Boatbuilder conforms to imperial line

Aluminium boatbuilder Stabicraft Marine is changing the way it names its models.

The change follows the company's decision this year to adopt the ABYC standard of boat length. First introduced in the United States in 2003, the ABYC standard calculates overall length as the straight-line measurement from the front to the back of the boat. It includes welded components (such as bow pulpits and engine pods) but does not include bolt-on attachments.

Stabicraft managing director Paul Adams says when they remeasured their boats they discovered some older models had names that didn't match their dimensions.

"For the sake of consistency and to simplify the decision-making process for boat buyers, we're changing names to reflect the imperial length of our boats," he says. "This reflects the direction we started with the 2250 Supercab and recently with the Matt Watson Signature 1720."

The first models to be re-named are the 459, 509W and 529W. These become the 1530 Fish'r, 1750 Fish'r and 1850 Fish'r respectively.

Adams says this is first time the company has changed the name on an existing model.

"However, these are all relatively modern and popular boats that we think have a place in our range just as they are," he says.

Stabicraft, a pioneer of positive buoyancy aluminium pontoon boats, produces 20 standard models from its Invercargill base and sells them throughout New Zealand and to several countries.

"Our boats are used in a wide variety of ways," says Adams, "from relocating man-eating crocodiles to supporting big game fishers and even assisting the United Nations."