Cobalt, Clipper and Marlow at a one stop shop

Boat dealers and importers were once loath to mix their brands and confuse the message. But one Queensland boating business has turned that theory on its head by offering three divergent boat brands to cover all bases, demographics and markets. And the strategy is paying off.

Brett Thurley, a seasoned Gold Coast boating campaigner and past waterski champ, has launched into 2017 with a busy program of new model releases, local deliveries, large boat show displays, plus the imminent opening of a new on-water sales centre at the Gold Coast City Marina.

In response to the pleasure-boat market gathering pace across the board, Thurley is now offering everything from a 20ft Cobalt bowrider to 36ft Clipper and a 57 Marlow pilothouse liveaboard with $3m ticket. We have just returned from a test fest of the hot Cobalts and Marlow so watch this space.

Thurley has found that the pleasure boat market is diversifying and that it’s now all about for catering for broad interests from, say, busy young family day boaters to the retirees living out their boating dreams with plenty of time on their hands.

"The coming 12 months will be our biggest and most exciting ever and we are very excited by the response we have already received to our diverse range of models and styles," he said.

2017 CLIPPER LAUNCHES
Thurley is Managing Director of Clipper Motor Yachts. In addition to its traditional semi-displacement flybridge cruisers, Clipper is expanding with a range of 'lobster-boat-style' Hudson Bay sedans with new designer interiors.

The new 2017 Clipper Hudson Bay range includes the 350, 390, 470, 500, 540 and 640 models. The first of these will arrive in May this year.

Clipper has commissioned Patrizio Facheris, an acclaimed USA-based Italian designer and stylist, to work on all new Clipper and Hudson Bay models.

Patrizio Facheris Yacht and Product Design Studio is based in Florida and has been active in the international marine industry for more than 20 years. Patrizio has been working with the Clipper team to design the interiors of the new Hudson Bay models.

MARLOW MAKING WAVES
In addition to the Clipper line-up, Thurley is also Managing Director of Pacific Motor Yachts, the Australian distributor of Marlow Motor Yachts, which are revered long-range liveaboard cruisers.

A loaded Marlow 53 (our opening photo off the Gold Coast), which is actually 59 feet or 18.2 metres in length overall, landed in Australia this month and will be displayed at major boat shows in Australia this year. We headed offshore in the boat and can vouch for its seaworthiness.

"The Marlow 53 is in the same vein as a Fleming or a Grand Banks and our first one will feature three luxury cabins, including a full-beam king-size master suite, crew quarters, gyro, utility room, hydraulic swim platform and a luxurious fit out and finish that has to be seen to be appreciated," he said.

"This is a $3 million plus vessel and will be ideally suited to cruising the Australian coastline and beyond."

Renown for their engineering, space and volume, accommodation and seakeeping capabilities, Marlow Motor Yachts have an international reputation. Thurley believes the new Marlow 53 will be the start of something big for the brand in Australia.

"This is a seriously big long-range cruiser and it includes some ground breaking technology on board including a joystick docking system (supplied by Cummins) for ease of manoeuvring in marinas and berthing, and a Seakeeper Gyro stabilisation system," he said. 

COBALT THE BIG MOVER
Of course, there’s the day-boat sector to cater for and it’s here that Thurley has another ace up his sleeve. As the Managing Director of Cobalt of Australia, he is now poised to open a large on-water sales and showroom to for the famous US brand adjacent to his Clipper office at the Gold Coast City Marina.

Thurley has had a relationship with the Kansas-based family boatbuilder for more than 20 years and is now promoting the great Cobalt line-up to the Australian market.

"Cobalt is a brand that has an enormous following internationally and they are renowned for their quality, style and performance," he said.

"Initially we will have six models on display ranging from 20 to 27 feet and our brand new showroom and on-water facility will enable us to show prospective purchasers just what a class act these boats are.

“The Cobalt range has been represented in Australia until now by Denis and Tracey Souvleris at Cobalt of NSW and they are familiar to many existing Cobalt owners.

"We will continue to work with them expanding the brand, but we will take the marketing of these boats to a higher level throughout Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and WA."

The range of upmarket bowriders on offer through Cobalt of Australia will be priced between $90,000 and $1 million. There are plans afoot to establish a New Zealand outlet for his key brands, too.

SUB-DEALER AND MODEL UPDATE
Thurley has entered into an agreement with Orams Marine Sales in New Zealand to represent Marlow, Clipper and Hudson Bay. Orams Marine Village is located in the heart of Auckland.

Volvo Penta will provide motors with Garmin Glass Screen dash set-ups for all the new models in the Clipper range. Although Cummins remains an option.

Between Clipper, Hudson Bay, Marlow and Cobalt, Thurley says he will have more stock boats available for people to inspect this year than ever before.

"We are well on our way to being able to offer a quality boating solution to all prospective boat buyers no matter what their needs or desires.

"Whether you want a bluewater passage maker, a semi-displacement luxury cruiser for exploring the Whitsundays, a superbly appointed sedan cruiser for a week away up in the bay, or a stylish day boat to take friends out for cruise or a ski, we have it all,” he says.

More at:
www.clippermotoryachts.com
www.marlowyachts.com
www.cobaltboats.com