2023 marks 45 years in business for Ovlov Marine Ltd, New Zealand’s largest Volvo Penta dealer.
From humble beginnings in Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna on the North Shore in 1978, Ovlov moved across the bridge to become the Auckland CBD Volvo Penta servicing and sales dealer in the early 1990s with Peter Jacobs at the helm.
The current owner and Managing Director Lachlan Trembath joined the company in 1999, purchasing 50% of the business from Peter not long after their move from Daldy Street to the current premises at 142 Beaumont Street, within the Orams Marine Village. Lachlan added Yamaha Marine, Hydraulink hydraulic hoses, TRAC Ecological Marine Products, Jubilee clips and other great marine products to Ovlov’s offerings and assisted Peter in growing the business – including expanding to a second branch, Ovlov Marine Pine Harbour Ltd (OMPH) in 2009.
Peter retired from both businesses in September 2019, at which point Lachlan and his wife Leigh purchased the other half of the businesses. The Ovlov team pulled together during the Covid19 pandemic and ensured smooth operations and high-quality service continued throughout.
This year also marks further expansion for the Ovlov Marine team with a third Ovlov branch – Ovlov Marine Gulf Harbour Ltd (OMGH) – commencing operations at the current Seaquip Marine Services Ltd site from 1 June 2023. The current owner, Ralph Kearton, expressed his desire to retire and Lachlan, having started his marine career in Gulf Harbour some 30-plus years ago and knowing the area well, felt that the location was a perfect fit for a third Ovlov Marine branch.
The new branch will strengthen the offering of marine services in the area and should feed off the already strong Westhaven and Pine Harbour branches.
All current Seaquip staff will be joining the OMGH team, with the addition of Adam Hatfield as the General Manager. Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the OMGH team, having originally started his career with the NZ Navy and worked alongside Lachlan at Ovlov Marine for many years, having also joined the company in 1999. This was followed by roles at Babcock, Seaquip and most recently Flagship Marine.
Adam has a diverse range of skills, has a strong history with Volvo Penta. He is a keen sailor with a boat stored at Gulf Harbour Marine.
OMGH is incorporated as a brand-new business and looks forward to supporting Volvo Penta and Yanmar clients in the Gulf Harbour Marina and surrounding areas as an authorised Volvo Penta and Yanmar dealer. There are plans to add additional marine services and brands very soon.
Ovlov wishes Ralph all the very best with his retirement and knows that he can be happy that his former team is now in safe hands as part of the Ovlov Marine crew.
Ovlov Marine Gulf Harbour
+64 9 424 1260 gulfharbour@ovlov.co.nz
