South Africa’s leisure boat building industry is growing in stature and is making its mark internationally, Ellian Perch, director of one of the leading SA boatbuilding companies, Robertson & Caine (R&C), said on Tuesday.
With a clear competitive advantage and price competitiveness the industry was poised for solid growth, he said. The industry was expected to top R600 million in turnover this year from R550-million last year. Exports accounted for more than 80% of the industry’s turnover with a total of 90% of production in sea-going yachts.
In the last four out of six years the Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in the USA went to SA boats. In the other two years SA boats were nominated among the top. Perch said the French were their main international competitors with well-known boatbuilding companies like Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, and Catana & Privilege.
The retail value of R&C’s sales for 2002 was projected to be over R120-million with over 90% aimed at exports.
SA has significant competitive advantages in boatbuilding ranging from labour rates, overheads, rent, and electricity to local raw materials that are costed in a relative weak currency.
”Because of our rugged coastline and ”heavy weather” sailing conditions, our boats have traditionally been built accordingly. As a result we are putting a more robust product on the market whilst maintaining price competitiveness with the French,” Perch said.
Perch said the local industry could develop further with the establishment of a boatbuilding school attached to a technikon or college.
In SA over 80% of boat buyers pay cash, as ”normal” financing was difficult to obtain. Both the industry and the banks were currently positively addressing this.
”South Africans are generally not a boating nation. About 90% of the local boatbuilding workforce has never been on a boat, let alone own boats.
”In New Zealand, for example, 95% of the workforce are active boaters and 70% of them actually own some type of craft. We need to get more people on the water,” said Perch. – Sapa