Both men have made lasting contributions to New Zealand’s trailer boat industry. Gerry Gerrand has steered Buccaneer for nearly five decades, becoming a trusted figure in Kiwi boatbuilding with a legacy defined by consistency, quality, and innovation.
Brian Firman, led Firman Marine since the mid-1980s, where he was at the forefront of boat sales and manufacturing; in 2008 he took the lead at Profile Boats and drove that as hard as Firman Marine. After selling Firman Marine in 2022, he has shifted his full attention to Profile Boats. Along the way, Brian has pushed Profile Boats into a new era—successfully bridging the digital and physical worlds with impressive success in online sales and customer engagement.
Below, we pay tribute to both Gerry and Brian—two industry leaders whose vision, dedication and craftsmanship have helped shape New Zealand’s boating landscape.
The 2025 Hall of Fame inductions celebrate two distinct but equally impactful legacies. Gerry Gerrand’s Buccaneer Boats shaped the trailer boating experience with family values and fibreglass innovation, while Brian Firman’s Profile Boats brought fishing-first functionality and digital-savvy growth to aluminium craft. Both men built more than boats—they built trust, lifestyle, and enduring connections to the water. Their work reflects the spirit of Kiwi boating: practical, passionate, and proudly local. As we honour their achievements, we also recognise a shared legacy that continues to shape how New Zealanders explore, fish, and enjoy our coastal backyard. Their influence endures.
Gerry Gerrand and the Buccaneer legacy
From humble beginnings to national icon—how one Waikato boatbuilder helped shape the course of Kiwi trailer boating.
When it comes to New Zealand’s trailer boat scene, few names carry the same weight as Buccaneer Boats. And behind the brand, quietly but resolutely steering the course, stands Gerry Gerrand—a man whose passion for boating and unwavering pursuit of quality helped set a benchmark for fibreglass boatbuilding in Aotearoa.
Gerrand’s journey began with tragedy. His grandfather, a fisherman, was lost at sea—a sobering start to a lifelong connection with the ocean. But rather than being deterred, a young Gerry became even more determined to master the water. By age 16, he had left St Paul’s Collegiate to begin an apprenticeship at Rollo’s Marine, learning the ropes the traditional way: hands on, from the floor up.
In 1976, armed with a vision and a keen sense of what Kiwi boaties needed, Gerrand launched Buccaneer Boats from modest beginnings. The first model, a 4.7-metre runabout, was built in his backyard. One boat at a time grew into a thriving business employing nearly 30 staff and turning out highly respected models like the 685 Hard Top Eldorado—his personal favourite.
Key to Buccaneer’s success was innovation. Gerrand pushed the limits with new materials and smarter designs. He introduced one-piece fibreglass liners and pioneered hardtop designs inspired by time spent boating on the often-blustery waters of Lake Taupō. These were boats designed not just to perform, but to make boating safer and more enjoyable for Kiwi families.
But it wasn’t just about technology. Buccaneer fostered a strong internal culture, with long-serving team members like David Harris and Kevin Philpott staying the course for decades. Gerrand’s wife Jenny and son Wade also remain active in the business, helping to ensure Buccaneer remains true to its family roots.
Today, the Buccaneer name is synonymous with quality and dependability—values that reflect Gerry Gerrand’s own character. His boats have introduced thousands of New Zealanders to the joy of life afloat. More than just a manufacturer, he’s a true custodian of Kiwi boating culture.
As the local marine industry continues to face headwinds—from supply chain disruptions to the rise of alternative technologies—Buccaneer stands as a testament to what a clear vision, deep experience, and a bit of Kiwi grit can achieve. And at the heart of it all is a man who’s always believed that if you build it right, the rest will follow.
Brian Firman: The Marlin Man of Hawkes Bay
From Westshore Bridge to record-breaking glory, Brian Firman’s legacy is anchored in fishing excellence and a passion for Kiwi innovation.
For many, a life on the water begins with a single cast—and for Napier’s Brian Firman, it was a kahawai spinning session off Westshore Bridge with his father, Ray, that set the hook. From those humble beginnings grew a career that would span world-record gamefish, pioneering aluminium boats, and decades of influence in New Zealand’s marine sector.
At just 13, Firman bought his first boat: a modest dinghy with a 9.8hp Mercury, which he used to chase kahawai, blue cod, and snapper in local waters. That early drive evolved into a lifelong passion for gamefishing, with Firman quickly becoming one of the country’s most respected bluewater anglers.
His name became legend in 2001, when he and his crew landed a 406.1kg black marlin at the Bartercard Tournament off Northland. Fishing on board Striker with skipper Bruce Smith, the team hooked the fish on a bridled skipjack and battled for nearly two hours on 37kg tackle. The catch made national headlines and remains one of the most iconic marlin captures in New Zealand fishing history.
But Firman’s record-book moments didn’t stop there. He’s landed bluefin tuna to 246kg, holds a line-class mako shark record at 115.5kg on 4kg line, and once boated a 54kg yellowfin on just 8kg line—one of his proudest and toughest catches, made in lumpy Hawke’s Bay conditions in 1999.
Beyond the thrill of the catch, Firman has long been committed to the wider sportfishing community. Since 1988, he has competed in the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council Nationals with the same crew—Rod Cushing, David Firman, and Neil Weber—highlighting not just skill but remarkable dedication and camaraderie.
That same passion extends to his role as the owner and managing director of Profile Boats. Acquiring the Napier-based aluminium boat manufacturer in 2008, Firman infused the brand with practical, experience-driven improvements. Drawing on his decades of time on the water, he helped refine Profile’s range into serious, surf-capable, fishing-first vessels tailored for New Zealand’s often unpredictable coastline.
Profile Boats is now known for producing exceptionally safe, stable and well-performing hulls. With a focus on beach launching, rugged performance, and real-world usability, Firman has steered the company into a position of high regard among serious boaties.
True to form, he’s also embraced digital innovation—recognising early on the power of online platforms to connect with boaters nationwide and streamline the customer experience. Under his leadership, Profile has expanded its market presence significantly while staying rooted in Kiwi values.
In all, Brian Firman’s legacy is one of tenacity, excellence, and a deeply ingrained love for the water. Whether chasing yellowfin off the Bay, setting records at sea, or shaping the future of trailer boats through Profile, he’s left an indelible mark on Aotearoa’s marine culture—one that continues to inspire the next generation of fishos and boatbuilders alike.
Just reward Brian best wishes Dave Paton