Find a dealer

Who are we?

50 years of expertise

Founded in 1973 in Norway, we have developed from a local business to the most famous producer of quality family boats. The main Marex facility is now in Kaunas (Lithuania), with a total 28 000 square meters of production area. Through the years, we've successfully built a team of 420 dedicated and highly skilled boatbuilders. Our dealership network covers all of Europe, some Asian and Middle East countries, and also Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

section cover img

1973

24 Sun Cab
The first model of Marex. It was made as a modern boat but in a traditional style, safe and with a diesel-efficient engine. Norway was the leading boat-producing country in Europe and was famous for reliability and quality. Customers were queuing to sign the contracts with Marex. As a result, 42 boats sold in just one boat show. Sun Cab was produced from 1974 to 1987 and 432 hulls were sold in total.

1973

24 Sun Fun
The second model of Marex and variation of 24 Sun Cab.

1974

32 Friendship
The 32 Friendship, with its exceptional interior spaces, became the biggest Norwegian- fiberglass boat in 1975. It was possible to order the boat with an aft cabin and to accommodate up to 8 guests. More than 140 hulls were sold from 1974 to 1999.

1976

23 DC
This model was produced from 1976 to 1985, and 167 hulls were made.

1979

27 Sun Cruiser
This model was the first of the Sun Cruiser concept. It was produced from 1979 to 1990, and 111 hulls found their owners.

1980

21 Flexi
This model became a logical development of the traditional Norwegian boating style with the hull optimised for cruising faster than the traditional displacement boats. Benches in the aft were converted into beds with a lot of space for storage. It was produced from 1980 to 2001, and 593 boats were launched.

1983

77 Holiday
This model set new standards in style, comfort, and efficiency in 1980. The main focus was on a practical kitchen with a 70-litre fridge and a big dining table in the cockpit. Perfect accommodation in two cabins, an extensive wardrobe and a shared toilet, was new for that period. There are 356 units produced from 1983 to 1990.

1984

770 Dogger
It became the first model that could be used all year round in different weather conditions. The sliding transparent door protected the salon from the cold. This model didn’t become very popular then. Total has sold only 60 hulls from 1984 to 1991, but it became a start for the Scandinavia concept.

1985

2100 Dixie
This model was in production from 1985 to 1990, with 35 hulls.

1985

2300 Gambler
This boat had a typical streamlined design of that time and a sporty appearance. It was in production from 1985 to 1991, and 99 units of this boat were made.

1987

1700 Pepper
It was a fast and stylish sports cruiser produced from 1987 to 1990. The 25 boats were launched in total.

1988

8900 Sun Cruiser
The cockpit of that second-generation Sun Cruiser concept was self-draining and could be left open or equipped with a seating area, which transformed into a double sunbed. The salon was also used as a sleeping place for two in addition to the sleeping accommodation in the cabin.

1988

1900 Chili
It was 28 hulls were produced at that time for that compact sport cruiser.

1988

277 Consul
That model became an excellent example of an aft cockpit cruiser. It had two cabins with four berths, a kitchen and a toilet room. The total number that was launched is 102 units.

1988

277 Holiday
Thanks to its intelligent and practical layout, this nice boat was compact yet spacious. It became the basis of 320 Aft Cabin Cruiser. Since its introduction, this concept has achieved more than 900 sales.

1989

7100 Touring Sport
This boat was produced from 1989 to 2001, and 89 boats of this model were made.

1990

290 Sun Cruiser
It was a perfect family boat of that time with a high interior standard, functionality and quality finishes. It had two double berths, a large practical galley, a shower/WC and a spacious sitting area with sleeping possibilities. In total, 356 units of that model were sold.

1991

280 Holiday
This cruiser was equipped with a shaft diesel engine and worked perfectly for coastal and river cruising. Above the aft cabin, a large sun pad gave pleasure for enjoying the sun during the cruise. Steering and handling were easy, making this model very popular and providing about 350 hulls in sales.

1994

27 Quintet
This model was made to become the biggest trailable allowed on the roads from 1994 to 1997 and 38 units were sold in total until the rules changed.

1996

270 Estremo
It was an ideal day cruiser for family and friends but also designed for extreme performance handling. The Estremo reached up to 60 knots with twin engines and demonstrated superb sea-keeping properties and performance handling. This model was built between 1996 and 2015, with 306 hulls made in total.

2000

330 Millenium Scandinavia
It was a concept for all weather conditions. The two parted sunroofs were easy to open and could be adjusted in different positions. It provided a lot of sun or good shelter from the rain. Also, it had a high Norske Veritas classification, suitable for rough seas and heavy weather conditions.

2001

21 Duckie
The concept of Duckie was a multi-purpose day boat. Enjoyable and comfortable for many guests, possibilities for fishing. The boat received an award for design excellence from the Norwegian Design Award. It combined the form of a traditional Norwegian “snekke” boat with speed and many comfortable features.

2005

330 Cabriolet Cruiser
The boat had a huge cockpit area similar to a 45-foot Cabin Cruiser. The manoeuvring of the boat was accurate and rapid. Also, it offered a new concept in boating with its large cockpit area and the revolutionary canopy arrangement.

2006

300 Sun Cruiser
The third version of Sun Cruiser came on the market and was produced in quantities of 159 units.

2006

350 Cabriolet Cruiser
This cruiser was ideal as a long-range boat for the family. That model offered an impressive living space below deck and in the cockpit. There is easy access to the front deck through a windscreen door via integrated steps or along the wide side passages. There were several comfort options in the cockpit.

2006

350 Scandinavia
It met all the needs of a family of four or five, with the added advantages of a high speed, long-range and solid cruising performance. The large retractable hardtop hatch gave either an open boat feeling or a warm year-round boat. The helm position had a fantastic, comfortable seat and an adjustable steering wheel.

2008

370 Aft Cabin
The Marex 370 was an extraordinarily versatile boat, capable of fulfilling many roles: intrepid offshore explorer, secure family cruiser, and low-speed inland waterways rubbernecker.

2015

373 ACC
This aft cabin boat was created for a large family with timeless classical lines. The aft cabin had panoramic windows. The Marex 373 ACC cockpit accommodated a large seated group of up to ten people. A part of the seating also serves as a co-pilot seat for two, an important detail for the passengers.

Where it all started

The 36-year-old Eyvin Aalrud had worked as an export manager for local boat builders, and after some time together with Joda, he started up his boat production in Rykene.
The Marex 24 Sun Cab was the first model built from fiberglass, based on a Joda hull and quickly won customers’ hearts. Later, the 23 DC and 32 Friendship were presented, which became the biggest-selling Norwegian-produced fiberglass boat in 1975.

section img

New milestones

March 1979 saw dramatic times as the factory’s production facilities
burned down. However, Marex and Joda quickly found an alternative when they relocated to Fjord’s factory in Fevik, a small town in Southern Norway between Arendal and Grimstad. They opened new production lines there. Today, these facilities all belong to Marex and are used for service, winter storage and aftermarket facilities.

After moving to new facilities, the first Sun Cruiser 27 was introduced. This model was so popular that the Sun Cruiser concept became the shipyard benchmark for 40 years and has seen more than five generations. As Marex was attentive to customer feedback and wishes, every redevelopment introduced important improvements, such as larger sitting groups, comfortable ceiling heights and better ergonomics. Today, 310 Sun Cruiser’s success is a direct result of the constant development of this concept.

The first 77 Holiday looked like a classic aft cabin boat at first sight, but Marex managed to create a social cockpit. With two big sofas, the guests could sit at the same level around the retractable table, while the aft cabin received an additional berth that became popular for families with kids. The aft cabin model became a hit and has undergone several changes since its launch. The later 277 and 280 Holiday models became the basis of today’s 320 Aft Cabin Cruiser.

In 1987 the Black Monday crisis sent a shock all over the world, and all sales in Scandinavia stopped. Expanding a dealer network further south in Europe was a great solution for Marex and the founder’s two sons, Espen and Thomas. Those export sales helped Marex to stay afloat for the following years. Some of the boat dealers companies were family businesses. Today, many of them are managed by the next generation and are still in business with Marex.

The early philosophy of the Marex brand was to produce a large variety of boat types, as the requirements of Scandinavian and Mediterranean markets were very different. Marex successfully entered the sport cruiser, displacement boat and aft cabin market in the 70s and 80s, and that competitive approach worked perfectly for those times. Later, it became clear that Marex required a corporate identity and a consistent model range, leading to today’s Marex family boats with impressive exterior and interior space.

For many years, Eyvin Aalrud made notes of crucial moments in the development and economic aspects of boat production and collected them in a “How to run a boat factory” guide. The guide became a ground for his sons and the Lithuanian partners after he died in 1998. Espen, the oldest son, was at the beginning of his career as a lawyer, but he decided to take over the company and immerse himself in the boating industry. He started with new model developments and searched for manufacturing and partnerships outside of Norway in Lithuania. Thomas, studying marketing in London, joined the company later and helped establish new dealership networks all over Europe. As the Marex company grew, Espen hired a talented manager, Stian Wesøy, to run the factory in Norway.

The first model in the range was called 770 Dogger, but it didn’t sell well. After some refined ideas courtesy of Eyvin Aalrud, Marex introduced the famous Scandinavia/330 Millenium in 2000. The main idea with the Scandinavia was to have a wide glass sliding door that separated the salon from the aft deck. In addition, it got a sliding sunroof in the salon, bringing to life the shipyard’s most famous innovation, the quick-close Canopy System.

Relocation to Lithuania

The newfound Lithuanian partners, the professional sailors Saulius Pajarskas and Raimondas Siugzdinis already had a small boat production facility in Kaunas. They had experience in plastics and sailboat manufacturing. The ‘test cooperation’ started with ten boats built at the Norwegian facilities. After this successful experience, partnership was founded. The production of the 270 Estremo was moved to Lithuania and slowly one by one, of the rest of the production was transferred.

New style and awards

The 370 Aft Cabin Cruiser set a new starting point for a new generation of Marex family boat concepts. From 2009, Espen Aalrud took control of the development thanks to his deep understanding of the needs of the Marex customers. Nikl Design and Espen Aalrud carefully transformed ideas into new models based on the shipyard’s DNA. The outcome of this cooperation was the 310 Sun Cruiser, 320 Aft Cabin Cruiser, and 360 Cabriolet Cruiser models. Each model got plenty of attention from the marine world, winning numerous prestigious prizes and awards.
In 2020, Espen met up with VOM Creation and the Alpha Group in Slovenia. The two cooperating design teams began working on the shipyard’s flagship model, the Marex 440.

error: Content is protected !!