|
Meet David and his team |
 |
David Bradburn - Owner/Managing Director
David Bradburn, aged 45, founded Bluewater Cruising Yachts Pty Ltd some 20 years ago. He is a passionate sailor and loves everything about boating in particular cruising yachts. Since the age of 14 David has dreamed about cruising designs and their suitabilities and compromises. He has been living his dream building the best cruising yachts in the world for their class.
David has built or been in charge of over 60 builds throughout his business career to date. His hand on speciality is GRP laminating as well as project management, design, customer liaison, staff training, and quality control. He has spent many thousands of hours enjoying sailing yachts in enclosed waters as well as many thousands of sea miles cruising the Australian East Coast including 2 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races and a Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race.
David is always humbled by the great responsibility that customers place in his leadership, company, ability to deliver the ultimate cruising yachts and the trust they place in him.
|
|
 |
 |
Brent Coulter - Ship Fitout and Engineering
Brent Coulter, aged 36, has been with Bluewater for 17 years. He is a qualified Shipwright and specializes in every aspect of building Bluewaters including laminating, structural, fitout, engineering, fitting electronics and basic electrics, cabinet making, final finishing and coatings, commissioning systems, customer liaison, quality control and staff training.
Brent is very passionate and takes great pride in every job he does or oversees. He also is a keen cruising sailor and has many thousands of sea miles under his belt including a Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Brent has an excellent rapport with Bluewater customers and thoroughly enjoys the challenges they throw at him.
“I like working at Bluewater as the challenges of building boats are constantly testing everything that you have learnt from being a 1st Year Apprentice to some 45 builds I have been involved in over 12m, and some good sea miles I have gained in boats I have built over 17 years, and I am still learning. What is great about being a boat builder is the opportunity to do what I love. Take a look at ‘Friday’s Child’. I believe that you can see the love and passion that was put into this yacht at just a glimpse from me and my peers.”
|
|
|
 |
Russell Webster - Boat Builder
Russell Webster, aged 51, has been building boats for 33 years. Firstly for his family owned business for 22 years where he built over 600 runabouts, half cabin and cuddy cabin speedboats. Then was involved with building a custom 70 ft Precision Sportsfishing boat. Russell specialises in all aspects of boat building from plug design and mould making through to GRP laminating of hulls, decks and structural assembly, fitout, timber finishing, spray painting, launching and commissioning. Russell has worked for Bluewater since 2002 and is a key staff member.
“Working at Bluewater provides the opportunity to build boats from start to finish. As well as be involved in all aspects of boat building during construction. Also, many and varied smaller projects over the last 7 years. Boat building provides me with the opportunity to work practically, creatively and artistically to overcome problems and achieve standards of work uncommon in today’s world. I enjoy and strive for the craftsmanship and discipline necessary to bring imagination and design to the conclusion of something beautiful and worthwhile.”
|
|
|
 |
Bryan Wilson - Boat Builder
Bryan Wilson, aged 37, has been boat building for 20 years, serving his time at Lidgard Boatbuilder’s in Auckland, New Zealand. He has built many boats from power boats, launches, racing and cruising yachts, to his own boats that he has enjoyed sailing and racing. He was even hand picked to oversee and prepare the team, Fast 2000, the Swiss Challenge in the 2000 America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Bryan has done cabinet work to running his family engineering business.
He has been on and around boats his whole life and sailed many miles. He has a great passion to build boats to the best of his ability, taking great pride in his work as if he was working on his own.
“I like the freedom to express your ideas and work out the best way to do a job with the boss, foreman and owners. A good team environment with a boss who works alongside his staff. All the workers have a passion to build the best boat with no compromise to the end result. I love to do creative work and getting great satisfaction when looking at a job I have completed, meeting customers who have a passion for sailing and their boats and helping them reach their dreams, and teaching the skills to Apprentices to become great boat builders with the knowledge to build their own boats.”
|
|
|
 |
Alan Quinnell - GRP Layup/Boat Builder
Alan Quinnell, aged 50, has been working in the marine and fibreglass industry for the last 30 years. His expertise is with GRP laminating. He started by building runabouts, pools, and then Leading Hand building large in-ground fuel storage tanks which involved travelling around Australia and overseas setting up new plants. Alan has also been involved with large industrial GRP installations such as the Mackay Water Recycling Project.
Alan is a meticulous and highly efficient craftsman who has been with Bluewater for the last 18 months. In this time Alan has become a key staff member.
“I like working at Bluewater because there is a wide variety of jobs and a real sense of achievement when you finish building a yacht. The joy of being a boat builder is that we have the ability to turn raw materials into a yacht that the customer will love and cherish because of the dedication and hard work that has been put into constructing their dream boat.”
|
|
|
 |
Howard Mitchell - Carpentry and Cabinet Work
Howard’s association with the ship & boatbuilders industry started at an early age at Cockatoo Dockyards in Sydney where he trained in Engineering, Toolmaking, Drawing Officework and Contract Administration.
Shortly afterwards Howard broadened his horizons traveling extensively abroad for 11 years. During that time he worked on several large engineering projects, firstly in administration and then at on site supervision and management.
Returning to Australia to settle, and following his dream of having a specializing woodworking workshop, he took to making furniture and restoring antique furniture. However, his love for sailing drew him back to boating, boat building and boat restoration.
Howard took time out to retrain as a shipwright at TAFE where he gained highest pass for each year, and overall highest pass over the 3 years of training.
It was during that time in early 1994 that Howard joined Bluewater for their first full fitout.
When Bluewater relocated to Lake Macquarie Howard chose to build his new workshop at his home bordering the Blue Mountains National Park, and manufacture exclusively for Bluewater. He has continued to do so for the past 16 years.
For 7 years he simultaneously taught Boat & Shipbuilding trade at TAFE College.
Howard is an important member of the Bluewater team and brings a higher than average quality of finish and detail to the cabinet work of our yachts. |
|
|
 |
James Christie - 3rd Year Apprentice
“The main thing I like about working at Bluewater is the great opportunity. At Bluewater we experience the start to finish of building boats, and also using and sailing the yachts. We are taught to be very versatile boat builders.
Not many companies offer that opportunity. What is great about being a boat builder is that it is very challenging. Everyday is something new and different. When you have put in the hours and worked hard on the job it is very rewarding to see the boat in the water operating the way it should. Also, building boats always keeps you thinking and on your toes.” |
|
|
 |
Hayden Gavin - 2nd Year Apprentice
“Already as a 2nd Year Apprentice the range of jobs I have performed surpasses what I expected. The type of boats we build provide the opportunity to become a well rounded boat builder, from big glassing jobs to helping fit engines, through to the final timber fitout.
Also, the constant insisting from David and Brent and the tradesmen to teach me to get it right, and do a quality job every time pushes me to be as good as possible. It is miles ahead of other trades. The amount of variety of skills already I have gained does not compare. Actually wanting to go to work to build great boats is the difference. Having a love for boating helps a lot. Seeing a finished boat on the water and being able to say that I was responsible for that is a great feeling.” |
|
|
 |
Gary Mackaway - Electronics
Gary, aged 55 was an important member of the Bluewater Cruising Yachts team. He worked for Bluewater from 1996 to 2009 as an electrical contractor until he sadly fell ill and subsequently passed away on 9 July 2009. Gary will always be remembered as an all round nice guy, conscientious and professional.
A few comments from the owners of some of the boats Gary worked on:-
- All were very saddened to hear of Gary’s passing
- He could turn the spaghetti of wiring into a work of art
- Nothing was ever too much trouble and he made you as a customer feel special
- It has been 10 years since the launching. If a job is not done properly it is about now the defects start to show up. It was always on my mind to thank Gary again for his excellent work the next time I saw him
- His workmanship was second to none and to this day “Celay’s” electrics have run perfectly
- It was always a pleasure dealing with him
- He was always helpful, no problem too great. He was there when you needed him
- His accurate, careful and clear job have given big confidence for long ocean cruising during over 12 years. We will really miss a great person and his gentle smile
- And as one customer so eloquently stated “Every Bluewater has the pulse of Gary”
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
The Bluewater 420RS
|
The Bluewater 420CC
|
The Bluewater 450M
|
The Bluewater 520PH
|
|
|
|
