New boats always a feature of Auckland On Water Boat Show

The 26 to 29 September running of the Auckland On Water Boat Show – the 15th edition of the annual event formerly called the Auckland International Boat Show – features a number of brand-new trailer powerboats, and sail and motor yachts.

Michelle Khan, CEO of the Auckland On Water Boat Show, says the September timing of the show offers New Zealand boat builders and distributors the ideal opportunity to display the newest models as boating enthusiasts prepare for the busy summer season on water.

“We’re always delighted to see New Zealand-designed boats on show,” says Ms Khan. “This year we welcome the chance to see the latest design from Bill Upfold of Elite Motor Yachts, a 15.5-metre mid-pilothouse sport-fisher currently in the final stages of production with Scott Lane Boat Builders.”

Being launched just before the show, the 15.5-metre Elite is a brand-new design, fully customised for sport fishing.

Designer Bill Upfold says: “Some of her features include a cockpit helm station, a freezer in the cockpit designated solely for preserving the catch, rod and tackle stowage in the pilothouse seating, inbuilt tuna tubes and drawers for lure stowage. Although the emphasis is on sport fishing, the vessel is also luxuriously-appointed with teak and leather finishes, state of the art Raymarine electronics and accommodation for seven in three staterooms and a master cabin complete with en suite.”

Drawing 1.2-metres, the new 5-metre wide Elite is powered by twin Caterpillar C7 455hp engines.

More New Zealand-built boats can be seen from Hamilton’s Tristram Marine with a new stern-drive version of their popular 741 Offshore model. Using identical hull, hardtop and cabin moulds the company has developed the 741 Offshore Sterndrive option to fulfil game fishermen’s requests. The main engine of choice is the Mercruiser 3 litre 265 horsepower TDI diesel, with 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder petrol options also available.

Invercargill’s Image Boats brings their new 10-metre Cruisemaster to Auckland for the show. It’s the latest of their alloy-hulled boats which are used for both recreational and commercial activities all around New Zealand.

Owner Dean Wilkes prides himself in offering much more than just a standardised assembly line. “Every boat that Image Boats builds is custom-fitted to be highly personalised to the specific requirements of our individual clients. A one-stop shop, we have everything you need to build, detail, and outfit the exact boat you want.”

From the other side of the world comes a new range of Croatian-built fast performance cruising yachts which New Zealand distributor Richard Wardenburg, of Hybrid Boats NZ Limited, believes are ideally suited to New Zealand yachties and New Zealand’s sailing environment generally.

The first 12.5-metre Salona 41 to arrive down-under is one of more than 90 vessels moored around the easily-accessible, purpose-built marina at the Auckland On Water Boat Show.

“Whether it’s club racing, family cruising or more likely a combination of both that you’re looking for, Salona Yachts has produced a range of boats that are unquestionably fun to sail yet maintain all the safety, quality and comfort that is now demanded of a modern day cruising yacht,” says Wardenburg. “We’re sure the performance angle will appeal to those who follow the European racing circuit and won’t have failed to notice Salona’s growing presence on the podiums.”

An immensely strong bonded stainless steel frame provides the foundation for Salona yachts’ lightweight vacuum infused hull, resulting in boats that are both stiff and powerful upwind, yet light and responsive downwind. The range is designed by J&J Yacht Design, the same multi award-winning European team that designs the Greenline hybrid boats upon which Wardenburg has founded his New Zealand business. Built to Germanischer Lloyd A Category (Ocean Going) certification, the Salona range includes five competitively-priced performance cruisers between 33 and 44 feet LOA, with a new 60 model nearing completion.

The team from Busfield Marine Brokers will be busy at this year’s show. They’ll feature the latest and largest yacht in the Bavaria Cruiser range, the 17-metre flagship Cruiser 56, for the first time and the recently-released Bavaria Cruiser 33 will also be on display. Just this week, Busfield Marine confirmed they will also represent the Bavaria motorboat yacht range in New Zealand.

“The certified quality of Bavaria yachts and motorboats is one aspect on which New Zealanders can depend,” says Busfield Marine director Bill Rutherford.

“Innovation, modern methods, computer-aided manufacturing processes and highly skilled craftsmen at Bavaria’s German facilities all enable these great vessels to be produced comparatively inexpensively. We are then able to pass on this competitive advantage direct to our customers.”

Rutherford says the Bavaria Sport range of motorboats, which have been developed in collaboration with the BMW Group DesignworksUSA, boasts a strikingly successful blend of timeless design, utmost comfort and excellent performance.

“These are modern motorboats for those who really enjoy their time on the water. There are five models, from the Sport 29 to the Sport 44 Hardtop, meaning there is a boat to suit every size and budget, and we look forward to being able to speak with people about the Bavaria motorboat range at this year’s show.”

Busfield Marine’s sales manager Christine Bird adds: “One of the great things about the Auckland On Water Boat Show is that people can come aboard any model we have moored in the marina created especially for this event. This offers the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family down to explore the available models in detail.”

Orakei Yacht Sales plans a line-up of 10 premium sail and powerboats at the show with the company’s sales manager Jason Snashall excited to present the very first 14-metre Jeanneau 450S in New Zealand.

“We’ll feature the first 2014 model Prestige 450S in the world with a blonde timber interior as well an impressive range of powerboats including the Prestige 500S, Prestige 450S, Jeanneau NC11, Scout 345 XSF and the Ranger Tug 27, a crowd favourite with its unique miniature trawler exterior design,” says Snashall.

On the sailing front, the Orakei team presents four models from the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey range well as the standout Jeanneau Yacht 57, which Snashall says has already had an incredible response from potential buyers and respected media.

Wayne Baston and the team from Westhaven-based Laurie Collins Marine will be showing a recently-arrived 380 Sedan from Australia’s Integrity Motor Yachts. With its generous alfresco dining area, the 380 can sleep eight with its two cabins and conversion of both the dining and cockpit tables. The team has also details of the new Integrity 440 Sedan arriving in New Zealand soon; it features a spacious cockpit with large rear opening bulkhead flowing through to a super spacious saloon. Laurie Collins is the exclusive distributor of the Australian-built Integrity range in New Zealand and they’ve also just confirmed they’ll distribute the range of luxury Dyna Craft motor yachts from Taiwan locally.

The first Lipari 41 cruising catamaran in New Zealand will be on display at this year’s show with the multihull experts from Multihull Solutions. Setting new benchmarks for its class, the 11.95-metre cat delivers outstanding levels of safety, stability, offshore performance and comfort.

These and more than two hundred other boats – on-land and on-water – can be seen at this year’s Auckland On Water Boat Show, New Zealand’s largest on-water boating expo which utilises the world-class facilities of Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, part of the Wynyard Quarter in downtown Auckland.

Running from 26 to 29 September, the Auckland On Water Boat Show opens at 10 am on all four days, closing at 6 pm Thursday through to Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday, 30 September. See www.auckland-boatshow.com for further details about the show or find Auckland On Water Boat Show on Facebook (www.facebook.com/OnWaterBoatShow).