Happily ever Arvor
CASH IN ON THIS OWNER'S TREE CHANGE
STORY JOHN WILLISA
rvor Boats
has been
synonymous
in producing
fibreglass
semi-planing hulls with
diesel shaftdrive for nearly
20 years. Shaftdriven
vessels are the obvious
choice for serious seafarers
due to their safety and
fuel effi ciency. Arvor
stood almost alone in the
recreational niche for
many years, although more
recently we have seen
others such as industry
giants Jeanneau and
Beneteau producing similar
concepts.
The first of the unique
Arvor designs was imported
into Australia by Collins
Marine in Sydney in late- Frank Collins had
established the company in
1978 distributing Renault
marine engines, which
eventually morphed into
Nanni in 1983. Frank's
son, Peter Collins, joined
the company in 1984 and
furthered the momentum
with the range of Arvor
Boats combining hand-
in-hand with Nanni diesel
engines continuing the
success of this thriving
company.
Collins Marine initially
imported two of the
innovative European Arvor
20s into Australia; one
a full-finished model for
demonstration purposes and
the other a fibreglass shell
that was to be used as a
plug for a new set of moulds
destined for local production.
They produced the 20-footer
from a contractor’s factory
at Nowra for around 12 years
until the GFC took its toll in
2011, at the same time the
full Arvor range was coming
online. Arvor released the
popular 23 and 25-foot
boats; some imported with,
and some without engines –
those without were mostly
fitted with Nanni diesels.
Arvor Boats off er many
innovative design features
and were one of the first
to commercially produce
fully enclosed hardtops that
have now swept through
the recreational boating
fraternity. The shaftdriven
propeller is protected by a
tunnel hull and requires
minimal maintenance.
The cockpit is huge with
high freeboard making an
ideal dayboat for fishing,
diving or cruising and
there’s a sensible and very
comfortable enclosed cabin
with plenty of creature
comforts. All of these
features combine to an
excellent and very workable
package that is especially
suited to mooring.
Arvor customers are
generally intelligent
boaters who see the many
advantages, safety and
longevity of the design.PARTING
COMPANY
The 280AS was introduced
to the Arvor stable at the
2007 Paris Boat Show and
this featured package was
the display boat for the
2009 Southampton Boat
Show. The entire boat was
imported into Australia
in 2011 by the very proud
current owner and has
lived a much loved and
well serviced life at theBlairgowrie Yacht Club in
Victoria's southern Port
Phillip Bay. The owner is
very sad to see the boat for
sale but he is having a tree
change in his lifestyle so it
simply won’t be practical to
keep it.
Arvor has stuck with the
walkaround cabin design,
this one slightly off set
making bow access safe
and easy, particularly with
the addition of a trawler-
style side door at the helm.
She has lofty freeboard
combining with the full
beam extended well forward
creating plenty of volume
for the internal and external
facility. The rear deck is
really quite expansive with
nice high gunwales and
true self-draining scuppers
for added safety plus a very
large underfloor storage
facility for your watertoys
and boating equipment. Out
back is a moulded platform
with swing-down telescopic
ladder for boarding and
there’s a large livebait tank
with clearview and a pull-
out freshwater shower in the
coaming.
The cabin roof extends
out to form a cockpit awning
and this rig has an added
canvas extension supported
by a full stainless steel
structure and including
rocket launchers. There’s
also a full set of functional
snapper racks that will suit
a dedicated fisho, plus a very
welcome set of canopies
that shade the walkway
outside the side door and
clears that protect the
cockpit from cold wind and
spray.ABOVE Striking a pose at
Blairgowrie Yacht Club.
L-R An expansive rear deck
has high gunwales, self-
draining scuppers – plus large
underfloor storage; Arvor has
stuck with the walkaround
cabin design.
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