedan Bridge.

Contact details;
Andrew Short Marine
1 Box Road
Taren Point, NSW 2229
Telephone (02) 9524 2699 or (02) 9524 2280

www.andrewshortmarine.co