Hailing from Port Arthur, Tasmania, where he grew up with his pal and now business partner Marc, Adrian has also always had a soft spot for the water.
He knew from an early age where his skills lay and put this to practice locally working on the Marina ferry as a deckhand at the age of 15. During this time he gained his Coxwains and started to build his repertoire which eventually lead to obtaining his Master 4 skippers ticket.
In his early 20’s he moved to Brisbane, playing semi-professional AFL football which eventually drew him to the Redland Football Club. Floating around a few different jobs to start with, he realised where his loyalties lie and returned to working on the water, driving the Brisbane River City Cats for a few years and then Bay Island ferries in Southern Moreton.
After settling into family life with his wife Vicki and two daughters Isla and Addison, Adrian has decided he’s due for another challenge, and wishes to put his high standards and relentless work ethic to good use in the industry he loves, with Brisbane BoatSmart HQ.
Adrian has never been without his own boat since he was a teenager, with each passing vessel being taken care of more meticulously and with more pride than the last. Be confident in knowing that this standard will be upheld in caring for your boat as well.
Having grown up in Tasmania, it’s hard not to have a penchant for being on the water and dealing with boats.
An avid Lego and Meccano fan, Marc spent a lot of his childhood pulling things apart and putting them back together, learning how they worked in the process. He completed his Fitter and Turner apprenticeship at 20 years old and stuck with that for 6 years working for a marine engineering outfit in Hobart.
He worked on a vast range of vessels ranging from the well-known ice breaker the Aurora Australis for her winter lay ups, offshore support vessels, humble fishing boats and barges, and even offshore oil rigs.
From there he became interested in becoming a ships Marine Engineer after his time working on boats as a tradesman.
He then gained his Diploma of Marine Engineering certification with an Offshore Support Vessel company and spent 10 years at sea. His work as a Fitter and Turner as well as a member of vessels engineering crew has given him a fine range of experience across the board, such as lathe and milling machine operation, light and heavy diesel engine fitting/overhauls, electrical work, plumbing and general planned maintenance on said vessels.
Looking for a return home with his partner (who wasn’t a fan of the time away at sea) and two dogs he now seeks to apply his acquired skills and knowledge within the BoatSmart HQ arena here in Brisbane.
Unique inner-city location, a cool vibe set in an active dining precinct and with kilometers of board walk and adventures at your door. Dockside Marina offers daily, weekly and long-term rentals with berths between 10 to 40 meters. Dockside offers a perfect stop to rest, relax and enjoy our river city. It is easy cruising to Moreton Bay, the gateway to Fraser Island and the historical Great Barrier Reef, not to mention numerous local island adventures.
Rivergate offers berthing with deep water access for vessels up to 90M. The fuel dock is available 24/7, 365 days a year and offers premium, unleaded & high-flow diesel. With its unique location, Rivergate is within easy cruising distance of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, Pacific Islands and other iconic destinations.
East Coast Marina at Manly Boat Harbour, was the first marina in Queensland to gain full Clean Marina Status in 2006 and with the building of the new dry boat storage facility, also a first for Brisbane, they continue their commitment to building an innovative, cutting-edge environmental approach.
Located in Brisbane’s South-Eastern Bayside suburb of Manly, the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron is home to one of Queensland’s oldest and most prestigious recreational sailing and cruising clubs. Formed in 1885, the Squadron has a long history of supporting and encouraging sailing as a sport that continues on today.
The Manly Marina is proudly operated by the Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Marina Ltd and is the most protected marina in Manly Harbour with ample parking within easy walking distance to boats and full slipway services with experienced Slipmaster.
A modern boutique style marina with 75 floating berths nestled in protected waters surrounded by a boardwalk at Cleveland, Brisbane. The marina has all weather access and is only a few miles from the delights of Horseshoe Bay on Peel Island and offers a choice for boat owners to cruise the open waters of Moreton Bay to the north or the sheltered channels to the south through to the Gold Coast.
Redland City Marina is a maintenance marina and boat storage facility located in the Thornlands. They have the infrastructure to support all requirements for new builds, maintenance/regular refits and emergency repairs to your boat.