Established in 1986 by Sam Dorotich, South Auckland Boat Repairs (SABR) has a rich history rooted in a passion for boats and the marine industry.
What began as a small operation in Sam’s parents’ garage in Manurewa has evolved into a thriving business known for its high-quality fibreglass repair work and innovative products. Over the years, SABR expanded its services to include contract boat building, laminating, and the manufacturing of its own boats under the affiliated company – Superior Boats.
At the heart of every good boat is a reliable engine. When it came to choosing a powerplant, Sam made the decision to go with Yanmar’s 6LY 370 and 440 options.
“First and foremost, we picked Yanmar for two main reasons. They have an excellent power-to-weight ratio, with plenty of torque coming out of a compact package. And their reliability is first-class too; they’re really built well, which is good for us and provides peace of mind for our customers,” said Sam.
“On top of that, Yanmar has developed their own KMH V-Drive transmission, which lets us mount the engine lower in the boat, providing better weight distribution, improved stability, and reduced torsional vibration. Plus, the team at Power Equipment are great to deal with – they provide us with the support we need – from supplying the engines all the way through to helping us commission the boat before we hand it over to the proud owners.”
The compact size of the Yanmar engines also makes it much easier for Sam and his team to install them into the hull. With larger engines, Sam is required to spend more hours making space in the hull, carefully placing the engine, and then reinstating the elements they’ve had to adjust during the process.
“If a customer requests a different engine, we talk through the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, it is their final decision – and we make it work. However, we will always recommend Yanmar before other engine brands.”
Superior Boats commitment to using high-quality components and providing exceptional craftsmanship has earned them a loyal customer base and a reputation for excellence in the New Zealand boating market. And Yanmar is proud to be part of the journey.
