Famous Quintrex flared bow hits the big four 0
by Bob Wonders on 28 Mar 2008
In those far off days 40-years ago, Quintrex was based at Taren Point, not far from prominent dealership Hunts Marine, which happily helped out with on-water tests of the radical flared bow. SW
It seems hard to believe, but the legendary flared bow, a dominant feature of the Quintrex aluminium boats, is celebrating its 40th birthday, having been released way back in 1968.
Conceived by Quintrex founder, the late Terry Quantrill and his ‘right-hand man’ Bill Pigott, the flared bow design was the first accentuated bow flare ever used in aluminium boat design and production.
Now produced on the Queensland Gold Coast at the company’s impressive, purpose-built plant, Quintrex, in terms of numbers of hulls manufactured, stands unchallenged as Australia’s largest boat builder.
National sales and marketing manager, Damien Duncan, said the flared bow had enabled the company’s boats to become more versatile, drier and stronger.
“Alloy craft had previously always been excellent river and estuary boats, but Terry and Bill wanted more, they wanted Quintrex boats to be able to handle the choppy conditions that ‘glass boats revelled in because of accentuated flares in their bows,” Duncan explained.
“After countless hours of trial and error with a variety of hull designs, Terry and Bill finally introduced the Flared Bow Quintrex in 1968, which was made possible through a revolutionary process called stretch forming.
“The actual stretch forming machine that enabled Quintrex to mass produce flared bow boats back in 1968 took two-years to build and is still used in our factory today,” Duncan declared.
Duncan was delighted when Graeme Quantrill, sone of Terry, recognised the machine he had helped build during a factory visit last year.
“In 1968 the flared bow made boating history,” Duncan added.
“It provided the first aluminium boat capable of standing on its nose in a sea, yet keeping everyone and everything on board relatively dry.
“Today the flared bow continues to look after Quintrex passengers by offering that dry ride, producing lift when punching through waves and is now featured on more than 50 of the company’s models,” he added.
The Flared Bow is exclusive to Quintrex and has helped establish the marque as Australia’s leading and most awarded aluminium boat range.
For more information visit the website, www.quintrex.com.au
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