Whakatāne's Extreme Boats, one of New Zealand's most recognised names in aluminium boatbuilding, has changed hands in a significant ownership shake-up that the company describes as the beginning of a "new era."
The restructure has created a new entity, Extreme Boat Holdings, with a consortium led by James Horman taking on a shareholding alongside the existing management team. Horman, who also serves as Managing Director of Farnley's Yamaha, steps into the role of Managing Director at Extreme Boats as part of the arrangement.
“WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW ERA FOR EXTREME BOATS WITH A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP LED BY A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY ALONG WITH THE EXISTING MANAGEMENT TEAM WHO ARE ALSO INVESTED IN THE COMPANY AND READY TO DRIVE EXTREME BOATS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. A MASSIVE THANK-YOU TO GLENN AND DI SHAW FOR THE INCREDIBLE LEGACY THEY CREATED OVER 25 YEARS AGO.”
The roots of the business stretch back to the early 2000s, when Glenn and Di Shaw started building boats on a rural property outside Whakatāne. What began as a modest operation in a farm shed grew into a manufacturer with a genuinely international profile. Glenn Shaw's background in engineering, combined with a lifelong enthusiasm for fishing, led him to champion aluminium as a superior alternative to fibreglass. Lighter to tow, more durable over time, and far more adaptable to individual customer requirements, aluminium suited the practical demands of New Zealand boaties in ways that fibreglass simply could not match. That conviction became the foundation of everything Extreme Boats has since built.
The Whakatāne factory now employs around 100 people and turns out approximately 200 boats each year. The entire build process happens under one roof. Design work, CNC cutting, fabrication, painting, upholstery, and final fit-out are all handled in-house, giving the company tight control over quality at every stage.
The company's commitment to aluminium goes well beyond material preference. Marine-grade plate is used throughout, with hulls built to a minimum of 5 mm and upgrades to 6 mm and 8 mm available depending on the application. Components including rod holders, cleats, and rails are welded rather than bolted, adding to the structural integrity and long-term durability of each hull. Aluminium also carries an environmental case worth making: the company points out that it is infinitely recyclable, and that more than 75 percent of all aluminium ever produced remains in use today, a statistic that resonates with boaties who care about their footprint on the water.
During the Shaws' tenure, Extreme Boats accumulated a record as New Zealand's most awarded aluminium boatbuilder, with its Game King and Fisher series earning a loyal following across the country. The brand's reputation was built one satisfied owner at a time, and those stories are now part of the fabric of Kiwi boating culture. Long-time owner Mark Gemmel is among those who reflect on the experience of ownership warmly.
“IN THOSE DAYS, EXTREME OPERATED OUT OF A SHED ON THEIR DAIRY FARM. YOU HAD TO DODGE MILK TANKERS TO COLLECT YOUR BOAT—BUT THAT BOAT DID EVERYTHING WE DREAMED OF.”
That unpretentious, fishing-first character has remained intact even as the business has grown in scale and reach.
The incoming ownership structure has been carefully constructed to preserve what works. Extreme Boats will continue to operate from Whakatāne, with its workforce and dealer network unchanged. James Horman and the management shareholders have made clear their intention to pursue further growth in international markets, without compromising the standards that have defined the brand. The company has signalled that more announcements will follow, and the direction is already apparent: the same practical engineering and passion for time on the water that built Extreme Boats will continue to drive it forward under its new ownership.
