Business South October 2020

46 | MARINE Stabicraft Business booming with newmodel T Russell Fredric N ew Zealand’s premier manufacturer of chambered alloy hull boats remains positively buoyant in the midst of a perfect global storm. Stabicraft marketing manager Daniel Upper- ton says the company has been experiencing record sales both before the Covid-19 crisis and in the wake of the lockdown, especially from its key overseas markets of Australia and the United States. Incredibly, a punt to launch Stabicraft’s new 1450 series during the level four lockdown was wildly successful. “It’s gone ballistic,” Daniel says. “Business has exploded with that new model. We’ve sold The development of the 1450 series, comprising the Explorer, Frontier Sportfish and Frontier Profish, was two years in the making. over two hundred boats to date. The 1450 very much supports the Kiwi style of boating, so we’ve been really blown away with the support we’ve had on that.” The development of the 1450 series, compris- ing the Explorer, Frontier Sportfish and Frontier Profish, was two years in the making with the intended launch being March this year. The decision was made to continue with the official launch of the 1450 despite the lockdown. “Some of our dealers had stock and the launch was possibly the most successful of any new model.” This success created significant challenges, as demand completely outstripped supply and “we are still playing catch-up in August”, he says. “Business has exploded with that new model. We’ve sold over two hundred boats to date. The 1450 very much supports the Kiwi style of boating, so we’ve been really blown away with the support we’ve had on that.” The 1450 is successor to the 1410 and 389 series which go back to 2003. The 1450 is a longer, wider and more solid version of its predecessor and features an up- graded pontoon which in turn created much more internal space. Features include a full width rear seat, a higher and wider 4mm thick hull, bow seating and storage and eight rod holders; broadhead wing-style coamings and arrow pontoons - standard on other models - are now included in the new series. “The arrow-shaped pontoons are quite a significant hull shift and performance shift. That was one key upgrade as was a new, inno- vative coaming set.” T to page 48