The grit behind the glory
If awards alone were the measure of success, Rayglass would have secured its place long ago. But the real story of the Auckland boatbuilder is one of resilience. Tony and Vicki Hembrow, who took the reins in the late 1980s, steered Rayglass through times that could have ended the business for good.
The toughest years came between 1994 and 1996. Demand for the newly launched Legend 730 was surging when disaster struck: fire tore through the production booths, destroying every mould in the Legend range. Seven years of development went up in smoke.
Most businesses would have folded, but the wider marine industry stepped in. Competitors, suppliers, and customers rallied with tools, resin, moulding materials, even cash. It gave Rayglass the lifeline it needed. Within a year the team was back in business, determined to build stronger than ever.
From small beginnings to national acclaim
Rayglass began in 1988 when Tony and Vicki joined forces with founders Ray and David Morse. The early years were lean, but expansion came with the 1989 acquisition of Performance Marine in Pakuranga. By 1992 the first Legend 620 hit the water, followed quickly by the 520. The Legend 620 won the National Boat Show award that year — the first of more than 50 to come.
The breakthrough, however, came in 1995 with the release of the Legend 730. At 7.3 metres, it was the biggest production trailer boat New Zealand had ever seen. Fishermen loved its ride, families loved its comfort, and the boating public snapped them up. It became an overnight icon — and a model that still holds a special place in Kiwi boating lore.
Growing an empire
By the late 1990s, Rayglass was riding a wave of innovation. The Legend 850 followed in 1997, winning another national award, while the Protector series of rigid inflatables cemented Rayglass’s international future. Coastguard adopted them, and they were chosen for official duties at the 1999 America’s Cup.
Through the 2000s, the range grew with models like the 1950, 2150, 2300 and the 4000 sports cruiser. Overseas deals and Brunswick Corporation’s 49% stake in 2004 propelled Rayglass into new markets. Orders poured in, staff numbers swelled, and awards kept coming. By 2006 the company was turning over more than $20 million annually, exporting as much as it sold locally.
The enduring legacy of the 730
The Legend 730 never lost its following. By May 2020, the 200th hull rolled out of the factory. Even now, many compare it to newer boats like the Legend 2500, still seeing in it the DNA of a true all-round Kiwi trailer boat — fishing, cruising, and family boating rolled into one.
For Tony Hembrow, the boat symbolises more than market success. It represents survival, determination, and the spirit of the New Zealand marine industry rallying together in tough times.
As Rayglass reminded us this week, 30 years on the 730 still inspires pride — not just in the boat itself, but in the company that built it, and the community that kept it afloat.
