YESTERDAYS, TODAYS & TOMORROWS
ADVANCE TRIDENT
Advance Trident was established in 1993 by the late Trevor Geldard, and has become a key supplier of electronics and hardware for the New Zealand marine industry.
Trevor Geldard, inducted into the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show Hall of Fame in 2006, has possibly done more to foster New Zealand’s renowned excellence in sailing than any other person. Epiglass, the company he headed for many years, sponsored a huge number of both sailing and powerboat events and many of our very successful sailors and powerboat racers first competed in an event which he helped sponsor. Geldard was also responsible for the marine industry’s first million-dollar sponsorship and was instrumental in New Zealand’s first challenge for the America’s Cup in Fremantle in 1986 & 1987.
A former Chairman of the New Zealand International Yachting Trust and a life member of Yachting New Zealand, Geldard began his working life on the land and originally planned to make farming his career. As a young man, he travelled the country selling the newly launched Epiglass products and quickly became a huge fan of grass roots sponsorship. As he rose to become chairman of the company, Epiglass became sponsor of a truly massive number of events, both power and sail; events that would have really struggled without that support.
With all three of Trevor’s sons having worked in the business, Blair Geldard now owns Advance Trident, having bought out brother Brett in 2021 – with Brett officially retiring in May 2024. The third Geldard, Craig owns and runs ATL Commercial, servicing the commercial fishing industry. Advance Trident is a proud national distributor of the world’s best Marine Electronics and Power Products. It is proudly New Zealand family-owned and has enjoyed over 25 years of successful trading history.
BUCCANEER BOATS
Having started his boat-building career at Rollo’s Boats in the late 1960s—early 1970s, Gerry Gerrand and his wife Jenny formed Buccaneer Boats in 1976.
The first model was a 4.7-metre cabin boat, and soon after, the first dealer appointed was Rogers Boat Shop in Auckland.
Ongoing input from Buccaneer owners and enthusiasts has enabled them to build superbly designed boats with features that deliver all-day comfort and lots of family and fishing fun. Buccaneer boats were the first to feature pre-fitted wiring looms, ensuring more consistent quality for the boat owner and greater
longevity. A hallmark of the Buccaneer name is the exceptional resale value of their boats.
Gerry and Jenny’s son Wade joined the business full-time in 2004 and continues on his father’s boat-building expertise and the development of new models for the New Zealand trailer boat market. Offering a smooth, dry ride and practical features that show Buccaneer understand family boating and fishing – because they are their passions too!
D&B PUBLISHING – PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE
Established in 1996 by Doug Dukeson and the late Barry Thompson, D&B Publishing launched its first title, Propeller Magazine, which quickly became the foremost publication for trailer boating.
Shortly after, the Australian edition of Propeller was introduced. In the late 1990s, Pacific MotorYacht was launched to cater to the 10-meter-plus market. In 2010, due to the global financial crisis (GFC), Propeller and MotorYacht merged, forming the magazine you are reading today, PowerBoat Magazine, now just a few issues away from its 200th edition.
Over the past 28 years, the team has published various annuals, including Alloy Boat Magazine, PWC Annual, Performance and Race Boat, Pacific PassageMaker, RIB Annual, and even an edition of China Yachting, a Chinese version of Pacific MotorYacht.
Today, Doug Dukeson runs the magazine alongside his wife, Carla, and daughter, Holly. Carla’s daughter Millie helps out at most boat shows. This multi- generational team is moving with the times to deliver a mix of digital and printed versions of your power boating fix.
DMW TRAILERS
The company was started in 1974 in Mahana Road, Te Rapa, Hamilton by Rollo Dutton, who saw the need for locally produced boat trailers to go under both local and imported boats.
The early DMWs were under many of the Bonito, Plylite, Glastron and Sea Nymph hulls of that era. In the early 1980’s brands like Haines Hunter, Buccaneer, Fi-Glass, Seaswirl, and Fyran began production and partnered with the DMW Trailers brand.
In 1983, Rollo retired and sold the business to his 2 sons, Gary and Greg, who continued the business. Greg managed the business through the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, while Gary ran the family’s other business, Rollo’s Marine. In 2014, Greg and Trudy bought Greg’s brother, Gary, out of DMW Trailers to separate the companies in an amicable split. This meant Greg could solely focus on DMW trailers and their customers. Greg and his wife Trudy went back to DMW Trailers and are still running the business with the next generation. Their son, Brad Dutton, is now at the helm. Now in its 50th year, with over 23,000 trailers built, DMW Trailers is still looking to grow with the marine industry, pioneer, and innovate alongside its customers.
FI-GLASS BOATS
Fi-Glass is a household name among boating families and represents the essence of Kiwi boat building.
It proudly holds the title of the most enduring manufacturer of trailerable fibreglass powerboats in New Zealand.
Fi-Glass Boats was founded by the late Frank Simpson, a pioneer of fibreglass boat building in New Zealand. Simpson, originally from the South Island, built a family-owned business that still thrives today. His contributions were honoured in 2005 with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. In the early 1950s, he began building R Class cats and wooden trailers in his mother’s garage and participated in Olympic trials in New Zealand and Australia in 1954. After witnessing fibreglass manufacturing in Germany, he started producing shower and washtubs in 1957. Simpson established Fi-Glass in 1958 and launched the first Fi-Glass Fisherman in 1959, revolutionising production boatbuilding in New Zealand. Since then, 66 years later, over 13,000 Fi-Glass boats have been manufactured.
The FISHERMAN, designed by Brian Wall, became a hit, paving the way for models like the FIRECREST and FIREBALL, with over 3,000 units produced. In 1972, the VISCOUNT was launched as New Zealand’s first fully moulded cabin boat. Other successful models include the DOMINATOR and WARRIOR, both recognised for their performance and resale value. Today, the company is led by Frank’s son, Griff Simpson, who has been part of the business since 1995. As Managing Director, Griff has preserved the company’s reputation for high-quality fibreglass boats while introducing innovative new designs. Under his leadership, Fi-Glass expanded its product range to include updates on models like the Fi-Glass LIGHTNING and WARRIOR. These boats are well respected for their durability, affordability, and stylish designs, all while meeting modern CPC safety standards. Griff has also emphasised the importance of the company’s heritage, exemplified by his restoration of a 1962 Fi-Glass Fisherman, which highlights the enduring quality of their designs. Through his guidance, Fi-Glass continues to evolve while honouring its legacy and securing its status as a respected name in the boating industry.
HAINES HUNTER / SEA CRAFT
SeaCraft, the forerunner to Haines Hunter New Zealand, was established by Yeoman ‘Sandy’ Sands in 1946.
The company produced clinker- built timber boats and oars, powered by Seagull Outboards or small inboard motors. Investing heavily in apprenticeship training, the blueprint was established: quality designs, quality materials, and skilled boatbuilders.
During the 1950s, solid demand for quality timber boats combined with greater accessibility to outboard motors led to the company consolidating its position as one of NZ’s most prominent production boat builders. As the entire industry expanded rapidly, the Boating Industries Association (BIA) was formed, and Sandy was elected as the inaugural President.
Lionel Sands, son of Sandy, was born into the industry, appearing in this world in his father’s Cawley St premises, where Seacraft and Miller Moyes stood for over 60 years. (Even his grandfather was a boat builder, building wooden dories in Dover). He has been a New Zealand marine industry member his entire life. During that time, he was an integral part of the switch from the well-built, solid timber boats of the 1960s to the gleaming, well-built, solid GRP boats of today.
Under the guidance of his legendary father, “Sandy”, apprentice boat builder Lionel built his first boat, a 12ft Seacraft clinker dinghy. He worked in all facets of the business before gradually taking over from his illustrious father. He became an accomplished boat builder, designer and salesman for the company’s quality range of boats. Lionel oversaw the purchase of the Haines Hunter franchise in the 1980s and the later acquisition of the brand. Over the following years, he quickly built Haines Hunter into one of New Zealand’s top GRP boat brands, a position it still holds today under the new ownership of Denis and Andrea Kendall. Lionel was inducted into the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show Hall of Fame in 2011.
MCLAY BOATS
Established in 1981 Steve and Martin McLay by Steve McLay, McLay Boats has evolved from a small engineering firm in Milton, New Zealand, into one of the country’s premier manufacturers of high-quality aluminium boats.
Steve began his journey as a fitter and welder at the age of 15, working his way up from Toko Engineering to Toko Engineering & Marine before launching McLay Boats.
With over 40 years of expertise, McLay Boats offers a versatile range of 18 models and has broadened its dealership network throughout New Zealand and Australia. McLay Boats is now actively shipping various models to Australian dealers, including Destiny Marine on the Gold Coast. Taupo Powersports was appointed earlier this year as the first McLay dealer in Taupo and Rogers Boat Shop was designated as McLay’s dealer in Auckland. The company now boasts eight dealers in New Zealand and seven in Australia.
Recently, Steve has scaled back his involvement in daily operations, handing over the reins to his son, Martin McLay, who now serves as Managing Director.
ROLLO’S BOATS / ROLLO’S MARINE
Since 1958, the Dutton family has been dedicated to the NZ marine industry. Founded by Roland ‘Rollo’ Dutton, a Hamilton boat builder, Rollo’s Boats was formed.
Firstly building pram dinghies and then runabouts and cabin cruisers, Rollo’s boats were timber and powered by makes/models such as Corvette, Zephyr, Vauxhall, Ford, and Dodge, all converted for work on the water. 182 Rollo’s plywood boats were produced. Ten years later, fibreglass manufacturing spelled the end of plywood boat building as we knew it.
Rollo then moved into marine retailing in a Te Rapa Road showroom, where Rollo’s is still based today. From there, sons Gary and Greg built up Rollo’s brand to be one of the leading dealers in the country, and it has gone from strength to strength. Also working in the family business over time were Jared and Mark, sons of Gary and Brad Dutton, Greg’s son.
In 2014, Gary bought brother Greg out of Rollo’s Marine to separate the businesses in an amicable split. This allowed Gary to focus solely on Rollo’s Marine and its customers.
Ownership has always been important in a true family business, especially with the Dutton third generation, Mark and Jared, becoming shareholders in 2015. This made the Rollo Marine a family-owned and operated business for over 60 years.
SMUGGLER MARINE
Established by David and Pauline Pringle in 2002, Smuggler Marine evolved out of David Pringle Boat Builders, which was established in 1984.
David built his first boat, a Sunburst, at the age of 11/12 years old, with his father, going on to start his apprenticeship at Salthouse when he was 16/17. Acquiring the Smuggler moulds and purchasing the Bonito moulds a few years later, the company has gone from strength to strength, developing its range of RIBs and Amphibious Boats. David and Pauline’s son Logan now also works in the business day to day, co-ordinating the technical department and sales.
SPORTS MARINE
In 1978, Ian Williamson, a 23-year-old passionate about high-quality boats and watercraft, defied all advice and opened Sports Marine Ltd.
He aimed to establish a reputation for luxury and success in the marine industry. However, the path to success for Sports Marine was not without its obstacles.
In 1979, they continued to innovate and expand their offerings, importing the first Jet Ski to New Zealand in September of that year and purchasing the assets of Shark Cat boats in March 1980. By December 1986, Sports Marine had sold their first new boat over 30 feet, and in February 1987, they opened a retail store in Auckland. Their success continued to grow, with six new Sea Ray boats sold in one week from Auckland alone in April of that year. In July 1989, Sports Marine sold their first boat over 50 feet, cementing their position as a leading provider of high-quality boats and watercraft in New Zealand. Sports Marine continued to innovate and expand, purchasing a marine business in Sydney, Australia in May 1991 and Sports Marine New South Wales was born.
In 2011 Scott Williamson started as Managing Director. Ian, still a Director today, is joined by Scott and his other son Rhys, who are heavily involved in the business, with Rhys overseeing the family’s Rae Line Boats brand.
TOKO TRAILERS
Toko Trailers Ltd is a family-owned business with over 30 years of experience in trailer manufacturing, specialising in low-maintenance boat trailers made in New Zealand.
Founded in Milton in October 1999 by Alvin Stephen, the company was taken over by his two sons, Josh and Dan, in 2022. Toko Trailers is the top supplier for the award-
winning McLay Boats. Their factory-built boat trailers feature multi-roller designs that are fully galvanised and user-friendly, making launching and retrieving your boat easier.
Thanks to their innovative design, boats can be driven directly onto the trailer, reducing the need
for winching.
With their expertise and initiative, Josh and Dan are poised to elevate the business through custom design and manufacturing tailored to individual customer needs. They are also expanding into the Jet Ski and Boat market with some of New Zealand’s leading boat businesses.
TRISTRAM MARINE
Ray Fink left school as a teenager to become a carpenter. However, Ray loved boats more than houses and, in the mid-1950s, became a boatbuilder for the late Bob Wild in Hamilton.
Ray went out in 1960, building his first commission in the basement of his Hamilton house, a Hartley hull with decks and a cabin of his design. Ray shifted to another home and workshop in Tamahere, just outside Hamilton, where he spent the next 36 years building timber boats as his business grew.
Lance and his brother Andrew followed in the footsteps of their father, with Lance creating Tristram Marine and Andrew taking over Raymond’s boat-building business.
Tristram Marine
Lance Fink started his timber boatbuilding apprenticeship with his father, Ray, in 1976. He would spend the next 11 years alongside him. He is passionate about the industry in which he was raised. His other passion, his wife, Bronwyn, has been another huge part of Tristram Marine’s development. They have built the company over four successive sites since setting it up three months before the untimely share market crash in 1987.
Their sons, Tristram and Kingsley, have always been closely involved in Tristram Marine, always present at boat shows, folding brochures and polishing fingerprints off hulls. Now, Tristram, the eldest son, markets the brand, and Kingsley has taken over the general manager role, including boat design. With Lance and Bronwyn now taking more of a backseat approach in the family business, Tristram and his brother Kingsley handle the day-to-day running of the business.
Andrew Fink Marine
Lance’s younger brother Andrew and his wife Fleur run Andrew Fink Marine across the road from Tristram Marine in Te Rapa, Hamilton. The family ties are strong, with Andrew Fink Marine building the Enduro range of trailers for Tristram boats and other major trailer boat builders.
