Hot off the press, or off the camera, I have just received these professional images of the AMF 1170 QRV we just delivered to Hawkes Bay coastguard in New Zealand.
Powered by twin Cummins 480hp Diesel Engines and 322 Hamilton Jets this boat has a top speed of 40kts and cruise of 26-28 kts.
No we are no relation to that AMF, it turns out there was also a fiberglass boat builder in the United States called AMF that closed its doors in the late 70's again no relation to our business.
Our AMF stands for (Aluminium Marine Fabricators) which was the company name. The acronym was formed to create a brand name for the boats. AMF was started in New Zealand by Paul Sharratt and his daughter Jodi Collings in 1984 in Tauraunga. Brian Collings my dad started a boat shop in Wanganui in 1981. Pauls knowledge in aluminium boat building goes back to the 60's when building yard he worked for started going from steel to alloy. I know of many of these vessels still in active service and they have been commercially fished all of their lives.
In 1988 Brian got involved with Paul to develop the boats further and between the two of them they came up with some fantastic performing and very strong aluminium boats. In 1995 Brian purchased the rights to build the smaller boats in Wanganui, freeing Paul up to continue with bigger boat projects.
2006 Paul approached Brian and he purchased the business, so now Brian Operates the two boat building yards and Paul has stayed on as a project development manager. Pauls daughter Jodi is married to Brian. I manage the Wanganui boat building yard. So it very much a family operation.
Cait
