Luxury motor boat builder Riviera ramps up staff numbers as demand skyrockets

One of Australia largest luxury motor boat builders has reported a record number of future orders and boosted its apprenticeship numbers.

One of Australia’s biggest premium luxury motor boat builders has boosted staff numbers as it heads into the year armed with the largest number of future orders since the business started four decades ago.

Riviera Australia this week welcomed 41 new apprentices to its Gold Coast boatbuilding facility increasing staff to more than 600 as the industry rides a wave of rising demand for the luxury vessels.

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Riviera owner and chairman Rodney Longhurst said it was “full steam ahead” with the company’s largest future order pipeline in its history.

“At the moment we have pretty close to a year’s production in forward orders,” he said.

“We have some models that have sold out into 2022.”

Last year Riviera launched a $10m expansion to its Coomera ­production facility which will enable the company to increase production from its current 100 new luxury motor boats.

Ranging in price from $1m to $5m Riviera has 21 models including Riviera’s SUV, Open Flybridge, Enclosed Flybridge, Sport Yacht and Sports Motor Yacht collections and it export 55 per cent of motor boats to the Americas, Europe and Australasia.

Riviera Australia chairman Rodney Longhurst at the factory in Coomera. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mr Longhurst said staff levels were at the highest since he purchased the business in 2012 and apart increasing the total number of apprentices to 89 Riviera will be recruiting more experienced staff.

“We’re going well and we’re pretty humble and reserved about that because obviously there are a lot of things going on in the world that aren’t so great,” he said.

Mr Longhurst said the coronavirus pandemic has forced people to change spending habits.

“It just so happens that boating is seen as a safe recreational activity with the virus because you're generally on the boat with small numbers and people you know and it’s a fantastic leisure experience,” he said.

“I suppose with a lot of people not being able to move around, particularly internationally, as they normally do boating has come to the fore.

“But having said that we absolutely believe we are in this strong position because of all the hard work we’ve put in and that’s a credit to our amazing team here.”

Mr Longhurst is the son of Dreamworld founder John Longhurst and brother of V8 champion Tony Longhurst who last year completed a $100m upgrade to the marina and shipyard The Boat Works also in The Coomera Marine Precinct.

However, it has not all been clear sailing for the award-winning company which was launched by marine industry veteran Bill Barry-Cotter in the 1980 and at its peak had about 1200 employees.

Hit by the GFC in 2009 Riviera went into receivership but was rescued three years later by Mr Longhurst who bought the business from receivers which at its lowest ebb had about 300 employees and was producing about 50 luxury motor boats a year.

Riviera's 16.8ha boat building facility at Coomera on the Gold Coast

Riviera’s safety and training manager Adam Houlahan said the new apprentices would lay the foundation for continued growth.

“The apprentice program at Riviera is an important part of our commitment to developing the master craftsmen and women of the future,” he said.

“Each of our apprentices receives intensive training to create world-class luxury motor yachts.”

More than 300 apprentices have graduated from the Riviera program since its inception almost 30 years ago and many are still part of the company’s team of qualified and highly awarded craftspeople.

Riviera's first year apprentices started work this week.

Mr Longhurst said developing skills for the future plays an important role in not only Riviera’s manufacturing but more broadly in the future of the Australian-based marine industry.

“We have a proud history of training and enhancing the skills of our team and that has allowed us to create luxury motor yachts that are recognised the world over for their quality, luxury and engineering excellence,” he said.