Up from the depths

By ROBIN BAILEY

Hains Signature of Brisbane and Reflex of Christchurch - two marine companies that have forged a successful demonstration of closer economic relations.

Signature boats are being built in Christchurch and the Haines company has a reciprocal deal to take the Christchurch company's range to the Australian market.

The success of the arrangement was demonstrated at the New Zealand Boat Show at the weekend when the Haines Signature 670C won the Boat of the Show: All-Purpose Open award. The win recognised a boat with a price tag as set up for the show of around $80,000 that is a genuine all-purpose family cruiser. Reflex managing director Alan Russell is proud of the award and of his company's contribution to the development of the boat.

There to share his enthusiasm and show the Australian partner's flag was John Haines jnr, joint managing director of the family company that has a history of innovative marine achievement going back to the early 1960s.

Company founder John Haines is still CEO, with sons John (production) and Greg (marketing) looking after day-to-day operations.

The family's story is one of vision, courage and determination.

It began in 1962 with Bertram designs imported from the United States that quickly made an impact on the Australian market. The designs were by American Ray Hunt, and were developed by Haines to become the basis of the Haines Hunter range that soon became market leaders in Australia.

By 1970 John Haines had taken his brother Garry into the business and the partnership was booming. Their boats were winning awards and competing successfully in offshore races and on the ski circuit. Then the great Brisbane floods of 1974 left the factory 10m under water and precious moulds were recovered from treetops more than 10km away after the waters went down.

The company survived that setback and subsequent economic downturns that hit the marine sector hard as well as a sales campaign that saw imported boats being dumped on the Australian market.

During this period the company was winning awards and its models were getting ecstatic reviews in the boating press. Haines Hunter was one of the biggest GRP boatbuilders in Australia and New Zealand.

Its success attracted the interest of an Asian group keen to expand into Australia. The lure of the capital needed for expansion and professional management input proved too tempting for the young boatbuilders and racers.

Within months they had recognised their mistake, but it was too late. They lost control of the company and were ousted.

Then followed a bitter legal dispute that went on until 1984, when John Haines started again. The first of his Signature series boats was the hit of that year's Sydney Boat Show. Dealers he had built a liaison with over 20 years got behind the new company and success was immediate.

By the end of the 1980s Haines Signature was again the biggest-selling GRP brand in Australia. But trouble loomed once again. Not a natural disaster or a financial pitfall this time, but a legal challenge.

The multi-national Outboard Marine Corporation, maker of Johnson and Evinrude outboards, had bought the shell of the then rundown Haines Hunter company the brothers had started. OMC argued that the Haines name belonged to the original company. The family's name could not be used with the Signature brand.

More legal footwork followed until September 1991, when the matter was settled out of court with OMC picking up the Haines' legal costs.

Relaxing in Auckland after helping his Christchurch colleague collect his award, John Haines jnr recalls the hard lessons of the past and looks to a successful future.

"The company is totally family owned and it will stay that way," he says. "We are concentrating on an even better product with a higher standard of finish and performance thanks to the new outboard engine technology."

He is also about to introduce a new staff-training programme, which will see trainees rotated through all sections of the factory. They will also swap staff with other nearby yards to provide the opportunity for apprentices and adult trainees to experience a wider range of skills.

"We also plan to strengthen our ties with Reflex so our companies can continue to develop our markets on both sides of the ditch," he says.