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Cruise Craft has announced the appointment of Darwin’s leading marine dealer, In & Outboard Marine, as a fully-fledged Cruise Craft dealer. For both parties, this is a ‘back-to-the-future’ appointment.
Traditionally, Darwin has been accepted as a plate boat and alloy runabout market. In the Top-End, the best fishing destinations have been very remote and located at the end of a long dirt road. Boat ramps were often straight off the bank. In this environment, aluminium boats made sense and fibreglass had little acceptance.
However, the Darwin boating scene has evolved and changed for the better. The key roads are all now sealed and bridges have replaced water crossings through rivers and streams. Interest in blue water fishing is exceptional, with the seas between Darwin and Dundee fertile and popular.
“The time is absolutely right to stock and promote fibreglass boats in the Darwin market,” said Stewart Zanker, Co-Director of In & Outboard Marine. “Some years ago we stocked Cruise Craft but found the market wasn’t ready to move away from dominance of plate boats. However, boating is now more sophisticated and the Cruise Craft product is a great fit.”
In & Outboard Marine has already taken delivery of the first of their stock boats, the Cruise Craft Explorer 685 Hard Top and Cruise Craft Explorer 595 Hard Top. In the Top End, game fishermen need solid overhead protection from the gruelling sun and the Cruise Craft Hard Top range includes the very best in award winning hard top designs. “Just as the market has changed so too has the Cruise Craft product,” said Stewart Zanker.
“The Cruise Craft boats are now 100% timber free. In our tropical climate, the justified objection to fibreglass boats with timber components has now been countered and eliminated.” In & Outboard Marine celebrates 30 years as a Yamaha dealer, in 2017. The dealership is one of the first ever to have been awarded the Yamaha Platinum dealer designation, an accolade of excellence. All Cruise Craft boats stocked and sold at In & Outboard Marine are 100% factory rigged with Yamaha outboards.
The management of Cruise Craft is just as excited about the appointment of In & Outboard Marine as Stewart Zanker.
“The Darwin market has advanced to become an urbane and prosperous region,” said Nathan Nichols, Director of Cruise Craft.
“With the huge amount of commercial development in Darwin and the Northern Territory, the region has come of age. There are boating families and game fishing customers who are now demanding the refined lines and appointments of a quality fibreglass blue water boat. Our Cruise Craft line up is the right product for these customers.”
“In & Outboard Marine is a first-rate dealership and a perfect fit for the CruiseCraft brand. They have strong management, an excellent sales team and technical support second to none.” “We are delighted to have Stewart Zanker, Larry Phillips and their team stocking and promoting the CruiseCraft brand in Darwin and the Northern Territory.”
CruiseCraft is a wholly family owned, third generation Australian boat manufacturing business, operating from their Brisbane manufacturing facility. CruiseCraft boats are distributed exclusively through a network of Authorised Dealers throughout Australia and selected international markets.
