New lift and additional facilities propel The Boat Works in 2025
by The Boat Works 14 Feb 20:21 NZDT
The Boat Works © The Boat Works
Starting the year with a strong line-up of bookings for haul outs and refits, The Boat Works is propelling into the year.
The dedicated superyacht North Yard has welcomed the facility's sixth lift, focusing on taking efficiency and service to the next level.
The new, efficient, variable-width Marine Travelift with four-wheel steering and a beam capacity up to 9.65m, will lift vessels up to 100-tonnes, including wide-beam multihulls.
The Watersheds facility is a major success, with high demand for its undercover berths for refits and commissioning. The first of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the 100-meter-long chutes provide covered in-water maintenance solutions for boats.
Cooper Chapman, Director and CEO at CHAPMAN describes the Watersheds as "a game changer".
"We used The Watersheds to complete final works on board the 100-foot charter vessel, SEA RAES following her four-month refit within the super sheds. Our exterior teams were able to fast-track their tasks, cutting the timeline by three weeks without compromising quality."
Now berthed in the Watersheds, 50-metre superyacht JeMaSa is undergoing a full-scale refit over six months. Five towering levels of encapsulation envelope her 10-metre wide beam, creating an impressive spectacle on-site and jobs for around 100 skilled tradespeople.
Next in development, will be additional covered hardstand in the North Yard of the 55-acre facility, providing up to 2,000-square-metres of extra area for boat maintenance and refit and to boost the capacity and cater to more boats.
New at the Marine Trade Supplies & Chandlery megastore is the dedicated Paint Locker, specialising in marine and protective coatings. Run by Kasey Mcallan, a NACE-certified coatings inspector and one of Queensland's top paint experts, the Paint Locker features cutting-edge tint machines for precise colour matching, the latest paint shakers, and high-end spray gun equipment. Premium brands like AkzoNobel Awlgrip, Norglass, Jotun, Altex, PPG and more are stocked, with experts on hand for advice and support.
The Boat Works' owner, Tony Longhurst commented, "In 2024, we focused on expanding infrastructure to accommodate more boats and create more jobs.
"We significantly grew The Boat Works' footprint, opening over 50 new in-water and out-of-water work bays, accommodating more tenants, and enhancing yacht sales across our two adjacent yards. As the largest marine facility in the southern hemisphere, we continue to set the standard in the industry, with over 100 boat movements each week.
He continued, "As marine traffic to The Boat Works increases, we naturally see a surge in refit projects and maintenance work. Having these additional resources and enhanced services available on-site is a tremendous convenience for all working within our marine industry. We are THE destination for maintenance, refit and yacht sales."