The long-standing representative of the Honda Marine program has taken over the responsibility for the Aquila brand as they believe that power catamarans are the ‘next big thing’ in yachting
There is no need to introduce Fred Bobek to anybody who knows anything about the Croatian yachting market. For many years now, the company have been the licensed Honda marine dealer for Croatia, and have recently added Aquila catamarans and Highfield RIBs to their catalog.
COULD YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR ACTIVITIES CONCERNING HONDA MARINE SO FAR?
To everybody who knows anything about the Croatian yachting market, the name Fred Bobek is the synonym for Honda outboard engines. For many years now, they have been the licensed dealer for the products of the Honda Marine range for Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, and have proven their dominance in the outboard engine corner of the market endless times.
In line with the increase in the number of foreign and domestic tourists, the demand for nautical activities on the Adriatic is also increasing – and we don’t mean to say only interest in charter, but in the entire nautical market. Boats, RIBs and outboard engines are all popular investments, all along the coast.
Croatia has many national parks: including NP Krka and NP Kornati, the latter being particularly interesting to boaters for its many islands, while the stretch of coast in the Šibenik-Knin county, on the central part of the Adriatic Sea, remains the most popular, also for its many islands. Fred Bobek offer a range of engines that glide through those waters without damaging the ecosystem, which only adds to their popularity.
WHAT DOES YOUR NAUTICAL CATALOG INCLUDE?
Our nautical range includes Honda outboard engines, RIBs (Marlin, Highfield, Honwave), and speedboats (BMA, Atlantic Marine), as well as equipment and spare parts. We provide delivery, assembly and maintenance services. Our sales and maintenance network is distributed throughout Croatia and the entire region, with expert and licensed Honda personnel available on almost every island, for help in matters of purchase, service or delivery of parts.
WHEN DID YOU BECOME THE DEALER FOR AQUILA CATAMARANS?
This year, we signed the contract at the beginning of 2023, and we are now a licensed Aquila dealer for a wider region; in addition to Croatia, we cover Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, as well as Austria and North Macedonia. We believe in the potential of this segment, and we see power cats as the next big thing.
AQUILA DEBUTED THEIR 42-FOOTER IN CANNES.
Yes, and that model embodies all the know-how they’ve been collecting over the past ten years. I must mention that the Aquila 44 was sold in over one hundred units, and the new one, Aquila 42 has a slightly different and better layout. The aft part is optimized now, there’s a new engine and foil technology is being developed for that model, like on the smaller model A36.
WHICH MODELS WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT FOR THE CROATIAN BUYER?
Aquila 54 will be available in Croatia in May of next year, in a four-cabin version, and will be available for charter. I think we have outgrown the 40-foot class and should focus on 50-feet and up.
YOU ARE ALSO DEALER FOR HIGHFIELD RIBS?
As of this year, yes, we are also a licensed Highfield dealer. Our company purchased a 50-percent stake in the Slovenian Burinboats, with whom we have been cooperating for many years, and this was a logical and natural step forward, towards growth and better use of our resources. We now have Highfield salons in Vodice and Stankovci, with 21,000 square meters of outdoor space and 3000 square meters of indoor space.
WHAT DID YOU PRESENT THIS YEAR AT THE BIOGRAD BOAT SHOW?
We showcased Honda’s new flagship, the Honda 350-hp engine, which premiered at the end of September in Genoa. We had eagerly awaited this engine for a long time and were among the first to exhibit it at a domestic trade show. It features a large 5-liter V8 engine with the latest generation of digital controls. The engine is equipped with a built-in probe for reducing fuel consumption, which, according to some tests, is only 1 liter per nautical mile, a feature that will undoubtedly delight our clients. Additionally, we introduced the Aquila 32 and Highfield RIBs.
Text Darko Šupuk
Photos Mlađan Marušić & Aquila
