Boat builder Opua bound

The Bluefix Boatworks team in its current boatshed at Kapiro, north of Kerikeri.

Bay of Islands custom boat-builder Bluefix Boatworks is set to merge with Far North Holdings-owned Ashby's Boatyard in a move which will see the booming Kerikeri business shift to purpose-built premises in Opua.

The deal is touted as a win for both parties. Bluefix, which has three years' worth of orders for custom sports fishing boats on its books, will get the extra space it badly needs and will become part of a growing marine services hub.

Far North Holdings (FNH) will be able to hand over the boat repair business and focus on its core role as a council-owned infrastructure company.

An aerial view of the freshly poured concrete pad for the Bluefix Boatworks shed at Opua.

FNH will retain the land and buildings, which will be leased to Bluefix. FNH is also constructing Bluefix's $1 million state-of-the-art boat-building and paint shop facility.

With Travellift bays accessed through roller doors 11m high and 10m wide, it will allow year-round, under-cover boat building and repairs.

Bluefix is currently based in a shed off Kapiro Rd, north of Kerikeri. It will shift its 10 employees to Opua, take on the five boat-builders who work at Ashby's, and employ up to 15 additional staff.

Bluefix specialises in the design and build of high-end custom sports fishing boats. Its business has expanded dramatically over the past few years with orders for large boats from local and international customers as well as growing demand for refits and repairs.

Director Charlotte Rowe said the move to Opua would give the company more space and direct access to the water.

"Our shed in Kerikeri is now just too small to enable us to meet the orders we have for our NorthCape series of boats and for our refit, repairs and maintenance services," she said.

Bluefix would also expand the services currently offered by Ashby's Boatyard to local and visiting yachties.

FNH chief executive Andy Nock said the merger would take Opua's marine industry to a "completely new level".

"World-class boat-building, repair, maintenance and painting facilities are an important part of our long-term plan for Opua.

The skills and services offered by the expanding Bluefix Boatworks business will complement the new-look, expanded marina and help make the Bay of Islands the upper North Island's destination of choice for boaties."

Construction of the Bluefix facility started last week with 60 truckloads of concrete poured to make the pad. It is due to be completed by Christmas.

Four ageing utility and storage buildings were demolished to make way for the new facility.