“If there’s a single ounce
of the ol’ briny in your
blood, the mere mention
of Australia’s own Sailfish
Catamarans should get
you salivating – if not,
you’re reading the wrong
magazine!”
PHOTO SPREAD The award-winning
Sailfish range over the years, has catered
for recreational and more serious
fisherman alike.no less capable 5m model in 1994,
followed by 6.5 and 7.5m models
in 1995, and eventually increasing
their aesthetic appeal by revealing
innovative and attractive coloured hull
sides in 1996.
Sailfish cats attract recreational
and commercial users alike with
many government authorities, safety
organisations and marine service
providers following the lead set by
NSW Maritime Services Board which
purchased a 5.5 hardtop way back in
1995.
Incidentally, it was during this
period that Melbourne’s Boronia
Marine was appointed as a dealership
and this was where I was first
introduced to the products. I was one
of the salesmen and part of the game
fishing team who set-up a 5.5m hull
for competition fishing mainly out of
Bermagui on the south coast of NSW.
We were wowed by their abilities and
had many successful results with
regular captures of marlin, tuna,
albacore and sharks. But mostly we
were impressed by the ride, with the
twin hulls creating that aquatic cushion
of air in the tunnels, plus the stabilityand deck space where we could
comfortably fish four to five anglers
from a 5.5m hull. Fond memories
indeed. Well over 20 years later I still
say, “Though the brand and its people
have progressed a long way, the theory
remains the same.”THE PEOPLE
Sailfish Catamarans was originally
the brainchild of Darren Foster who
commenced his career building
aluminium catamarans in 1984 at
Marlin Broadbill. He nowadays boasts
more than 34 years of alloy twin hull
boatbuilding.
A mere three years after the birth
of Sailfish, a partnership was formed
with Sydney’s Webbe Marine. This
partnership grows stronger to this day,
now some 22 years later. Webbe Marine
has presented the brand to every
Sydney Boat Show since then and is a
regular at selected shows throughout
the country.
In 1998, Sailfish joined forces with
Sports Marine in Western Australia,
further strengthening the national
alliance and brand representation.
Sailfish Catamarans has grown fromits humble beginnings of two staff
producing five boats a year to now
employing a staff of more than 20
full-time tradesmen and apprentices,
which were recognised by its 2017
NSW Safework Award for Excellence
In Workplace Health & Safety Culture.
The team now produces approximately
30 custom-built plate aluminium
power catamarans per year, with a
very respectable total of more than 440
vessels in its 25-year history. Whilst
recreational boats dominate sales,
Sailfish has also supplied almost 100
Commercial Series vessels for survey
and working applications including
international exports to the USA, PNG,
Russia and New Zealand.
Sailfish was also a pioneer in
supplying fully rigged packages
ex-factory. This guarantees a fully
performance tested engine/hull
combination with a multitude
of benefits including factory
manufactured electrical looms,
professional fitout of standard
equipment and optional accessories,
custom-design capability, “one-stop
shop” warranty reference and OEM
purchasing of all componentry with18 tradeaboat.com.au