Boats, Fishing and Life as a Shipwright with Tony Cantell

Six months ago, Tony Cantell joined R Marine Sydney as our Senior Shipwright, bringing years of hands-on experience in boatbuilding, maintenance and repairs.

We caught up with Tony to see how his first six months have been, what he enjoys most about being a shipwright, some of the more interesting projects he’s worked on, and the Riviera he’d choose if he could take one away for a week.

You’ve been with R Marine Sydney for six months now. How has the experience been so far?

It’s been great. We have a terrific team here and there’s a really good atmosphere. I also genuinely enjoy working on Rivieras. The quality of the boats makes them great to work on, and there’s always something different happening.

How did you first get into boatbuilding and become a shipwright?

I was always building things or working on anything that moved from a young age. At school, the subjects I really enjoyed were timber work, metalwork and anything practical where I could work with my hands. Moving into boatbuilding felt like a natural progression, and once I started working around boats, it all fell into place.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

The variety. Every day can be completely different. One day I might be working on a teak deck and the next I could be installing a custom addition or solving a maintenance issue. There’s always something new to work on, which keeps the job interesting.

What’s been the most exciting or interesting job you’ve worked on since joining R Marine Sydney?

I really enjoy the larger maintenance and upgrade projects where you can make a noticeable difference to a boat. It might involve sanding and restoring teak, repairing or replacing components, installing new equipment or working through a list of maintenance items. Seeing the finished boat looking its best again is very satisfying.

What’s been the most challenging job so far?

Some of the most challenging jobs are those that have to be carried out in remote locations. You don’t necessarily have the same access to tools, parts or facilities that you would back at the marina, so you need to think ahead and be able to problem-solve on the spot.

Is there a particular job you’ve completed here that you’re especially pleased with?

One project involved a substantial refresh, including work on the teak deck, a Corian benchtop and new fridges. By the time everything was completed, the boat had really been brought back up to a standard that felt much closer to a new boat. Those are the jobs I particularly enjoy because you can really see the result.

Of all the Riviera models, which is your favourite and why?

The Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II. I love fishing, so it really suits the way I like to use a boat, but it also has the space and layout for longer trips away. You can take family or a good group of mates with you without feeling cramped, and it’s a boat that gives you plenty of options for how and where you use it.

If you could take any Riviera away for a week, which one would you choose?

Definitely the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II. I’d load up the fishing gear, get a few mates together and head away for a week. It has the range, space and setup to make a proper trip of it.

What’s your favourite boating destination, and what makes it special?

Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River. I have a real soft spot for that part of the coast. The water is beautiful and there are so many little bays and places to pull up and spend some time. You can find somewhere quiet, drop anchor and feel like you’re a long way from Sydney.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give Riviera owners about looking after their boat?

Stay on top of the maintenance. A clean, well-maintained boat is much easier to look after in the long run. Early detection is also really important. If you notice a repair or maintenance issue early and deal with it, you can often prevent it from becoming a much bigger job later.

I also like the idea of giving a boat a proper annual refresh, sanding the teak where required, a thorough clean and taking care of any repairs or maintenance. The aim is to keep bringing the boat back as close as possible to the way it looked when it left the factory.

What’s something about being a shipwright that most boat owners would be surprised to learn?

Probably that nothing is ever quite as easy as you think it’s going to be! Boats are complex, and even something that appears to be a straightforward job can uncover something unexpected. A big part of being a shipwright is working out the best solution when things don’t go exactly to plan.

And away from work and boats, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Fishing is a big one for me. I enjoy getting out on the water whenever I can, which is probably another reason the 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II is at the top of my Riviera list.

As Tony’s favourite Riviera, the 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II offers true blue-water capability, generous entertaining spaces and the versatility for fishing, long-range cruising and extended trips away.