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Stabicraft Marine is the largest trailer boat manufacturer in New Zealand,
turning out more than 600 exceptionally-crafted boats a year from our
state-of-art factory in Invercargill. A business is only as good as its people
and that's why at Stabicraft we only have the best: |
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Tradesman, turned boat
builder, turned businessman. In 2007, Paul Adams was named a member of the NZ
Order of Merit for his services to business. The honour is a fitting tribute for
the man who 20 years ago pioneered positive buoyancy boats, transforming New
Zealand's marine industry.
In a classic rags to riches tale Adams gave up his
day-job, nervously signed up for a $1000 overdraft and set-out to make a whole
new kind of boat.
In a backstreet workshop, equipped with engineering nous and a
commitment to sound construction, Paul built the first rigid hulled aluminium
pontoon boat - a Stabicraft 3.5m dinghy.
While it's quite obvious Stabicraft
boats have evolved greatly since, Paul's commitment then, as it is today, is
first and foremost to safety and stability.
"We pride ourselves on making a boat
that enables our clients to embark on adventures with the confidence that, even
in the worst conditions, they will get home," Paul says.
It's been many years
now since Adams' handled the business end of a welder, but he's no stranger to
the factory floor either as he casts an expert eye over the manufacturing
process.
Stabicraft adopted and worked to US Coast Guard approved safety
standards almost from the outset - quite simply because for many years there was
no New Zealand equivalent standard. |
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Our sales manager Sean McColl
knows Stabicraft Marine inside and out having signed on as boy Friday in 1994.
The then 20-something had been working for Honda Cars in Invercargill as a car
groomer when a friend suggested there was a job going.
"I didn't even know what
Stabicraft was when I was driving down Bluff Road for the interview. I didn't
know what I was looking for. I ended up walking into the old smoko room."
A
fanatical fan of most sports and a keen player of soccer, Sean hadn't had too
much to do with boats.
"When I started I was basically the only person in the
office apart from Paul Adams, the company founder.
As the company grew my role
has changed."
Today he's charged with filling the shelves of the company's first
showroom with quality marine products for the Southland market, as well as
helping introduce Stabicraft boats to yet another new market - the USA.
His
wife Kim, daughter Rachel and son Sam have two dogs, two cats, two goldfish and
share a genuine love of the outdoors. His 1994 choice to leave an
internationally branded company to build another has certainly paid off.
Together Sean McColl and Stabicraft Marine have come a long way but one thing
hasn't changed. Although he now he has a day skipper ticket Sean still doesn't
own a boat - and with access to a showroom full of latest models who could
restrict themselves to just one? |
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Maurice O'Rorke could possibly
be the perfect employee - he's never taken a sick day, he arrives early each
morning, turns up on Saturdays, and he's as loyal as he is hard-working.
But
don't try telling him that - our production manager doesn't like that sort of
fluffy nonsense.
A plumber by trade, Maurice initially ran his own business
before honing his management skills in supervisory roles. He was snapped up by
Stabicraft six years ago.
Tasked with ensuring everything runs smoothly on the
factory floor, Maurice is also in charge of our apprenticeship programme, along
with staff recruitment and discipline.
His ability to get the job done meant he
was the right man for the helm of our Marine Park development - an 8 acre
purpose-built facility at our Bluff Road site. Stage one, featuring an extended
factory and new service centre, is nearly complete.
"I enjoy doing project work
- seeing all the pieces come together to achieve an overall result," Maurice
said.
Stabicraft was an innovative company to work for, with managing director
Paul Adams a key component to success.
"Paul's drive really sets Stabicraft
apart from the opposition."
Maurice credits good communication and talented
senior staff with the workshop floor running smoothly.
Away from the office,
racehorses and vintage trucks feature.
Maurice has enjoyed "a reasonable bit of
luck" breeding racehorses over the past 40 years. Now his focus is restoring a
1934 Dodge Pickup - and, like everything else, you can guarantee it will be a
job well done. |
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Brian Corbin is the talent at
the helm of our design team.
After 10 years working as a mechanical consultant
in Christchurch, Brian returned to his Southland home to take advantage of the
unrivaled lifestyle the province offers. And Stabicraft Marine's reputation
proved a strong factor in attracting him to the team.
"It's a company that's
progressed a lot in a short period of time which tells me it's a go-forward
company that's not afraid to be bold and stand out in the marketplace," he said.
"We have a fantastic product which I believe strongly in."
The natural abilities
of our designers are further enhanced by the latest technology, including a
recent upgrade to Auto Desk Inventor, which allows increased accuracy and
detail.
Twenty-one years on, Stabicraft's original positive buoyancy innovation
remains a key component in boat designs across the range. But it's the company's
commitment to further enhance the product that makes it a world leader in the
marine industry.
"The original concept is still fantastic but one of the
exciting things is that there is still room for improvement with our boats,"
Brian said.
"As our market gets bigger, so does our range which must continually
evolve to meet the needs of boat owners around the globe."
Just the challenge
Brian was looking for. Not to mention the fishing and diving on offer. |
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You can take a man out of the
South, but you can't take the South out of the man!
Born and bred in Winton, Southland (New Zealand), Sales Support Manager Simon
Swale is a southern man as passionate about Stabicraft and what our brand
stands for, as he is about life, family and friends, fishing, rugby and
recreation.
Having spent considerable time running the family farm, working a six year stint
for international timber exporters CraigPine and with the almost-compulsory OE
under the belt, Simon joined the Stabicraft Marine team in December 2005.
"I was on the lookout for a sales position down south. When I got the chance of
working for a company like Stabicraft, with boats and in sales - well I jumped
at it".
"It had my name on it, I reckon", Simon said.
When Simon and his wife Gillian, with three children between them, made the move
back to Invercargill, it was no real hardship. Family ties and friends,
grass-roots rugby, the great outdoors lifestyle, fishing on-hand and a job you
love to boot - what more could a southern man ask for?
With an innate enthusiasm for anything to do with people, boats and fishing,
coupled with more than just a little technical know-how, Simon is perfectly
suited to his role at Stabicraft Marine. He runs the busy showroom and is
the key liaison between boat owners and our factory production team. |
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