One company that Locus Research has been busy working with over the past few months is a new start-up, Balex Marine, which will launch its core product at this May’s Hutchwilco Boat Show.

The Automatic Boat Loader automates the launch and retrieval of trailer boats and Locus has been so impressed with the product that it has also become an investor.

Real estate salesman, longtime boatie, and current Omokoroa Boat Club vice commodore Lex Bacon developed the prototype when his wife remarked — after several hours spent watching countless boats being launched — that there would be a huge market in developing something to help people get their boats off and on their boat trailer.

After some years of tinkering, the eventual prototype drew part of its inspiration from remote operated garage doors, said Mr Bacon. The product utilises a battery-operated motor to drive rollers that replace the final four wobble rollers on a conventional boat trailer, and eliminates the need for hooks and winches.

“As soon as the boat touches the end of the trailer, you press the remote and 30-to-40 seconds later, it’s up on the trailer.”

Commercialisation of the product began with the involvement of Paul Symes, who was the lead investor and managing director of the company, with Mr Bacon looking after sales development.

Mr Symes founded 4D Global Group in 1995 and grew it to become one of Australasia’s largest steel detailing and building information modelling services companies. In 2006, Mr Symes moved to the Philippines to establish the operations centre there and, in 2011, 4DGG merged with PDC Australia. After resigning from his role at PDC, Mr Symes was impressed by seeing a video of the Balex prototype a year ago and, at Mr Bacon’s suggestion, brought in Locus Research.

Timothy Allan, Locus Research’s director, said that the first stage of the company’s engagement was to undertake the market validation and assist with due diligence prior to Mr Symes’ investment.

“We were so impressed by Lex’s concept and Paul’s business acumen that Locus Research has become a shareholder in Balex Marine and will incubate the business in our new Newnham Park facility,” said Mr Allan. Locus is now fully immersed, working with the Balex team on programme management, product development, engineering, IP, marketing, brand, and communications, and gearing up for market launch.

“The Locus team are great to work with,” said Mr Symes. “It’s been a collaborative approach, so having them come on board as a shareholder was a natural fit. We are looking at new and retrofit markets. We expect that the primary long-term market focus will be in North America.” 

This article was written by David Porter and originally appeared in the Bay of Plenty Times, Local Business section, Wednesday 19 February 2014.