STABIDEALER
HEAVEN IN HAURAKI The team at Gulfland Marine reckon they can barely keep up with the demand for Stabicraft. It helps that they’re smack bang in the middle of boating heaven.
T
he Hauraki Gulf is a paradise for boaties and fishos of all persuasions. Stretching for 4000sq km (1544sq mi), it’s bounded to the east by the Coromandel Peninsula and to the north-east by Great Barrier Island. It boasts about 50 islands, and much of it is pristine marine park, but there are still plenty of good spots to dangle a line. The Hauraki Gulf is a great place to have a boat, with easy access to boat ramps and marinas. This makes business pretty good for Stabicraft dealer Gulfland Marine. The dealership is on the main road in the middle of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula — which pokes its nose into the gulf, just a half-hour drive north of Auckland. Gulfland has been a marine shop for more than 40 years, the past 20 of those in the capable hands of Craig and Tess Lewis. Craig knows his boats. He’s an A-grade mechanic, marine engineer and outboard master technician, and has put together an impressive crew of boat techs to meet the needs of a wide range of customers. It’s a big operation. They offer full marine sales and service with one of the largest, highest-qualified and
best-equipped workshops in the country. Gulfland also has a satellite workshop at Gulf Harbour Marina. “We’ve got 10 staff — all with a mechanical background — and two shops, which makes us the largest Mercury and Stabicraft dealership in New Zealand,” says Craig. They’ve certainly got the runs on the board. Gulfland has won Mercury Dealer of the year NZ quite a few times over the years. “And we’re the only NZ dealer ever to receive Mercury dealer of the year for Australia and the Pacific,” says Craig with a big grin. Craig and Tess love the gulf country and it doesn’t hurt that their watery location is also pretty good for business. “We get customers of all ages as the area is surrounded by beaches, which attract people who want to live here,” says Craig. “If they don’t already have one, they usually develop a bit of a marine interest pretty quick.” If you’re just visiting, Craig reckons the best time is between October and March. “Hauraki Gulf is one of the most pristine boating areas in the world. It’s filled with Islands and marine reserves with Auckland at its hub.”
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