Welcome To The Haines Group History Page Brochures Catalogues Reviews Information Since 1960 Boat Building Quality Fibreglass Family And Pleasure Boats In Australia.

It was in 1960, as a young Queenslander with a passion for water skiing and boat racing that John (Hainsey to his mates) built his first fibreglass speedboat.By developing a new standard of safe, comfortable and user-friendly boats John and brother Garry helped bring boating to the masses in Australia.

John Haines created the designs of a whole range of boats that have taken literally millions of Australians to sea and back safely. For more than 50 years, his boats have provided the benchmarks for the Australian Boating Industry safety and performance standards.Countless Australians have gone boating in a Haines Hunter or a Haines Signature safely and happily, deriving great benefit from all the joys and healthy attributes Australia’s unique boating lifestyle supports.Between 1960 and present day 10’s of thousands of new boats have emerged from the Haines Group factory.Even when the success of Haines Hunter attracted admiration from overseas interests in the 1970’s, which eventually saw John and brother Garry forced out of their own company in 1980, it could not dampen John’s spirit. In 1984 and against the odds John started again, ironically, in opposition to the company – Haines Hunter – that still carried his family name.With the new brand name Haines Signature and a loyal dealer network, John Haines started the process of building the new business back up to the top. ( The Haines Group).

You cannot keep a great boat builder down!

John Haines Snr AM started boat building again in the 1980’s, unveiling the first of his Signature series boats which were to become the biggest selling and most awarded fibreglass brand that decade. After establishing Signature as the premiere fibreglass boat brand in the marketplace, The Haines Group recognised a niche market for competitively priced ‘no frills’ boats, while maintaining the same Haines quality of manufacture. The Haines Traveler brand (now branded just as ‘Traveller’) was launched in 2000 and the company has established an entirely new dealer network for the sales and service of Traveller vessels. The Haines Group further increased its market share in 2007 with the acquisition of Gold Coast based Seafarer. Production has now moved to Wacol QLD where Seafarers are built on the same production lines as Signature and Traveller.

Suzuki Motor Corporation Approaches The Haines Group.

Suzuki Motor Corporation approached The Haines Group in 2001; seeking a reputable Australian company to distribute their range of Suzuki two and four stroke outboards. Suzuki has since become the fastest growing marine outboard brand in Australia; the third largest company in terms of Australian market share. In 2008 The Haines Group was awarded the exclusive distribution rights by US company Walker Bay® Boats for the company’s range of inflatable boats. The Haines Group has gone from backyard business to marine giant through strategic product development and procurement, and in doing so have positioned themselves as one of Australia’s largest marine businesses, with a boat for every body and every budget.

What was the link with Haines Hunter? A legend forced from his own company!

Brothers John and Greg Haines have consciously orchestrated their business activity to position The Haines Group differently in the already crowded marine industry; hoping to distance their family company from competitor Haines Hunter. While the two marine rivals are often thought to be one and the same, The Haines Group Sales and Marketing Director Greg Haines maintains there hasn’t been a Haines in Haines Hunter for over thirty years. Haines Hunter was established by the same Haines Family that now own and manages The Haines Group, however since 1980 the only Haines family involvement has been the use of their name, the two being very separate companies. Brother’s John Snr and Garry Haines started their backyard fibreglass boat building business Haines Hunter in the 1960’s which soon became one the most awarded fibreglass boat builders in Australia and New Zealand. The success of Haines Hunter during the 1960’s attracted questionable admiration from overseas interests, and while the Haines brothers welcomed the new shareholders and directors into the business in the early 1970's; by 1980 they were forced out of their own company through a legal dispute.