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MANUFACTURING » Finlay Boats
September 2016 Business South
Boats that look good, perform well Russell Fredric The owner of recently launched Timaru company Finlay Boats is buoyed by the positive feedback he is getting from buyers of his boats. Grant Finlayson says although starting a business two years ago manufacturing aluminium pontoon hulled boats in a relatively crowded market was challenging, he is motivated in part by a point of difference offered in his craft. He has more than 40 years experience in the marine industry “I liked the designs of some earlier pontoon boats and I thought I would try and aim at a niche market to provide an aluminium boat that not only looked good, but performed well,” Grant Finlayson says. Although there were some ups and downs in establishing a new product and creating brand awareness, the company has successfully broken into the market. Finlay Boats has collaborated with Scott Robson, of Robson Design, a Christchurch company with an international reputation in the marine industry. “I had noted some of his designs, and more particularly, what people thought of them. If I was going to break into the market, which was a very hard market, I needed some credibility and I think Scott provided that.” “Scott has a history of designing good pontoon boats. He’s come up with a hull design that provides both stability, but it also provides a smooth and dry ride.” This is achieved through the combination of a steeper 23.3 degree hull dead-rise and a double chine design which creates a smooth, dry ride and stability at rest. This dead-rise makes the boats ideal for sea use, and comments from clients who have bought Finlay Boats have confirmed their hull has achieved the aim of the design and the claims made, Grant Finlay says. “There have been repeated comments about the ride and stability and the space available.” “One owner, and he was a deep sea fishing skipper, his comment was ‘I would be happy to go out in bigger weather, further, in this boat.’” One of Finlay Boats craft is living out its life in the Panama Caribbean after a New Zealander who was moving there bought a boat ‘off the shelf’ from the company’s workshop. As well as the expertise of Scott Robson, Finlay
Finlay Boats feature a hull design that looks sharp and provides stability with a smooth, dry ride.
Boats is fortunate to have the former owner of another boat company, Michael Coombs on staff as a boat builder. “We are aiming at the higher end of the aluminium boat market, and we are trying to adapt each boat for the customer, and Mike is very good at that. He has great adaptability due to his vast experience.” The company offers five models, the Striker 400, Sports 5900, Escape 5900, Ignite 6300, and Ranger 8000. The Ignite 6300 and Escape 5900 have achieved International Marine Certification Institute CE certification, which means these models comply to stringent European safety standards including hull stability, free-board, flotation and buoyancy. Complementing the safety features of Finlay
“I liked the designs of some earlier pontoon boats and I thought I would try and aim at a niche market to provide an aluminium boat that not only looked good, but performed well.”
Boats are high quality marine paint work and many practical features such as hydraulic steering, alloy rod holders, a bonnet access hatch, Portofino transom island, live fish tank, and a lined cabin with special touches such as teak trim.
Looking ahead, Grant Finlayson plans to build on the confidence shown by present boat owners to further develop the brand and capitalise on the interest now being shown in the company’s range of boats.
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