44 JUNE–JULY 2018 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com
Markets & Regions
BOATBUILDERS | AUSTRALIA
and was appointed Cobalt Rookie Dealer of the Year.
“At SCIBS we will be releasing the new generation
Hudson Bay 390 and 540 by internationally recognised
designer Patrizio Facheris and the Clipper team,” says
Thurley. He adds that with 11 new Clippers in build,
it is the most they have ever had at one time and
positively reflects the growth of the Australian market.
“We now have a boat in the 65ft-plus range where
there is a lot of activity and we are starting to engage
with people who are looking for something around
the size of our new Hudson Bay 64 and Cordova 65
motoryacht,” adds Thurley.
Thurley says that his company is #3 in ‘Australian’
brands and #1 in Australian boats that are not built
locally. Sales are 12-15 boats annually.
Thurley recently secured the Australian
distributorship for Bennington Pontoon Boats, which
is an associate brand of Cobalt.RIVIERA – NUMBER ONE
Riviera is the largest and most awarded luxury boat
building company in Australia and a significant player
in the global marine industry. Today, the company
builds boats from 36ft-75ft across four lines: Open and
Enclosed Flybridge, Sport Yacht, and SUV.
Since purchased in 2012 by Rodney Longhurst, the
company has seen steady and sustainable growth, not
just in revenue and boat numbers out the door, but
also in forward orders. In 2012 the company had A$21m
of forward orders and today that is closer to A$110m.
Riviera has gone from 50 boats a year to over 100,
with the average size increasing significantly and the
dollar value of boats produced growing threefold. Staff
levels have also increased to over 600, including 74
apprentices and virtually every shed on the 24 hectares
and in 56 marinas on the Coomera River being utilised.
There are plans for further expansion in the vacant
land next door to accommodate future development.
Riviera general manager, Wes Moxey, describes the
market as highly competitive. Each country is a little
bit different, he says, with Riviera’s clients very in tune
with what is happening in their local economy and this
can play a big part in their buying decision.Moxey says that typical Riviera owners are
conservative, self-made and hardworking business
people who look ahead to what is happening in
world markets. “When the government changed in
New Zealand late last year we experienced some
cancellations as buyers were nervous as to how the
Labour government would handle the economy. But
now, after nearly six months of a stable government,
those buyers are back,” he says.
Moxey says the same happened in the US when
Trump was appointed President, but like New Zealand,
things have settled and the US orders are as strong if
not stronger than ever.
Currently, Riviera has 46 dealers in 50 countries.
“We are seeing Europe wake up slowly, with genuine
enquiries from places like Turkey, Spain and France.
We also see growth in Asia/Pacific but the US is still
our number one market. We are the number one brand
of choice in Australia and New Zealand and we don’t
take that position lightly and have to work hard in
maintaining our position,” says Moxey.
Riviera has certainly helped to develop fresh
markets, expanding its range into new areas such as
the Sports Motor Yachts and the popular SUV range.
Since the first of the Sports Motor Yacht series (68
SMY) was released at the 2017 Sydney International
Boat Show, Riviera has sold 12 boats, including the
latest 72. For a category that didn’t exist a few years
ago, it has been hugely successful for the company. Of
the 17 models that existed in the Riviera range when
Longhurst purchased the company, only two are still in
the current 19-model range.
Longhurst has been the driving force in developing
such a broad range of boats, from 36ft-72ft. “I think
we cater for just about all needs in that size category
and are probably one of the most diverse production
builders in the world,” he says. “It’s important to
understand that it’s not just the quality of the boats we
build, it’s also the aftercare service and relationships
we build with our owners. We stay very much in touch
with our owners through events, such as the annual
Riviera Festival here on the Gold Coast and at theWES MOXEY, GENERAL MANAGER
RIVIERAWhen the government
changed in NZ last year
we experienced some
cancellations as buyers
were nervous as to how
a Labour government
would handle the
economyTHaines is one
of Australia’s most
iconic trailer boat
brands. This is its
Haines Signature
600BR