HamiltonJet has once again partnered with Whale Watch Kaikōura on its newest vessel – Te Ao Marama. Te Ao Marama is a 24-metre catamaran designed by Teknicraft and built by Q-West in Whanganui. The bespoke Whale Watch vessel is powered by four HamiltonJet HJ364 waterjets and is equipped with intuitive, next-generation AVX controls, which makes it exceptionally manoeuvrable and safe to operate around marine animals. Te Ao Marama is the ninth Whale Watch Kaikōura vessel to utilise HamiltonJet waterjets. Kauahi Ngapora, General Manager of Whale Watch Kaikōura, says HamiltonJet has been a key partner of the operator since 1995. “It’s incredible… Read More

The highly innovative and distinctive Sealegs E4 electric amphibious boat was awarded the Gold Best Design Award at the recent annual Designers Institute of New Zealand awards ceremony. The judges commented that the integration of electric hub motors into the Sealegs system is a good fit, saving space and taking the existing system a step further. The judges went on to say that paired with a redesign of the overall control and information console, the Sealegs E4 electric amphibious boat is a refined, cohesive and modern utility craft. Sealegs CEO David McKee Wright said “we are delighted to have worked in… Read More

The New Zealand Marina Operators Association (NZMOA) has recognised New Zealand’s very best marinas and boatyards for 2020. Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland has been named the NZMOA Marina of the Year. Judges say that the marina, which is based a short drive north of Auckland, and the largest privately-owned marina in New Zealand, is a genuine credit to its management team. “Gulf Harbour Marina has a diverse offering, well managed, and they make great use of what they have. Other private marinas could strive to emulate their model,” said the judging panel. Westhaven Marina was also highly commended by… Read More

Thanks to Covid-19 more Kiwis are turning to their boats for holiday plans, and many haulouts and maintenance providers are already very busy. “Our advice to boaties is to book your contractors first and your haulout space to suit,” says Lucy Goodchap of Tauranga Bridge Marina. The Floating Dock at Westhaven says they are dealing with the double whammy of catching up after Auckland’s Level 3 lockdown, and more boaties than usual planning to go boating this summer instead of traveling.  The Floating Dock runs an online booking service and says that Thursdays and Fridays before weekend races are especially… Read More

Auckland, New Zealand – Marine electrical specialists ATTEST has broadened their offering to suit boats of all sizes. Having traditionally specialised in superyachts, pleasure boats of any size are now able to benefit from the same advanced technologies and experience that ATTEST has developed to serve the luxury market. A proudly Kiwi-owned company founded in 2014, by Chris Lynch-Blosse and John Cunningham, ATTEST has more than 40 years of combined experience including many years at superyacht builder, ALLOY YACHTS. “We want to spread the message that we are very much open for local business and willing and able to work… Read More

We are delighted to share this great – and free! – resource produced by the team at NZ Fishing News. Owning your own boat is a dream for plenty of fishers, but the path to securing one isn’t always smooth. Written by experienced and respected Kiwi boatie and fisher, Sam Mossman, The Complete Guide to Buying a Trailerboat is the perfect checklist to go through when you’re in the market for a new craft. The guide covers off key considerations such as: hull shape and configuration build materials fishing fit out power (what type and how much of it!) key… Read More

In time to join the America’s Cup spectator fleet, Azimut Yachts New Zealand has confirmed the sale of a new Azimut triple engine S7 to a Kiwi buyer – due to land in Auckland before Christmas. It follows on from the sale of an Atlantis 45 that was sold during Covid-19 Level 2, and the sale of a new generation Azimut 60 Flybridge – which arrived at the end of September in Auckland and will be handed over to its new owner in the next few days. Part of Azimut’s Carbon-Tech Generation, and sitting in the middle of a S… Read More

The 2020 Auckland Boat Show has been cancelled, it was announced yesterday. “New Zealand’s largest boat show was scheduled to open in three weeks – running from 8th to the 11th October – but with uncertainty on which restriction levels will be in force at that time, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s show,” says organiser, Stacey Cook. The build of the show, including a made-for-purpose show marina, was slated to begin next week, along with the process of exhibitors shipping boats to Auckland. A meeting of exhibitors and organisers held yesterday concluded that, due to uncertainty around changing Covid levels and a desire to ensure… Read More

The ride just gets better with the launch of the all-new Haines Hunter 635. After an extensive 24-month development process, Haines Hunter has unveiled its new 635 model, which will be available in hard top (SS635) and soft top (SF635) configurations. The Haines Hunter 635 has a hull length of 6.35m with an overall length of 6.76m and carries the brands legendary 21-degree deep-vee via an all-new hull from the design team. “The 6.0m range is important to us, this boat has evolved from demand and feedback from dealers, and the customers,” says Haines Hunter CEO Denis Kendall. “It’s a… Read More

New Zealand companies HamiltonJet and EV Maritime have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build advanced composite, battery-powered commuter ferries. Their cooperation was formalised at HamiltonJet’s Christchurch headquarters in May, in the presence of Hon Dr Megan Woods, New Zealand’s Minister of Energy & Resources and Minister of Research Science & Innovation. With the aim of decarbonising the harbour cities of the world, these leading lights of New Zealand maritime innovation are seeking to develop one of the world’s first truly high-speed, full-size, zero emission fast ferries. HamiltonJet will provide a high efficiency, high manoeuvrability drive solution for this all-electric vessel,… Read More