MR T’S TINNIES

It's all systems go at Mr T's these days. The range of boats they handle has expanded exponentially since the last NAFA, and as we go to press they're moving to new high visibility premises on Old Cleveland Road in Brisbane's eastern side Capalaba area. Otherwise, nothing has changed.

Mick Theodorou and friend out for a test run on the Brisbane River in a Bluefin.

The essence of what has always made Mr T's tick remains absolutely the same. With their refreshing approach to all things boats, Theo and Michael Theodorou are still the same pair of likeable (dare I say) oddballs. You walk through the door and a cup of coffee is still #1 priority. Casual; not really. Laid-back; definitely.

And after I'd finally finished boasting about all the huge barra we've been extracting from the dams the couple of seasons past, Theo smiles indulgently, checks my coffee is okay and insists I make sure NAFA readers know they should never buy anything until they talk to Mr T's. So they're as keen as ever about getting your business — and as competitive as ever about putting together a deal to ensure they get your business.

Quote from Theo, "Tell ’em we've got a totally unbeatable special deal for NAFA readers on the 5 m Full Boar..."

Mick Theodorou, loves his soft plastics — so many lures, and I have to go to work in a minute.

"No problem Theo, but where can I tell people to find you if you've moved?" (The precise address was still, somewhat up in the air at the time.)

"Easy mate, the phone number will be the same — just tell ’em to ring us before they come down."

"Give you time to get the jug on!"

"Exactly!"

And then I headed off over to the workshop to catch up with Mick. After he (finally) finishes boasting about all the snapper he's extracting from southern Moreton Bay with soft plastics lately, he gets back to work on a fit up. Meticulous Mick is pedantic about Nyloc nuts and Lanolin and only tinned wire.

Quote from Mick: "You know we'll bend over backwards to put together a deal to get people's business. But there's only one way to do a fit-up, and that's the right way!" A touch of inflexibility there.

Theo proudly proclaims that Mr T's holds firmly onto their position as the top Bluefin dealer in the country.

As he puts it, "in aluminium they don't get any better than Bluefin."

"But you've been doing Full Boar since last year," I interjected.

"Yeah… well, actually we've been doing Quicksilver for quite a while, too."

"So what about your famous Mr T's Tinnies tag?" It's an obvious question.

"When we move we'll be Mr T's Tinnies and Marine. And we're working closely with Mercury Marine now, not only for motors which we've always done, but with their Bermuda range too. It gives us access to competitive boat/motor/trailer packages that only the might of Mercury and their 100 years in the business can offer."

Another obvious question — and one especially relevant to NAFA readers: "Does that mean you're moving emphasis away from fishing boats then?"

"Not really. You know Bluefin have always done really nice family boats too; and they're as good as anyone at dual purpose bowriders, cuddies and runabouts. Bermuda and Quicksilver allow us to add more flexibility to that."

He went on. "Bloody hell, it doesn't get more hard-core than Full Boar. And our vast (serious tongue in cheek comment here) experience in setting up boats for keen fishos has always involved stuff peripheral to fishing. Most fishos have to take the kids or their lady out in their boat sometimes."

"Except Mick!"

"Well, yeah sort of…"

"Was he out this morning before work?"

"Nah, he hasn't been out since yesterday."

Mick at work fitting up another Merc.