Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Family boatbuilding venture doesn't quite fit the bill

by Mark Rothfield on 15 Aug 2013
The elegant Elandra 5 will be built on a semi-customised basis Elandra Yachts
It’s likely there’ll be more eating turkey than talking it when the family Christmas dinner rolls around at Chez Barry-Cotter this year, following the launch of Elandra Yachts in Queensland.

Bill Barry-Cotter, family patriarch and founder of Maritimo, is apparently somewhat riled with the decision of stepson Luke Durman and son Tom Barry-Cotter to start what appears to be a rival company.

Elandra’s newly released hull renders and concept interior layouts reveal a shaft-drive 53-footer that squeezes into the market segment occupied by Maritimo’s C53 Cabriolet, S50 Motor Yacht and Mustang 50 … albeit the Elandra will be a semi-customised, minimal production offering.

Funnily enough, it’s the sort of thing Bill may have done himself. When he sold Mariner Cruisers in the late 70s, Bill reputedly pocketed around $3 million … and his parting words were ‘one day I’ll get this business back for 10 bucks’.

Riviera Marine was his eloquent response and a decade to the day later Bill was haggling with Mariner’s liquidator. When the negotiations got down to the goodwill, he offered 10 bucks.

‘The liquidator said it had to be worth a million,’ Bill once told me. ‘Finally he said, 'I’ve heard the story and you’re never going to get it for $10 – what about $12?', and I said ‘it’s a deal'.’

Years later, when Bill sold Riviera for enough to live happily thereafter, he started Maritimo. The man he mentored at Riviera, Wes Moxey, did a similar thing by creating the Belize brand.

It’s in their blood.

But that was business. Luke and Tom are family, and it’s a possible blow to Bill’s succession planning if nothing else.

Unabashed, Luke Durman cites a difference of opinion in how production boats should be built and marketed that led to them ‘going it alone’. He said Elandra was dedicated to building more bespoke craft for discerning buyers.

Elandra is well advanced in its program to launch the 53 next July, having recently rolled the hull plug and developed deck and cabin top moulds.

Plans show a three-cabin layout with full-beam master suite amidships and a vast entertaining area from cockpit through to saloon and galley.

Durman teamed with naval architect Grant Senior to develop the Elandra concept and, according to Senior, they chose a sports yacht because of its versatility in handling inshore and offshore waters.

‘The hull has a fine bow with a slight flair and broadens out to a 17-foot beam that’s maintained all the way aft,’ Senior said.

‘The running surface is a variable deadrise, curving to a convex shape. This provides the buoyancy and efficiency to cruise through even the most undesirable sea conditions.’

The hull will be hand laminated with quadraxial fibreglass cloth, reinforced with kevlar. Every element of each boat, right down to serial numbers of individual components, will be recorded.

‘We have set the build quality benchmark high,’ Durman said. ‘We are offering a world-class warranty and a
level of service that is second to none.

‘The idea is, you don’t call us with a problem, we’ll call you and arrange a service before there is a problem.’
Let’s hope he doesn’t have a problem calling Bill …
Excess CatamaransSelden 2020 - FOOTERJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen
Posted today at 11:12 pm
Aussies hunt 'Ashes on Water' win
The BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance in Portsmouth Fresh off a bruising weekend in New York, the BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance as they take on long time rivals Great Britain in their home waters at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, held in Portsmouth.
Posted today at 9:27 pm
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition.
Posted today at 6:45 pm
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators.
Posted today at 5:41 pm
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s.
Posted today at 4:14 pm
McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 Preview
The race to South Africa starts from Vuda Marina Fiji on 26th July In a world-first sailing challenge, 15 solo sailors from eight countries are navigating identical 5.8-meter (19-foot) self-built plywood yachts around the globe— The fleet has enjoyed a five week stopover in Fiji at the end of Leg 2.
Posted today at 1:26 pm
Third time Finn World No.1 for Alessandro Marega
Maintaining the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List Italy's Alessandro Marega maintains the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List for the third consecutive release. He remains World No. 1 with an 80-point lead over France's Laurent Hay.
Posted today at 1:18 pm
World Sailing Nations Cup to make grand return
After a seven-year hiatus, World Sailing has officially opened the bid process for host cities After a seven-year hiatus, the World Sailing Nations Cup, the ultimate event to crown the world's top match-racing nations, is making its much-anticipated return.
Posted today at 9:08 am
J/99s the in Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
There will be a race within a race taking place in the 63 yacht fleet When the fleet of 63 yachts set off in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (NSGCYR) on 26 July, there will be a race within a race taking place.
Posted today at 6:53 am
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle.
Posted today at 5:25 am