Vale David Lockwood

The Australian boating industry lost one of its great champions last week. On Friday, May 4, boatsales.com.au editor David Lockwood passed away after a short illness. David was 51.

David was one of the longest standing members of the boatsales and carsales.com Ltd editorial team. He was well known and highly respected across the boating and fishing spectrums – in the case of the former, right across the globe.

His passing saddened us all. He will be very much missed.

As an editor and eventually Editor-in-Chief, I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Dave for more than 20 years. Our first collaborations were in magazines like Trade-a-Boat, Trailer Boat and BlueWater Boats & Sportsfishing where David was initially Boat Test Editor and later took overall responsibility for some of the titles. He was similarly involved at the deep end right from the formative days of both BoatPoint.com.au and more recently, boatsales.com.au.

Having spent many days and a few night in boats (some leaky!) with DL, I consider him a mate. He was also the most capable and qualified boating authority I have met.

David was also a passionate advocate for editorial independence in an industry that was not known for its clarity. One highly respected industry member told me last Friday: “The Australian marine industry has lost its one true journo…”

David was boatsales.com.au’s greatest champion. He above all else was also a passionate advocate for boating and fishing...

Alongside his family, marine pastimes were his true loves.

David was farewelled in a private service yesterday, May 8. He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and children, Summer and Sandy.

Our thoughts, and our love are with them.

Vale DL… Tight lines…