We meet Profile Boats’ General Manager Mark Hunter to find out more about the Kiwi plate boat brand.

Some of our readers will be familiar with Profile Boats, however for those who aren’t, how would you describe the brand?

Profile Boats was born out of the necessity of having to beach launch along the isolated lower East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. This means the boats need to be aluminium air chamber boats for safety in the surf. The attributes that make Profile Boats safe beach-launching boats have also morphed into them becoming a boat that is extremely safe in many conditions. Whether you are crossing a river bar or taking on massive swells in the Southern Ocean, a Profile Boat can handle the conditions with extremely safe handling characteristics, especially in a following sea.

Can you share some company history?

Profile Boats started in 2003, and Brian Firman took over ownership in 2008. We currently employ a total of 22 staff. Profile Boats Profile Boats employs a direct-to consumer business model which means we control the entire manufacturing and fit-out process in-house.

What’s unique about Profile Boats? What do boaties love most about your vessels?

Initially, boaties love the looks and high-quality finish, but closer inspection reveals a very clever layout for both serious fishos while also being family friendly. Profile Boats are foam-filled air chamber boats, which reach right up to the gunnels enhancing safety and quietness. Profile Boats also employ a deep V along with a low transom deadrise which means that they are not only stable but are very good in rough seas and are very difficult to bury the nose. These are essential characteristics when beach-launching.

Talk about your R&D process that has driven the evolution of Profile Boats?

Profile Boats are 100 per cent fishing boats. This means that Profile Boats need to be super practical and designed around the everyday requirements of the keen angler. Not only are our customers mad keen fishermen but so are all our staff. This means that we have the knowledge and the skills to deliver fishing boats with a well thought out design and layout.

New Zealand has a strong reputation when it comes to boat building, particularly offshore vessels. How is Profile Boats continuing this proud tradition of craftsmanship?

Profile Boats has a company culture developed around quality. Like the auto industry, customers’ expectations for reliability, safety and design continue to evolve at a tremendous pace each year. What was acceptable 10 years ago in the industry just would not make it in today’s market. This is where Profile Boats has been able to excel. We are one of the few alloy boat brands that are 100 per cent finished in-house. All Profile Boats leave the factory having gone through a full sea trial. This means Profile Boats has control over the whole manufacturing process, from design, fabrication, fit out and installation of all the electronics. Profile Boats has a strong apprenticeship program running in-house which means we employ many young boat builders who are all keen fishermen.

Profile Boats is based in Napier, within the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island. Would you say your location has an influence on your boat building and designs?

Our manufacturing premises is in Napier, Hawke’s Bay. Napier is the last ramp before 400km of beach launching only heading south with open and exposed coastlines with limited shelter. When boating on this remote coastline the afternoon sea conditions become much more difficult and you need to be able to get home safely.

Can you share some of your favourite on-water spots in your region?

Ahuriri is the natural harbour with abundant fishing and lots of seaside restaurants. Waimarama Beach is a short drive away to visit golden sand beaches and abundant abalone and crayfish. Māhia Peninsula is a haven for fishermen with shelter from any wind direction and is home to the only space rocket launch site in the Southern Hemisphere.

Any other ‘must do’ local recommendations for visitors to Napier?

Napier was completely wiped out in 1931 by an earthquake. The good news is that it was rebuilt in the Art Deco style and along with South Beach Miami is dominated by Art Deco architecture. Every February the Art Deco Festival Napier offers a great festival experience, where people dress up and bring vintage cars into town from all around the world.

Profile Boats has a strong reputation among Kiwi boaties. How is your brand awareness within the Australian market?

Profile Boats sells mainly into the NZ market at this stage with 90 per cent of the boats sold across the entire NZ market. We do have many boats based in Australia also. The main concentration of these is in Southeast Queensland and Western Australia. However we do have owners and boats based in such diverse places as Flinders Island TAS, Darwin NT, Albany WA, Moe VIC and Dingo Bay Qld. Because of our direct-to-consumer business model, Australian customers do need to put their faith in our reputation to deliver an outstanding boat shipped directly to them from NZ. The good news is that if you talk to any of our existing customers in Australia, we’re confident they will reply that their boat exceeded their expectations in so many ways. They are often surprised by just the sheer size of our boats once they are delivered, but it is the overall attention to detail that really blows our customers away! Profile Boats also provides full factory backed warranties in Australia.

Model Close-up: Profile Boats 635H

How would you describe this model?

Profile Boats 635H is the most popular boat in our range. It is very capable with a ton of room but is still easy to tow and handle.

Where does it sit within the Profile Boats range?

It is a mid-sized boat for Profile Boats with 95 per cent of our sold boats being hard tops.

Please share some of the top features of this model.

The internal layout that utilises toe space in the side air chambers means more deck space and sure-footedness when reeling in a big fish. The deluxe bait boat and the transom wave deflector design are also unique features.

You’ll love this boat if… you are a keen fisherman who loves lots of deck space and practicality but loves the look and feel of a high-quality aluminium boat design.

Visit profileboats.com

For boating news, features and interviews, subscribe to Nautilus Marine Magazine here.