Quintrex celebrates 60th in style

Sixty years is one hell of a milestone to celebrate, and Quintrex did it in style last month at the ritzy Crown Towers Hotel in Surfers Paradise with dealers, staff and members of the media joining the company management for a black-tie knees-up to pay respect to such an outstanding achievement.

Quintrex started as World War II was drawing to a close - 1945 to be precise - and from modest beginnings has survived fair weather and foul in its 60-year history. But it's only been in the years since its purchase by industry stalwart Paul Phelan and business partner Bruce Shepherd that the company has undergone something of a seachange, evolving from respected small-scale boatbuilder to the mass-production giant it is today. In fact, Quintrex is Australia's largest aluminium boat builder (among the largest local boat companies, period) producing over 15,000 boats a year in about 60 models, and with significant export markets in south-east Asia, New Zealand and America.

The last five years have seen Quintrex grow exponentially with about 20 per cent increase in production logged every year - phenomenal growth in anyone's language - along with continual product development and innovation. Quintrex has balanced the thorny issue of production versus quality control; maintained value for money; built a professional team of national dealers and cultivated an intelligent approach to marketing.

Quintrex has been a leader when it comes to innovation, being the only Australian company able to stretch-form aluminium into complex shapes, resulting in its much-vaunted Millennium flared bow hull and its high-buoyancy Maxi Transom (an idea most alloy builders have adopted in one way or another). The company ensures factory pre-rigging as turn-key boat packages as part of a continual effort to make its boats more ergonomically sensitive, practical and user-friendly. In more recent times Quintrex has been the first builder to incorporate significant hull design changes to achieve full level floatation on its mid-range and range-topping boats, meaning they'll float level and upright if swamped, with passengers on board.

And now the company has invested considerable dollars to completely reconfigure many of its 460, 480 and 510 models to include full cockpit liners incorporating sidepockets, drinkholders, dedicated rod storage, provision for stereo speakers, and toe-under support, which join newly-designed plastic dash moulds and instrument brows. Upholstery colours have been improved, and new hull colours are also on offer, while a new material called Alloy Core has been used on the hatches - it won't warp or rot, says Quintrex, and is very strong and lightweight. An improved fuel-filler, breather and expansion chamber makes refueling safer. Centre console models also get lift-out Igloo iceboxes that are sturdily secured on deck.

The overall finish is impressive: these mass-produced aluminium boats are probably the only ones on the market that could have their interiors compared to equivalent fibreglass boats, which have always enjoyed more rounded, smoothly-faired cockpits than could previously be achieved with aluminium.

The 2005 model range released for media evaluation held few surprises in terms of all-new boats (apart from an excellent entry-level 18ft high-performance pontoon party boat), but most models have been refined in both cosmetic and practical terms. One notable improvement has been the construction of a baitboard/livebait tank system over the stern. It's made of durable polypropylene, has a generous-sized tank fed by a Rule pump, drains overboard (both tank and cutting board), has a strong Teflon lid/cutting surface and the whole assembly tilts forward to allow large motors to be fully raised. At last - a practical, durable bait tank and cutting board!

It's shaping up to be another strong year for Quintrex. The company is reportedly happy with its current team of dealers. The R&D department is hard at work on a host of improvements to keep the product at the forefront. Production efficiencies at the factory will further reduce the bottom line for customers. A new outboard supply relationship with Mercury Marine will see the boats available for customers with top quality engines, long warranties, good after-sales support at affordable dollars.

So it looks like Quintrex will be around for another 60 years building desirable tinnies for Aussie workers. Check out the 2005 range at your local Quintrex dealer, call the company for a brochure on (07) 5589 9898 or view the range online by visiting www.quintrex.com.au

NEW FOR 2005