Organisers of the inaugural Auckland Wooden Boat Festival are calling for owners of wooden boats to participate in a new event honouring Auckland’s maritime heritage. “There are wooden boats throughout the region that have fascinating stories to tell. They can be graceful yachts, work boats, recreational boats, dinghies, and even skiffs and canoes. We especially welcome indigenous boats,” says Festival Co-Director Tony Stevenson. Tony says that boats will be berthed at Jellicoe Wharf in Auckland’s Viaduct for the three days of the festival. “Owners or representatives will be on board to tell visitors about their boat, to share their story… Read More

prestigious DAME award Raymarine’s recently released Alpha Series performance displays have won the coveted Navigation and Communication category of the 2023 DAME Awards at the METSTRADE industry show in Amsterdam. Designed for sailors, by sailors, the Alpha Series take tactical and situational awareness to a new level. Providing fully customisable and extensive data and graphical information, the high-visibility touchscreen Alpha Series displays are designed to be read quickly, accurately and at distance. Optimised for helm or mast mounting, they highly visible in a wide range of light and spray scenarios, and through polarised sunglasses. Controlled and customised using the touchscreen or… Read More

From 1-3 March 2024 a festival celebrating Auckland’s maritime heritage will be held for the first time on the waterfront. Photo credit: Tony Stevenson “Wooden boats are in our DNA,” says founder of the event, Tony Stevenson. “We are an island nation, connected by waterways and boats are truly integral to our way of life. Wooden boats are that connection back to our heritage.” The inaugural Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, which is part of the Moana Auckland Festival, is organised by members of the Tino Rawa Trust and the Classic Yacht Association with the support of Tātaki Unlimited, the New… Read More

Christchurch, 5th October 2023 – At the 2023 Nimbus Boats annual dealer conference held in Croatia, Sports Marine was honoured to receive the “Global Dealer of the Year” award, surpassing 153 other dealers across 40 countries to claim the top prize. This award recognised Sports Marine’s exceptional dedication, commitment, and success in promoting and selling Nimbus Boats, a brand renowned for its high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design in the boating world.  “Sports Marine stands out as one of our premier dealers, consistently achieving top marks in every aspect of our partnership. Their commitment to customer satisfaction, robust sales performance, well-defined… Read More

Two Auckland marinas are laying out the welcome mat to customers living onboard their boats. “We have created close-knit communities at our marinas and we are accepting applications for spring and beyond,” says Kim Passmore of Bayswater Marina. Bayswater currently has more than 50 people living in its precinct, and Hobsonville Marina has nearly 100. “Some of our liveaboards are international cruisers, others have chosen it as a lifestyle or as a way to enjoy more time onboard their boat, some are here to be close to the city, and some are trying it as an alternative lifestyle for the… Read More

Latest statistics released at the 2023 NZ Marine Industry Association conference in Tauranga The marine industry is now worth $3 billion annually to the New Zealand economy, achieving around $2.2 billion in local sales, and $800 million in exports. This was among new statistics that showed the size and growth of the industry released at the recent NZ Marine industry conference by Executive Director Peter Busfield. Other new statistics showed the number of apprentices in boatbuilding and related trades has reached 650, and more than 5500 boats are expected to be built this year — the vast majority trailer boats… Read More

From humble beginnings in Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna on the North Shore in 1978, Ovlov moved across the bridge to become the Auckland CBD Volvo Penta servicing & sales dealer in the early 1990’s with Peter Jacobs at the helm. The current owner and Managing Director Lachlan Trembath joined the company in 1999, purchasing 50% of the business from Peter not long after their move from Daldy Street to the current premises at 142 Beaumont Street, within the Orams Marine Village. Lachlan instigated the addition of Yamaha Marine, Hydraulink hydraulic hoses, TRAC Ecological Marine Products, Jubilee clips and other great… Read More

The 2023 Pacific Rally is the biggest in the event’s 40-year history . Rally director and Island Cruising New Zealand owner Viki Moore said this year’s fleet is made up of 72 boats, with 35 of those on board being children. “It is our biggest ever fleet,” she said. “Most departed New Zealand early in May with some heading for Tonga as their first stop while others sailed directly for Fiji. They’ll explore the islands with some also heading to Vanuatu and New Caledonia before sailing home to New Zealand at the end of October. We also collect up international… Read More

Shared-use boating service Skipperi has won the 2023 Eke Panuku Marina’s Sustainable Action of the Year Award. The Eke Panuku ‘Best Sustainable Action of the Year’ award recognises boaties and businesses that are leading by example to protect New Zealand coastlines. Eke Panuku Development Auckland is a council-controlled organisation that delivers urban regeneration in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Examples for businesses or organisations to enter could be beach litter collection, hybrid conversions to save fuel, electric boats, taking a lead on responsible waste separation or at sea discharging. Skipperi became part of the Westhaven community at Z pier in June… Read More

Vetus’ revolutionary BOW PRO thruster range now seamlessly integrates with Yamaha’s Helm Master EX boat control system, giving boaties and fishers unparalleled, pinpoint control over their boat at all times. Using just Helm Master’s single intuitive joystick skippers can simply “point” where and in what direction they want their vessel to go and the BOW PRO will combine with the engines to ensure it goes directly there. This is not only a huge advantage when docking or close-quarter manoeuvring (especially in higher winds) but also a massive bonus for fishers, especially those targeting deeper waters. Using the Helm Master’s Fishpoint,… Read More