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Whiting
Power Systems - Marine Power Specialists
 Whiting
Power Systems was established in 1983 and the company has
progressively grown from an owner-operator business to a well
resourced organisation employing 25 experienced and qualified
personnel.
New
Zealand is by nature a maritime nation and the majority of
Whiting Power Systems' staff enjoy a marine lifestyle outside
of work. Many were introduced to yacht racing, cruising or
fishing at an early age and this background of practical experience
provides a high level of intuitive understanding that complements
their technical and business skills.
Managing director and company founder, Tony Whiting, grew
up immersed in a sailing environment.
"My parents and siblings were passionate sailors.
It was a wonderful way to spend my childhood."
After leaving school he undertook a management cadetship with
the New Zealand Motor Corporation, then took time out from
the office environment to work at an alpine construction site
operating and servicing Caterpillar diesel equipment.
| In 1974 he joined his parents, Molly and D'arcy Whiting, for an extended cruise aboard their 47 foot yacht, Tequila, which was designed by Paul Whiting (brother) and finished by D'arcy and the family. Leaving Auckland they sailed to Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii and Midway Island before setting course for the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, California and Mexico. |
Tony
disembarked from Tequila in the USA where he worked for Caterpillar
on the Californian coast as a diesel engineer for three years
before being promoted to lead their marine engine division,
a position he also held for three years.
He
returned to New Zealand in 1981 to fill the managing director's
role at Whiting Yachts after Paul was lost at sea while returning
to Auckland after the 1979/80 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Whiting
Yachts built a range of fibreglass production yachts and under
Tony's leadership the company set-up to complete all engine
installations and associated engineering in-house. The machine
shop, which was a forerunner of today's business, machined
rudder stocks, shafts, keel bolts, mounts, couplings and power
take-offs for their own vessels, and provided a contract engineering
service for many of the region's major boat builders.
Whiting Yachts was sold in 1983 and Tony set up Dockside Marine
Services to concentrate on servicing, installations and local
refits. He engineered many significant vessels, including
Grant Dalton's ketch rigged maxi, Fisher and Paykel, which
finished second in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World race.
A growing client base and a steadily increasing demand for
recognised equipment brands saw  a
number of distributorships added to the company's portfolio
in 1991. The move towards distribution and retailing generated
a name change to Whiting Power Systems and the company relocated
to larger Westhaven premises to facilitate further expansion.
Whiting Power Systems enjoyed steady growth throughout the
1990s, progressively implementing additional warehousing,
workshop and management systems, and adding selected international
engine and equipment agencies. By 1997 the company was well
placed to respond to the increased business levels generated
by the expanding local market and the arrival of the syndicates
and superyachts associated with the 1999 Louis Vuitton Regatta
and 2000 America's Cup.
The company moved into its current premises within the newly
developed Orams Marine Village in October 2001. The upgrade
provided modern showroom, warehousing, machine-shop and office
facilities within an integrated marine complex that is centrally
located within the busy Westhaven marine precinct. All business
systems were thoroughly tested by the peak demand generated
by the 2003 America's Cup, which required long hours and seven-day-a-week
operation to fulfil negotiated contracts and satisfy day-to-day
enquiries.
Many of the clients introduced by the America's Cup regattas
have returned to have additional work completed and Whiting
Power Systems now services a mix of local and international
vessels ranging between 20 and 200 feet. A dedicated superyacht
division supplies, installs and commissions capital plant
for new builds, refits and refurbishment, while the vessels
berthed within New Zealand marinas, the yachts and motoryachts
sailing South Pacific cruising routes and new-builds less
than 80 feet in length remain highly valued core business.
Personnel
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