Ronstan co-founder Ron Allatt dies aged 89
The last of the two founding members of Australian boat fittings maker Ronstan passes awayRon Allatt, the “Ron” in the name of Australian boat fittings specialist Ronstan, has died on July 19, aged 89.
Ronstan was formed in Melbourne after Allatt met Stan LeNepveu in 1946 while racing dinghies. They then teamed up together to build boats and manufacture the stainless steel fittings they used.
Ronstan, an amalgam of their first names, was formed in 1953, and moved into exports, initially to the US, in 1966. Sales into North America expanded after Ronstan’s stainless steel fittings proved an ideal substitute for brass and bronze shackles.
In 1977, after 26 years in business, Allatt and LeNepveu sold Ronstan to ARC (Australian Reinforced Concrete) Industries. This marked the official start of retirement for LeNepveu, who retired six months later, but Allatt stayed on as Ronstan’s general manager for another five years before retiring.
LeNepveu died in 2012, also aged 89.
Household name
“The legacy Ron and Stan left is a close-knit, wonderful organisation with a name that is a household name in international sailing circles,” Ronstan chairman Alistair Murray said in a statement announcing Allatt’s death.
“Ronstan manufactures world-class products, has offices around the world, has won endless awards for excellence and has provided challenging, rewarding and enjoyable employment for thousands of us in the Ronstan family over the past six and a half decades.
“Thank you Ron! (and Stan!) The name lives proudly on!”
The Melbourne-based Ronstan business has grown over more than 65 years to employ more than 140 people worldwide, with offices in the US, Denmark and Indonesia.
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