Used outboard engines? Arizona Outboards online for you

by Bob Wonders on 6 Apr 2010 A small town called Charmhaven, about 70 minutes by road north of Sydney Australia, has emerged as a 'capital city' of used and re-built outboard engines, so much so that the company based there, Arizona Outboard Wreckers carries more than 50,000 spare parts and in excess of 10,000 brand new components.

Former power boat racer Steve Lockyer, driving force behind Arizona says the company, now sells across the world, with 25 percent of the company's business done on the internet and seven percent of that relates to offshore sales.

'We deal with customers across Australia, with worldwide interest in our service continually increasing,' Steve explains.

'Dealers, for example, may call us inquiring about an engine or a specific component for an engine, we photograph the subject, e-mail the image and if it's what is wanted it's packed and forwarded for delivery.

'The internet is continually expanding and we sell through out own site and on E-bay to an increasing range of clients,' he added.

Steve Lockyer, 57, can certainly claim to know his trade; he served an apprenticeship as a marine technician with the former Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) and has been around boats and engines for most of his life.

Born and raised in Sydney, Steve moved the Central Coast with his family in 1969 where is parents opened a marine dealership, Aquatic Craft and Sports in Toukley.

They later opened a second branch of the same company in nearby Umina.

'With the family's involvement it's fair to say I grew up on the water and messed about in boats from an early age,' Steve says.

He was involved with powerboat racing through the 1970s and ‘80s, primarily racing in tunnel boat and stock mono classes.

One of his achievements resulted in an Australian record. 'We used to run the Australian Barefoot Racing Club,' he recalled. 'I forget the exact date, but in the late 1990s we towed skier Matt Garner barefoot over the 350-metre course in 14.41 seconds for an Australian record.'

Steve also worked closely with well-known boat racing identity Kirk Tsaccounis and in 2000 he became General Manager of Kirk's Australian Formula 1 Superboat Series. He later became Vice-President and held that role through until 2006.

Steve has spent quite a bit of time ‘playing with real estate' and he established Arizona Outboard Wreckers in 1989 in an industrial unit complex he had built on land acquired with a partner.

There were originally 18 units; Arizona Outboard Wreckers now occupies four of them, giving the company 7000 square feet of space for its showroom and warehouse facilities.

The company employs four full-time staff and two casuals; three of the four full time people are qualified outboard technicians, the other a spare parts specialist.

'Basically we specialise in outboard engine re-builds and all manner of power head repairs and refurbishment,' Steve explains.

'We would regularly turnover upwards of 250 used outboards every year, and that covers both wholesale and retail clients. 'Although we handle a fairly comprehensive range of new spare parts, we don't touch new outboard engines, because I don't have an engine franchise and quite frankly don't want one,' he added.

Why is Arizona Outboard Wreckers so named? Easy, it's situated on Arizona Road, a long way from Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States,

Coincidentally, and this definitely rates as a coincidence, Steve recently became the owner of two condominiums in, wait for it, Phoenix, Arizona! 'I visit the US quite regularly,' Steve says, 'and found some real estate opportunities there brought about by the global financial crisis. 'It certainly hit the United States more severely than we experienced it here.'

Looking back, Steve says he enjoyed every minute of his time in powerboat racing. Like many of us, he was terribly saddened by the double tragedy at Taree last weekend.

'I know you've already raised the subject on Powerboat-World, but I really think enclosed and canopied cockpit cells have to be made compulsory,' he declared. 'Personally, I'm a totally retired powerboat racer these days; I've got a business to run.'





Here is a video on Arizona Outboard Wreckers




For further information contact Arizona Outboard Wreckers, telephone (02) 4392-4971 or visit the website, www.arizonaoutboards.com.au