The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, the oldest, largest and most popular boat show in New Zealand, has become an official sponsor of Coastguard NZ. “The show has long been a strong supporter of Coastguard and the great work they do helping save lives at sea,” says the show’s general manager Dave Gibbs. “We are proud to have now taken the next step and become one of Coastguard’s official sponsors.”                             As part of the show’s new sponsorship, the organisers will run a live auction on the… Read More

Navico® — parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad®, B&G® and C-MAP® brands — is excited to announce its partnership with premium New Zealand aluminium boat manufacturer Stabicraft®. For model year 2021, across the entire range, Simrad or Lowrance will be offered as factory fitted electronics options. The 1450 Explorer, Frontier and 1550 Fisher models have the newly launched Lowrance Elite FS 7inch Displays with Active Imaging™ Transducer with the option to upgrade to a 9inch display. The 1850 Fisher and 1850 Supercab models will be offered a Simrad NSSevo3s™ 7inch Display, along with Active Imaging Transducer, again with an upgrade… Read More

Manufactured in Italy, the High Pressure (HP) Watermakers are available in both DC and 230V AC with models ranging from 35lph to 3000lph and are the perfect solution for those wanting long-term, unlimited supply of pure freshwater with virtually no maintenance. Boat owners can customise their watermakers to include HP’s impressive RP Tronic self-regulating pressure system. This is a unique innovation that ensures top-quality, freshwater supply, regardless of temperature or salinity changes in the surrounding waters (which otherwise can seriously affect both the quality of the water and the performance of the watermaker’s membranes). A handy Part-Net interface is another… Read More

Raymarine’s new YachtSense is an easy-to-use modular digital control system that delivers complete control and monitoring of a vessel’s onboard electrical and mechanical systems. Engineered for reliability and backed with a three-year warranty, YachtSense’s unique, modular architecture allows boat builders the freedom to design and standardise digital control solutions that are scalable across their entire model range. Using a customisable user interface on any Raymarine Axiom MFD, YachtSense enables marine manufacturers and installers to create modern, elegant and intuitive automation control solutions, giving skippers total touchscreen control of every system on board. Based around a YachtSense Master Module which is… Read More

Stabicraft has just launched its exciting new 2250 Ultracab WT. The WT (walk-thru) model is the natural follow-up to the original 2250, launched in 2019. Since hitting the global market, the 2250 has become one of the most popular Stabicraft vessels in what was already a pretty impressive fleet. WALK THIS WAY Responding to popular demand, the new WT model features a full-height walk-thru in the forward-leaning cabin, allowing easy access to the foredeck. It’s the ideal boat for island-hopping or coastal exploring, as well as undertaking fishing excursions. The WT concept came about courtesy of feedback from Stabicraft’s North… Read More

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