St Kilda Boat Sales - About Us
About Us
Andrew and Darren continue to ride a wave of success at St Kilda Marina. Our Boat Sales and Service Centre businesses are thriving, because our objective is very simple. We offer clients a full range of marine services - to ensure their boating experience is a pleasurable one.
We are the only dealer in Australia, to market the entire Caribbean product range, every model from 16ft trailerable Half Cabins and Runabouts, to the classic and timeless lines of the Bertram inspired Big Boat Flybridge Cruisers. The Caribbean Big Boat range kicks off with the entry level Caribbean 24ft to the luxury $1million Caribbean 47 Flybridge Cruiser.
St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre are both proud and active members of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA Vic) adhering to industry Code Of Practice and Ethics at all times.
Boat Sales (New & Used)
With our appointment as the Victorian & Tasmanian Caribbean Big Boat and Runabout dealer, we have emerged as one of Australia’s premier new and used boat brokerages.
We are well know and respected for selling the full Caribbean product range, everything from a 16ft trailerable Belmont & popular Reef Runner to the luxurious 47ft Flybridge Cruiser.
In addition, we offer quality, well-maintained used boats. Most of which have very low hours, our owners are very fussy and they never been seriously fished. Consequently, well over 50% of our used boats sold, are to residents of; WA, QLD or NSW. Interstate buyers just love our Victorian used boats.
We are Melbourne’s central brokerage for both new Caribbean Big Boats and Runabouts and all makes and sizes of quality used boats, including such brands as; Bertram, Caribbean, Riviera, Mariner, Sea Ray, Sunrunner, Mustang and Haines Signature.
Things You Must Know - When Buying A Used Boat. (Download & Read - Acrobat 1mb .pdf)
Service Centre
As part of our desire to provide a complete and pleasurable boating experience, St Kilda Boat Sales operates the Service Centre located at St Kilda Marina.
Our Service Centre has been servicing mariners for the past 25 years here at St Kilda Marina. With an abundance of enthusiasm and a team of qualified mechanics, our Service Centre, offers full mechanical and repair services.
- Authorised Service Centre for: Mercury, Mercruiser & Honda
- Authorised Repairer for Club Marine Insurance
- Outboards, Sterndrives Sales & Service
- Diesel Engines & Genset
- Antifoul & Fibreglass repairs
- Slipping (fork, trailer and crane service)
- Chandlery & Safety Gear
- Fuel-Dock (Petrol & Diesel) open 24/7 offering quality fuel from BP
- Marine Electronics Navigation, Communication, Entertainment
- Refrigeration, Freezer, Toilet
- Boat Covers, Clears, Upholstery & Carpets
- Boat Maintenance. Cleaning, Washing & Detailing
Proud of our service offering Dealer Principal, Andrew Rose manages our Service Centre. Andrew brings with him, extensive workshop experience and a team of qualified marine mechanics, will ensure your vessel is well cared for. Because of our unique location, right on the water’s edge, each boat we service is fully bay tested, giving our clients, added peace of mind.
Our History and Caribbean
1958 - Arch Spooner founded the business as International Plastics and commenced operations with 6 employees at the current Scoresby address. Arch known as the father of Australian Boating, he was the first person to pursue fibreglass marine technology in Australia.
During the first year of production, the output was 85 boats and the factory was 4,500sq ft in size, compared to the size of today of some 50,000sq ft.
1960 - Arch Spooner negotiated and secured the license to build the UK Dorsett range of fibreglass boats at Scoresby. About this time, the Caribbean brand was introduced to identify International's range of smaller Runabouts.
1962 - Mercury Outboard Engines were imported into Australia & distributed for the first time by International Marine.
1963 - Granted exclusive manufacturing license to build the Bertram, range of Cruisers to be sold both locally in Australia and exported throughout the world.
1969 - The Spooner family development project of turning a swamp in the bayside Melbourne suburb of Elwood, into the now famous St Kilda Marina. The complex was finally completed and opened. Greg Spooner (Arch's son), is the current Managing Director of St Kilda Marina.
1970 - Columbia range of Yachts, designed and built by International Marine and introduced into the Australian market.
1971 - Barry Spooner (Arch's son) takes over management of International Marine.
1972 - Pride range of boats was taken over by International Marine.
1982 - Bridge Marine (Service & Repair Centre) at St Kilda Marina opens for business. Owned by Doug McNaughton and John Fisher.
1992 - Well known Victorian dealer Jackson Bros. opens the first boat sales office at St Kilda Marina selling Bertram & Caribbean Boats. Business owned by brothers Des and Bob Jackson who hired an apprentice named Steve Gow. Several years later, the business became Steve Gow Marine.
2001 - Richard Spooner (Barry's son) takes over management of International Marine in his role as Managing Director.
2002 - Steve Gow Marine business purchased by Darren Finkelstein and Andrew Rose on July 15 and with a name change, St Kilda Boat Sales Pty Ltd was born.
Pictured above - Darren & Andrew standing with the very first boat they sold. On August 21, 2002 David Whitehead purchased a 1980 Caribbean Belmont for $14,500.
In 2007, some 400+ new and used boats have now been sold by St Kilda Boat Sales, ranging in price from $5,000 to $2m.
2005 - Bridge Marine (Service & Repair Centre) owned by Doug McNaughton at St Kilda Marina was purchased by St Kilda Boat Sales. Darren and Andrew take over business on February 1.
2007 - Over 50,000 boats have been manufactured by International Marine since production began, making the Caribbean brand, one of the most successful boat builders in the world today....
Pictured above - Richard Spooner (left) receiving award on behalf of the family, from Gordon Howlett (right), President of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA) in Recognition Of Service To Industry - July 2007.
Celebrating 50 years + 50,000 boats built. What a magnificant contribution to Australian boating. Congratulations to the Spooner family.
Currently, International Marine has 20 models of boats in the product range. All branded Caribbean, ranging in size from 16ft Runabouts & Half Cabins to the mighty 47ft Flybridge Cruiser.
Let Us Sell Your Boat
Alternatively, you can simply let us to sell your; Runabout, Sports or Flybridge Cruiser.
Our marketing and sales strategies are far reaching, enabling vessels to be sold at strong prices all over Australia. Given our companies reputation for selling quality, well looked after boats mostly with low engine hours, we find particularly during the winter months, over 50% of our boats sold are to residents of QLD, WA and NSW where their boating season is all-year round. We can arrange vessel pack down, road or sea transport and registration transfers.
We invite you to take advantage of our free market appraisals to better understand the real value of your vessel, should you be interested in selling her, sometime in the future. Click here to participate.
Fee Structure
Our sales commission (fee for service), are in-line with the Australian marine industry and is totally performance based.
The following crucial elements form our national sales campaign!
- Trade-A-Boat magazine colour advertisement
- On-line sales strategy - Internet advertising including;
- www.boatpoint.com.au
- www.stkildaboatsales.com.au
- 1,000,000+ hits to-date
- Rated # 1 in Google for worldwide search on “boat sales”.
- Rated # 3 in Yahoo for worldwide search on “boat sales”.
*Source: Research undertaken December 2006
- Detailed vessel inventory. Production together with digital photo's.
- Display advertising on our “Sales Office” board.
- For Sale sign on your boat, should she be wet-berthed at St Kilda Marina.
- Free storage of boat and trailer next to our sales office. Insurance documents required and spaces are limited.
- Contract preparation, negotiation, and execution.
- Vic Roads Dealer Certified. We offer in-house; transfers, inspections and new vessel and/or trailer registrations.
Community Support Program
Volunteer Coast Guard
Our Community Support Program was created in 2005, to assist in providing financial and mechanical assistance to non-profit organisations, who provide and encourage safe boating practises locally. It is with this philosophy in mind, that St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre has carefully selected the Volunteer Coast Guard to benefit from our program.
More specifically, we have a long association with the St Kilda flotilla which is based here at St Kilda Marina and provides resue, education and assistance to the boating community here in the top end of Port Phillip Bay.
Both of our businesses have donated much needed funds to the Coast Guard; particulary mechanical support, Cash Donations, Crane lifts (Slipping) and fuel rebates. We urge you to support the Coast Guard and congratulate them on a job well-done.
The Volunteer Coast Guard is a Registered Charity CFN 10488.
Coast Guard- Background
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is an organisation composed entirely of volunteers, formed in 1961 to promote safety in the operation of small craft. It guards the coast in the most effective way - initially by education, example, examination and finally by search and rescue.
Learn More - Unique Volunteer Organisation
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association is the largest single volunteer marine rescue and marine education organisation in the Southern Hemisphere.
Coast Guard services include:
Radio Monitoring
Each flotilla has radio facilities monitoring many of the marine distress frequencies including 27meg, VHF and HF
Safety Patrols
Association owned vessels patrol our waterways assisting the public with safe boating advice, mechanical problems and responding to distress calls when they occur. All rescue vessels are on 24 hour standby
Search and Rescue Coast Guard works closely with the State Water Police and other volunteer rescue organisations in search and rescue operations
Log On – Log Off Coast Guard Radio Bases will keep track of recreational boaters whilst on a coastal passage or moving in and out of the same port
Boating Safety Is promoted through Education – Example – Examination and finally by Search & Rescue
Public Education Courses Covering Boat license resting and safe boating seminars [where applicable]
Basic Seamanship, Marine Radio Procedures, Navigation and Bar Crossing
Training Coast Guard is the only dedicated marine rescue Registered Training Organisation with courses accredited nationally
The Association has at its disposal: 103 rescue vessels
147 radio bases under the control of 71 Flotillas and 1 Division
30 communication and display vans
4 fixed wing aircraft and
Qualified divers
Coast Guard Affiliations Country Fire Authority - VIC
Terrigal Sea Rescue - NSW
Norah Head Search and Rescue Base - NSW
NSW Volunteer Rescue Assoc, Marine Division - NSW
Australian Volunteer Aerial Patrol - NSW
State Emergency Services - NSW
Customs - Aust
Philippines Coast Guard Auxiliary
Royal NZ Coast Guard Federation
US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Registered Charity CFN 10488 ©2005 Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.
Internet Services
The creation of the St Kilda Boat Sales website www.stkildaboatsales.com.au has been one of our proudest achievements to date. It is a pleasant mix of simple technology, to service the needs of our national market place.
Having experienced well over 1,000,000 hits on the site since going live. We have sold quite a number of vessels directly over the Internet. On our web site, prospective buyers view On-Line inventories with digital photos enabling buyers to search by either vessel length or price.
“It’s really that easy to put a buyer in touch with a vessel that truly suits their needs, without ever leaving home”.
Find-A-Boat
St Kilda Boat Sales highly successful free Find-A-Boat service enables boat buyers to automatically receive email notifications of newly posted “Boats For Sale” that match their selected criteria.
The email notifications are sent together with detailed inventories & digital photos. This free service gives buyers the ability to specify a boat make, size, year, or price range.
Option-A-Boat
The implementation of our online free service Option-A-Boat means buyers can build, configure and price any new Caribbean Big Boat or Runabout model of your choosing. You simply select your boat, engine package and all your options (i.e.: Covers, Electronics, Fishing Equipment etc) to build your own boat.
A formal quotation will be emailed to you within minutes. You can edit and play around with your options and boat models, as much as you like.
Vessel Insurance
Finding suitable and competitive vessel insurance is no longer a hassle. We are authorised Platinum agents for Club Marine Insurance and can provide on-the-spot, insurance quotations, coverage, and renewals. In addition, we are an authorised Club Marine repair and can handle your claims - fast.
Weather Centre & Web Cams
An exciting service for our Victorian Mariners is the live Weather Centre covering both Port Phillip & Westernport Bays. This free service offers mariner’s access to several web-cams, live wind and bay temperature reports and even 4-day forecasts so planning a voyage is easy.
Wireless Internet & Email
Wireless Internet and Email access is now available to your boat whilst moored at St Kilda Marina. We offer competitive rates and expert hotspot service along with reciprocal rights at Sandringham Yacht Club. So why go to the office - when you can bring your office to the boat?
Invitation to you
We invite you to meet us and talk boating. Enjoy an Italian coffee and view some of the best new and used boats in Australia.
The St Kilda Marina - some 8kms from the Melbourne CBD is right on the famous St Kilda foreshore and set amongst the finest cafés and restaurants Melbourne has to offer.
The St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre offices are both nestled amongst Melbourne’s most desirable boats. They are located right on the waters edge within the picturesque St Kilda Marina complex.
You can view vessels first hand, as they lie in the water, just metres from our office and service centre.
Boating Industry Association of Victoria
St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre are both proud and active members of the Boating Industry Association in Victoria (BIA Vic) adhering to industry Code Of Practice and Ethics at all times.
St Kilda Boat Sales are Licensed and Accredited Second-Hand Dealers No: 9680.
