84 | Admiral Boats MARINET Luxury boat showcase Admiral Boats has a reputation for producing high-quality, New Zealand-designed and built cruisers. Kelly Deeks Luxury boat builder Admiral Boats will feature at the upcoming Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show at Auckland Showgrounds in May, having won the coveted Launch of the Show award in both 2021 and 2022 for the ‘Admiral’. The ‘Admiral’ is a 10m luxury sports cruiser, built by Steve who wanted the best boat he could possibly build. With his 23 years of marine industry experience and a lifetime in and on the ocean, Steve came up with the ultimate 10m sports cruiser with larger launch features and other luxuries that are evident as soon as you step on board. Admiral Boats owner Steve Clement had his own fibreglass fabrication business when he decided the only way he would ever get his own boat was to build it himself. So he started building all the moulds for the ‘Admiral’ in 2010 and over the next eight years, the build was a part-time project. “This was my boat, so I wanted to build the best boat I could build, rather than just something for the market,” he says. “I didn’t allow conventional moulding techniques and production build eɝciencies to dictate how we built this vessel. Instead, I incorporated larger launch features and luxuries and combined them into this perfect launch package.” The market did present an opportunity to develop a 10m boat that was able to be trailered and moored and at 3m beam, the ‘Admiral’ can be trailered with a special permit. It wasn’t easy for Steve to launch a new boat brand, particularly when people who are making such a significant investment would normally choose someone they already know and trust. But Admiral Boats soon gained a reputation for producing high quality New Zealand designed and built cruisers. Just prior to the Auckland On Water Boat Show in March, Steve took the ‘Admiral’ over to Whitianga for the Fish and Game tournament where he caught the biggest tuna at 68kgs. ȊThis is the country’s richest game fishing tournament with professional anglers on multi million dollar boats with high spec fish finding technology. Ζt was great to have the ‘Admiral’ out in front of people. People think it’s a cruising boat and not really a fishing boat, but we’re still catching 68kg tuna and cleaning it, all on the back of the boat.” Admiral Boats is now looking to add to the team of three passionate tradesmen to help get boats to their new owners a bit quicker, with the same level of quality. “If anyone wants to move to Hamilton and come and help build boats, they can definitely look me up.” Steve and his mate Nick Gilmore have recently released their range of Scallywag Lures, developed after hooking a marlin on a home-made film canister lure. The pair set about testing moulding techniques and resin coating their own game fishing lures for their own use and to give to friends. When their lures started getting bites and catching fish out of star studded lure spreads, they decided to oer these unique lures to the market, with a range of handpainted designs across nine lure head styles and sizes. Suppliers of quality breglass materials and accessories AUCKLAND (09) 295 2200 CHRISTCHURCH (03) 348 4927 • UV-resistant gelcoats • Polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resins • Glass, woven mat, roving and carbon fibre • Infusion resin, fabric and consumables • Putties for coving, CNC and tooling • A wide range of rollers, gloves and accessories • Colour matched gelcoats and resins • Tailor-made resins for your specific purpose • Advice and support • Technical assistance and trouble shooting
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