Victorian BIA salutes its Australian Boat of the Year Award winners

by Mike Sabey on 28 May 2003 In a big week for the State’s marine manufacturing industry, three Victorian companies have taken the top honors at the Australian Marine Industry Federation’s national Boat of the Year awards, announced late last week at Sanctuary Cove in Queensland.


Australian Boat of the Year

The top national award went to the Victorian fiberglass boat manufacturer Whittley Cruisers’ (Thomastown), whose luxury Cruiser 660 was declared the overall Australian boat of the year and cruising trailable division winner. The company also collected an emerging exporter award.

For the Victorian Government, which is actively supporting the growth of the state’s marine industry manufacturing, the awards are an early payback for its investment in this growth manufacturing sector.

In September last year the Victorian Government made a $300,000 grant to Whittley Cruisers for a new factory to cope with increase local and export sales thereby creating an additional 73 jobs over the next three years.

Lindsay Grenfell CEO of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria says, “My Association is thrilled with Whittley’s win which brings great prestige and further credibility to Victoria’s strong marine industry.

“The Whittley 660 (6.6m) success is all the more meaningful, because it out performed more than 50 Australian-built and imported boats entered in nine award categories,” he concluded.

Whitley Cruiser’s Managing Director Neville Whitley said after receiving his trophy, ”In this our 50th year I’m just over the moon to win this award. Its such an honour to be recognised in this way and our 85 staff will be calling for a big party to celebrate when I get home!”

Whittley Cruisers also won an Export Award of Excellence as an emerging exporter to the USA and Europe.

A second Victorian manufacturer of water ski craft, Skicraft from Bayswater took the Boat of the Year class honors in the Ski/Performance division with its mid engine mounted Century 22 bowrider (6.7m) model.

Skicraft’s Manger, John Beer says, “The boys on the factory floor are ecstatic with the win as it’s our second from only two attempts, our last win was three years ago!

“The Century 22 features low bow lift, requires low energy effort to get on to the plane and its quality finish is second to none.”

The BIA’s Lindsay Grenfell said of Skicraft’s win, “The BIA is very proud of this small 13 person manufacturer which was formed in 1970.

“Skicraft now successfully competes against the might of the world’s best overseas ski boat builders, more than matching them for quality, innovative design and finish.”

The Australian Marine Industry Federation Boat of the Year awards presents the buying public with a guide to what the media experts feel about local and internationally produced products.

It is estimated that boat ownership has increased by 25% in the last 10 years and the Australian boating industry employs 32,000 people and in 2001 had a turnover of Aus $9 billion.

Ronstan International’s Managing Director, Alistair Murray says he was overjoyed with his company’s Exporter of the Year Award, “To win against such a strong field which included the big two Queensland boat building exporters is a big thrill! It means a lot to my people.

“Our win was driven by sustained sales growth to more than 40 countries especially through our exports to Europe through our new Danish office.”