Whittley enjoys a strong 2015

To say that 2015 was a busy year for Aussie boat builder, Whittley Marine Group, is somewhat of an understatement. New models, new engine platforms, new drive systems, new technological advances, export opportunities, new dealer appointments and a resurgence in maxi-trailerboat sales has resulted in unprecedented growth and a production schedule that is already booked out for the first quarter of 2016, the Melbourne-based boatbuilder says.

Whittley’s director of sales and marketing, Alan Whittley, said that 2015 was an exciting time for the brand: "2015 saw a period of sustained growth with all our dealerships reaping consistent and positive results," he remarked. "In response, we’ve appointed two new dealers: Oceanaire Marine in Hong Kong and Terrace Boating in Heatherbrae, NSW, with further appointments to be announced in January, 2016. We’ve also recruited additional boat-building staff to cater for the increase in demand."

As boat builders strives to remain relevant in a fluid market, Whittley believes its unswerving focus on providing versatile family-friendly boats is fundamental to its success. "We build boats that people actually want to use," said Alan. "We pack them full of standard features that most of the others call options and provide a factory-tested turn-key solution delivered with a personal touch."

Conscious of the financial pressures boating families face, Whittley strives to build outstanding value into every model, Alan says. "Judging by the high demand and excellent retained value on the used boat market, Whittley’s focus is paying dividends."

NEW MODEL RELEASES
With this philosophy in mind, Whittley introduced two new models at the 2015 Melbourne Boat Show which were met with unprecedented levels of interest. The FF2100 cruiser/fishing hybrid blends overnight comfort with fishing prowess served up in a compact yet seaworthy platform. The ground-breaking S.U.R.F.cruiser 24/7 liveaboard towsports promises adventurous families a life-time of thrills and spills. Both boats embody Whittley’s commitment to crafting accessible boats with multi-faceted personalities – boats for all seasons.

VOLVO PENTA PAIRING
Whittley is unashamedly committed to sterndrive technology and its partnership with Volvo Penta continues to flourish. "The recent release of the Next Generation series of freshwater-cooled 4.3 litre V6 and 5.3 litre V8 all-alloy engines heralds a new era in marine propulsion," Alan said. "These revolutionary low-maintenance platforms offer outstanding value, unrivalled performance and are the cleanest petrol-powered marine engines on the market with ultra-low emission levels that eclipses everything in the high-horsepower outboard market."

The year 2015 has also seen a resurgence in the popularity of Whittley’s larger vessels with boats 7m and above accounting for an increasing proportion of its annual production, many being optioned with diesel power as buyers seek to maximise range and reliability.

"Some thought we were crazy putting so much effort into promoting the benefits of diesel engines in small boats, but our determination is being rewarded," states Alan. Compact diesels are now the engine of choice in Whittley’s larger cruisers with Volvo Penta’s popular D3-series rivalling petrol engine sales in this class.

2016 OUTLOOK
The momentum established in 2015 is set to continue unabated in 2016 with extensive revisions planned for the entire fleet. Whittley is upping the ante and integrating major systems such as engine management and digital switching not to mention Bluetooth to facilitate music streaming and Wi-Fi enabled head units to enhance the boating experience. Boaters will soon have the choice to tune out or bring the entire world on-board to share their experiences.

New offerings from Volvo Penta are on the cards and Whittley is also rumoured to have a couple of new models under development – watch this space.

As 2015 draws to a close, the Whittley Marine team would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all its customers new and old. I think just about all of us on the water this year, these holidays and the next will be crossing paths with a Whittley or six rafted up in trailerboat cruising mode.