PAGE 10, WH, "n imi KE PIESS, WEDNESD.AY. JULY 29,1987 At Whitby harbor Aloha Reg Noseworthy, the latest shareholder at the helm of Aloha Yachts International has plans to increase the boat production level at the Whitby company by 100 per cent by November this year. "They were averaging about three boats a month," says Noseworthy of former shareholders Alan Spergel and David Reuben. "We expect to produce -five per month .by September, and six by November. The big task right now is to turn the company around and make it profitable." Noseworthy, who co-manages the business with partner Charles Coutts, says that the business 'looks promising' and feels the success of the business is insured because of the "excellent work group. "Even when the company was m trouble, they stuck with it." he says of the boat workers, now num- bering 34, and likely to go up as the production level increases. "We have a real mixed group of people here, men, women, people from everywhere. It's almost like a mim United Nations." Despite the implications of doubling production levels, Noseworthy says he doesn't "feel there will be any problem selling the number of boats thatwillbe produced." Althougb Nosçworthy has been involved in business throughout his career, this is his first experience in the boat building industry: "I'm 46 years old now, and it's time for a change!" Aloha Yachts International, originally Ouyang International, is approximately the third largest boat building company in North America, according to Scott Strain, finish shop supervisor. The majority of Aloha dealer- ships are located across Canada, but there are also several in the United States. Potential customers visit dealerships, which in turn send orders to the Whitby office where the boat is constructed. Five different models of boats are available, ranging in size from 27 feet to 34 feet. The most popular model is the Aloha 30, a boat designed by Ron Holland, which sells for approximately $74,000. Every part of the boat is fabricated within the workshops of the Whitby office, including the fiberglass bottom mould into which the boat is built. The production area is separated into different sections, including a wood workshop, a-glass shop and a huge finishing room where the boats are put completely together and prepared for shipping. Dock fees go up in September Effective Sept. 1, 1987, it is going to cost $3 a foot more to dock a boat at Whitby marina. The increase was approved by Whitby council on July 13. On piers 1-3, where hydro is not provided, the yearly fee will in- crease to $22 a linear foot from $19. On piers 4-8, where hydro and water are provided, t fee will in- crease to $25 a linear JLOt from $22. Daily dockage fees will also in- crease to 50 cents a linear foot fromi 40 cents. Effective immediately, fenced winter storage will increase to $15 a linear foot from $12 while cradle or boat trailer storage will increase to $50 from $40. s new managers to boost production None of the Aloha boats are too large to be transported by land, and are therefore trucked to the dealer- ship which ordered the boat. A few options are available on each model, such as the color of the hull and deck, but builders must stick to a standard design. Although some of the boats are sold in the U.S., Strain says "for a Canadian company, it is difficult to penetrate the U.S. market," adding that France dominates the world market in yacht sales. Because Aloha is a local company, it is not surprising that about 25 yachts in the Whitby Harbor are from the workshops of Aloha International. One of the most attractive features of the Aloha boats, accor- ding to Strain~is the amount of teak wood that goes into the interior. "We're known for the finer detail of the interior woodwork," says Strain, adding that other yacht builders tend to have "a lot of white" or plastic within the cabin space. Strain also points out that the boats are versatile enough to satisfy both cruisers and racers. SCOTT STRAIN, an at Aloha manufactures about five boats a month, The Aloha 30 model was last year employee nominated by Sail magazine for Yachts International, works on the deck with plans to increase to six• 'import boat of the year,' and made of a boat near completion. The plant Free Press photo it to the final round of competition. Yacht imports at Neptune marine Business built on service Tom Sutherland leaves the dif- ficult task of boat building to the professionals, choosing to stick to retail sales, repairs and renovations. The 44-year-old owner of Neptune Marine on Charles St. in Whitby has stock boats imported from yacht- building companies in France, Finland and Ontario, and receives boat orders from as far as the Nor- thwest Territories, Montreal and Sault Ste Marie. Surprisingly, Sutherland says very few of his customers are from Whitby despite his location almost beside the Whitby marina and yacht club. . "Probably about 90 per cent of our customers are from outside Whitby," says Sutherland, who is owner of the original Neptune marine in Pickering which opened 19 years ago. "People here are just now finding out that we are here, and that takes a long time." Sutherland bas boats available for potential yachtsmen ranging from 16 feet to 51 feet. The most ex- pensive model costs somewhere within the million dollar range, but he "hasn't sold one yet." At the six-year-old Whitby location, Sutherland says he can handle up to six boats in a large repair shop where the staff perfor- ms fiberglass and wooden boat repairs, insulation, rigging and repainting. Most of the winter business is in boat sales, while the retail store, where everything from clothing to tackle to boating accessories are sold, takes over in the spring. The summer months are usually spent on repairs. Sutherland says the success of his business is due to the reputation that he has developed over the years. "And the service," he adds. "Any boat business is built purely on ser- vice." TOM SUTHERLAND receives boat or- ders from as far away as the Northwest Territories and Montreal. He has operated Neptune in Whitby for the past six years. Free Press photo