Experience to Empire

From his seaside hometown of Bournemouth, UK, to an Outboard and Chainsaw Mechanic in Bayview, to opening Mike Gaffikin Marine, the past 50 years in the Marine industry have been good to Mike – and he shows no signs of stopping yet!

Mike Gaffikin Marine has now joined Empire Marina, Bobbin Head, located in the stunning Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, as resident Dealer Principal, offering half a century of boating expertise to the local boating community.

After a few years as a mobile mechanic, specialising in diesel engines, Mike took the leap of emigrating to Australia at the age of 23 – coincidentally arriving in Sydney the day before Australia Day!

Despite never having even seen an outboard motor before, Mike secured a position as an Outboard and Chainsaw Mechanic with McCulloch Outboards based at Cedric Williams Boatshed in Bayview – kick starting his boating career.

After stepping up to Sales Manager at Cedric Williams selling Savage Cruisers, Bill Barry-Cotter approached him to market his newly developed Mariner 25-foot Pacer. A few ads in the SMH and a boatload of orders and inquiries later, he found himself a brand new dealer!