Sea Jay Boats celebrates 35 years

Sea Jay Aluminium Boats is a family company founded in 1989 in Bundaberg by Col and Janelle Glass.

Both Col and Janelle were proactive in many aspects of boating, including recreational fishing, tournament fishing for the mighty barramundi, water skiing and boat racing.

Boating has always played a major part in the Glass family life, spanning many years.

 

Manufacturing aluminium boats became a natural progression into the boating industry, though the family never dreamed its Sea Jay Aluminium Boats brand would one day become a household name, sold through 34 marine retailers in Australia.

First located in east Bundaberg and constantly growing since its inception, the Sea Jay factory moved to Maddison Court in 1993 and now covers over 10,000sq m, with four separate buildings providing the necessary room to build Sea Jay’s pressed and plate range of aluminium boats.

 

Six-years old when the business began, Troy Glass joined his parents with their passion, becoming an employee in 1999.

Completing his apprenticeship in the industry, Troy soon put his theoretical and practical knowledge to good use and in 2010 became the research and development manager and a part owner of Sea Jay, further strengthening the family values associated with the company.

 

In 2013, Col took a step back and Troy became managing director.

Then in 2022, Col and Janelle retired from the day-to-day operations of Sea Jay, with Troy and his wife Brooke running and operating the company.

The first boat produced at the factory was a 3.7m square-nose punt, manufactured in June 1989.

 

From this first craft to a full line-up of models, including the factory direct Plate Xtreme range, many boats have passed through the Sea Jay factory over the 35 years.

Today, Sea Jay Aluminium Boats produces a vast range of craft, from 3.15m to 6.7m in the Sea Jay range and 5.5m to 9.2m in the Plate Xtreme series, with over 90 models throughout the two hull designs.

 

These models consist of open and speciality dinghies, v-nose punts, runabouts, consoles and cabins.

The Plate Xtreme series are sold factory direct, with the Sea Jay range sold through a nationwide dealer network.

 

Currently employing 32 staff, the Sea Jay team is comprised of qualified tradespeople, apprentices and trade assistants, with training conducted by recognised organisations on the premises.

Quality and pride in workmanship are important aspects of the team’s manufacturing process.

As many Sea Jay employees enjoy boating, they build Sea Jay vessels to the highest standards of workmanship and expertise, as expected in their own boats, and this work ethic is applied to the entire manufacturing process.

 

Sea Jay utilises two fully equipped paint booths, a computerised print machine for boat wraps and signage, two CNC routers and a state-of-the-art press, which handles the cutting and preparing of materials used to manufacture a boat.

For boat compliance testing to be conducted on site, a 4m by 10m test tank has been a valued addition.

 

These modern innovations have certainly made the process of boat building more responsive for today’s customer.

And while Sea Jay always tries to meet its customers’ needs and wishes with the vast range currently available, special builds and customisations are still a big part of the business.

 

Sea Jay supports and sponsors many community groups, giving back to the community through local and interstate organisations and initiatives.

Sea Jay is continuously innovating, developing and tweaking new models and features to set the brand apart from its competitors, together with maintaining a high standard of workmanship, adhering to all regulatory and compliance requirements and investing in infrastructure and its people to continue to grow the business and the Sea Jay name.

 

While the team may wonder where the next era of boating will take it, with four grandchildren all loyal Sea Jay supporters and keen fishos, the next generation of boating enthusiasts are sure to follow.

Visit seajayboats.com.au for more details.