Industry Spotlight | Razerline Boats

Quality Custom Builds and Yamaha Power

Stewart’s path into boatbuilding began with a trade background and a decision to do something more ambitious after arriving in Australia from the UK. “When I first came to Australia in the 1980s, I arrived as a sheet metal worker,” he says. “Adele said to me, ‘Why have you come all this way to do the same thing you did back home?’ So, I followed my passion and got into boat building.”

In the early years, the work was practical and commercial, starting with commercial charter‑boat builds before shifting into smaller recreational boats and a broader market presence with an emphasis on quality.

That evolution eventually led to Razerline bringing its production in-house and focusing on bespoke builds. “The vision was to build the best aluminium plate boats on the market,” explains Stewart. “And that remains our focus. We build dreams and we build a lifestyle experience.”

Razerline’s operation is grounded in the realities of boating in Western Australia, where range, ride quality, and reliability matter because people genuinely go long distances. For Stewart, that reality drives a perfectionist approach to every build. The goal is not simply to deliver a hull, but to deliver a complete, well-matched package that performs as intended. That is also where the Yamaha partnership fits. Razerline’s boats are configured as Yamaha-powered packages, and Stewart says the consistency of Yamaha rigging, fitment, and support helps them deliver a cleaner build outcome and a smoother handover. It reflects how Razerline operates: small details matter just as much as the big picture, and every decision is guided by real‑world customer use.

The family element is part of how the business has developed and how it works day-to-day. April’s role is both professional and personal. “I literally grew up in the factory,” she laughs. “I’ve always been around these boats. As a baby and toddler I had a cot in the workshop.” For Stewart, that continuity matters because it reflects knowledge built over time, not only about boats, but about customers and how they use them.

Razerline’s sales and design process starts with a conversation rather than a standard package. April sits down with every customer and maps out the build around their needs and plans. “Most customers have a really good idea of what they want before they get here,” explains April, “but I always start at the beginning. Things like what they are going to use their boat for, whether it’s for family days, fishing, extended trips, and what they’re towing it with. Those inputs determine everything from layout and storage to the power option and onboard systems.”

Customisation is the company’s core strength. “Customising is the most important thing that we do, and our attention to detail is what we pride ourselves on,” Stewart says. April’s role is central in that process. “People come in with an idea of what they are chasing, and April will sit down and actually do the quote with them,” Stewart says. Customers are then walked through the workshop, shown different build stages, and introduced to the team. It creates an instant connection between the customer and the people building their boat.

The customer is also encouraged to visit the workshop and view their boat during construction. “This builds confidence and also prompts better decisions,” April says. “This is a milestone purchase for our customers, and we want them to come in and feel like they are becoming part of the Razerline family. Having customers meet the staff who are building their boat helps the team understand the owner’s priorities, and in return the owner sees the workmanship first-hand,” she adds. “We get them to climb on the actual boat so that they can have a poke around and have a feel of the boat physically.” In practice, that visit often triggers useful refinements because owners spot options they did not know were possible. April calls them “the amazing little bells and whistles” that can be incorporated as customisations.

Operationally, Razerline currently has 13 staff and runs two factory units within the one complex. One focuses on aluminium fabrication and trailer construction, before the boats go off-site for painting. They then return to the second factory unit for final fit-out, including engine installation.

Stewart says the most popular Razerline hull package is the 8500 Olympian Montebello Special. “It’s got 770 litres of fuel and 140 litres of water storage,” he explains. That specification is aimed at boaters who prioritise range and autonomy for extended trips. It also drives engine selection, where owners weigh up economy and performance depending on how and where they travel.

Razerline’s relationship with Yamaha is positioned as part of that package approach. Stewart explains that the long-range Olympian packages are commonly set up with twin Yamaha 200 outboards and the Helm Master EX system, or a single Yamaha 350 with Helm Master EX, depending on the customer’s brief. From a build perspective, he says Yamaha integrates cleanly into their fit-out process. “The fitting and set-up are so much easier with the Yamaha outboards,” Stewart explains.

From a customer service point of view, April also gives the Yamaha connection top marks, particularly for product support. “The team fitting the outboards know the Yamaha reps are just a phone call away if they have any questions,” she says. “It’s a big plus being able to contact them at any time for guidance and advice, or just to obtain little bits of information that we can pass on to clients.”

The idea of building a complete system also extends to trailers, which Razerline builds in-house. Stewart says he started working on the design for a new type of trailer around 15 years ago and continues to refine it. “They are self-centring skid trailers intended to make launching and retrieval straightforward,” he explains. “Even if the driver approaches off-centre, as long as they’re driving forward, gravity takes over from buoyancy and the boat slips straight into that channel and you drive straight up into your boat catch.”

Razerline is continuing to develop new models and expand its footprint beyond Western Australia. Stewart says the plan includes building more Olympians and establishing dealerships around Australia. He also flags a longer-term goal to build a sports boat. Through that growth, the company’s pitch remains consistent: family involvement, consultative custom design, industry-leading build quality, and Yamaha-powered packages that suit long-range Australian boating.