Trailcraft surges ahead

Good designs, great build quality, a refreshed range, an expanded dealer network and exponential growth. It's all good news from Trailcraft this year, as Phil Kaberry discovered on a recent visit to the company's Henderson plant

Fortune favours the bold, and Trailcraft owner/director Brett Martin is definitely a brave man when it comes to business. Not just brave, but astute too, which is a combination that's worked to bring the one-time Saltwater Marine dealer principal such success. With help from his partner and wife, and a dedicated staff, Brett has taken what was a small-time plate aluminium boatbuilding operation by the scruff of the neck and dragged it with him to the very top of the boatbuilding heap in the space of a few years. What he's managed to accomplish with the brand is nothing short of remarkable. Trailcraft is not only the biggest plate alloy boat manufacturing concern in the plate capital of Australia, Western Australia, but it's also the largest in Australia, and possibly the world. With a model range of 40 boats, the Henderson plant is now turning out 22 boats a week to exacting standards, with every single boat going through a painstaking quality control process before being shipped to one of the company's 32 national dealers.

By all accounts, Trailcraft customers are the best advertising for the brand such is their loyalty to the product. So what's so great about these boats?

OVER-ENGINEERED
Probably the main selling point for the Trailcraft brand is its build quality (for more on this, see Trailcraft test page 56). Quality-built components - like extra-thick plate aluminium with clinker-pressed sides; over-engineered sub-frame bulkhead system; full welds (inside and out) along the keel, chines and gunwales; fully-watertight-sealed self-draining decks; transom doors; thick marine-grade upholstery and seat manufacturing; curved windscreens and industry-leading paint shop facilities - combine to make Trailcraft boats incredibly strong, comfortable, well-designed and laid out. And they're among the smickest-looking tinnies on the block.

The company recently purchased a computer-controlled plasma cutter machine to cut the various parts of the boats, dramatically boosting production and making for a higher quality boat. Less wastage means the boats cost less to produce, in turn shaving all-important dollars off the retail price.

Trailcraft has also tuned in to what customers are demanding of a boat, and as such the internal designs have been refined and made more comfortable and practical. The company has managed to accomplish the hardest thing in manufacturing: boosting production without sacrificing on quality control. The higher production volume means the price of a boat is more affordable. The consistent quality is company-backed - all Trailcraft boats come with a three-year warranty.

And, of course, there's the ride: substantial hull weights coupled with computer-modelled designs means that almost without exception, Trailcraft boats ride soft and dry.

RETAIL BUSINESS
Trailcraft has opened three company-owned dealerships - in Blair Gowrie, SA, and Laverton in Victoria and most recently, Mandurah in Western Australia - and is eyeing a number of new locations in Queensland and New South Wales. These dealers stock the whole range of Trailcraft boats, and give the manufacturer greater control over how its boats are sold and marketed: ultimately, greater contact with the customer and an opportunity to offer an improved level of support and after-sales service.

TRAILERS, TOO

Trailcraft also makes its own trailers, and it's a success story in its own right. Like the boats, they're over-engineered, but the major point of difference is they're made from "I" beam steel, not box cross-section as is the industry norm. The advantage? No water gets trapped inside to slowly rust and weaken the superstructure, and they're substantially lighter than the competition, the company says, without losing strength. The larger ones are fitted with hydraulic brakes, and all come with super-tough top-quality components. Trailcraft says it makes 1500 of them a year - and as proof of their quality, a number of other boat manufacturers buy trailers for their own boats from the company. But for a Trailcraft boat buyer, it's good to know your boat is protected by a custom-fitted trailer, made by the company, so as not to damage the hull or void the warranty.

NEW FOR 2005
Besides some slick-looking graphics and cosmetic refinements, the Trailcraft range has been streamlined and some models renamed to better reflect their intended purpose.

Here's some highlights of the 2005 range, from smallest to largest: Utility Open Boats - range of tiller-steer, ultra-strong plate dinghies; Freestyle Runabouts - classic forward control runabouts with self-draining decks; Tournament centre-consoles; Cross Sport Bowriders - the optimum mix of family versatility; and the Trailblazer and Sportscab sportsfishing cabin boats in half- and cuddy-cabin; Centre Cabin walkarounds, and the all-new 640 Hardtop which is the range-topper.

Each range now comes with its own brochure to minimise confusion.

All this adds up to a persuasive argument to check out a Trailcraft this year. For more information or to find your nearest stockist, call 1300 550 321.

Trailcraft surges ahead

Tags