Bill's theory of marine product evolution

When Aucklander Bill Rutherford opened the doors of an Otahuhu dealership in 1967 he never dreamed he was starting a journey that would involve him in all the major developments in the evolution of New Zealand's marine industry.

He began in Great South Rd with agencies for Fleetline and Sea Nymph boats and Chrysler outboards. By 1970 the expanding Rutherford Marine business moved to 50 Great South Rd, Newmarket.

That site became one of the region's key marine sales centres. Rutherford built on that success by showing the industry how to use boat shows to generate business.

An exhibitor at 23 Auckland Boat Shows at Greenlane, he learned how to involve show patrons with what he was offering.

Wally Fletcher, sales manager for the event for most of those years, recalls that Rutherford was always an innovator.

"In the early years manufacturers towed along a few boats, or in some cases a lot of boats," says Fletcher. "Bill Rutherford was the first to mount a co-ordinated professional display, filling huge chunks of one of the main pavilions each year. Other major manufacturers and dealers were quick to follow suit, but Rutherford set the pace."

By 1974 Rutherford Marine had opened branches at Papatoetoe and New Lynn to cater for the boating boom of the 70s.

"Those were great years for the industry in this country and we were selling an increased range of Sea Nymph boats and supplying inboard/outboard to Mason Marine for Tony Mason's prestigious range of Clipper launches," says Rutherford.

His activity at that time included working with the marine division of Todd Motors - which had moved from Wellington to Station Rd, Penrose - installing diesel engines in planning launches.

"Then came the fuel crisis," he says, "and we found ourselves selling the hugely popular Farr range of trailer-sailers built by McDell Marine.

"The hit by fuel costs was closely followed by the Muldoon Government's tax on boats and we had to diversify, adding motorbikes and caravans to the marine range."

Rutherford Marine was sold in 1980 and the founder moved to 23 Westhaven Drive with a liferaft servicing bay, selling Mitsubishi liferafts and Tohatsu outboards. By 1987 he was working with Peter Gribble and Kim McDell marketing the growing Sea Nymph range nationally. The trio established the Sea Nymph boat brokerage at Westhaven.

One of Rutherford's early coups was to hire Peter Busfield from Fisher and Paykel. It was the introduction to the marine business world of the man who is now CEO of the Marine Industry Association, and who has been largely responsible for its development.

Along the way Rutherford set up Dockside Chandlery, Nav Station and Gear Locker in Westhaven Drive.

Gear Locker was sold in 1995 and Nav Station moved to Gaunt St, to evolve into a joint venture that included marine electronics, commercial fishing products (Selfish Systems) and the recreational fishing shop, Top Catch Bait and Tackle.

The venture's commercial fishing side involved Rutherford working with Sumunovich Fisheries and McMullen and Wing and some big commercial and recreational boat projects.

Now Nav Station has moved from Gaunt St around the corner to 23B Westhaven Drive. The company's focus this year is top-end marine electronics systems.

With Rutherford in the company is experienced IT specialist Navin Devkurran. They provide personal advice and service for boat owners.

"We will be concentrating on owners wanting to design a modern electronics, communications and entertainment system for their new boat, and for those wanting to upgrade," Rutherford says.

"The new gear is fantastic in terms of what it offers and ease of use. But it all needs to be selected and installed with a great deal of care and attention to detail, which is where Navin excels.

"He has had 16 years' experience in the field and is equally at home devising systems for a superyacht in an international boatyard or helping a local with a new GPS or phone system."

http://www.navstation.co.nz