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Three years since starting Boab Boat Hire, managing director Anthony Gelfius is experiencing massive demand for his fleet of Honda-powered boats.
With four new franchises having started in New South Wales and Western Australia since August, and imminent plans for further expansion around Australia, it seems many boat enthusiasts are wising up to the financial savings that boat hire offers compared to ownership.
“By my calculations, you could hire a boat with us for a full six weeks every year and still be financially ahead compared to an owner,” Mr Gelfius said.
“For example, it can cost over $400 a month to store a trailerable boat in a rack, not to mention the maintenance costs, extra equipment and value depreciation.”
The business hires out a variety of trailerable boat models, from 50hp runabouts to 150hp centre cabs. In keeping with Boab Boat Hire’s ethos of affordable boating, Mr Gelfius said fuel efficiency was a big factor when it came time to choose the right engines for his boats.
“We did our research and the consensus was that Honda engines were the most reliable and fuel-efficient,” Mr Gelfius said.
“We send our clients out with a full tank of fuel and, at the end of their hire, they pay for what they’ve used. With our Honda engines, most people come back and can’t believe the fuel efficiency – they expect to have to pay much more, and are then pleasantly surprised!”
Engine reliability was also a factor in the choice.
“Our boats are on the go all the time, so we had to make sure our equipment would be top-notch and totally reliable,” Mr Gelfius said.
“Honda engines start first time, every time, which is important to us as a hire business with our reputation always on the line. Providing our clients with the highest standard of safe equipment is integral to our operations, and using Honda gives us that extra peace of mind.”
With the purchase price of the hireable boats costing up to $80,000, Mr Gelfius believes Boab Boat Hire offers a very accessible way to enjoy the water.
“We have a very broad range of clients – families on day trips, anglers, couples getting away for the weekend, watersports enthusiasts and everyone in between,” Mr Gelfius said.
“Hiring makes boating a hobby everyone can afford to enjoy.”
Further information: Honda – (03) 9270 1111 or visit: www.honda.com.au
(November 2007)
Pictured: Boab Boat Hire’s fleet of Honda-powered vessels puts recreational boating within financial reach of everyone – to take them away from the everyday.
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