Haines Boats

John Sydney Haines AM - 26th January 1937 to 22nd August 2009

It is with great sadness that we have to report that John Sydney Haines AM, Chief Executive Officer and founder of The Haines Group has passed away at the age of 72. John's close family have lost a father, husband, grandfather and brother but Australia has lost a man who's stature in the world of boating and fishing truly reached icon status.

It was in 1960, as a young Queenslander with a passion for water skiing and boat racing that John (Hainsey to his mates) built his first fibreglass speedboat. By developing a new standard of safe, comfortable and user-friendly boats John and brother Garry helped bring boating to the masses in Australia.

John Haines created the designs of a whole range of boats that have taken literally millions of Australians to sea and back safely. For more than 50 years, his boats have provided the benchmarks for the Australian Boating Industry safety and performance standards. Countless Australians have gone boating in a Haines Hunter or a Haines Signature safely and happily, deriving great benefit from all the joys and healthy attributes Australia's unique boating lifestyle supports.

Throughout his life, John Haines also played a dynamic role in numerous powerboat racing events, and won just about every major offshore and inshore racing event on the Australian powerboat racing calendar. These include such well known events as the original Sydney-Newcastle races, the Cairns-Gold Coast Pacific 1000, Bridge to Bridge Ski-Races on the Hawkesbury River, and countless other state and national titles. The 1979 Pacific 1000 was Johns favourite victory. Not only was it one of the most gruelling and testing powerboat races but it ran off the coast of his beloved Queensland.

There is no doubt his racing success impacted on the reputation his pleasure boats enjoyed with the public, as Haines used the racing program as his R&D laboratory for the best part of 30 years.

Over the years, John Haines won countless awards for his work in the Australian boating industry. He won the Australian Boat Of The Year Award no less than 34 times, and been either Runner Up or a Class Winner on many other occasions. He was recipient of the Australian Design Award on several occasions, and has stood on countless committees in the development of Australian boating safety and performance standards. His work in this field is unparalleled.

In 2003 John was awarded the honour of member of the Order of Australia and became 'John Sydney Haines AM. The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Her Majesty The Queen for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. As a fiercely proud Australian, this ranked as one of the proudest moments of John's life.

Between 1960 and present day 10's of thousands of new boats have emerged from the Haines Group factory. Even when the success of Haines Hunter attracted admiration from overseas interests in the 1970's, which eventually saw John and brother Garry forced out of their own company in 1980, it could not dampen John's spirit. In 1984 and against the odds John started again, ironically, in opposition to the company - Haines Hunter - that still carried his family name. With the new brand name Haines Signature and a loyal dealer network, John Haines started the process of building the new business back up to the top.

By 1988 he was again building the top selling trailerboat brand in Australia - a position Signature has arguably held ever since. John was particularly happy at that time to have also bought back the Haines Hunter factory after Hunter went in to administration. John created the new home for Signature on the same site where The Haines Group (Signature, Traveller, Seafarer, Suzuki, Nautique & Walker Bay) still resides today.

John stepped back from day to day running of The Haines Group three years ago and the company continued to flourish and will continue to flourish under the professional guidance and Haines family name of his son's John and Greg continuing the tradition of building Australia's most awarded trailer boat collection and diverse marine business. John's happiest moments have been to share his passion for boating with the boating public knowing how many thousands upon thousands of people have been on the water in his boats.

Under the leadership of John Haines, The Haines Group has gone from backyard business to marine giant. John Haines' career in boat building was distinguished by five decades of hard work, but through it all, he remained a passionate advocate for Australian boat building and manufacturing. He also displayed great leadership qualities in that his grit and determination have inspired his colleagues, race fans, customers and friends.

It is as 'Hainsey' that many will remember John Haines AM, most likely as a boat builder, race boat driver, employer or friend. But John will be remembered as a grandad who adored his grandchildren and as a devoted father and husband. He will be missed by family, friends, colleagues and employees. John leaves wife Alida, sons John Jnr & Greg, daughter in law Belinda and grandchildren Alixandra and Zara.

Boatplace would like to express condolences to the Haines Family & Group and gratitude for a life well-lived and contribution to the Australian boating industry.

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