Women at helm of big boating businesses

You don’t see many women down at Gulf Harbour marina, where a number of boating businesses are based.

So it is surprising to learn that two of the largest marine businesses in Gulf Harbour – Hibiscus Marine Coatings and Brin Wilson Boat Builders – both have women at the helm.

Carla Dukeson of Hibiscus Marine Coatings, and Jan Saull of Brin Wilson Boat Builders, say they have bonded partly because women are so few and far between on the marina, but also because their businesses are complimentary.

Carla sometimes gets to leave her desk to sand or unmask the newly painted boats. She doesn’t often wear a skirt to work. “Even when I dress up a bit, I end up with paint on me,” she says.

When Carla and her husband Doug took ownership of Hibiscus Marine Coatings two-and-a-half years ago, Carla was already familiar with the running of the business, having worked for the previous owner.

Doug is a magazine publisher, so Carla agreed to be boss of the marine coating business.

She says with a loyal and experienced team, including three foremen, to rely on it was a relatively smooth transition to being the boss, but admits there are sleepless nights.

“We are paying big rent and have a staff of 14-20 that rely on me,” she says. “There are 82 jobs we have to get out between now and Christmas.”

Jan agrees that taking over was daunting – in her case it was as the result of the tragic death of her husband Nick, aged 47, in a boating accident three-and-a-half years ago.

Jan had worked with Nick in the boat building business for many years.

“I had the option of closing the business when Nick passed away but in the end the staff were a big reason why I didn’t do that,” Jan says.

“I knew how it ran, but having to be the decision maker, and without Nick to go to for advice, was not easy.”

At the same time she was caring for the couple’s four children. “I rely on the staff, who are fantastic, and also get a lot of support from Red Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, which is a big part of our family’s lives,” she says.

Both Jan and Carla say they have been readily accepted by male staff and customers, who are also mainly men, although Jan says she still occasionally has customers think she is “the office lady” and ask to speak with the boss.

Neither Jan or Carla envisioned working in such male dominated, technical businesses at the start of their careers. They say there is no reason why more women should not join the industry.

“If you enjoy the water and sailing, it’s fascinating to learn about the industry and how boats work. It has definitely increased my love for boating. It would be good to see more women get involved,” Carla says.