Sealine
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| Owner | Aurelius AG |
|---|---|
| Produced by | HanseYachts AG |
| Country | Germany |
| Introduced | 1978 |
| Website | www.sealine.com |
Sealine is an English brand for motor yachts. It is originated in the former Sealine boatyard in Kidderminster that was founded in the 1970s by Tom Murrant. The brand is part of German HanseGroup since 2013.
The English aircraft engineer and boating enthusiast Tom Murrant (1939-2005) founded the Sealine parent company Fibrasonic Marine Ltd. in 1972 with the help of three other persons. Manufacturing started near Bobbington, Staffordshire. The first model was a 23 ft GRP family cruiser with sterndrive (23 Continental). In the wake of the world oil crisis 1973, the young company suffered and survived several years by producing items for other sectors and as subcontractor for other boat builders. In 1978, Fibrasonic Marine presented two models under the new brand name C-Line. Furthermore, the company moved to a larger site in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. In 1979, C-Line became Sealine, and an 18 ft weekender with coloured hull was launched. More and more, the brand stood out with clever space utilization and versatility.
In the 1980s, the models 30 Fly and 285 Ambassador were brought to the market and became best sellers. From 1987 to 1990, the brand gained popularity through “Sea Gybsy”, a Sealine 285 Ambassador that starred in the BBC drama “Howards Way”. In the 1990s, Sealine entered the US-market and rose to one of the “Big Four” British motor boat builders (alongside Fairline, Sunseeker and Princess).
In 1998, a period of substantial changes began. Tom Murrant and his Co-partners sold the company for US$45 million to a group of venture capitalists headed by the English industrialist Gerard Wainwright who improved build-quality and design. Only three years later, Wainwright sold Sealine for US$68 million to US-based Brunswick Corporation. The new owner implemented advanced manufacturing structures, widened the range upwards and tried to attract the market with luxury. In 2004, a T60 was launched, the biggest Sealine ever.
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