Peter Hrones – Eyachts Founder

THREE DECADES OF SUCCESS

His journey began in the late 1980s as a yacht broker in Palm Beach, where he spent five years honing his skills. A subsequent 18-month expedition across Europe, the USA, Canada, and Africa allowed him to visit 22 boat-building factories, igniting his passion for innovative boat design and quality craftsmanship.

In 1999, Peter founded The Windcraft Group, aiming to introduce superior European yacht designs to the Australian market.

In 2006, Eyachts put their name on the map as the first importer to introduce day boats into Australia and New Zealand, featuring some of Europe’s fastest-growing brands.

In 2017, Hrones sold Windcraft to fully focus on Eyachts. Defying conventional wisdom and industry advice, he took a bold gamble on an unknown brand—Axopar. At the time, it was an unconventional, no-frills powerboat with a distinctive, aggressive hull design and a blocky, almost utilitarian cabin. Yet, what many saw as quirky, Peter recognized as revolutionary.

THE AXOPAR REVOLUTION

His instincts proved right—Axopar’s most distinctive model went on to become the brand’s best-seller, proving that its design was not just suited for Scandinavian waterways but perfectly adapted for global markets. Today, over 50% of Axopars are sold into warm-climate regions like the USA and Australia, solidifying its status as a game-changer in the industry.

Ten years later, Axopar is a major industry success story forging its own category, the sports adventure dayboat, which has attracted a string of imitators and look-alikes.  Under Hrones’ leadership, Eyachts has imported over 300 Axopar’s boats into Australia and New Zealand, reflecting a growing preference for quality, simplicity, and style in day boating. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of introducing versatile and efficient adventure boats to this region.

PUTTING THE E IN EYACHTS

Eyachts has also become renowned for their forward thinking sustainable brands including the leaders in hybrid, Greenline Yachts. This global name in this sector continues to expand as the world turns to me eco-friendly resources. It is clear Australians and Kiwis are taking to this concept as Eyachts was announced global dealer of the year in 2024, ranking #1 for Greenline orders received in 2024 globally.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY

Peter it isn’t just about the boat, Peter’s philosophy centres on prioritizing customer satisfaction, “In 2024, 75% of sales were to existing Eyachts owners making 2024/25 Eyachts record year. People love the products and know they can trust Eyachts and our in-house service team Vesseltec to give them exceptional service.”

It has always been a goal of Peter’s to create the biggest boating community in Australia. Eyachts’ first owners’ event in 2024, brought together 80 owners and 28 boats, highlighting the strong community spirit and the brand’s success under his guidance.

So, what do we expect to see from this marine powerhouse in the future? You will have to wait and see…