The Story Behind Warren Yachts - Kincumber

The longtime locals will tell you of the days in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s when the corner shop would close and school kids would gather along Empire Bay waterfront to see the latest super yacht, from Warren Yacht’s Kincumber shipyard, cruise down the channel to it’s new home beyond Broken Bay.

Warren Yachts has a history that reflects the passion and innovation of its founder, Dave Warren, and the evolution of the luxury yacht industry in Australia. Dave Warren established his shipyard in a massive building (still standing) behind the Kincumber Mitre 10 in 1980’s.

Dave, born in the UK, spent his childhood in Dorset. At the age of 18 immigrated with his parents to Australia. Here he completed his boat building apprenticeship, building wooden boats at North Harbour Boatshed, Balgowlah, and Cedric William’s Boatshed, Bayview.

Dave developed a fascination with speed and design, leading him to build his first ocean racing sailboats. In his Woy Woy boatshed, Dave built 8 boats for Ben Lexcen, and later Alan Bond’s yacht for the Admiral Cup.

Dave’s keen eye for detail and his relentless pursuit of perfection were evident in every boat he built. He sought to push the boundaries of what was possible in boat design, squeezing every fraction of a knot from hull shapes and engineering solutions. During it’s time, Warren Yachts became the largest consumer of carbon fibre in the world.

This dedication to excellence set him apart in the competitive world of luxury boat building.

The 1980s, using his extensive knowledge of marine engineering, Dave began crafting luxury motor yachts that combined speed, elegance, and innovative design.

“Aussie Rules”, 87’, built for Greg Norman, 1995

By the mid-1990s, Warren Yachts had established itself as a world leader in the luxury yacht market. The company gained a reputation not only for the quality of its boats but also for its integrity and passion for boat building. This period saw the introduction of the Warren Super Nova, a groundbreaking model that featured the first retractable hardtop in its category, allowing for a versatile experience on the water. Its design was sleek and modern, contrasting sharply with the more traditional, boxy shapes of competitors. Winning international awards at the Monaco Boat Show. The quality of fit, finish, and material selection was unmatched, reflecting Dave’s refusal to compromise on design or engineering.

Dave built 28 boats over 20 years at the Kincumber site. His clients read like the who's who of Australia's rich list and included Greg Norman, Alan Bond, Kerry Packer, Lindsey Fox, Steve Lowy and Rene Rivkin. “All our clients were fairly wealthy” Dave recalls, “so you met some interesting people.”

One of the well-known models from Warren Yachts is the Warren S87, a sleek, high-speed motor yacht designed to compete in the global market. The company also produced several 92-foot and 120-foot flybridge customised yachts, which became popular among buyers seeking a combination of speed, luxury, and comfort.

Dave, reminiscing, “one of the highlights of the Kincumber factory was the construction of $60 million, 44 m Tri deck motor launch called “Slipstream”. The paint job alone on the black and silver luxury cruiser cost over $1,000,000.”

The company employed 50 - 120 staff at Kincumber depending on the workload, as well as many subcontractors.

Scott Thorrington, a former employee, attributed the success of Warren Yachts to Dave’s attention to detail, his foresight in boat design, and his ability to think creatively beyond traditional moulding techniques and boat building ideas. 'Dave revolutionised luxury boat building in Australia.'

Dave Warren, with Greg Norman, during one of Greg’s visits to the Kincumber shipyard. Photographed in front of Kerry Packers helicopter, Erina Helipad.

Launching Crystal Lady, 114’ Supernova model, Kincumber boat ramp, 2001

 In 2003, Warren Yachts was acquired by the Amercian Shipworks Group, and Dave stayed on-board on a part-time basis for a few years. In 2005, with the continued buildup of silt in Kincumber Creek the business became unworkable, and the Kincumber shipyard was forced to relocate to Shipwork’s operation in Brisbane.

The downturn in the economy in the 2008 -2009 posed significant challenges and Shipworks closed the Brisbane operation and returned to the USA. Brisbane staff retrenched and moulds sold off.

Dave’s legacy lives on through the well-built, high performance Warren Yachts that are still sought after by enthusiasts and collectors today.

Dave Warren is still a local resident, retired, and remains engaged in innovative and challenging high-end projects. You might also catch Dave with the wind in his hair and a smile on his face as he wing-foils at various locations around Brisbane Water.

By Robert Thompson

Source: Interviews with Dave Warren, Scott Thorrington, Central Coast News April 2005, social media, Google.