About GI Marine (written 2004)

   Ian Walker knows boats. He owned his first boat – a clinker sailing dinghy – at the age of 13 years and he has been aboard and around boats ever since. Ian’s first keeler was a Whiting 29; he bought the hull and completed the fit-out and a few months later competed in the two-handed race around the North Island. The experience persuaded him that he needed a bigger boat.The next boat was a 42 foot sloop in survey which Ian used for charter work. He has a commercial skipper’s certificate.

   In 1985 Ian joined Hauraki Yachts and Launches as a broker – he was known as ‘Broker Four’ because he was the fourth taken on and the name has stuck. In 1990 Ian moved to Orams Marine and in 1997 he became Manager of their brokerage. G I Marine opened for business in May 2004 and is Ian’s own business. The letters ‘G I’ in the name derive from the beginning letters of Ian and his wife’s names.Ian is a very successful marine broker. In his first year at Hauraki Yachts and Launches he sold forty-two boats and he has averaged around sixteen boats a year for the time in which he has been in the industry. That is a very good result and it is reflected in the large amount of repeat business he has received.