Our team is full to the brim with quality-obsessed legends, driven by making things work better than they did yesterday and having fun. Meet a handful of the legends behind the brand.
Meet Sam Design Engineer
What is your role? I design new product and models, performance test new models and manage prototypes.
What attracted you to Stabicraft®? I enjoyed boats and enjoyed engineering, so what better place to come.
What experience / qualifications did you have before you came on-board? I started at Stabicraft® in 2011 where I completed my boatbuilding apprenticeship, then went to another boat-building firm for a few years before coming back to Stabicraft® to get into design and prototyping
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®? Seeing my ideas come through the model range and pushing the boundaries. I also enjoy testing the new prototypes
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Fishing, boating, hunting, hanging out with my family
Meet Sheryl Final Assembly Manufacturing
What is your role? The skeleton of the boat comes into the workshop and as a team we piece together everything you’d expect to see on a boat such as; windows, anchors, seats, all of its wiring and more. Then we clean and prepare the boat for its next steps.
What attracted you to Stabicraft®? To be able to learn new skills that could lead to something more in the future, especially without having any prior knowledge or experience - and the ability to work 40+ hours a week is nice too!
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®? I was in hospitality and retail for about 11 years. It’s nice to be doing something so physical after being in hospo for so long. It can be challenging but everyone is so helpful and willing to share their extensive knowledge and skills. There’s room for development, whether you’re starting off in the industry like me, or if you’ve had prior experience.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team? If this is completely out of your comfort zone, don’t be intimidated by the job description. If you have the right mind-set, like to be challenged and you’re willing to learn, then what’s stopping you from becoming part of the team? Whether you have some experience or none at all - there are always opportunities to learn.
Meet Anton Training Coordinator
What is your role? I am a training co-ordinator at Stabicraft® working in the cabin bay where cabins are fabricated / welded. I am in the process of developing this area into a training centre where staff can be trained in manufacturing and aluminium TIG and MIG welding. The most rewarding part of my role is to witness and experience continuous improvement in the work done in the area.
What attracted you to Stabicraft®? Stabicraft attracted me with their leading brand name and fantastic boats being built by an awesome team that I wanted to be a part of.
What experience did you have before you came on board? Before Stabicraft® I worked in the manufacturing / engineering environment at several companies back home in South Africa. I started out as a Quality Control Inspector on power stations and later on I was a third party inspector at power stations, engineering shops, sheet metal fabrication shops and several shut downs.
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®? I enjoy welding aluminium as it is a satisfying feeling. I love to see the cabins coming together from loose parts to a complete cabin ready for powder coating and then onto the brand new boat.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Outside of work I love to travel and explore New Zealand with my family as we are still new to this beautiful country.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team? Don’t think twice about joining the Stabicraft® team. Stabicraft® opens up a lot of doors for you as an individual. It offers experience in alloy welding and engineering skills, while working with a good, energetic and experienced team building awesome boats.
Meet Iliatia Welder
What attracted you to Stabicraft®? The standard of the company, quality of work environment, and friendly people.
What experience / qualifications did you have before you came on board? Before coming to Stabicraft® I had 12 years’ experience welding in aluminium boat building, 5 years as a steel welder on building construction and 15 years as a motor vehicle mechanic. I have a trade certificate in welding as well as a motor vehicle mechanic trade certificate.
How did you and your family find the move to Invercargill? What do you enjoy most about living here? With Stabicraft®, I found a permanent, secure, and perfect job. Invercargill offered good schools for the kids and I enjoy the people here - they are friendly.
Meet Steve Customer Service & Logistics Manager
What is your role? Management for both national and international movement of all our product as well as Warranty for all boats produced and coordinating aftersales parts orders and Q & A for all dealers and customers.
How long have you been at Stabi? 20 years this coming January
What experience did you have before you came on board? 11 years as a sheetmetal worker and fabricator
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft? Great work colleagues and the high pace of work. I also enjoy the continuous change and evolution.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? V8 Supercars, Motorsport, Classic muscle cars, Snowboarding, MX bike riding…anything that gets the blood pumping
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team? An apprenticeship in the boat building industry will set you up extremely well, and Stabicraft® fits this trade better than I have seen anywhere.
Meet Senen Apprentice
What is your role? When I first started at Stabicraft® I was employed as a Press Brake Operator. In this role I pressed up (folded) parts of the boat using the press brake machine. I have recently moved into an apprentice role and I am currently training in welding.
What attracted you to Stabicraft®? The design and innovation of how Stabicraft® boats are made.
What experience did you have before you came on board? I was an aluminium door fabricator back in Auckland. When we moved down here 8 years ago, I was lucky to get a role at Stabicraft® as a press brake operator.
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®? I enjoy fabricating parts of the boat, following designs and drawings and making sure all the angles are folded correctly. I also enjoy working with a great team.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Spending time with my wife and daughter (Moriah and Shelby), playing basketball and mountain biking.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team? If you like fabrication and love to learn new things and improve your skills, this is the best workplace to be in. We have a good, supportive team to help you to gain experience and further your skills
Meet Dallas Manufacturing Supervisor
What is your role? I lead our routing and pressing team, planning and organising to manufacture and supply parts across the factory to meet our boat plan.
How long have you been at Stabicraft® and what was your initial role? This is my 3rd time back at Stabicraft®. I have been back about 7 years, but my total time at Stabicraft® would be around 11years. My first role here was cutting extrusion and hull swaging. When I returned I was a Press Operator before moving into my current role of Manufacturing Supervisor.
How did you progress into your current role? I would have to say through hard work, good relationships with the team, and knowledge of our systems and processes.
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®? The people – it is the best group of people that I have worked with, and I really enjoy the challenge.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Camping with my family at Nokamai Station.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team? Come to work every day, work hard and take pride in your work.
MEET Kate Outwards Goods Co-ordinator
How would you describe what you do in your role?
My role involves dispatching parts orders, warranties, apparel and loading parts into shipping containers as well as receipting in purchase orders and issuing stock. It is a busy role that involves a lot of problem solving.
What attracted you to Stabicraft®?
Originally I started as a boat groomer on a casual basis after having my 2nd child, then took on the role of cleaner for Stabicraft® for about 8 months. I showed interest in going into a new role (it was time to start using my brain again) and this role popped up at the right time. When I started in Stores it was alongside my cleaning role but overtime has become a full time job.
What do you enjoy most about working at Stabicraft®?
Every day is different for me. Most of all I enjoy keeping my brain busy and problem solving. It really helps when you have a good team - it makes the day enjoyable when we are under the pump.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Well I have two kids that keep me busy enough but besides that…
I like to craft and enjoy vinyl printing. I started back at the gym over a year ago so that keeps me busy and lately I have been doing a lot of biking with the family and bush walking
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining our team?
It can be very demanding at times as our company just keeps getting busier. Be open minded and take any advice you can from the handful of workers that have been here for 20 +years as they are very knowledgeable.
We have a huge team here and it takes every single one of us to produce the amount of boats we do.