Effectively, the higher exchange rate meant it was cheaper to buy an imported boat than one made in New Zealand. This caused a few of the smaller boat building companies to drop out of the industry. However, the situation has now eased somewhat but smaller boat builders are always less insulated from the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. Boat building is still done largely along traditional lines, although boats today look vastly different from the boats of the past. The methods and techniques used only alter according to the materials used to build them.
Composite plastics are the main materials used in New Zealand.
Some boat builders make fibreglass yachts and these are made in moulds. Other manufacturers make them out of moulded aluminium. There is an overall shortage of skills right across the board in the sector, and it is feared this may impede overall growth in production and export earnings. We've been going for 16 years and we have consistently increased our staff members. We currently employ eighteen apprentice boat builders.