BARRY MARTIN AND THE ASSEGAI STORY
Accepted as one of the most potent forces in Australian boat building and recognised around the globe among the well-connected game fishing industry, Barry Martin is a homegrown legend.
The compact fleet of Assegai fishing battleships are moving sculptures in resin and cedar that have dominated the local scene for over 30 years. More labours of love than commercial money-spinners, the boats are highly prized by proud owners and skippers who count themselves part of the close-knit Assegai family.
When we caught up with him, Barry and his team of 12 were putting finishing touches to his latest creation — the 16th launched — a 58-footer called Deploy, recruited to join the charter fleet in Sydney and Cairns.
But this is the last Assegai. While Barry talked me through some history, his wife Jo — who worked in the business as the administrator — was finalising the sale of a CNC machine in preparation
