The Stessl family marks a defining year in 2025, celebrating a half-century in boat building, two decades of Makocraft, and the dawn of a new chapter for Sea-Trex.

2025 brings a trifecta of milestones for the Gold Coast-based family business: the 20th anniversary of Makocraft, the retirement of revered boat builder Alf Stessl, and a new home for the Sea-Trex brand under the leadership of his son, Tim Stessl.

After 50 years shaping the Australian marine landscape, Alf’s retirement paves the way for Tim to take Sea-Trex forward. The Sea-Trex range will now be built at a brand-new manufacturing hub in Ashmore, Queensland — the same facility supporting Makocraft.

“2025 is a really special year for us," said Tim. “With Dad retiring and handing over the Sea-Trex brand, it feels momentous – this being his 50th year in the trade.
We have big plans for Sea-Trex, which will be produced at our Gold Coast facility and run alongside Makocraft, appealing to a whole new sector of the boating market.”

Makocraft has become synonymous with premium, Australian-made aluminium boats — backed by decades of design evolution and a hands-on, family-led ethos.

Founded by Tim in 2005 after the sale of Stessl Boats, Makocraft reflects his own journey through the boating world — from teenage tinny rides to a respected name in marine innovation.

“We’re proud to reach this 20th anniversary year, which is due to the loyalty and enthusiasm of our customers and the talent and dedication to quality among our team,” Tim states.

A Gold Coast local, Tim was immersed in the boating world from a young age. He joined Stessl Boats straight out of school, learning the technical ropes and playing a key role in shaping early aluminium designs.

He later stepped into a distribution role with Tracker Boats, the largest boat manufacturer in the U.S., gaining insight into American production processes. This experience inspired his return — and the vision for something uniquely Australian.

“But I couldn’t leave boat building for long,” he recounts of his return to work alongside his dad, who was working on his plan for the future: retirement.

When the family business sold in 2004, Tim’s next move was clear — to start his own brand grounded in everything he had learned.

“There was definitely a market for well-built aluminium boats that deliver performance, durability and reliability,” he says. “Makocraft is the product of dealer demand and boaties looking for quality, safety and value, with all the extras included.”

With a five-person team, Makocraft produced 500 boats in its first year. Today, it’s a household name among boaties, known for attention to detail, integrity, and innovation.

Sally, Tim’s wife and business partner, leads the operational and marketing strategy. Together, they’ve built a company that stays personal in feel, despite national growth.

Every new Makocraft model starts with a full-scale prototype. Each vessel undergoes rigorous testing, and Tim personally checks each boat before it’s delivered to a customer or dealer.

Tim is a firm advocate of aluminium for its light weight, strength, and versatility.

“For vessels under 4-metres, aluminium is lighter and easier to handle. And even in the larger models, aluminium plate boats are reliable, durable and much better value than their rivals.
They are beachable, easier to repair and 100 percent recyclable at the end of their lifespan,” he adds.

Makocraft’s range now spans 44 models from 3 to 7.3 metres across 15 lines. While 80% of their customers are avid anglers, the remaining 20% are families — a segment that continues to grow.

Sea-Trex, too, is capturing this market with its affordable, well-crafted “car topper” tinnies, designed for off-grid adventures.

“As a family business, Sally’s perspective has helped shape some of the considerations in our boat designs, particularly when it comes to comfort and versatility,” Tim commented.
“In our experience, women are often less focused on the hardcore fishing aspects and more interested in the comfort, layout and social side of boating — making sure it’s an enjoyable day out for everyone on board.
That insight has really shaped how we approach design at Makocraft. Boats like our X-Rider and CCX ranges are a direct result of that thinking.
They’re what we call multi-use boats — stylish and versatile enough for relaxed family cruising, but still fully capable of serious offshore fishing.”

From smarter storage to ergonomic seating, Makocraft’s boats are designed for shared experiences on the water — whether fishing, cruising, or simply escaping the everyday.

Backed by a strong network of 15 national dealers (with more on the way), Makocraft is now targeting expansion across the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales.

“We work closely with our dealers and have a great relationship with suppliers and owners, who become part of the brand’s extended family.
That’s very satisfying,” Tim shares. “Most of our owners are on their second or third Makocraft. They go from a 4-metre tinny to a 5.2-metre with barbecue and then a 6.3-metre, often as a family or group of friends. There’s a lot of loyalty there and we don’t take it for granted.”

He adds that resale value is high and the brand continues to evolve based on owner feedback.

The pandemic accelerated growth as Australians turned to domestic travel and outdoor leisure. Sally joined the team full-time to lead the brand's digital transformation and strategy.

“Covid provided a real boost and we acquired a lot of new customers,” Tim recalls.
“Domestic travel was on the rise, and our ‘Topper Tracker’ range spiked with the 4WD market as people set off to explore Australia.”

Designed as “tough tinnies” under 80kg, the Topper Tracker series includes fully welded seats and hulls that prevent twisting. In 2025, the new 386 model was released to meet demand for a lightweight tinny that seats four, weighing in at just 105kg.

Social media and the “van life” trend gave Makocraft even greater exposure, fuelling sustainable growth that continues today. The average wait time for a Makocraft boat is currently around three months.

Engaging directly with owners — many of whom document their adventures online — is a key part of the Makocraft ethos. Boat shows also remain vital.

“Boat shows are great for people to put a face to the brand,” Tim explains.
“Shows are very useful for prospective buyers to compare apples with apples. They come armed with all the information from the internet, but there’s no substitute for being able to see our boats up close and see for themselves the build quality and attention to detail, then compare competitor brands on the same day.”

In 2025, Makocraft will appear at numerous regional and agricultural events including Agfest Tasmania, Townsville Expo, Ag-Grow Emerald, Wauchope Show, Toowoomba Show and Western Australia’s boat shows.

“It’s not just along the coast, our boats are very popular in the river regions out west. Those shows have a special flavour of their own. It’s always a good time!”

To mark their 20th year — the platinum anniversary — the Stessls are hosting a number of special events.

“We will host a suppliers’ event later in the year for our valued partners, such as Dunbier trailers, who we have worked with for more than 30 years.
Many of our dealers are planning Open Days to showcase the range, and for owners, we have a few get togethers planned, including a raft up at Peel Island and our annual getaway to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, which we started three years ago.
We’re expecting a lot of owners to that one because it is such a sensational weekend – a great family occasion and a chance for new owners to meet the old guard.”

New models joining the fleet this year include the 731 Island Cab Plate Series with centre console and cabin, the 425 Commander, the 386 Topper Tracker, and an enhanced Estuary Tracker series from 4 to 4.5m.

Makocraft is also exploring the custom segment with larger aluminium models — something Tim is already sketching in preparation for future demand.

The new Ashmore facility will also house Tim’s retail outlet, Tim Stessl Marine, featuring Makocraft and Sea-Trex models, as well as trailers, outboards, electronics and Tim’s proprietary boat wash, Black Ops ‘ASSALT’, launched in 2020.

Even with these expansions, quality remains at the heart of the business.

Two decades after founding Makocraft, Tim and Sally are still proudly based on the Gold Coast, where their son Max is beginning to follow in their footsteps — both on the water and in the workshop.

“20 years and continued growth with constant innovation in such a competitive industry and in a relatively small market are really significant.
We’re especially excited to re-launch our second boat brand, Sea-Trex, at a time when momentum is strong and the future looks bright.”

“At our core, we’re passionate about keeping manufacturing here in Australia and committed to producing high-quality, well-loved aluminium boats that owners can trust and enjoy.
We’re proud of our longevity, and grateful for the ongoing support from customers and the industry alike. I’m just as passionate today about the product as I was on day one, and I remain focused on evolving with the times and meeting the needs of modern boaters.”


Found your perfect purchase? Let’s make financing just as easy!

Work with Australia’s best-reviewed finance broker for a great deal and a stress-free experience. With 2,500+ glowing Google reviews, you can trust you're in good hands! See what our happy customers say in Credit One reviews, or jump right in and crunch the numbers with our handy loan repayment calculator. Your ideal financing solution is just a few clicks away!