Scruffie Marine - the times, are they are changing

by Derek Ellard 11 Jan 2020 07:23 UTC

After three decades of operation, we're selling our internationally respected and iconic brand. We are inviting you to buy into the future. We are selling our business, division by division.

The foundations are secure, the products well loved, and you'll benefit from my vast personal experience and my 30 years of investment.

Without a shadow of a doubt the 2020s will usher in profound changes in society. In our small niche we are ready to be a part of those changes. Our new ranges of small solar electric boats are carbon neutral, zero emission marine vehicles for leisure and commerce. They will be efficient to manufacture, easy to sell and entirely focussed on a viable future.

The 2020s will be a decade when business will supply not only what the customer wants but what the planet wants. This does not include bulk plastic trinkets or inherently obsolete products. Instead new battery technology will revolutionise electric transport. It's Henry Ford versus Tesla and make no mistake, electric boats are going to become the norm, not the fringe - the times are in our favour.

We've developed our three solar electric boats to a point where they can be carried forward by the next green entrepreneur.

You'll have your own ideas about growing any of our business components but I'll be there if you need my help to help usher in a new beginning.

There's a wealth of expertise, research, feedback, lessons learnt and forward thinking here at your disposal. Here's some early examples.

1. We recommended and sold electric outboards two decades ago.
2. In 1997 we designed and built a 6-metre sailing catamaran with the hull floors machined from solid blocks of foam and swept back bows - it was too far ahead of its time.
3. We pioneered the slot system kits three decades ago.
4. We researched boating from a woman's point of view before we even built our first boat.

I could argue that the world has caught up with us. So why are we selling then? Two reasons, one, I'm now in my seventies and I want to concentrate on pure design and esoteric studies. Two, I am proud of my achievements but it really is time for younger, more resourceful people to assume leadership and reap the benefits.