| 53 T T Russell Fredric Longstanding firm has plans to expand Robertson Boats work covers of all types of construction such as ferry, fishing, tug and charter boats, barges and work platforms. MARINE Robertson Boats Having built a buoyant business over four generations, Warkworth-based Robertson Boats has a consistently busy workload and plans for expansion. Robertson Boats has a proud history of having designed and custom built numerous boats for commercial use and pleasure, but today the great majority of its work involves servicing, maintenance and refitting. Its facilities includes an 85-tonne, 8.5 metre wide travel lift and a haulout and full service yard which currently has three moveable hardstand sheds for vessels up to 18 metres plus deep drafted yacht cradles for 3 metres and over as well as in-water work berths. Robertson Boats is fortunate to employ 20 staff who have a very broad base of skills. These trades include boat builders, cabinet makers, painters, marine engineers, electricians and fitters and turners. Many of these have been with the company long-term, but with three apprentices also on board there is also an ongoing investment in training. For commercial vessels, Robertson Boats work covers of all types of construction such as ferry, fishing, tug and charter boats, barges and work platforms from the smallest jobs to major refits and structural repairs in addition to electrical and navigation systems design and installation. These and plethora of other services such as marine diesel, driveline and auxiliary power plant (genset) installation and servicing, steel and stainless steel work, cabinet making, painting and timber polishing, cut and polishing and valet cross over into pleasure craft. “We do the whole gambit,” operations manager Drew Robertson says. “We have accumulated a wealth of experience over many years of providing design, new build, refit, repair and maintenance services and we work with some of New Zealand’s largest fleet operators,” Drew says. Robertson Boats is in the perfect location for yachts sailing the Pacific Ocean. “We also do a lot of work for New Zealand-based clients looking to go and do a cruising season up in the Pacific Islands, so we do all the preparation work, take them through the (Maritime New Zealand) category one survey and make sure everything’s up to a really good, reliable standard for them to go offshore.” “We get a lot through late February/March with the view to leaving early April/May. They will stay up there for our winter and then we generally get them back around October/ November to get ready for the summer season here. Quite a few of them come twice a year.” With about half of its working involving commercial vessels, the business was able to continue on a scaled-down basis through the covid pandemic servicing fishing and public transport vessels and made a quick recovery afterwards. “We’ve been really, really busy, even through the winters which is generally a quieter time of year, we haven’t really had a break so we’ve been pretty fortunate. We are coming into our busy maintenance period for the private boat owners so it’s going to be a busy end of the year.” This consistent demand has prompted plans for the expansion of the business and the recent acquisition of the property it operates from will secure its future on the same site. Contact us to discuss your next project SERVICE & CUSTOM MANUFACTURE DRIVELINE • GAME FISHING • HARDWARE Quality Stainless & General Sheetmetal Fabrication • ARCHITECTURAL • COMMERCIAL • MARINE • JOBBING • WELDING WSM is proud to be associated with ROBERTSON BOATS, a local company providing essential services throughout New Zealand. The team at WSM takes pride in producing quality fabrications for Robertson Boats interesting and varied projects. WARKWORTH SHEETMETALS LTD Malcolm Patterson P: 09 425 7366 E: wsm@helix.net.nz 27 Woodcocks Rd. Warkworth 0910
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=