Congratulations to Gerry Gerrand of Buccaneer Boats and Brian Firman of Profile Boats, who were inducted into the Hutchwilco Marine Industry Hall of Fame. The Awards evening, held on Saturday, 17 May, was an enjoyable event. A great gathering of show exhibitors celebrated the achievements of two new inductees.
Gerry Gerrand – Buccaneer Boats – Gerry Gerrand’s journey from rural roots to marine industry icon is a story of dedication, craftsmanship, and quiet leadership. After spending 12 formative years at Rollos Marine, Gerry established Buccaneer Boats in 1977 and what began as a modest operation quickly grew into one of New Zealand’s most respected boatbuilding companies.  Under Gerry’s guidance, Buccaneer Boats has produced over 6000 GRP trailer boats, earning a reputation synonymous with quality and innovation. Â
A strong supporter of the NZ Marine CPCÂ Program, Gerry was also instrumental in collaborating with NZ Marine to develop apprenticeship programs specifically tailored for the trailer boat sector, helping shape the next generation of marine professionals.
Gerry is pictured with Peter Busfield.
Brian Firman – Profile Boats – Brian’s long career in the marine industry started when he joined the family business Firmans Marine in the 1970s. He spent many years as a Mercury dealer, Yamaha dealer and exclusive dealer for Senator Boats.  But perhaps Brian’s most significant impact came in 2008, when he purchased Profile Boats. Over the past 17 years, Brian has poured his energy and vision into developing Profile into one of the preferred alloy boat brands for serious fishermen throughout New Zealand.Â
A passionate outdoorsman, Brian is a lifelong hunter and fisherman, and a staunch supporter of LegaSea, advocating for sustainable fisheries and marine conservation.Â
Brian is pictured above receiving his award from Brent Spillane, CEO of XPO.
