Back Cove celebrates 10th birthday in Australia
Local Back Cove and Sabre importer E Marine Motor Yachts celebrating 10 years and 50 boats from the respected Maine yardIt helps that Jed Elderkin hails from Maine. And that he has an ingrained love of boats. For these two elements and some previous years working in the local marine industry have stood him in good stead to start his own business, E Marine Motor Yachts, dedicated to importing Back Cove and Sabre yachts from, you guessed it, Maine.
Jed is celebrating two milestones this year: the first is 10 years as a going concern in Australia.
Unbeknown to pretty much anyone and everyone at the time, Jed started his Sydneybased business right on the eve of the Global Financial Crisis. That he has remained a successful boat importer during the last choppy decade is testimony to the desirability of the boats he imports, his devotion to customer service, and his affable nature.
The second milestone clocked up this year is the sale of his 50th boat. We have been following the evolution on Back Cove and the influx of these sensible, seaworthy, singlediesel engine boats very closely on our sites. E Marine Motor Yachts imports both the Back Cove and the Sabre brands built by the same Mainebased yard. Jed has now sold 49 Back Coves and two Sabres into Australia, so you could jump aboard and get the 50th before Christmas, he says.
10 QUESTIONS TO EMARINE MOTOR YACHTS
1. What was you first boat and when?
Our first Back Cove in Australia was a 29 hull #124. The boat arrived here in September 2006. You tested the Back Cove 29 in November that year.
2. What is the most popular model?
The biggest sellers in Australia to date have been the Back Cove 30 and Back Cove 37 (Down East version here). Both double digits.
3. What states and waterways have you sold boats into?
All over. Gippsland Lakes, Mornington Peninsula, Fremantle, Tasmania, coastal NSW and Queensland to name just a few places.
4. Where have you been on the boats?
I’m very comfortable running our boats in all sorts of sea conditions. I have covered the East Coast from Port Kembla as far north as Hervey Bay in various models and sizes.
5. Customer type?
Our customers are generally experienced boaties that appreciate quality, form and function. Not prone to fads.
6. Biggest evolution in a decade?
Technology. Bear in mind a decade ago the iPhone had yet to be released. Back Cove have embraced technology and used it to continuously improve a wonderful product.
7. Why have these boats resonated with local buyers?
Safety, economy, reliability, practicality and value. These boats hold their value and remain desirable and relevant for years. (On the secondhand market, Back Coves are tightly held and at the time of writing we had just one listing for a used 29 on our sites.)
8. What are the biggest challenges in the local marine industry?
Cost of doing business. Waterfront facilities and quality workmanship do not come cheap. A dealer needs to be profitable to support their customers and the significant investment they make in their boats.
9. What do you miss about Maine and what do you love about Sydney?
Maine lobster and the way the pine trees meet the granite rocky shore. It is a stunningly beautiful place, but I don’t miss the winters. As for Sydney, I love the Harbour and the climate most of all.
10. What can we look forward to next?
I’m most excited about the new Back Cove 32 news. It is a vessel that really incorporates the best of Back Cove.
Thanks Jed and lets catch up for the 50th Back Cove, hopefully, the new 32!
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