On time and on budget are two key components giving a Wanganui company a head-start on the competition.
And another example born of that strategy is to sail for its new home.
Colin Mitchell, general manager of Castlelciff company Q-West Boat Builders, said its newest contract for Pine Harbour ferries in Auckland
was undergoing sea trials.
"Depending on the weather, we should see it sailing to its new base in the Waitemata Harbour later this week," Mr Mitchell said.
Work started earlier this year on the 17-metre passenger ferry and it is the fifth such boat Q-West has built for Pine Harbour. In service, it will carry commuters to and from various points in the Waitemata Harbour.
It can cruise at 30 knots and carry up to 90 passengers.
Q-West has a number of contracts on its books and Mr Mitchell said it was the fact the company could finish work on schedule and on budget that had earned it a solid reputation.
"We're enjoying a lot of inquiries as a result of that," he told the Chronicle.
The next boat to come off the Q-West production line will be the 30m tourist boat, Milford Wanderer. Owned by Real Journeys, one of the country's biggest maritime tour operators, it arrived in Wanganui in May for its makeover. Mr Mitchell said that job was on schedule for its October completion date.
Before it is taken to the company's Gilberd St shipyard, the big boat was berthed at Wanganui port where as much equipment as possible was removed to reduce the weight, making it easier to get up the slipway.
The company is also building a 24m tourist boat for the same company that will operate on Lake Manapouri.
Q-West has also finished a $2.3 million 17m catamaran for the New South Wales state government, a contract the company said was hugely important because it gave it a foothold in the tough Australian market.
