Pacific PowerBoat Mar Apr 2022

2022 AN NUAL

BONUS PACIFIC PASSAGEMAKER ANNUAL 2022 DEDICA

TED TO TRAWLE

RS, PAS SAG

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AND CR UISIN

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Built for PURPOSE MV ISL A

MARCH / APRIL 2022

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

INH OSP ITAB LE, YET STU NN ING LY BEA UTI FUL

ANCHORING FOR DUMM IES

THE RIG HT WR ON G WAY AND THE TO ANC HO R

T R A I L E R B O AT S | L A U N C H E S | C R U I S E R S W W W. P O W ER B OATMAGA ZI NE.CO.NZ

PERSONAL

SAFETY

DEVICES A FEW SER IOU S OPT ION S Power boatM

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AQUILA 36 SPORT CAT I ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 58 I ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER I MV ISLA I ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

WISH YOU WERE

HERE CRAZY DIAMOND ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER

ANCHORING

CRUISING

BOATING

MERCURY MONSTER

FISHFINDERS

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

FOR DUMMIES

IN RUSSIA

600HP V6

MARCH / APRIL 2022 $10.00

INCL GST

TOP SEVEN

MISTAKES

USERS GUIDE

ALSO REVIEWED AQUILA 36 SPORT CAT

ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 58

MV ISLA

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PR ESENCE A ND POISE. The all new S75 sedan motor yacht combines a synergy of balanced proportions, grace and purpose with an immensity of deck and interior spaces to cater for a vast range of entertaining, relaxation, or adventuring activities. Australian built, its powerful exterior form and grand luxurious interior reset the international standard for cruising sedan motor yachts. Coming 2022. maritimo.com.au

S75

C O N T E N T S ISSUE 64

Regulars 6

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50

Future-E.

Hot new power products.

Fishing with a Game Plan.

DESIGN FOCUS

POWER ON

DUNCAN ON FISHING

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128

Is the Hauraki Gulf being lost?

Life in the slow lane. Part 2

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Phil Gilbert looks at the devastation left at Tutukaka Marina after the recent Tsunami.

LEADING COMMENT

CRUISING COLUMN

PUBLISHER’S COMMENT Tough time for Boat Shows.

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STRAIGHT FROM THE GALLEY

Derek the Chef prepares Creamed Garlic Spiced Paua.

GUEST COMMENT

Paul Powney – Sales Director, Takacat NZ.

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WHAT IS THE QUESTION?

134

FLETCH’S TIPS

Aaron Fletcher shares his tips learned after years of getting it right and getting it wrong.

ELECTRONICS COLUMN All that’s new and innovative in electronics.

SEEN & ADMIRED

ROGER’S RAMBLINGS Need for Speed Part 2

NEWS

News, new products, boats and events.

Reviews 52

CRAZY DIAMOND ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER

66

AQUILA 36 SPORT POWERCAT

TED TO TRAWLE

RS, PAS SAG

E MAKE RS

AND CR UISIN

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Built for PURPOSE MV ISLA

AQUILA 36 SPORT CAT I ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 58 I ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER I MV ISLA I ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

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DEDICA

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Nimbus W9 Whitehaven 6100SY

2022 AN NUAL

BONUS PACIFIC PASSAGEMAKER ANNUAL 2022

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

INHOSPITAB LE, YET STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL

ANCHORIN G FOR DUMMIES

THE RIGHT WRONG WAY AND THE TO ANCHOR

T R A I L E R B O AT S | L A U N C H E S | C R U I S E R S WWW.POWERBOATMAGAZINE.CO.NZ

PERSONAL

SAFETY DEVICES

A FEW SERIOUS

OPTIONS

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.nz

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139

WISH YOU WERE

HERE CRAZY DIAMOND ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER

ANCHORING

CRUISING

BOATING

MERCURY MONSTER

FISHFINDERS

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

FOR DUMMIES

IN RUSSIA

600HP V6

MARCH / APRIL 2022 $10.00

INCL GST

TOP SEVEN

MISTAKES

USERS GUIDE

ALSO REVIEWED AQUILA 36 SPORT CAT

ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 58

MV ISLA

PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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Crazy Diamond, the 75th Bill Upfold designed Elite to be launched. SEE PAGE 52

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2022 ANNUAL

ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 58

DEDICATED TO TRAWLERS, PASSAGE MAKERS AND CRUISING

102

Built for PURPOSE

ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

MV ISLA

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MV ISLA TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

In this issue, we review the stunning new kiwi-built superyacht, MV Isla, continue cruising in Russia with Rodney Russ and examine the best and worst ways to anchor. We also offer a few options to consider if you are looking for a new EPIRB or PLB. SEE PAGE 139 4

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

INHOSPITABLE, YET STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL

ANCHORING FOR DUMMIES

THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG WAY TO ANCHOR

PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICES A FEW SERIOUS OPTIONS

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Features 60

THE WOW FACTOR

Mercury’s V12 600 Verado takes outboard innovation to the next level.

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ARE YOU PREPARED

In Part 3 of our Coastguard Boating Education series, we look at what to do in an emergency.

Marine HEAVY DUTY COMMERCIAL & RECREATIONAL ENGINES Commercial Use

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ALL NEW

THE RISK TAKERS – DON ARONOW

In the third part of our four-part series, Danny Casey examines the life, times and shocking, brutal death of the man who put the gloss, glitz and glamour into the then gritty but nascent sport of offshore powerboat racing.

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G7 Diesel Power: 300-350 hp | Torque: 1079 Nm

LOOKING BACK -PART ONE

The big GRP & RIB trailer boats from 20 years ago.

106

SEVEN TOP FISHFINDERS

Searching for the right MFD or fishfinder can be a bewildering experience because of all the brands and models to pick from.

We offer a few options to consider.

L13 Diesel Power: 500-700 hp | Torque: 2275-2403 Nm

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BOATING RELATED MISTAKES

No one is immune from a few embarrassing moments on the water, us included. We know because, unfortunately, we’ve made them ourselves.

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COMPANY PROFILE – LEGACY MARINE

H10 Diesel Power: 380-410 hp | Torque: 1667 Nm

Recreational Use

Creating a new era of aluminium motor yachts.

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WHAT’S HOT FOR 2022

We check out some exciting products for your boat.

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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

In Part 3 on the voyage of the MV Strannik, Rodney Russ takes us further up the coast of Russia, from Anadyr into some of the most inhospitable yet stunningly beautiful regions of Northern Russia

S270 V6 Diesel Power: 270 hp | Torque: 565 Nm

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ANCHORING FOR DUMMIES

Why do so many people find something so simple, so difficult?

Ron Czerniak offers some helpful advice.

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FIVE SAFETY & SURVIVAL DEVICES

An EPIRB or personal locator beacon can take the search out of search and rescue.

R200 Series Diesel Power: 200 hp | Torque: 440 Nm Call us today on 0800 498 632 or visit us at hyundaimarine.co.nz

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DESIGN FOCUS

FUTURE-E The Italian studio, which is helmed by noted yacht designer Davide Cipriani, has unveiled a futuristic foiling yacht concept with the soul of a Formula 1 race car and the agility of a jet.

The aptly named Future-E points toward the future of yachting in which sustainability is a central tenet.

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F

orged from recycled carbon fibre, the lightweight foiling yacht has a sleek hull inspired by a supercar and the wings of a state-of-the-art aircraft that allow it to literally fly across the ocean.

Billed as a “zero-impact boat,” Future-E promises zero carbon emissions, zero noise and zero waves. The vessel is fitted with four retractable foils and two electric motors that together allow it to cut through waves with less drag and more speed than a traditional planing yacht. In turn, it also uses far less energy.

Not unlike an airplane on the runway, the boat’s wings extend out as it accelerates. At 16 knots, it enters full foiling mode and lifts up and out of the water for smooth, highspeed cruising. According to the studio, the yacht can reach more than 30 knots at full tilt. The foils can also be retracted if you wish to use Future-E like a “normal” boat.

The sleek vessel is also equipped with a kinematic system, similar to the suspension of F1 racer, that minimizes the impact of the waves to ensure a comfortable, stable ride.

This includes electro-hydraulic actuators and a gyroscope, which help to manage each foil and reduce unwanted movement. The responsive wings and rudders, meanwhile, work to give the yacht ultra-nimble handling, according to the studio. There is a coupe and open-air convertible version.

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PACIFIC

EDITOR'S NOTE with Barry Thompson

PUBLISHER D&B Publishing Ltd

IS THE HAURAKI GULF BEING LOST?

EDITORIAL Barry Thompson, Editor DDI: +64 (0)9 428 2086 Mob: +64 (0)21 777 355 email: barry@boatmags.com CONTRIBUTORS Doug Dukeson, Freddy Foote, Bruce Duncan, Derek the Chef, Laurie Cranfield, Mike Rose, Phil Gilbert, Aaron Fletcher ADVERTISING New Zealand & Australia Doug Dukeson DDI: +64 (0)9 428 2328 Mob: +64 (0)21 772 202 email: doug@boatmags.com Alex Ram DDI: +64 (0)9 428 7277 Mob: +64 (0)21 0286 5298 email: alex@boatmags.com PRODUCTION Design & Prepress: Annabelle Rose Design Mob: +64 (0)27 427 4559 email: design@annabellerose.co.nz Printer: OVATO WEBSITE Stealth Media Ltd Gustav Wentzel info@stealthmedialtd.co.nz +64 21 0201949 ACCOUNTS Soraja Thompson Tel: +64 (0)9 428 2086 email: accounts@boatmags.com CIRCULATION ARE Distribution SUBSCRIPTIONS Printed & Digital subs@boatmags.com Pacific PowerBoat is published bi-monthly January, March, May, July, September, November REGISTERED OFFICE 14 Glamis Ave, Manly, Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand. email: barry@boatmags.com www.powerboatmagazine.co.nz Postal Address: PO Box 132 Whangaparaoa, Auckland 0930, New Zealand.

All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or part is expressly forbidden, except by written permission of the publisher.

Printed in New Zealand ISSN 2230-4134 (Printed) ISSN 2230-4142 (Online)

Your ability to use and enjoy the Hauraki Gulf is at risk. 2.2 million ratepayers could lose their say and councils would be powerless to ensure your ongoing access to the Hauraki Gulf. This co-governance could impact recreational fishing, boating and swimming in some beaches and could be a barrier to businesses who make their livelihood on the Gulf.

(Note Lake Waikaremoana)

T

he Hauraki Gulf Forum is a consultative and advocacy body established under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act to advocate for the protection of the Gulf. It includes Ministerial representatives, and representatives from iwi and Councils that border the Gulf. The majority of its members are elected Councillors.

Some members of the Forum are proposing to ask Government to change its composition to that of 50-50 co-governance with Tangata Whenua and for elected Councillors to be removed. They are also asking the Government to give them full autonomy above statute and bylaw for all matters in respect of the Gulf.

While the Gulf Forum is effective at protecting the Hauraki Gulf, its governance and composition should not be changed. The Auckland Council is also consulting on the Regional Park Draft Management Plan which proposes changing legislation to give authority for Regional Parks, that border the Gulf to the same Co-governance Forum.!!

Unless we act now, decisions around access to parks owned by the Auckland ratepayers could also be at risk.

The same members of the Gulf Forum are also proposing that they be given authority which overrides future decisions by Parliament and Councils – this is undemocratic and means that residents and ratepayers will lose all rights of representation.

Some people will say a co-governance model is in the best interest of Gulf Users. Today the Ureweras and Lake Waikaremoana are under a cogovernance model. This was established with the best intentions and assurances from Government that access would remain the same. Access to this state park and publicly owned lake are currently closed to the public and the Parks a mess! Even Boat owners have been unable to claim their boats from the Lake they are locked in with no access out!!

We must now be aware and speak up and send a clear message to the Gulf Forum Members that their proposal is not acceptable to Auckland ratepayers and users whose livelihoods depend upon the Gulf. This proposal must not be adopted!!

We must act now. After the vote it will be too late. Talk to your neighbour raise conversation and awareness of this undemocratic underhand move that is being promoted and foisted upon us.

Public Protest and opposition is necessary.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Riviera 54 Enclosed Flybridge

Australia’s world class collection of luxury motor yachts 210364

E

xhilarating blue-water performance has always been a part of the Riviera heritage. Over 42 years of constant refinement, a timeless contemporary design is evident across the expansive 24-model collection. Sweeping lines of grace and beauty, luxurious staterooms bathed in natural light, the finest fabrics, leather and handcrafted joinery from exotic timbers. These are the qualities that make every Riviera a world class luxury motor yacht. Engineering excellence in harmony with state-of-the-art electronics and an industry-leading extended warranty program, creates the ultimate boating experience that is uniquely Riviera. Ease of operation will create enjoyable adventures for your family and friends. Discover more at RivieraAustralia.com

PUBLISHERS NOTE with Doug Dukeson

I’M JUST ABOUT READY….

It was sad to hear mid-February that the Auckland Boat Show was the next to fall victim to COVID. The next shows up, all going well, will now be the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show, May 12th to 15th, then followed by the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, 19th to 22nd May.

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DB214

t has been some time since the marine industry have been able to get together to display their wares. It was not all that long ago, when Barry and I would sometimes attend up to seven shows in a single year, spread across NZ and Australia and occasionally in Asia and USA. It was a hectic time, considering we were also compiling and publishing up to 16 magazine editions along the way. But shows are a great place to get alongside the industry and network with clients, from all over the world at a single venue.

It was (and is) always great to catch up with other NZ and Australian marine business’s and clients, who soon became friends. While moving about these show circuits as a group, we often teamed up to help each other where we could, often with an ‘adult beverage’ shared at the end of the day.

Being away from our family and friends, our group became almost an ‘away from home family’. The marine associations could see this growing and the ‘group’ soon became formally set up, in New Zealand originally as MAREX, which now called the NZ Marine Export Group. In Australia AIMEX formed and both still run successfully to this day.

While we no longer stretch ourselves to seven shows a year, which was a hectic schedule, we now concentrate on the main 4 – 5 across New Zealand and Australia. It has been sometime since the last show and I am now quite looking forward to the next show we attend – whenever that might be… fingers crossed it is the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show.

We look forward to again catching up with the industry and you our valued readers and subscribers.

Happy reading…

Doug Dukeson Publisher.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Explore a world of new horizons.

Auckland | 131 Westhaven Drive (09) 274 9918 Christchurch | 507 Moorhouse Avenue (03) 379 9208 Learn more about Princess at PRINCESSYACHTS.COM

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

GUEST COMMENT

Paul Powney, Sales Director

I

Takacat NZ | www.takacat.co.nz

started out my career in the marine industry in 1989 joining the RNZN and trained as a weapons electrical mechanic. Travelling by sea around NZ and the Pacific allowed me to really connect with the sea and I knew I had a passion for the marine industry. The defence force was great grounding and taught me many life skills, disciplines and great values that I have carried through my career.

In 1995 I left the RNZN and started my professional career in a sales support role with Transmissions and Diesels Ltd who (at the time) were the distributors of Detroit Diesel, Perkins and Lombardini Marine engines. I quickly developed a passion for the marine side of their business and moved into specialising in marine engine and generator sales. The mid 90’s was an amazing time to get involved in the marine industry engine technology was changing with electronic control and injections systems allowing more efficient lighter diesel engines with higher outputs.

Boats were getting bigger. Back then a 40-45ft yacht or launch was a big boat. Formula Cruises and Salthouse Marine were moving into 50-60ft boats and I used to think wow. I remember being amazed by the sheer size of the catamarans that Mares Yachts were building back then. The biggest being powered by a pair of awesome Detroit Diesel 24V71DDEC diesel engines (this engine had 24 cylinders).

As the marine market manager for TransDiesel I was privileged be involved in many exciting marine projects over the years be it commercial boats such as the Teknicraft foil assisted catamaran’s built by Q-West through to Ermis 2 built by McMullen and Wing a 38m super yacht constructed from carbon fibre with just under 11,000bhp and performed a top speed of 58knots.

However one of my highlights was in a more recent role as CEO of the NZ Sailing Trust where we completed the refit on Sir Peter Blakes Lion New Zealand. Lion New Zealand Whitbread campaign in my opinion was the catalyst that truly launched NZ’s marine profile, started many professional sailing careers and lead the start of our transformation of the Auckland water front. Being involved in the refit of Lion New Zealand and managing both Lion and Steinlager 2 in their new roles of inspiring New Zealand youth was a career highlight. Such nostalgia and history locked into those two boats.

Since the early 90’s I have seen the marine industry advance in many areas of design and build process and techniques.

We had some talented designers, boatbuilders and craftsman from small boats through to superyachts. Sadly many firms have closed their doors over the years and I feel we have lost part of a wonderful industry. I often wonder where has that talent gone?

Now as the owner of Takacat NZ it’s exciting to be back involved in the industry at the front line helping many Kiwis either start out on their boating adventures or helping them downsize and still get out for a fish or explore. Takacat has been a somewhat un-sung success story. Founded by Greg Sowden in 2007 some 11,000 Takacats have been sold around the world and Takacat now has distributor’s in Australasia, America and Europe. We are lucky to be involved with a fast becoming iconic Kiwi brand.

EVERY MOMENT PERFECTLY CRAFTED

SUNDANCER 320 With over 2,000 in New Zealand, it is easy to see why Sea Ray is the preferred choice of American boats for kiwi boaties.

Enjoy a crowd-pleasing cockpit, a remarkably comfortable cabin, and a new bow lounge area. You'll enjoy the natural world as never before - and you'll wonder how you ever settled for anything but this.

For Sales, Service or more information contact: Auckland | 131 Westhaven Drive (09) 274 9918 Christchurch | 507 Moorhouse Avenue (03) 379 9208 www.sportsmarine.co.nz

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR Scan the QR code for more info:

SEEN

& ADMIRED

NIMBUS W9

MULTI PURPOSE

New Zealand Nimbus distributor, Sports Marine, have landed their first Nimbus W9 into Auckland.

T

he W9 is intended for use as a weekender, tender or commuter with unmistakable Nimbus DNA. It is a boat for those who value functional Scandinavian design, simplicity, safety, security and attention to detail.

The W9 is a high-speed day cruiser and weekend boat for social activities, offering overnight accommodation for four people. The W9 can be equipped with an inboard or outboard 14

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engine, with the first W9 in the country powered by a single Mercury 300 Verado. Top speed is 40 knots plus.

Mitchell Thompson, sales director for Sports Marine, Auckland, says that the W9 has a great layout well suited to the Kiwi boating lifestyle.

“While the first W9 was pre-sold, we have had a lot of interest since the boat landed, and potential clients could view the boat”, says Mitchell.

He adds that being available with T-top and multiple canopy solutions, plus a

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

sunbed on the foredeck, makes it very appealing to Kiwis.

The W9 features the prize-winning Nimbus Sidewalk design. This provides the boat with generous space for its size and makes it safe to move around the boat and foredeck. The bow design is new and results from a desire to draw out the waterline as far as possible to achieve the desired cruising characteristics. www.sportsmarine.co.nz

SAXDOR 320 GTC

Auckland | 131 Westhaven Drive (09) 274 9918 Christchurch | 507 Moorhouse Avenue (03) 379 9208 Learn more about Saxdor at saxdoryachts.com

Scan for more info

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SEEN

& ADMIRED

6 1 0 0 S Y W H I T E H AV E N

EVOLVING WITH AGE The Whitehaven range of motor yachts started with their signature sports yacht, adapted to the Australian cruising lifestyle. More than a decade on, the Whitehaven Sport Yacht is evolving again with a whole new 6100 model.

The sports yacht is the genesis of the Whitehaven range.

T

he first thing you will notice is the changes to the cockpit. A much-loved feature of the Whitehaven design, the cockpit on the 6100SY has seen serious upgrades to the seating which now is aft facing and converts into a day bed for additional flexibility in the space. The BBQ is now joined by an external galley station and overlooks the swim platform where you will find additional seating.

“We know the cockpit is one of the most loved areas on our yachts so we are constantly looking at ways to update the space and make it even more appealing. The new layout does just that. Now you can make the most of the daybed during the day without losing the al fresco dining for the evening. The new location of the BBQ ties the area together and the teak seating on the swim platform offers the family a place to comfortably get ready for a swim,” explains Whitehaven’s Managing Director, Bruce Scott.

In the interior, the galley is now full beam to easily service both the internal and external dining and lounge spaces.

Larger architectural windows not only flood the interior with natural light yet also offer exceptional visibility from the helm.

This 6100SY also sports the new fore deck seating arrangement. With sunbeds and seating, it is another space for family and friends to come together with ease and comfort.

Below deck there are three accommodation suites. The full beam owner’s cabin sits midships with a private ensuite.

The guest suite is in the forepeak also with an ensuite and accessible as a day head from the main companion way. The final guest suite on the portside has twin beds and plenty of storage.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Like all the Whitehaven Motor Yachts in the range, the 6100SY is customisable to the individual specifications of the buyer and there is the option for the Euro edition upgrades.

We are so confident in the yacht, they offer a market-leading five-year warranty on the hull and structure and three-year warranty on all Whitehaven manufactured parts.

This all new 6100SY provides everything the intrepid Australian boat owner could desire with the proportions and refinement of European styling. www.whitehavenyachts.com.au

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Auckland 131 Westhaven Drive (09) 274 9918 Christchurch 507 Moorhouse Avenue (03) 379 9208 www.sportsmarine.co.nz

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OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR

WHERE LUXURY MEETS SPEED

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

carbon-cats.com PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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NEWS

L AT E S T M C L AY M O D E L

MARITIMO S75

FIRST MCLAY 661 CROSS OVER LAUNCHED McLay Boats have just announced the launching of their first new 661 CrossXover.

Designer Steve McLay said after the first run in the boat; “It went fantastic straight off the trailer and exceeded my expectations.” The 661 CrossXover is a new model, including a new hull design. It is 90mm wider, has 80mm higher sides, wider walkways, plus a lot of other changes, which makes for a lot roomier and more sleek looking boat compared with the 651X.

It still has the added safety of foam buoyancy gunnels like all CrossXover models and comes with a five-year warranty.

The 661 CrossXover fits nicely between the 651x and the 701Gen2.

This series has been a big hit since being released four years ago. A range of boats that retain great looks with pontoon safety by incorporating

hundreds of litres of closed-cell foam under the gunnels from the transom to the anchor bay, as well as having underfloor buoyancy. Loaded with new features and options for 2020, this range of boats is ideal for family, fishing, diving, and towing water toys.

A full pricing and spec list will be available in Jan 2022. www.mclayboats.co.nz

MARITIMO RELEASE S75 SEDAN

The next instalment of Maritimo’s expansion in the large craft sector has arrived. The new S75 Sedan Motor Yacht.

The S75 Sedan Motor Yacht is slated for its official global launch in late in 2022, and will join the S51, S55, and S60 models as the latest addition to the highly acclaimed Maritimo S-Series lineage.

Maritimo’s immense new model development strategy continues up the model lineage in catering for the current global demand for larger vessels.

The S75 is defined by striking exterior contours, Maritimo’s renown offshore cruising pedigree, and vast interconnecting decks and interior spaces. www.maritimo.com.au

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

NEWS

B O AT S H O W C A N C E L L E D

JET TENDERS ENTER NZ

2022 AUCKLAND BOAT SHOW CANCELLED With it becoming increasingly unlikely Auckland will be in the Orange Level setting needed for the planned 17-20 March show to run successfully, the exhibitors and organisers agreed that the only option was to cancel the show.

The show, which attracts thousands of visitors over four days in central Auckland, includes the build of a made-for-purpose show marina which was to begin in late February. It’s New Zealand’s only on-water show and the largest of its kind in the region.

“The set up for the show was scheduled to start in the next couple of weeks but, with New Zealand likely to be at Red Level of its Covid-19 framework, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s show; the third consecutive time it’s been necessary to cancel over the past couple of years,” said organiser, Stacey Cook.

The Auckland Boat Show is a major event run by the NZ Marine Industry Association for the benefit of its 500 members which manufacture and import boats and marine

equipment, or provide services nationwide.

The show will return in early 2023; from 9-12 March. While this year’s show was slated to be the biggest yet, organisers will plan to come back bigger again in 2023, taking full advantage of using the space set aside in Jellicoe Harbour, previously the America’s Cup team bases, and next to the site from where Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the 36th America’s Cup.

WILLIAMS JET TENDERS ENTERS NZ MARKET The first shipment of Williams Jet Tenders has arrived inn New Zealand and are available through Sports Marine in Auckland and Christchurch.

For the first time, New Zealand has a local distributor for this iconic boating brand. Williams Jet Tenders specialise

in offering a range of stunning, worldclass tenders from 2.8m–7.1m.

“Over the past few years, Sports Marine has seen a dramatic increase in demand for larger vessels within the New Zealand market. Williams offers

a range of quality, innovative and highly regarded jet tenders which align perfectly with our brand values and are a great fit for our growing business,” says Sports Marine’s Managing Director, Scott Williamson. www.sportsmarine.co.nz

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NEWS

S T I N G R AY B O AT S N O W I N N Z

ENGINE SIZE CHANGE

STINGRAY BOATS NOW IN NZ

As one of the top South African Boat manufacturers, Stingray Marine offers superior quality workmanship, cutting edge RIB designs and super efficient hull designs.

Both our monohulls and catamarans are well proven and are recognised as top performing RIB hulls in their class. The structural integrity of Stingrays hulls are unsurpassed. Stingray have been manufacturing boats since 1990 and have a long list of satisfied customers bearing testimony to their superior designs and build quality.

Applications include; Recreational, Commercial and Military markets with unique patented designs, utilising in-house designers to customise these to suit individual clients needs. Stingray Marines clients include various units in the South Africa National Defence Force, including the S.A. Navy.

Whatever your needs, be it in the Diving, Fishing, Racing, Patrol or Military, we will work a design for you. Hulls are built with GRP and Tubes from durable Hypalon. A range of boats from 4.4m to 9.5m in both mono and catamaran configurations are on offer. The Catamaran style tunnel hulls of the Predator series offer superior stability, a wider deck space and efficiency of the cat design. Deck configurations and accessories can be customised to the client requirements. You will be impressed with the ride and handling.

Contact Venom Boats Ltd for a demo they have 2 x 6.4m Predator (Cat) and 1 x 6.6m Searaider (mono) available for demonstration.

Paul Powney 021822285 sales@venomboats.com

Supercat To Run Mercury Racing 860 Engines Kiwis who follow offshore racing will be aware of Wayne Valder, the only offshore competitor to hold the AUS1, NZ1 & US1 titles in the competitive Supercat Class.

After winning US1 in 2020, Wayne was unable, due to Covid, to return to the US to defend his title and have another crack at the World Championship at Key West, Florida last year.

However he has plans to head back to the USA and run the entire Superboat circuit as well as Key West this year.

Biggest change for Superboat is the engine size has been increased to allow Mercury Racing 860 engines as a power option for the class. Team owners Vinnie Diorio of SV Racing, John Emmons of Chariots of Fire, Chris Grant of Graydel, Tyler Miller of M CON, Billy Mauff of WHM Motorsports, John Sheker of Dependable Marine and Wayne Valder of Pro Floors Racing voted unanimously to allow the 860-hp, fuelinjected engines from the Fond du Lac, Wis., company into the class.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Though SV Racing is the only team running Mercury Racing 860 engines, Supercat-class team owners have agreed to allow the fuel-injected mills into the class this season, with full points status.

SV Racing is the only team currently running 860 power—all of the other teams are using class-spec, 750-hp carbureted engines from builders including Kasse Racing Engines and Sterling Performance Engines. Diorio and fellow team owner Simon Prevost chose to run their 39-foot Outerlimits catamaran with 860 engines last season and, as such, were not officially allowed compete in the Supercat class.

“The 860s have been way more cost-effective for us,” Diorio said. “We have one set of engines that we ran all season without a problem and we are fully expecting to get through this season on the same set of engines.”

Wayne says he will stick with the 750hp engines for this season and plans to be on the start line on May 16 for round one at Cocoa Beach.

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NEWS

SEALEGS EVOLUTION

FIRST SEALEGS 7.5M ELECTRIC The first 7.5m electric production Sealegs is soon to be delivered to its new owner on Waiheke!

The amphibious Sealegs Electric with AmpTracs is the fast, quiet and powerful. It combines the latest advances in lithium battery and brushless electric hub motor

technology, along with 20 years of Sealegs proprietary amphibious system knowledge, marinisation techniques and experience. Powerful, high-torque hub-mounted brushless electric motors effortlessly drive the Sealegs Electric craft out of the water, up beaches and through difficult terrain, at up to 10kph. It is the evolution of the Sealegs amphibious revolution,

reaching new bounds with a number of electronic features including electronic joystick control, steering wheel with integrated push button wheel retraction/deployment and Sealegs 4th generation electronic amphibious drive motor speed control with advanced torque vectoring. www.sealegs.co.nz

The Sabre 48 Salon Express Crafted in the Maine Tradition

sabreyachts.com E Marine Motor Yachts • Clontarf Marina • 1 Sandy Bay Rd. • Clontarf, NSW 2093 • +61 417 200 165 • emarine.com.au 24

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NEWS

LUXURY FISHING VESSEL

HERLEY RELEASE NEW ELITE RANGE

Built in Tauranga New Zealand, Herley Boats’ Elite range has been designed from the hull up as a comfortable luxury fishing and family vessel for the discerning buyer.

They offer quality over quantity and full customisation to suit your needs.

The range includes the Elite 8 which has the convenience of having it on a trailer, as well as the Elite 9 which is the large scale version for those longer trips where more space is needed.

They have retained Herley’s proven hull shape which draws from traditional plumb bow theory, creating a long waterline length and fine entry with a relatively flat aft area, she is both stable at rest and underway. The Herley Elite boasts quality and comfort with a high performing ride, including large living spaces and multiple sleeping areas - creating an ultimate family oriented fishing boat. he Elite range offers class leading

strength and weight distribution, including a forward collision bulkhead and sealed self-draining cockpit. The Elite 8 & 9 offer an extremely capable long range fishing platform with fuel tanks options, offering ranges of over 700km. As well single and twin petrol outboard options for higher 40+ knot speeds and joystick controlled precision vessel movement.

The Elite is built with weight in mind to keep her towable, weighing in at 4.2 tonnes on the trailer and 3.4 tonnes on the water. The first of the new Elite Series is scheduled for display at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in May. www.eurocitymarine.co.nz

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NEWS

PRINCESS V50 & X80

PRINCESS RELEASE NEW MODELS

Princess Yachts recently unveiled their new models for 2022, which includes the all-new V50, which replaces the existing model and which features new hull, deck and canopy moulds, developed by naval architects Olesinski and Italian design house Pininfarina.

PRINCESS V50

The V50 joins the V family with some elements borrowed from her bigger V55 sister, and some enhancements over the outgoing model. Among those are Volvo Penta IPS600 or IPS650 engines that promise performance topping 30 knots, while larger tanks have been fitted over the old model to offer an extended cruising range.

Alongside the V50 was another muchanticipated model, the X80 superfly – the smaller sister to the awardwinning and ground breaking X95 that made her debut in 2021. “We’ve done the 95, and that has translated extraordinarily well to an 80,” says Anthony Sheriff, Executive Chairman at Princess Yachts.

“It has all the things that make an X95 an X95 [in an 80-foot package], which we have done by placing the helm station on the flybridge and creating a skylounge on the flybridge. We end up with a huge main saloon area, a huge flybridge area, and a second closed saloon with the helm station. We’ve got it to work really well at 80 feet.”

The X80’s imposing styling hides what Princess say is 30 percent more usable interior space than a typical 80-footer, 26

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and this space – like on her bigger sister – is put to use in a variety of clever and flexible ways.

The climate-controlled skylounge will prove popular for Australian and Kiwi cruisers, but also gives those of us in more unpredictable climes a refuge when the weather flares foul, and if you do want to soak up some rays – or enjoy an alfresco sundowner – outside spaces both aft of the skylounge and forward of the helm provide distinct and inviting alternatives.

The forward space on the main deck can be specified as another guest area – a formal dining room perhaps, with 270-degree views – or as a generous master suite with access to its own forward terrace, and it’s not hard to see the appeal of that layout.

Below decks, the X80 in standard configuration offers four cabins for eight guests, including a midships master cabin (or VIP if you’re going

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

main deck master), a double, a twin with sliding singles, and a second double forward; all feature ensuites.

There is also accommodation aft for three crew as standard, or up to five with additional berths specified.

The X80 is offered with two twin MAN V12 options at 1,650 hp and 1,900 hp, the latter offering a top speed of around 30 knots. What’s more, there’s an option for an 8,800-litre long-range fuel tank if you want to extend your cruising scope. www.sportsmarine.co.nz www.princessaustralia.com.au

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www.boatshow.co.nz

NEWS

UTE OF THE YEAR WINNER

ISUZU D-MAX WINS NZ4WD UTE OF THE YEAR 2021 The Isuzu D-Max has been crowned NZ4WD Magazine’s ‘Ute of the Year’. The first time this model has won this coveted award. \ Lamont Jet RIBS + Tenders

are individually crafted, incorporating style and comfort with functionality and quality, ensuring that your Tender is custom built to perfectly complement your motor yacht or sailing vessel.

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P216527 Lamont Jets May 2021 v3_58x270_11feb.indd 1

A little over a year since it launched in New Zealand, the Isuzu D-Max has been a force to be reckoned with.

It’s a serious Ute with broad appeal, equipped with a new 3-litre turbodiesel engine and 3.5-tonne towing capacity. With four variants and fifteen configurations, no compromise is required, as it meets the needs of all.

Starting the all-new D-Max range is the workhorse LX. In Single Cab Chassis, Space Cab Chassis and Double Cab Ute bodies, the LX is as utilitarian as they come. Stepping up to the LS-M—available in Double Cab only—gives drivers the LX’s hardwearing characteristics but adds a boot-full of upgrades.

The popular LS Double Cab and Space Cab Ute represents excellent value for money and is equipped with new levels of comfort and convenience without compromising on its practicality and capability. And the new flagship, D-Max X-Terrain, is bolstered with an array of additional inclusions inside and out, giving it a ruggedly refined demeanour.

NZ4WD Editor and NZ4WD Car of the Year judge Mark Baker said the Isuzu D-Max came to the title fight fresh and equipped with exemplary driving dynamics on and off-road.

“It took everything we dished out and came back for more,” said Mr Baker.

“The D-Max is truck-tough, but inside is refined and sophisticated. It’s specloaded and equipped with an inviting interior along with that willing engine and transmission. It was our Ute title winner by a clear margin.”

Isuzu Utes New Zealand General Manager Sam Waller says, “To win the NZ4WD Ute of the Year award is an honour. It’s always an award one aspires to win, given it’s the trusted publication of the 4WD community. We’re proud of this new generation of D-Max, and we need to acknowledge the Isuzu International factory for that.

The Isuzu D-Max also retains its title of ‘safest Ute on the NZ market’. The D-Max was the first Ute subject to the new stringent testing and rating criteria introduced by Australasia’s leading independent vehicle safety authority, ANCAP in 2020. Since then two other Ute brands have had their models tested, both of which fell short of the D-Max. The Isuzu D-Max also made the top three in the Light Commercial Vehicle category at the recent AA DRIVEN NZ Car of the Year 2021 awards. www.isuzuutes.co.nz

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE 11/02/22 1:34 PM

NEWS

STREAMLINED DESIGN

Davco’s new 250kg Slimline crane Davco’s new Series 3 Slimline 250kg aluminium crane is perfect for those looking for an easy, no-fuss, no-mess method of launching their outboard-powered tender.

Featuring a new compact design, the Slimline 250kg has a stowed length of just 1.7m, within the length of the tender, makingw it even less intrusive on the deck. Its new streamlined

design and high-quality in-house PPG paint finish perfectly complement today’s contemporary motoryacht designs and, thanks to its new five boom-height positions, there is even greater flexibility with where the crane can be mounted.

The new Slimline Series 3’s powerful, lightweight gas strut assembly can effortlessly launch or retrieve up to 250kgs while its 316 stainless steel construction ensures a rust-free deck.

Thanks to the Slimline’s extendable

boom, it boasts a reach of up to 2.1m and a height of up to 2.3m With a quiet 3-stage planetary winch, the Slimline 250kg comes completely wired and ready for easy installation with 10m of plasma rope already on the drum. Available in 12v or 24v and with either a base plate or support post mounting, the Slimline 250kg also comes complete with a handy remote control and solenoid. www.lusty-blundell.co.nz.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Scott Parry & Mig Rumney from the popular Fishing & Adventure TV series have partnered with the organisers of the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show to create a new, unique, kid-friendly experience for the 2022 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in Greenlane, Auckland in May. The experience will include free membership into the popular Fishing & Adventure Kids Club, now in its third year, and give kids the chance to meet Scott and Mig, win great prizes and learn about the joys of fishing. All kids who join the Club at the show will get to spin the new Fishing & Adventure Prize Wheel and win “epic” giveaways from Fishing & Adventure’ family of sponsors.

Fishing & Adventure created their Kids Club to encourage more children to enjoy the outdoors and get into fishing.

“We are now opening up the Club and offering free membership so young fishos from all around New Zealand can get involved, share their fishing adventures and compete in our regular kid-friendly, fun challenges,” says Scott.

Fishing & Adventure has been the top-rated fishing show in New Zealand for the last four years and is currently in production of their 10th season, due to screen in mid-2022 on TVNZ1.

The Fishing and Adventure Kids Club area at the show will be on the Fishing & Adventure stand in The Rock Fishing Hall. It will also offer opportunities for kids to get autographs and selfies with Scott & Mig, enjoy the themed Kids Club area with screens playing F&A episodes, comfortable beanbags, colouring in area and the chance to buy Kids Club specific merchandise, stickers and more.

Fishing and Adventure’s popular genuine Illicit merchandise will also again be available on the stand, along with the chance to interact with Scott & Mig and their crew.

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show is New Zealand’s largest, longest-running and most popular boat show. Held at the Auckland Showgrounds in Greenlane, it will run from May 12-15, 2022. Adult tickets to the show are just $25 with children 16 and under free. All tickets come with the chance to win an incredible Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize, worth over $280,000. Tickets to the show are now available at www. boatshow.co.nz/buy-tickets-online/ with all tickets bought online giving a second bonus entry into the Grand Prize as well as automatically going into a draw for a powered Viking Kayaks Ultimate Fishing Kayak prize, worth over $8000. www.boatshow.co.nz.

NEWS

HELM MASTER EX JOYSTICK

YAMAHA RELEASES NEW FEATURES FOR HELM MASTER EX

Yamaha has announced the release of additional features on their game changing Helm Master EX joystick boat control system, further enhancing the capabilities of this industry-leading technology across single, twin, triple and quad outboard engine applications.

Helm Master EX offers boaters a completely integrated boat control system that makes getting to your fishing spot easier and unprecedented control over your craft once you arrive - using a combination of advanced

outboard, digital steering, autopilot and joystick technologies.

Richard Shaw, NZ Marine Manager, - Yamaha Motor New Zealand, said, “Since the release of our Helm Master EX system, we have seen unprecedented demand for this cutting-edge technology, especially from fishing enthusiasts who are looking to up their game, using the most advanced boating and fishing technologies on the market.

“We are now taking this technology further with a number of new features and improvements that offer skippers more options and control over their

outboard powered vessels,” Richard said.

Real world customer feedback has formed the basis of the Helm Master EX upgrades. This is particularly evident in the addition of the New Joystick Station. This new configuration allows the fit up of a second Joystick control without the requirement of a full steering helm and controls.

This means additional joystick controls can be added away from the helm of the boat and placed in a position convenient to the skipper’s requirements. www.yamaha-motor.co.nz

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PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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NEWS

B O AT S H O W S

BOAT SHOW UPDATE With Covid rife in both New Zealand and Australia, especially the new Omicron variant, what is happening with the forthcoming boat shows?

HUTCHWILCO NEW ZEALAND BOAT SHOW (May 11-15)

Smuggler will be back again for the 2022 Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show

Business as usual and the 2022 show is looking like being another huge event, unless Covid kills it. It seems that there will be a number of new models from local manufacturers, plus some very interesting imported designs. Organiser Dave Gibbs says that while they have locked in the May date they are covering thieir options with the show possibly to run at a late date in the year but from the same venue. This will likely only change if we are still in the red light situation, when numbers of people at an event makes it impractical to run the show.www.boatshow.co.nz

SANCTUARY COVE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW (May 18-22)

One of the world’s most picturesque boat show venues.

Organisers report that the show is all on track for 2022 and unless directed by government will be happening in May. SCIBS is unquestionably one of the most stunning boat show venues anywhere and is always worth visiting. SCIBS is ready for a blockbuster of a year when it returns, with a showstopping lineup of exhibitors across everything from the latest marine gadgets and must-have technology to a massive display of trailer boats and superyachts plus a raft of exciting new launches. Among the premium brands taking prime position on the water for the 33rd annual SCIBS event are Riviera, Princess Yachts, Palm Beach, Maritimo, Horizon, Alexander Marine, Integrity, Whitehaven, Eyachts, Fleming, Beneteau, Axopar, Lagoon and Iliad. www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW (Jul 28-Aug 1)

The Sydney International Boat Show is back in the calendar for 2022 after a two year hiatus. Confirmation comes with the announcement of a new partnership between the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and Mulpha Events Australia, owner-operator of the successful Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. The new partnership will enable the delivery of innovative and engaging world-class events with a significant focus on the boating lifestyle. www.sydneyboatshow.com.au SIBS back after A two tear hiatus.

TAURANGA FISHING & BOAT SHOW (October 7-9)

TFABS 2022 will be the largest fishing, boating and water related leisure show outside of the Auckland area.

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After a forced absence during 2020 and 2021 the Tauranga Fishing And Boat Show (TFABS 2022) will celebrate its third year anniversary event at the TrustPower Bay Park indoor main arena in early October 2022. It is anticipated TFABS 2022 will be the largest fishing, boating and water related leisure show outside of the Auckland area and being a totally indoor event will not be subject to adverse weather conditions. Available exhibitor space will range from 4m x 4m to 20m x 8m (additional space on request). Free visitor and exhibitor show parking is provided at the venue office@tfabs.co.nz www.tfabs.co.nz

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NEWS

ZEROJET OCTENDER

ELECTROSE'S CLEARLINE SYSTEM

Protect Your Cooling System Electrose’s Clearline System a is a marine growth prevention system that protects your vessel against unwanted marine growth in seawater pipes and strainers.

ZEROJET OCTENDERS IN HIGH DEMAND Manufactures of the world’s lightest electric jet system are now accepting deposits to secure their ZeroJet OCTender.

With demand increasing over the last few months, build slots are now 6-8 months away, they are encouraging customers to secure a build slot with a $500 NZD refundable deposit.

These boats are easy and fun to drive. No pollution, no noise – Just you, the ocean and a rechargeable battery. Customers have started taking ownership of their boats in New Zealand so watch out for more ZeroJet OCTender’s to be out on the water. See full review page 102.

For more information or enquiries regarding the ZeroJet OCTender package, contact the team on sales@zerojet.nz / 098863223 / www.zerojet.nz

Electrosea’s ingenious solution to the barnacle problem is not to remove them—but to prevent them growing in your raw water lines in the first place. The patented system (Clearline) uses electrochlorination technology to create an environment where barnacles, biofilm, algae and marine growth simply can’t live. With the Clearline System, your pipes remain free of marine growth, strainers stay clean longer and you’ll never have to acid descale again.

The CLEARLINE System includes the control unit, which is the brain, and ClearCell electrochlorinator, which is the heart of the system. The Clearline control unit works in concert with ClearCell to deliver a precise, low level of chlorine. The System dynamically adjusts the in-situ chlorine generation based on real-time raw water flow.

Models are available to suit any boat from around 10m plus and can be customised to suit your vessel’s seawater intake demand. www.electrosea.com

PRODUCT'S VIDEO CLIP

Click on the picture to acc

THE ELECTRO-PORTABLE SOLUTION TEMO ·450 : THE ELECTRIC POWERED OUTBOARD What weighs less than 5kg, runs for 80 minutes at cruising speed, doesn’t use a drop of petrol and will propel your tender wherever you want it to go?

Meet the TEMO 450, a brilliant French product that will completely transform the way you think about short distance travel at sea. The TEMO has built-in lithium batteries that you can recharge from 230v or 12v. The unit can telescope from 130cm to 170cm, all while maintaining an IP67 waterproof rating.

It has a progressive trigger for complete control of speed from the 450w brushless motor, plus both forward and reverse propulsion. ©TEMO 0

For more information, contact: danny@tenob.co.nz 0800 273 9180

©TEMO 2020 / Patented innovation 34

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Most boaters find docking stressful.

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NEWS

BESPOKE PRODUCTION

DE MEY 60 LONG DISTANCE CRUISING POWERCAT This 18.3m powercat is the first of a new series, designed by Roger Hill Design and being built by Nic de Mey Yachts.

Based in Tauranga, Nic de Mey Yachts is one of New Zealand’s leading advanced composite boat builders, specialising in both race and pleasure craft. While a semi-custom build, with moulded hulls and decks, the new powercat is definitely a bespoke production boat.

“We are creating a brand around this model, over time plans are for 16m, 18m and 20m versions”, says de Mey. As a recognised advanced composite boat builder, it was only natural that the boats are infused carbon fibre, giving both exceptional strength alongside a superior weight advantage.

Overall displacement will be around 27,545kgs. LOA is 18.3m, with a beam of 6.88m and a draft of .89m. She has a 10,000 litre fuel and 1800 litre water capacity.

Powered by a pair of 550hp diesel engines, the hull design allows variable speeds with efficient running. At 28 knots, the range is around 1400 nm.

Drop that to 18 knots and the range is

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an impressive 1900 nm and if you are happy to cruise at 11 knots, then you can expect around a huge 3200nm range.

“Roger Hill has designed the boat as a genuine passagemaker that offers the range, handling and comforts people expect from a cruising boat. Also, being a catamaran there is the benefit of exceptional stability both underway and at rest”, added de Mey. Features include the equivalent toy storage volume of an 85ft monohull, a tender garage for a custom 4.0m carbon tender (eliminating the need for a crane), and a hydraulic swim platform.

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Inside there are large living spaces based on an open plan but with different living zones.

There are four accommodation cabins with generous space and en-suites. de Mey says that the boat will be a technical and engineering showcase with particular emphasis on self-sufficiency and intuitive operation. The first two are currently under construction in Tauranga and scheduled for a Dec 2023 launch date. Appointments to view construction are welcome with the next available build slot to open mid-2022 www.nicdemeyyachts.com

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HORIZON FD75

HORIZON YACHTS LAUNCHES FD75 SKYLINE The first Horizon FD75 sold in Australia is also the first to feature an enclosed skylounge.

An amalgam of firsts, the latest Horizon FD75 is the first of the entry-level Fast Displacement (FD) model to be built for Australian owners and as such the first to be delivered to the continent.

This is the first Horizon build for the experienced owners, who selected the yard for its ability to customise the yacht to their standards.

These include the incorporation of the first “Skyline” or enclosed skylounge configuration for the model.

To suit their active cruising lifestyle, the owners specified a three-stateroom layout for the 23.68m yacht comprising the semi on-deck, full-beam master stateroom – one of the hallmarks of the FD75 model – with two large full-beam guest staterooms on the lower deck.

The owners were heavily involved in the design process and worked in tandem with both the Horizon Yacht Australia (HYA) team and the yard’s in-house design centre to execute a sophisticated and modern interior that perfectly complements the signature styling of the Cor D. Rover-designed series.

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On the main deck, a spacious aft deck houses a dining table and flows into the main saloon, which features an L-shaped seating area with large dining area and country-kitchen-style galley occupying the full 6.33m beam forward. The owners specified an interior package of satin Acacia wood complemented by Michelangelo marble stonework throughout. The stonework itself serves as a focal point in the galley area, where it is both the backsplash and the feature stone of the centre island with waterfall edges.

A slatted feature wall disguises the full-height appliances and divides the galley area from the forward master suite, which is accessed via three steps down.

On the lower deck, a spacious laundry room is complemented by two additional staterooms forward of the engine room. Each comprises the yacht’s full beam and features

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

large closets and en-suites. A beach club with a lounge area and day head resides aft of the engine room.

A floating interior staircase in the main saloon leads to the enclosed skylounge on the uppermost deck which features a helm station with three fixed helm chairs with a comfortable window side lounge seating and day head in the lounge area. The large open boat deck offers plenty of space for entertaining with tender storage aft. Settees for relaxing and sunbathing are positioned on the foredeck. www.horizonyachtaus.com

SPORTSMAN HARDTOP 591 XL PACKAGE.

571 SPORTSMAN

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w w w.mclayboats.co.nz MCLAY BOATS ARE AVAILABLE FROM DEALERSHIPS NATIONWIDE: WHANGAREI: Warren Hay Marine, ph 09 430 2666. AUCKLAND: Fish City, Albany, ph 09 476 4282.

HAMILTON: Fish City, Frankton, ph 07 846 6675. WHAKATANE: Oceansports Marine Ltd, ph 07 308 4241.

WELLINGTON: Boat City, ph 04 298 5931. MOTUEKA: Bays Boating, ph 03 528 5200.

CHRISTCHURCH: Powerboat Centre, ph 03 389 1146. DUNEDIN: McLay Boats Milton, ph 03 417 8135.

INVERCARGILL Marine South ph 03 218 2700

DB844

DB360

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39

POWER ON

YAMAHA RELEASES NEW F25 New short-shaft F25 models feature a redesigned tiller handle for greater convenience when operating the engine onboard smaller boats.

Yamaha Marine has announced four new variants of its popular F25 four-stroke outboard in a clear bid to capture a greater share of the tender and small fishing boat markets.

The company unveiled a pair of F25 models with 15-inch shaft lengths and power trim and tilt functionality, along with two additional models featuring a new factory-installed tiller handle.

The company notes that tiller models equipped with power trim and tilt functionality now feature a redesigned, more compact tiller handle that now incorporates an integrated trim and tilt control.

The power tilt switch remains clearly accessible when the handle is tilted up, for greater convenience when trailering.

Yamaha’s variable trolling RPM switch is also included as a standard feature on the new engine models, in a clear nod to the recreational fishing segment.

The company expects to begin shipping the new engines to boatbuilders and dealers in spring 2022. www.yamaha-motor.com

TOHATSU TO LAUNCH NEW 140HP As the oldest Japanese outboard manufacturer, Tohatsu Corporation continues to provide innovations in the pursuit of outboards that are both durable and lightweight.

The soon to be introduced MFS140 was developed from the successful MFS75,90,100,115 lineup.

Unique and industry-first 4-2-1 Performance Tuned Exhaust manifold has been designed to maximise low end torque and acceleration performance. Best in class torque to displacement ratio creates excellent performance for all styles of boats from light to heavy weight, pleasure or commercial use.

With a dynamic design and sophisticated details, the MFS140 provides outstanding torque, increased durability, optimised weight and smooth operation. The MFS140A is expected early to mid-2022. www.tohatsu.com 40

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

DIESEL OUTBOARD WATERJET Jet-Tech’s waterjet is offered as a bolton replacement for the standard lower unit on OXE diesel outboard.

The Jet-Tech unit is a compact, single stage, high performance waterjet which, according to the company, “combines mixedflow properties within an axial design build, with a hybrid stator for high torque diesel outboard engines.”

Manufactured as a direct bolt-on replacement to the standard lower unit on OXE diesel outboards, the unit fits all current OXE diesel models. Performance is said to be equal to or better than propeller lower units, and is matched 1:1 to the unit horsepower-driven prop outboard.

According to the company, benefits include improved high-speed efficiency with superior cavitation margins at lower speeds and high load conditions. www.powerequipment.co.nz

SUZUKI UNVEILS NEW DF115B & DF140B Suzuki Motor Corporation have unveiled a new mechanical range of mid-sized outboard motors, the DF115B and DF140B, due to arrive in dealerships from March.

Superseding the ever-popular DF115A and DF140A outboard motors, the new “B” series feature a host of updates. The compression ratio has been increased from 9.7:1 to 10.6:1 and the Lean Burn fuel efficiency has been significantly improved.

The redesigned cowl features a sporty, streamlined profile, with a new air intake structure for improved water separation and a silencer-resonator system.

A new oil spill catcher surrounding the oil filter mount allows for filter changing without making a mess. A water detection fuel filter has also been added to help protect the engine against contaminated fuel.

Available from March 2022, the DF115B and DF140B range will be available in both 20-inch and 25-inch shaft lengths, exclusively in Suzuki’s Pearl Nebular Black livery, and backed by Suzuki’s 3+3 year recreational warranty. www.suzukimarine.com

C R U I S I N G M AT T E R S

Cruising more slowly enables enjoying the sights such as Beehive Is, Kawau.

with Laurie Cranfield

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE ( PA R T T W O )

P

PB’s last issue discussed how cruising at near displacement speed dramatically decreases fuel consumption and increases cruising range. It also highlighted some problems caused by cruising consistently at light loading rpm (below about 40 per cent of WOT) such as increased blowback, mirrorglazing and decreased alternator performance.

When considering options for low speed cruising aboard twin-engined vessels we need to consider how our engines drive our ancillary equipment. All vessels will have alternators fitted in various configurations, often with one engine charging the house and the other the start bank. All will have power steering and a fresh hot water system, usually each driven by one engine and many will have a refrigeration compressor driven by one engine.

Option 1 – RUN BOTH ENGINES AT LOW RPM With this option avoid running below about 1,200 rpm and it’s recommended to at least run at 60-75 per cent of WOT for about 30 minutes after reaching full operating temperature, then again for about 15 minutes every 4 hours and most importantly for about 30 minutes about 1 hour before shutdown.

Pros - Considerable reduction in fuel usage and increase in range. All ancillary equipment will operate normally. Full manoeuvrability is maintained. An easy to manage option.

Cons - Some planning is required for the periods at higher rpm. Hours-based service costs may increase compare with planing because you are using more engine hours to run a given distance.

Option 2 – RUN ONE ENGINE AT A TIME AT HIGHER RPM AND ALTERNATE THEM Pros - It will take higher rpm on the selected engine to reach your chosen speed than using two thereby minimising the problem of light loading. Fuel saving and range increase will be less than Option 1 but still worthwhile. The process is relatively easy 42

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to manage. The frequency of hours-based engine servicing is reduced thus saving service costs compared with Option 1.

Cons – Low speed manoeuvrability is compromised so this option should only be used in open waters. There will be some steering bias in the direction away from the in-use engine. The inactive engine’s gearbox must be kept in neutral so that the engine doesn’t turn over, but its prop will still turn or “windmill” causing drag and the gearbox to turn over. Most gearboxes are watercooled using its engine’s heat exchanger, so without the engine running this cooling will be lost and gearbox damage can potentially occur. Consult your gearbox manual to ascertain for how long you can windmill for example my Twin Disc gearbox manual recommends idling the engine for a few minutes every hour. If using this procedure it’s a good idea to check the windmilling gearbox’s temperature using its temperature gauge if fitted or an infra-red thermometer to see how long it takes for its temperature to rise. At the same time compare the temperature of the not-in-use shaft seal with the in-use shaft seal to determine for how long you can allow windmilling. As a general rule mechanics say its temperature should be 7-22dC above sea water temperature and never too hot to touch. The slower your speed is the less the gearbox and shaft seal temperatures will rise. When an engine is driving your vessel it is trying to push the prop shaft and coupling flange towards the engine, therefore not putting any load on the securing bolts. However when the prop shaft is windmilling it’s trying to pull away from the engine and coupling flange so connections should be checked at regular intervals.

Option 3 – RUN BOTH ENGINES WITH ONE ENGINE AT HIGHER RPM THAN THE OTHER When running one engine at high rpm and the other at low rpm and interchanging every couple of hours or so avoid running the low rpm engine below 1,200 rpm for the reasons outlined in the opening comments.

Pros - The issue of light loading is reduced.

Economy and range gains are similar to

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

running two engines at low rpm. There is little loss of manoeuvrability. There is no issue with cooling of gearboxes and shaft seals or with prop shaft connections. The process is easy to manage. All engine-driven ancillary equipment will operate.

Cons - Both engines are still ramping up engine hours, so no servicing costs are saved. There will be a very slight steering bias in the direction away from engine operating at higher rpm.

How do we cruise slowly?

As we prefer to cruise much of the time off the plane, here’s a practical solution based on Option 2 for our 18m Salthouse, Rapport.

•

Leaving the marina start both engines for maximum manoeuvrability.

•

When in open waters shut down the starboard engine and as temperatures rise, gradually increase rpm on port to about 1,850 = 66 per cent of WOT. This will operate refrigeration and provide efficient alternator operation and battery charging. The power steering will not operate, however this is not much of an issue in open waters and any time that power steering and autopilot are required I can start the starboard engine.

•

When the freezer reaches its operating temperature (usually after about two hours running), run the starboard engine at about 1,850 rpm and shut down port.

•

Then continue to alternate engines as required.

•

For subsequent cruising days we normally use the genset every morning so the batteries are kept fully charged and the alternators don’t need to run at high outputs. Every several engine hours we run both engines at about 2,200-2,400rpm for 15 minutes or so as well as doing this for about half an hour an hour before shutdown.

Whatever your cruising mode don’t cruise below about 1,200rpm, vary your rpm and periodically run for a few minutes at WOT. Happy slow cruising.

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STRAIGHT FROM THE GALLEY with Derek the Chef, chefline14@gmail.com

Creamed Garlic Spiced Paua Pāua is the Māori name given to three New Zealand species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotidae, known in the United States and Australia as abalone, and in the United Kingdom as ormer shells.

INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • •

4x chopped Pāua 2x Tbsp Cocavo Chili & Lime Coconut & Avocado Oil 1x small bottle cream 1x onion finely chopped 1-2 cloves fresh garlic 1x red chili seeds removed and sliced thinly 2-3 rasher streaky bacon grilled crispy & chopped Flour Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Spring onions for garnish

METHOD 1.

Heat the Cocavo in a pan and add the onion, chilli & garlic and chopped Pāua. Cook for around 2 minutes (Do not over cook or Pāua becomes rubbery)

2.

Sprinkle with the flour then add cream very slowly until you get to sauce consistency.

3.

Season with the salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve over egg noodles or steamed rice

4.

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Garnish with the chopped grilled bacon and spring onion.

MARCH / APRIL 2022

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Enjoy with JANE HUNTER 40TH VINTAGE SAVIGNON BLANC 2021 A classically styled Sauvignon Blanc shows passionfruit and lime characters along with grapefruit notes. Dry and saline, the lively palate has a creamy texture and a juicy finish.

OCEAN EATS (SILVERDALE) supply Fresh Farmed Pāua from their salt water tanks.

POWERCAT MASTERCLASS

R 602 C-CB OUTBOARD

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R 600

DB858

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ELECTRONIC NEWS

LOWRANCE NEW GHOST 360 SONAR Lowrance released a software update this month, which introduces the new Ghost 360 feature and new compatibility for NAC-2 and NAC-3 autopilots.

The latest software update unlocks the new feature of Ghost 360 for users of the Ghost Trolling Motor with Active Imaging 3-in-1 nosecone, which offers anglers a high resolution 360-degree detailed image around their boats.

This new capability utilises automatic steering rotation of the Ghost trolling motor, allowing anglers to pinpoint key structure and targets in a 360-degree view of the bottom and the ability to show both standing structure and structure that is laying on the bottom.

This new feature is available on all Ghost compatible multi-function displays (MFD), which includes the Elite FS, HDS

Carbon and HDS LIVE. NAC-2 autopilots are perfect for boats up to 35-feet and are suitable for low-current hydraulic steering pumps, mechanical drive units, or solenoid valves, while NAC-3 autopilots are ideal for boats 35-feet or greater and are rated to operate high-current pumps, mechanical drive units, and solenoid valves. Industry-standard NMEA 2000 networking and NMEA 0183 input allow for simple connectivity to heading sensors, rudder feedback units, autopilot controllers, and multi-function displays located anywhere on the boat. www.lowrance.com

RAYMARINE UNVEILS REMOTE MONITORING SOLUTION Raymarine has unveiled its YachtSense Ecosystem, an onboard and remote monitoring solution that gives boaters effortless control of their Raymarine equipment and vessel systems from their mobile device.

The YachtSense Ecosystem begins with the new Raymarine mobile app, a digital companion for Raymarine owners that provides simple onboard and off-boat integration capabilities.

Enabling the YachtSense Ecosystem is the new YachtSense Link marine mobile router. YachtSense Link is an innovative device designed to keep boaters connected through 4G/LTE broadband, local Wi-Fi networks, and seamless integration with Raymarine devices. With the Raymarine appand YachtSense Link, boaters can remotely monitor critical onboard systems, control electrical devices, and sync with Raymarine navigation systems while underway.

The connected companion for Raymarine owners, the Raymarine app for iOS and Android devices, is the central point for integrating with the YachtSense 46

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Ecosystem and Axiom displays. The Raymarine mobile app allows boaters to easily onboard new devices, set up and modify their vessel profile, and backup and transfer waypoints and other data. With the Raymarine mobile app, boaters can also monitor instruments and NMEA2000 sensors, receive alerts, and view engine telemetry from their phone or tablet. The Raymarine mobile app also transforms a mobile device into a fullfunction Axiom remote station, allowing users to stream and control Chartplotters

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

from anywhere onboard. The Raymarine mobile app offers a Raymarine Premium subscription that allows boaters to monitor their boat from home and setup a high-resolution geofence around their boat.

YachtSense Link allows boaters to connect Raymarine Axiom displays, mobile devices, and other wireless devices like smart TVs to local marina Wi-Fi and create a unified, onboard Wi-Fi network. www.raymarine.com.

VESPER'S CORTEX VHF

INTRODUCING

The latest free update to the Vesper Cortex VHF monitoring and control system includes using a connected speaker as a loud hailer or a foghorn.

CYCLONE RADAR

The update includes a handy new Loudspeaker Mode that enables a hailer or horn to be easily operated from either a Cortex handset or through the Cortex Onboard App on a smartphone. This additional safety measure means that, in an emergency, those on board can alert surrounding vessels without even having to be at the helm.

Easy to operate, the hailer function can be activated by touching the microphone icon in the handset or Cortex onboard App display or by pushing the Cortex handset's PTT. In addition to sounding the horn, Cortex's Horn function also helps boaties interpret the horn signals from other boats, visually showing the lengths of the sounds and matching them to the signals for fog, underway, stopped and the like.

The new update also includes enhancements to Cortex's VHF system. A new Channel Lock function prevents the click-wheel and touchscreen from changing the VHF channel. This eliminates accidental changes, especially in rough seas. The new Mute function now silences non-distress DSC calls, enabling those on board to rest without VHF chatter while their alarms and distress DSC calls remain active. vespermarine.com

EVOLVED FOR THE

OCEAN

NEW GARMIN NAVIONICS + MARINE CARTOGRAPHY New marine cartography from Garmin delivers allin-one inland and coastal mapping, access to daily chart updates, and more to Garmin chartplotters.

Aircraft wing inspired

Enhanced Bird Mode

RangeFusion™ technology

High speed 60 rpm imaging

Designed like a seabird. Sleek and aerodynamic with 360-degree situational awareness featuring Cyclone Bird Mode technology to get you to the fish faster.

The new evolution of premium radar.

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Garmin Navionics+ and premium Garmin Navionics Vision+ for Garmin chartplotters, is the newest generation of marine cartography products from Garmin.

Garmin cartography products offer an all-inone mapping solution that integrates detailrich inland and offshore content, as well as a variety of tools to support smarter and safer navigation.

In addition to unparalleled worldwide coverage, new Garmin cartography offers a myriad of features – including an all-new chart presentation, daily chart updates and advanced autorouting capabilities. It also features colourshaded target depth ranges, free downloadable NOAA raster images2, shallow water shading and exclusive access to ActiveCaptain community content for valuable insight on points of interest (POI), recommendations and advice from fellow boaters.

Garmin Navionics+ and Garmin Navionics Vision+ are compatible with current Garmin chartplotters, including the GPSMAP 8400/8600, GPSMAP 7×3/9×3/12×3, ECHOMAP Ultra, ECHOMAP UHD series and more. www.garmin.com

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ROGER'S RAMBLINGS

The Skater 46 pleasure model at 175 mph. with 3000 hp on tap it seats 5 people.

with Roger Tweddell

Need for Speed; PART 2 – WHERE WILL IT END?

I

started my boating career in our family 19‘Hartley cabin cruiser.

It had a 4-cylinder petrol engine out of a hay bailer and a France Craft stern drive. Lightly loaded it could crack about 10 or 11 knots if you were lucky.

Wasn’t long before the old boy thought this was a bit slow and a 4-cylinder Ford Cortina motor was transplanted in place of the farm machinery. It could then do about 15 knots with a team on board and a bit more with 1 or 2 up.

A couple of years went by and the Hartley was traded for a Marksply with a 90 Hp Evinrude which in 1966 was quite a bit of power. Most other runabouts of the day were lucky if they had 50 or 70 Hp. On a good day it could crack 40 miles per hour. The moral of the story is that most people that own a Fizz boat, Stink boat or any kind of power boat generally like to go faster rather than slower. The pursuit of speed is a goal that appeals to most of us!

Sailors are also infected. Some racing yachts can now go faster than a lot of power boats! Foiling yachts of all sorts are now plying our waters. ETNZ is now

developing hydrogen powered, foiling tenders to follow the America’s Cup yachts which are currently capable of speeds approaching 50 knots.

It may be only a matter of time before the problem of foil cavitation is solved and America’s Cup yachts will be able to go even faster and crack the 50-knot barrier on a regular basis.

Easily accessible, outboard motors have climbed in horsepower. 250 to 450 HP outboards are common place on pleasure boats and not just 1 or 2 on the transom. Mercury has released a new 600 hp Verado and Seven Marine’s 627 hp outboard has been around for a few years now and often 2,3 or 4 are mounted. It’s not uncommon to find 5, 6 and 7 m runabouts fitted with 200, 300 and 400 hp outboards. Tiller steer outboards are coming in sizes up to 300Hp fitted to small, lightweight open boats. It makes the 90 hp of 1966 look rather tame.

Many of the world’s fastest production boats are capable of over 100 mph such

INTERESTING WATER SPEED FACT FILE!

FASTEST PWC:

as the Skater 46 pleasure model at 175 mph. with 3000 hp on tap it seats 5 people.

Personal Water Craft models from a number of manufacturers such as Yamaha. Kawasaki and Seadoo are available off the shelf that are capable of 70 mph +. Slightly modified versions have recorded speeds in excess of 130 mph.

Where will all this speed end? 50 - 60 mph on water is really quick. These are speed’s many boats are now capable of.

“Skipperi” boat charters now have an integrated system linked in the chartered vessels GPS system, that alerts the skipper of local speed limits, shallow water and other hazards in the area. This seems like a sensible approach to me.

The Auckland Harbour and inner Hauraki Gulf can be quite congested at times so some sort of system to alert skippers might be a good idea, particularly in respect to their speed!

FASTEST SAILING CRAFT:

FASTEST OUTBOARD BOAT:

V8 Evinrude 176 mph

Yamaha turbo (aftermarket mods) at 135 mph (also maniacs)

Vesta Sail Rocket 2 at 75 mph

FASTEST TILLER STEER BOAT:

FASTEST PRODUCTION BOAT:

64.5 mph by Bjorn Duncker Beck

over 100 mph (maniacs)

Skater 46 Pleasure at 175 mph

FASTEST ACCELERATING PWC:

FASTEST LONG TAIL BOATS:

0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds

In

Thailand at way over 100 mph (absolute Lunatics)

FASTEST WINDSURFER:

FASTEST KITE SURFER:

Alex Caizerges at 66.7 mph Check out this stuff on You Tube!

www.fatcat.nz

DB837

www.aircat.nz 48

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

ION SCOHRAP RDTOP 610

0

5 Retail $63,4

58,450

SPECIAL $

The best buying hardtop out, full length berths, good head height, fully lined cabin, VHF, fishfinder, complete on trailer with 90hp Mercury.

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BLUEFIN 650HT Large cockpit and enough cabin space for overnighting. Built for all occasions 6mm hull and 4mm sides. Complete with mulitroller trailer. 135hp Mercury 4 stroke. Underfloor fuel tank. Lined cabin and HT. paint & sliding windows extra Retail $85,250 Special Price $78,750.

$57,500

BLUEFIN 600 PROFISH New 6 metre boat on trailer, including motor. A boat built to hunt. 5mm hull, treadplate floor, nice and stable, heaps of fishing room and big anchor hatch. Complete on trailer including 90hp Mercury four stroke outboard. Retail $55,850 Special Now $50,850

SCORPION G175 BOW RIDER $57,500 200hp MerCruiser 4.5Ltr V6 on a trailer, Battery Box & Isolation Switch, Walkthrough Windscreen, Bilge Pump, Boarding Ladder, Carpet on Floor, Upholstered, GPS Sounder, Canopy, Road / bow Covers, Swivelling driver & passenger seats, Full rear seat & sun lounger, Bow Rider seating, 100ltr Underfloor Fuel Tank

CONFIDENCE TO GO WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS. Whether you’re going for some alone time, or getting away with family or friends, Mercury Verado 200-400hp FourStrokes will get you there and back again with a level of power and refinement that can’t be matched.

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SCORPION 470 CUDDY - unbeatable value, roomy boat, incl fishfinder, VHF, deluxe canopy, helm & back seat upholstery, nav lights, switch panel, baitboard, Sportline trailer, 50hp four stroke Mercury, separate anchorwell.

Retail $42,250 Special Now $39,750 (paint extra).

BLUEFIN 525 CENTRE CONSOLE The ultimate midsized centre console with 5mm hull and sealed treadplate floor. This boat comes complete on trailer with 60hp four stroke CT Mercury, VHF, hydraulic steering, rod holders, bait Board & anchor. Retail $45,050 Special Now $41,550.

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BLUEFIN 720 WEEKENDER Boasting the largest fishing deck space of all our Bluefin range. Separate toilet and shower closet with hot and cold water included as standard.

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$39,750

FISHING

with Bruce Duncan (aka Captain Swish)

Nice Snapper in just 3m of water.

BEST WAY TO LEARN HOW TO FISH IS TO HAVE A GAME PLAN A hell of a lot of new boat owners are hitting the water with dreams of coming home with fresh fish but with little or no idea of where or how to fish.

O

ften over summer I will see a heap of boats all anchored in the same spot. Just out of interest I cruise past closely watching the sounder looking for any sign of fish.

Basically, it started with someone not knowing where to go seeing someone else at anchor. Not knowing any better people think that this must be the spot and next thing there are a whole heap more boats arriving. Surprise surprise no body catches any fish.

Even now after 60 plus years of fishing I know the wind, tides, fish movements and changes of habitat for each season, yet I still stick to the basics each time of setting a game plan. For the new boatie you need to spend time on the water and having a game plan this is the best way to gain the knowledge and experience to be able to catch fish year-round.

Ask anyone at the ramp how they got on, most will say they got a couple of fish but had to try six spots to find them. Setting a game plan and sticking to it maximises your chances of filling the bin, but most important of all, is what you learn. Many factors come into play as some spots work best on an outgoing tide or on slack water or at

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certain times of the year, but the single most important thing is they must have a good supply of food.

HABITAT IS WHERE IT’S AT

Basically, snapper live in a wide range of bottom types and being scavengers eat anything from worms’ crabs to bait fish. Given a good steady food supply and a certain number will take up residence year-long in that area.

Snapper post spawning need to rebuild their body fat to prepare for winter when their diet and eating habits change. Over the summer months vast amounts of snapper move into shallow sandy muddy water, to graze on shellfish crabs and the likes. As the water gets colder the vast majority then move back out into deeper water for the winter. The good thing is there will always be a lot of snapper like me, big, fat and lazy, that remain in the area over the winter months.

SUMMER GAME PLAN

For the inexperienced boatie / angler there is a hell of a lot to learn to become successful. It’s not just a matter of seeing fish on the sounder, dropping a bait or jig, putting the rod

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

in the holder and catching them. From knowing the target habitat, to rigging the bait, where to cast a bait, watching line movement, holding the rod at the right angle, how and when to strike and having the right drag setting all makes a difference. Even the height and angle of the rod when fighting the fish is important and knowing the right way to land the fish.

All this sounds a bit daunting and will take time to learn, but do it right from the start and all what you learn will apply to any form of fishing. Believe me, as a fishing guide, the hardest part of my job is to break people’s bad habits. Often the only way to get my clients to listen and do what I say is to tell them you get three chances, then cut your ears off! Now your hat will fall over your eyes which is a good thing as you won’t be able to wear sun glasses.

Right up till around the end of April, snapper move in close to shore right up into the upper reaches of the harbours and estuaries to feed on shellfish, crabs, worms and the likes, to rebuild their body fat in preparation for the oncoming colder winter months.

Targeting snapper in the shallow water is the ideal place for newbies to gain the knowledge and skill of how to fish.

Habitat - The seabed from Great Barrier Island right up

past the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Tamaki estuary is mostly muddy sand. The habitat of gazillions of crab, bait fish, worms and shellfish. One of the advantages of fishing close to shore in shallow water is you need not go far from the ramp. Generally it is calmer, with few if any obstacles to get snagged on. All of which allow you to be more focused. Where? I have caught a lot of fish in areas like from Takapuna, Browns Bay, Cheltenham, and St Heliers Bay, to the upper harbour and I have yet to come home fishless.

Even after often releasing 6-10 kilo snapper caught in 3-8m of water. The snapper will be spread out grazing just as 50 cattle in a paddock and the same analogy applies to snapper.

Your Sounder - The foot print [ the actual size of the area of bottom] is quite small so to get a better overall idea of the number and where the fish are, I zig zag into and across the current looking for even just a few marks.

The Bite - Snapper will feed into the current so not to get the gills clogged with muddy sand, simply nipping and ripping at their food. This what we term “light on the bite”.

Snapper are not competitive until the burly trail brings a number of fish close to the boat. Due to the way snapper graze, crunching up and sucking out the flesh then spitting out lumps of shell you might think these pick- pick type small bites are small fish- wrong!

The Gear - The ideal rig is a 6–7-foot spinning rod and reel combo with 6 -8 kg mono. Fishing a clean bottom in shallow water in a little current, a small ¼ oz sinker is all you need. The lighter the sinker the more you will see line movement and feel the bite without spooking the fish. ideally I will not use a sinker at all.

Line Movement - Staying in touch with the bait at all time is key to getting the feel of how they are feeding, by casting the bait out behind the boat then keeping the rod tip down low you will be able to see any line movement as well as feel the smallest of bite. Seeing line movement and pressure come on the line, I then lift the rod tip slightly to feel the weight of the fish. Now I can then either give the fish a bit more line or strike.

Burley - Burley is a great investment as the current will take it away from the boat and in time snapper and baitfish pick up the scent following it back to its source. Now with bait fish in the burley trail, a sabiki rig will provide you with fresh bait. Nearly all the big fish will be caught on fresh bait .

Reason being it hangs on the hook longer making it hard for smaller fish to rip apart and it’s when they are actively ripping at the bait, that the bigger fish swoop in and nail it.

It's not only snapper that will be feeding in the shallows but also kahawai and kingfish that get attracted by the bait fish in the burly trail. Over the years fishing off St Heliers Bay in only 3m I have caught and been blown to the weeds by a number of big kingfish up to 20 kilos. It’s all due to habitat and the right time of the year.

Keeping the rod tip low you can see line movement and feel even the smallest bite.

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B O AT R E V I E W : E L I T E 1 8 M S P O R T F I S H E R

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND

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As Crazy Diamond will be used for game fishing, the retruse transom is set at 45-deg for backing up on a big fish.

Pink Floyd’s lyrics to their hit song Shine On You Crazy Diamond starts with 'Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun. Shine on you crazy diamond'.

Crazy Diamond 3, the latest Elite 18m Sport fisher to be launched and the 75th from the talented pen of designer Bill Upfold, is definitely young, and it certainly shines.

TEXT BY BARRY THOMPSON INTERIOR IMAGES BY BRYCE TAYLOR & AERIALS BY RICHARD MILNER

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ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER

Being an enclosed flybridge, the upper deck will always be very much the epicentre of the boat when underway.

Interior fit-out is satin finish Walnut with interior colours coordinated by Parkhurst Design.

It is also the first full custom new build for Weber Marine of Gulf Harbour. Designed by Elite Marine Design for an Auckland businessman for sport fishing and family cruising, the 18m, Crazy Diamond is a timber composite build, utilising the best materials available for strength and weight-saving, such as epoxy resins balsa and foam cores where applicable.

A variable deadrise monohedren hull form, it has been developed by the designer over the years for his sport fishing series. The last third of the hull has a constant deadrise of around 14 deg, with a massive flared bow and silent chines. Being Braden Weber’s first new build, you might expect a few clichés during construction and the presentation of the boat. Not so.

The fitout is exemplary, and the attention to detail from the Weber Marine team is as good as I have ever seen on a custom build. The owner’s expectations have been fulfilled to the highest standards by a very talented group of boat builders.

Both Braden and Bill also had high praise for the owner, who they said was a dream to work with and was able to appreciate some of the problematic issues during construction caused by Covid-19. “Everything went smoothly from the day we laid the keel to launching the boat, and even with two Covid-19 lockdowns, with all its issues, he was a pleasure to deal with”, said Braden.

SISTERSHIP

While in discussions with both the builder and designer, the owner had the opportunity to check out Peregrine, another 18m Elite Sport Fisher recently launched. “We took him for a ride and showed him through the boat. He liked what he saw, and the result is Crazy Diamond which in many respects is a sistership to Peregrine,’ says Bill.

However, while the basic format of the boat is very much the same, there are some significant differences.

Most notably, Crazy Diamond has an internal staircase to the bridge, whereas Peregrine›s access is from the cockpit. There is also more rod storage in the cockpit, plus a set of stabilisers, and while the engines are the same, they have been tweaked from 735hp to 800hp.

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Power comes from twin MAN i6 800 engines and features full hydraulics and EJS manoeuvering system, which incorporates bow and stern thrusters and both engines for joystick controlled close quarters manoeuvering. The power is transmitted through conventional shafts into shallow tunnels, running ZF 5B propellers. As Crazy Diamond will be used for game fishing, the retruse transom is set at 45-deg for backing up on a big fish.

While 1600hp is an excellent match for the 18m Elite, Bill says that the design will easily handle a lot more and even suggests a couple of 1000hp engines to give the boat a speed well over 32 knots.

Initial sea trials saw the boat easily reach design parameters. The maiden voyage was from Gulf Harbour to Whitianga just four days after launching.

This was to have the remainder of the upholstery

fitted due to Covid-19 not allowing the upholster into Auckland to be open. A case of taking the mountain to Mohammed. Braden Weber reported the boat ran perfectly at 21kts. Crazy Diamond has maximum speed of 28.5 knots and uses 280L total.

Interestingly the lpnm changes very little change between 15kts and 21kts, which is around 8.0 lpnm.

Fitted with TRAC stabiliser fins for passage making and trolling, it will be an asset for planed Pacific Island trips. Crazy Diamond is also equipped with long-range tanks negating the need for bladders.

“If you just want to sit in a bay and have no roll, then the gyro is the way to go. But if you are underway, and especially considering this owner plans some serious offshore passages, I recommend fin stabilisers every time. This is the first of my boats to be fitted with stabiliSers”, says Bill.

A variable deadrise monohedren hull form, it has been developed by the designer over the years for his sport fishing series.

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ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER

Just like the splitlevel cockpit, the rest of Crazy Diamond set up to entertain.

Power comes from twin MAN i6 800 engines and features full hydraulics and EJS manoeuvering system.

You can completely customise the accommodation layout.

A dedicated systems space comes with racks for the game rods.

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SOCIAL LOUNGE

Interior fit-out is satin finish Walnut exquisitely executed by the talented master craftsmen at Weber’s yard with interior colours coordinated by Parkhurst Design. Kim Forkert of Parkhurst Design, has had a long standing relationship with the designer and was once again commissioned to give her magic touch to the interior. Her expert knowledge of the practical nature of marine design, coupled with attention to detail, the awareness of use of space as well as in depth knowledge of products that can withstand the environment, has created a reputation unrivalled in marine interior design. From the custom made furnishings to the window treatments and fabrics, the environment surrounding Crazy Diamond reflects the owners individuality.

The layout is somewhat conventional and, as you would expect in a sport fisher of this style.

Being a full-custom build, you can configure the interior to suit your desires. While many serious sport fishing designs inherently have no forward windscreen, Crazy Diamond has broken with convention and features a curved central screen, but still with plenty of structure on either side. This still gives the feeling of a sport fisher but has the bonus of letting in more light.

Crazy Diamond has a very social lounge, with two separate spaces that blend seamlessly together and give the saloon a big open feeling. The pop-up TV is placed so anyone can watch it from either of the lounge suites. To starboard is a large dining table

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with a wet bar and icemaker aft.

The port side U-shape galley is finished with all the necessary equipment to feed all aboard and includes a convection oven, fridge-freezer, pantry and dropdown rear window for servery to the cockpit.

Like the rest of Crazy Diamond set up to entertain, the split-level cockpit has a small settee and table on the upper deck with twin Kenyon BBQs opposite.

However, it is also functional when it comes to fishing. A central island in the transom has the obligatory live bait tank, plus there is provision for a fighting chair and dedicated rod storage.

To starboard is a deep refrigerated kill tank in the sole. Cavity doors on either side lead to the fixed boarding platform. This can be changed to a rise/ fall if you prefer.

THREE CABIN LAYOUT

I am so used to seeing a full-beam master in a boat this size it was refreshing to find that Crazy Diamond bucked the trend replacing it with a master and a guest cabin. Add to this a VIP stateroom forward, and you have three cabins complete with sleeping for eight. You can completely customise the accommodation layout.

Bill says by moving away from the full-beam master, he has been able to keep the boat’s profile a lot lower, and the structural integrity is not compromised from having such broad, unsupported surfaces.

The starboard side master stateroom comes with an en-suite complete with a large shower stall, vanity

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ELITE 18M SPORTFISHER Crazy Diamond is the 75th Elite to be launched.

and head. There’s a queen-size central berth with storage lockers on either side, plus a deep hanging locker. The forward VIP has both a central queen berth and a full-size pilot berth on either side.

The port side guest cabin has single upper/lower bunks and shares the same bathroom as the VIP. Again, the best use of space has been made with plenty of storage options. This area also provides easy access to the utility room, which in Crazy Diamond houses the washer/dryer freezer, air-con system and water maker. Vybar insulation is used on the bulkhead to help keep the engine room noise to a minimum.

Continuing that attention to detail, all the internal surfaces not covered in fabric or lining are finished in high gloss white International paint. Clean, clinical and very user friendly.

SPECIFICATIONS Boat Design Name: Elite 18m Sport fisher Year Launched: Nov 2021 Designer: Elite Marine Design Ltd Interior Designer: Parkhurst Design Builder: Weber Marine LOA: 18.2m LOH: 18m Beam: 5.4m Draft: 1.2m Displacement (full): 26800kg Max Speed: 28.4kt (full)

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Construction: Epoxy/wood composite Fuel Capacity: 6200L Water Capacity: 800L Engines Make/HP: MAN i6 800hp Gearboxes: Twin Disc Drive Train: Conventional Shaft in tunnels Propellers: ZF 5b Generator: Onan Inverter/Charger: Mastervolt Air Conditioning: Webasto Watermaker: Aqua 200 Bow Thruster: Twin Disc

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

ONE STATION

Being an enclosed flybridge, the upper deck will always be very much the epicentre of the boat when underway. Crazy Diamond’s layout lends itself to be enjoyed by everyone aboard, with the helm aft and a massive wrap-around lounger forward. The centre point of the facia is a trio of Garmin 17” screens, with Fusion entertainment on hand to pump the sounds around the boat.

Twin aft helm seats back onto bi-fold doors that open onto an outside upper deck. The owner of Peregrine chose clears for this area. Following the owner›s interest in sport fishing, there is another set of engine controls on the aft railing to go along with another set in the cockpit.

While sport sedans are certainly more popular than sport fishers, we are seeing a resurgence in the flybridge sport fishers, and Crazy Diamond is an excellent example of those latest trends.

Stern Thruster: Twin Disc Stabilisers: Trac Anchor Winch: Maxwell Anchors: Ultra stainless Steering: Twin Disc BCS Engine Controls: Twin Disc Remote Eng Control: EJS Lighting: Hella Underwater Lights: Lumitec Paint (Topsides): Awlcraft 2000 Paint (Antifouling): International 99 Hatches: Cule Wipers: Exalto

Windows: Seamac Davit Crane: Davco Tender: Highfield Saloon Doors: Seamac Helm Chairs: Stidd Searchlight: Jabsco ELECTRONICS Autopilot: Garmin MFD: Garmin Radar: Garmin VHF: Icom Entertainment Sys: Fusion Base Price of Boat: POA Contact: Elite Marine Design info@elitemarine.co.nz

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THE WOW FACTOR

MERCURY’S V12 600 VERADO TAKES OUTBOARD INNOVATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL Over the years we have seen some very innovative technology introduced into the marine propulsion market. Take for example the first sterndrive from Mercury Marine, the Duoprop and later IPS from Volvo Penta, four stroke and diesel outboards and now the talk is all about electric and hybrid. Well there is a new player that’s stepped up to challenge all that has gone before. Mercury Marine’s, 7.6 litre V12 600hp Verado outboard redefines outboard performance and takes innovation to the next level.

With this launch, Mercury continues to transform the high-horsepower outboard market, providing its most powerful and capable outboard, which includes several industry first features for a wide variety of applications.

“With boats continuing to grow bigger and performance expectations continuing to rise, boat owners have been asking for a better, more capable high horsepower solution to meet their needs. The V12 Verado outboard is Mercury’s answer,” said Chris Drees, Mercury Marine president.

“Using our advanced engineering and design capabilities, we completely redefined outboard performance.

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This is a remarkable engine that will change the future of boating.”

You would simply describe the V12 Verado as a beast of an engine. It is seriously large not only in horsepower but also statue. It weighs in at 572 kgs and requires a specially designed transom to mount to.

It is the world’s first V12 outboard, based on a naturally aspirated, large displacement, quad cam powerhead that generates impressive torque to get heavy boats out of the hole and on plane quickly, and to accelerate up to rated speed rapidly.

The V12 Verado outboard delivers everything you want and more in a high-horsepower outboard.

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

This engine makes boats easy to manoeuvre near the dock and provides superior handling at all speeds.

Although Pacific PowerBoat magazine didn’t get the opportunity to run full fuel and performance tests on the 600hp V12, the well-respected boattest.com has performed a number of tests on 2/3/4 engine multi rigs.

Fuel consumption at maximum rpm (6400-6500) is around 190 lph per engine. Drop that back to a more sedate cruise of 4500 rpm and you can expect somewhere close to 95 lph per engine. At 3500 rpm the fuel drops to around 70 lph.

With the V12, Mercury continues to transform the high-horsepower outboard market.

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The gearcase pivots independently underwater while the engine’s powerhead remains in a space saving fixed position.

GAME-CHANGING GEARCASE However, for all its features at the top end, it is what’s underwater that has seen the most significant change in outboard technology. This is where the wow factor comes into play. Then V12 Verado introduces not only the industry’s first two speed automatic transmission for an outboard optimises engine rpm according to workload, facilitating powerful acceleration and highly efficient performance at cruise, but also the first steerable gearcase.

The outboard’s powerhead — everything an observer can see above the water line — remains in a fixed position, perpendicular to the transom at all times. The steering occurs underwater, using a gearcase that pivots the engine’s contra rotating props to the right and left.

Advantages include the elimination of a boat mounted steering system and enhanced handling and manoeuvrability. Because the steering system does not have to move the entire engine, its performance is exceedingly agile.

Plus, while conventional outboards typically pivot 30 degrees in one direction or another for steering, the V12 Verado outboard’s gearcase can pivot up to 45 degrees in a particular direction under joystick operation. This provides much more authority to effectively manoeuvre a large boat. This feature, combined with the lower propeller speed in first gear, provides precise handling at docking speeds.

The gearcase pivots independently underwater while the engine’s powerhead remains in a space saving fixed position.

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steering angle for agile handling. With help from contra rotating propellers, it also has better “bite” in the water for docking and other close quarters manoeuvring.

The two speed automatic transmission optimises engine rpm according to workload, facilitating powerful acceleration and highly efficient performance at cruise. First gear is 20% lower than second gear, leveraging the engine’s high torque to accelerate the boat and get it up on plane quickly. The engine continues to deliver robust power and acceleration through its power shift all the way to rated speed.

The gearcase system’s contra rotating propeller configuration improves performance with more total blade area. There is also a hydrodynamic advantage as the contra rotating propellers’ seven blades (four in front, three in rear) mount to a smaller torpedo than would be required for a single large, four blade propeller.

A full line of propellers in various pitches and up to 18 inches in diameter, all designed specifically for the V12 Verado outboard, is available.

These propellers minimise slip, providing more rapid acceleration.

The contra rotating configuration also makes docking manoeuvres easier by providing greater slow speed forward and reverse authority.

Mercury collaborated with top industry engineers to ensure that shifting —

The V12 lower gearcase rotates 45-degrees to each side, 15-degrees more than standard outboards typically rotate on their mounts.

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

which is synchronised on multi engine configurations — is so smooth that it’s nearly imperceptible to the boat’s passengers. The hydraulic shifting mechanism eliminates “shift clunk,” providing a premium experience at slow manoeuvring speeds and while using Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards. The two speed transmission also contributes to unrivalled fuel economy (and, therefore, unprecedented range) and exceptionally low sound levels, especially at cruise.

Mercury also offer a 500hp Mercury SeaPro outboard built on the 7.6 litre V12 platform and is engineered to withstand extraordinarily demanding commercial applications around the world. The 500hp SeaPro outboard shares features and benefits of the 600hp V12 Verado outboard.

The new 7.6 litre V12 600hp Verado engine is the highest horsepower outboard ever developed by Mercury Marine and in fact, it is the highest horsepower outboard engine in production today. Its naturally aspirated, large displacement, quad cam powerhead generates incredible torque to power large centre consoles, day boats, runabouts, luxury cruisers and more.

The first pair in New Zealand were fitted to a Rayglass 12.5m Protector, with the first single installation to be mounted on the transom of an Extreme 915.

ASTOUNDING FUEL EFFICIENCY Mercury attacked the goal of minimising fuel burn on several fronts. A sophisticated and proprietary fuel management system, something Mercury calls Advanced Range Optimisation, adjusts fuelling automatically in accordance with operating conditions. This results in significant fuel savings, especially at cruise.

Although Pacific PowerBoat magazine didn’t get the opportunity to run full fuel and performance data on the 600hp V12, the well-respected boattest. com has performed a number of tests on 2/3/4 engine multi rigs.

Fuel consumption at maximum rpm (6400-6500) is around 190 lph per

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The V12 Verado outboard delivers everything you want and more in a high-horsepower outboard.

engine. Drop that back to a more sedate cruise of 4500 rpm and you can expect somewhere close to 95 lph per engine. At 3500 rpm the fuel drops to around 70 lph.

A closed loop fuel control system uses wide range oxygen sensors to further optimise fuel mixture at all operating points and internal moving parts are protected by an advanced lubrication system designed to reduce windage and friction.

Every submerged surface of the midsection and gearcase is designed with a hydrodynamic shape to minimise drag. Plus, the contra rotating propellers provide maximum overall blade area, resulting in outstanding performance, acceleration and fuel economy.

The world’s first two-speed transmission on an outboard allows the engine’s rpm to come down at cruise — a key operating efficiency that saves fuel, extending range and running time on the water.

EASIER MAINTENANCE Mercury built the V12 Verado outboard to make maintenance easy. This engine is capable of operating for 200 hours before requiring routine service, including oil changes, and basic maintenance can be done through the innovative top cowl service hood while the boat is still in the water. The entire cowl doesn’t need to be removed to allow more in-depth service until 1,000 hours or five years. Plus, Mercury 64

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added enhanced engine monitoring systems to improve the overall boat ownership experience.

Routine maintenance is made easy with a newly designed cowl hood providing enough access to accomplish all the maintenance tasks associated with the 200-hour service interval without having to remove the boat from the water. Much more than a service hatch, this hood operates more like the hood of a car. Pressing the electronic release pops open the hood, and a gas strut holds it in place. Engine components are neatly arranged, and the touch points are colour coded. The service infographics inside are intuitive and easy to follow.

The V12 Verado outboard is designed for use with new premium Mercury Precision Lubricants products.

These include power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid and 10W 30 full synthetic engine oil, capable of providing maximum protection through a wide range of extreme operating conditions and temperatures.

Mercury applied industry-leading science to create a remarkably quiet and smooth boating experience. New noise management designs under the cowl and in the next generation Advanced Midsection result in extraordinary sound dampening and vibration mitigation. Plus, the electronically activated shifting of the two speed transmission is smooth and quiet.

Owners of large boats will love the extra space that using outboard engines frees up. Knowing this, Mercury brought several design elements together to minimise the space occupied by the V12 Verado engine, even when it is tilted to raise the props out of the water. The engine’s space saving design ensures its compatibility with a broader array of boats.

To conserve space on the transom, the engine features a tall, narrow angle “V” engine block design. The steerable gearcase eliminates the need for spacing that would otherwise be required to pivot the entire engine for steering. These characteristics enable the V12 Verado outboard to be mounted in multi engine configurations with a minimum spacing requirement of only 689cm (27”) from engine centre to engine centre. This 600hp engine needs only slightly more space on the transom than a 300hp Verado outboard and requires less spacing than competitors’ high horsepower outboards.

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

ENHANCED DIGITAL CONTROLS In addition to compatibility with the renowned Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards system, the V12 Verado outboard has the Next Gen Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) system. The new controls are sleek and ergonomic. Mercury made them more intuitive by adding features like push button access to Active Trim, which automatically adjusts trim for optimal performance. A Premier dual handle console mount control for multi engine boats includes an integrated digital display that connects boaters with valuable system information and helpful pop-ups.

Bigger boats with more amenities demand more onboard electrical power. The V12 Verado outboard stands up to the task with a muscular 150 amp alternator, the highest amp alternator in the outboard market.

Showing the V12 Verado transmission.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model Verado 600 V12 Displ 7.6 litres Cyl Config V12 Full RPM 5600-6400 Alternator 150amp Shaft Lengths 20”/25”/ 30”/35” Gearcase Rat 2.50:1 Dry Weight 572 kg RRP $NZ148,000 www.mercurymarine.com

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B O AT R E V I E W

BLADERUNNER TEXT BY MARK ROTHFIELD IMAGES BY MARK ROTHFIELD AND SUPPLIED

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AQUILA 36 SPORT P O W E R C AT A M A R A N

Borne on America’s Cup foiling technology, the Aquila 36 Sport power catamaran certainly rises to the occasion when it comes to performance gains.

N

ewton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, which in powerboating terms is fairly elementary – the more you apply throttle, the faster you travel and the more fuel you burn. It’s one of life’s givens.

So, old Sir Isaac might’ve been scratching his hirsute head somewhat when trying to fathom the wAquila 36 Sport power catamaran’s quite remarkable performance.

At 20 knots (37km/h), its twin 300hp Mercury V8 outboards burn 80lt/hr of juice combined. At 30 knots (56km/h), they’re still burning 80lt/hr total. That’s 10 extra knots for nix. Nada, zip, zilch and squat. Which is incredibly counterintuitive.

So what’s going on?

Well, Aquila calls it the Hydro Glide Foil System, and it’s as exciting as it sounds, foils being the new ‘black’ when it comes to extracting a major performance lift.

We’ve seen America’s Cup yachts transformed from toilers into hyrdofoilers; likewise with Moth dinghies, sailboards, and so on.

There’s a resulting perception that foils are futuristic, yet a quick history lesson reveals they’ve been around since the early-1900s. As a kid, a Manly hydrofoil ride on Sydney Harbour was literally a “high”. That thrill of flying over the water, like in those dreams when you levitate instead of run across untamed terrain.

The Manly foilers were phased out in the early 1990s and replaced by conventional cats because of maintenance issues. The foil concept was thenceforth parked until some canny sailors saw the merit many years later.

BORNE FREE

As it happens, I tested the standard Aquila 36 some

The Aquila 36 Sport rides higher and dryer as speed increases.

years ago and remember being impressed by how easily driven the big, twin-cabin power catamaran was. That boat also ran twin Mercury Verado 300s, albeit they were supercharged in-line 6-cylinder powerplants, not the current V8s.

We saw about 33 knots (61km/h) back then, and fuel burn was again around that 80lt mark at more moderate cruise speeds. Handling and ride were notable: “Rounded forward sections cleave through harbour chop that would have most monohulls backing off, downturned chines simultaneously taking care of spray. The hull typically turns flat through corners …”

I opined at the time.

So the already efficient hull was ripe for the picking when it came to adding an underwater appendage.

Also, its tunnel is relatively wide, allowing the wing to be high-aspect.

The main vee-shaped foil spans the tunnel amidships, supported by a strut, while two inward-facing fins aft provide lateral lift and stability.

Aquila’s designers haven’t gone too extreme, firstly because you have to berth the boat, secondly you don’t want to increase draft too much, and thirdly because a cruising boat needs to be more sedate when it comes to lifting and lowering under acceleration and deceleration respectively.

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A Q U I L A 3 6 S P O R T P O W E R C AT A M A R A N The Hydro Glide foil is solidly fixed to the hull.

Having a fully enclosed saloon transforms the Aquila’s cruising capabilities.

Forward- and aft-facing bow seats can convert to a sunlounge.

The blades are fixed, so you don’t need a pilot licence to fly this baby, nor do you need crash helmets.

What the designers wanted was to improve mid- to high-range performance. The beauty of a foil is that it generates hydrodynamic lift, like a wing. The faster you go, the more you rise. Less wetted surface equals less drag, more efficiency – hence the aforementioned fuel anomaly.

In the Aquila’s case, it’s not until around 15 knots (28km/h) you begin seeing benefit. So if you mainly potter around at lower speeds, save your bucks.

At 30 knots (56km/h) they reckon the hull is riding 15cm higher than the standard boat. From 35 knots (65km/h) to the maximum of 40 knots (74km/h), you’re reaping full benefit.

You can’t feel the transition, as there is no perceptible bow lift. Acceleration pushes you back into the seat though, while Mercury’s Active Trim system then automatically levels the ride with the two outboards.

The wake flattens and you get better seakeeping as the hull rides higher over the waves with more tunnel clearance. This, in turn, frees up the bows to slide through remarkably tight corners with negligible speed loss.

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With motors set well apart, the 36 Sport is remarkably manoeuvrable at all speeds.

The cabins accommodate a surprisingly large double berth.

Close-quarters manoeuvring with the standard Joystick Piloting control is nicely responsive, too. Aquila says the efficiency enhancements are in the order of 35 to 40 per cent. In this game, grandmothers are sold for mere 5 per cent gains, so that claim is remarkable. Honestly, I can’t recall a high-speed boost so profound, yet so simple.

Average fuel savings are in the order of 30 per cent – 30 per cent! – which means three things: happy polar bears, more money in your wallet, and increased range from the two fuel tanks totalling 1350lt. Increased range suddenly opens up new coast-hopping cruising opportunities.

The foils, incidentally, are only compatible with the 300s. Twin 400 Mercs are an option, but there’s only marginal speed gains for considerably more fuel burn – indeed, twice as much at some revs.

Drawbacks? Draft is one, because you could bring the standard boat comfortably into the beach. It drew 60cm whereas the foiler is 92cm. There’s also the risk of striking a submerged object, although in fairness the outboard legs would otherwise cop that blow.

Cost is another consideration, with the Hydro Glide being a $30K-plus option. Fuel savings and resale will help offset it.

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A Q U I L A 3 6 S P O R T P O W E R C AT A M A R A N

SEE CHANGE

Performance wasn’t the only difference I saw

A very functional and well laid out dash.

PERFORMANCE DATA Knots RPM 600 2.8 1000 4.2 1500 5.7 2000 7.0 2500 7.6 3000 10.5 3500 15.0 4000 19.4 4500 27.5 5000 32.7 5500 35.7 5700 38.3

L/h 4.9 10 16 25 39 53 65 79 95 111 155 181

L/NM 1.8 2.4 2.7 3.6 5.1 5.1 4.3 4.1 3.5 3.4 4.3 4.7

Range (NM) 693 515 446 335 239 239 280 298 350 358 280 257

Note: Range is allowing for 10% reserve fuel.

SPECIFICATIONS Boat Design Name: Aquila 36 Sport Year Launched: 2021 Builder: Aquila LOA: 10.96 m Beam: 4.45 m Displ (light): p6700 kg Draft: (with foils): 0.92 m Max Speed: 40 knots Construction: GRP Fuel Cap: 1350 litres

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Water Cap: 200 litres Engine Make: 2 x Mercury 300 Verado Drive Train: Outboard Only Generator: MFD: Raymarine Winch: Lewmar Ent System: Fusion Priced From: AUD $859,155 NZD $911,640 Contact: Whitehaven Group

www.aquilaboats.com.au

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

between the older and newer Aquilas, mostly a result of owner preference. For example, where the 2017 test boat had a runabout-style, halfheight windscreen and open hardtop, our 36 Sport featured a full-height windshield, side windows and three-panel sliding door aft.

Inherent to the Cruiser Package, these transform the Aquila’s persona and functionality, affording fully enclosed, all-weather comfort in a 40-knot sports vessel. A dayboat/overnighter becomes a genuine long weekender. Lockability is another bonus for secure marina berthing.

In the cockpit, the test boat also sported hand-picked items from Aquila’s Fishing Package, comprising an electric barbecue to starboard and livewell to port, spanning a central, back-to-back lounge that can convert to a sunbed. The swim platform, incidentally, is counted in the 36ft designation, with hull length closer to 32ft (9.75m).

That said, the vast bow-riding area is where the magic happens. A walk-through windshield provides access and, once there, the seating can be configured in multiple ways. It’s so sociable.

Add an L-shaped dining area with folding table in the saloon, along with the forward-facing helm and passenger bench seats, and they say you can have 26 people on the 36 in smooth waters. I’d suggest a few fewer, maybe 15 to 20, for comfort.

The Aquila also has two separate companionway entries leading to deceptively spacious cabins with a double bed and en suite apiece. Headroom is 1.98m, while the mattresses measure 2m by 1.4m wide. A cosy retreat for two couples.

The 36’s galley is minimalistic – more of a wetbar in the test boat’s case – but there’s generous fridge and storage space.

Really, such is the flexibility, you can run the 36 Sport any way you like. So seldom do you find outboard-powered cats of this size and scope that its rivals mostly come from the express monohull ranks. Within Aquila itself, the 36 has smaller outboard-powered sisters in the 32 and upcoming 28, while the inboard range comprises 44, 54 and 70 models.

Construction quality is evident all-round, from the PVC-cored hull infused with high-quality vinylester resin, to the stainless-steel fittings with polished welds. Light displacement is 6.7t, while fully loaded, in Cruiser spec, it’s around 9.2t.

That’s a hefty amount of boat to lift, but the Hydro Glide foils are more than up to the task. I reckon they make an already good boat a whole lot better.

36

DISCOVER THE AQUILA 36 SPORT POWER CATAMARAN

With a design that bridges the divide between highly functional, recreational day-boats and luxury sport yachts, the Aquila 36 Sport features details and quality that are astounding. Offering the conveniences of a large yacht including topside summer kitchen, the Aquila 36 Sport has cockpit seating for over two dozen adults and two comfortable cabins with private en-suite heads.

Experience the full line of Aquila boats at aquilaboats.com.au Or call us today on 1300 192 604 to arrange an inspection.

28

32

36

44

54

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PART OF THE WHITEHAVEN GROUP

aquilaboats.com.au

C O A S T G U A R D E D U C AT I O N S E R I E S

Do you know what to do in an

emergency?

As professionals at sea, a lot of emphasis is placed on being prepared for an emergency at sea. This is done through regular drills and familiarity with procedures and the

equipment that is onboard. This should be no different on a recreational vessel no matter what size or propulsion.

When PPB contributor Aaron Fletcher has his boat sink under him while returning from Great Barrier Island, he followed the rules about what to do in an emergency and ultimately all on board and the boat was saved

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If you are going to be towed, the rescue vessel will check on strong points to tow and use their tow line.

In previous articles the importance of safety equipment such as life jackets, two forms of communication and a grab bag have been discussed. And as a skipper it is essential that the basic checks are completed before heading out on the water. But one of the most common things that people forget before a boating outing is the safety briefing. This doesn’t have to be long winded but it’s important that everyone on board is fully briefed and knows what to do in an emergency.

Some things that you can cover in your safety brief:

1. Basic safety around the boat 2. The location of safety equipment and how to use it 3. The location of the communication gear and how to use it

As a skipper, a good way to think about this is to ask the question, “What if I’m incapacitated or I’ve fallen overboard? Can my crew keep themselves and the vessel safe and call for help? Do they know where the appropriate safety and communication gear is and how to use it”? Fatalistic maybe, but an essential part of being a skipper is considering the worst-case scenarios and having a plan to minimize these risks or know what to do if one should arise. Some examples of the types of emergencies you may encounter on the water (not exhaustive):

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Fire Person Overboard Collision Grounding Flooding/Sinking Medical Event Loss of steering/ propulsion not necessarily an emergency in itself but could lead to one!

The first two mentioned; Fire and Person Overboard are two emergencies that need a plan before you leave the leave the harbour.

This is one of the things you should discuss in your briefing. A basic response would be:

1. Raise the alarm

ensure everybody onboard knows there’s a problem

2. Account for

everybody on board get to a safe position

3. Put on lifejackets if they are not already on

4. Stop, Breath and Plan what’s the response?

5. Communicate as required

Your plan to the crew and external signals (see below)

6. Stay with the boat in event of capsize/flooding

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1. MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY

If you are going to use a VHF in an emergency situation, the words are simple…Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

2. THIS IS ______, ______, ______ [vessel name spoken three times]

3. CALL SIGN __________ [of the vessel spoken once]

4. MAYDAY ____________

[vessel name and callsign spoken once]

5. MY POSITION IS __________

[vessel’s latitude and longitude OR bearing]

6. WE _____________________

[nature of distress and assistance required]

7. ________________________ [any other information, e.g. number of

persons on board, description of vessel, liferaft or dinghy carried]

8. OVER

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A DISTRESS CALL A distress call otherwise known as a MAYDAY is one where you are in grave and imminent danger. This is not a time to hesitate- if there is risk of loss of life or vessel then make the call immediately. Distress calls can always be ‘de-escalated’ if the situation changes but best to get help on the way as soon as possible.

To make a distress call you would need to use the VHF Radio. All users of a VHF radio should complete the VHF Marine Operator’s Certificate as a minimum although anybody can use the VHF in a distress situation.

Ensure you are on Channel 16, High Power. Speak slowly and clearly (easy to say here) and use the distress calling card sticker next to your radio for Mayday (Distress) call format. If you don’t have one then contact Maritime New Zealand or look in the back of your Radio handbook.

A distress call should follow this format:

Clearly say

If you have an EPIRB/PLB you should also activate this as it will send your position information to the emergency services. Other visual signals you could use include red handheld or parachute and orange smoke flares. https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/documents/ distress-calling.pdf One of the big advantages of calling on a VHF is that all users listen on Ch 16 (yes so keep a listening watch whilst out and about) and will hear the distress call. Often the vessel closest is your best bet and maybe able to help you quicker than another rescue vessel.

Rescue efforts will be coordinated via Maritime Radio in the event of a VHF call.

Whilst a VHF call is preferred for distress calls many use cellphones. If all you have is a cellphone you would need to call 111 and ask for Police.

NZ Police manage Search and Rescue (SAR) for inshore A personal EPIRB is an excellent safety device. maritime areas. They would then call on resources that are available- Coastguard units, rescue helicopter, surf lifesaving, harbourmaster and port vessels as appropriate.

Cellphones have limitations with coverage, battery life and operation with wet hands so this should be a secondary method and remember to always use a water-proof case and keep it around your neck.

visit www.hutchwilco.com for your local stockist PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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C O A S T G U A R D E D U C AT I O N S E R I E S

SO, YOU’VE CALLED FOR HELP, NOW WHAT? Be proactive about your situation.

For example, if the boat is taking on water get your crew to help bail out, if you have lost someone overboard then make sure you have a pointer so you do not lose the person and have something to throw overboard once you get closer to the person.

Monitor your crew and reassure them.

Remember, hypothermia is a killer so keep people warm and hydrated (always carry a grab bag, including polyprops, beanie, fleece, bottled water, energy foods, torch, suncream etc)

Get prepared for rescue.

If you are going to be towed, the rescue vessel will check on strong points to tow and use their tow line.

Ensure the foredeck is clear and accessible. In the event of a helicopter arrival- they are very noisy and send things flying! Secure/stow away loose items. Communication for the plan will need to occur before they are overhead.

A Hutchwilco safety bag is made to keep all your necessary safety gear close at hand.

Remember if possible stay with your vessel. It is the best thing to do as it’s much easier to spot a boat in the water than a person. It’s also much warmer onboard than in the water.

So as long as it’s safe to dose stay onboard.

And Remember…

Carrying the safety gear, whilst important doesn’t necessarily make you safer. Education, planning, preparation and making conservative decisions increases your chance of not needing the safety gear…

Safe Boating.

Make sure your tender is ready to go and easily detached, so it doesn’t go down with the boat.

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JANUARY MARCH / APRIL / FEBRUARY 2022 | 2022 PACIFIC | PACIFIC POWERBOAT POWERBOAT MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

Crownline 220 SS Surf

Finseeker 280 DC Fishing Boat

$229,990

$594,990

LOA - 6.7m | Beam – 2.5m | Volvo Penta 350hp EVC DP | Volvo Twin Surf Touchscreens with Speed, Ballast and Tab Control | Wet Sounds system | LED lighting package | Wakeboard Tower with Board Storage | Tandem, Braked, Colour Matched Trailer | F.A.S.T Tab System

LOA - 8.8m | Beam – 2.84m | Twin Mercury Verado 350hp | Electric windlass and anchor system | Twin Garmin 12” displays | Galley with drawer fridge, countertop, sink, and tool/tackle cabinets | Enclosed head with sink and granite countertop | Enclosed hard top with walkthrough bow seating | Underfloor rod storage | Underfloor catch storage

Herley Boats Elite 8

Ocean Craft Marine 7.1m AMPHIBIOUS

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LOA - 8.23m | Beam – 2.5m | Twin Honda BF200 Drive by Wire Outboards | Garmin 16" Display with 1KW Transducer & Autopilot | Pull-out galley | Head | Foldable Rocket Launcher | Fusion Stereo System | Lonestar Electric Drum Winch | Custom Sliding Bait Station | Live Bait Tank

LOA - 7.1m | Beam – 2.52m | Honda 200hp outboard “drive by wire” | ORCA Hypalon 1670 Dtex inflatable tubing | 4x4 Orion generation 2 amphibious system | Garmin 10” chart plotter with depth sounder | Fishing bait station with 6 rod holders | Electric winch with stainless steel anchor and chain | Fusion marine stereo system

Crownline 294 Overnight Cruiser

Herley Boats 3400 Hybrid / Electric Power Cat

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LOA - 8.9m | Beam – 3.63m | Sleeps 4 | Twin Mercruiser 6.2L, 300 horsepower | Galley electric stove & stainless sink, refrigerator, and microwave | Cockpit galley with electric BBQ, refrigerator, and stainless sink | Wet Sounds system with 8 speakers | Shower/Head with electric flush, black tank and pump out

LOA - 10.2m | Beam – 4.7m | Sleeps 4 | Motor – 2x 100kw peak, 60 kw continuous, Brushless, Permanent magnet | 2× 12″ Garmin GPSMAP 8612 | 1.8kw Solar Panels | Battery Bank – 60kWh Lithium-ion | Fusion Sound System | Galley with oven, cooktop, stainless sink, and 90L fridge freezer | Head with ceramic electric toilet, basin, and storage | Shower

Euro City Marine - 12 Clearwater Cove, Hobsonville Marina, Auckland | Ph 09 416 2190 Euro City (Head Office) - 120 Prebensen Drive, Napier | Ph 06 835 8810 Email: enquiries@eurocity.co.nz | www.eurocitymarine.co.nz

B O AT R E V I E W

ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE

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A B S O L U T E N AV ET TA 5 8

Recently arrived in New Zealand, the Italian designed and built, Absolute Navetta 58 has the expedition look combined for with all the right credentials for long-range cruising.

TEXT BY BOATTEST.COM - CAPT STEVE

The Navetta 58 is designed for ease of passage from bow to stern.

T

he Absolute Navetta 58 is an expedition yacht designed for an owner-operator. Her open layout lends itself well to cruising with the family and her crew quarters add flexibility in the form of accommodations for crew when the captain isn’t the type to want to do their own maintenance or for unexpected guests.

Absolute Yachts designed the Navetta 58 to be a long-range expedition yacht. Her flying bridge is large and has a spacious boat deck with the capacity for a tender. The main decks laid out for the galley to serve the aft cockpit and salon with equal efficiency and below decks she sleeps six.

OUTDOOR SPACES

Stairs to port in the cockpit lead up to the Navetta 58’s flying bridge. Just ahead, the bar has an ice maker, an Isotherm refrigerator, a drop-in cooler and a grill under a fiberglass hatch. To starboard, a J-shaped seat wraps outboard around a fixed height table. Aft, the boat deck has space for a tender or free-standing furniture can be set out.

Overhead, the forward half of the flying bridge is protected by a moulded hardtop that has an opening centre section. Lounges extend forward on each side of the centrally-positioned helm. A single bucket seat with a foldup bolster is in line with the steering wheel, abaft a manually-adjustable windscreen.

On each side are vertical electronics flats that can accommodate up to 12” multifunction displays.

Below to the left of the tilt wheel is a Volvo Penta engine-monitoring screen with the VHF radio microphone alongside. Working outboard from the steering wheel to the right are the bow thruster joystick, the trim tab buttons with built-in position indicators, the Volvo Penta digital controls, the IPS joystick and the Fusion stereo.

From the flying bridge, we could look forward over the bow, which has a forward-facing sofa-style lounge on the front of the pilothouse. Outboard on each side are deep drop-in lockers that could be good for fenders. There’s a walkway between it and the sunpad on the foredeck. All three backrests for this sunpad can be raised to one of three angled positions to create chaise-lounge-style seating.

Working our way aft down the side decks, the bulwarks at the bow are 55.88 cm tall and with the additional height of the rails provide a safe passageway. We also like that the side decks are fully protected overhead. The side decks exit at the aft cockpit, which has a lounge across the stern and a fixed table. The flying bridge extends aft above the area, offering protection from the elements and 1.85 m of headroom. A shade can be lowered from the trailing edge of the flying bridge to fill in between two posts to provide privacy or protection from the sun.

Passageways on each side that lead to the swim platform close with stainless-steel-framed acrylic gates. To starboard is a pull-out rain-water style shower head. The swim platform lowers into the water hydraulically to create a private beach or launch a tender. A centrally-positioned door opens to access the crew quarters.

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A B S O L U T E N AV ET TA 5 8

INVITING INTERIOR

With its carbon-fiber and upholstered black accents, the lower helm has a high-tech appearance.

Light material colours and large windows create an open, spacious feeling in the saloon.

Double sliding stainless-steel-framed doors and a window that retracts into the aft galley counter link the aft cockpit with the galley and dinette area. The latter is to starboard and the U-shaped lounge wraps around a high-gloss table on a fixed pedestal. Outboard, the large saloon window extends below the backrest for the lounge, creating nearly panoramic views. Headroom in this area is 2.0m.

The galley is to port. Aft, just inside the entryway is a full-size refrigerator/freezer housed in a cabinet that matches the interior wood. There’s ample food-preparation space in the Corian countertops, plus a two-burner stove and microwave-convection oven. Above and below

The saloon lounge to port is on a raised level, which creates outstanding views out the side windows and windshield.

Light material colours and large windows create an open, spacious feeling in the saloon.

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the counters are a variety of cabinets.

With the push of a button, a glass partition extends inboard from the port bulwark to separate the galley from the forward saloon lounge. It is two steps up from the galley/ dinette area to the forward saloon/helm deck but Absolute retains the same headroom in this area as in the galley. To port, another lounge wraps around a freestanding table that can be moved.

Across to starboard is an entertainment cabinet into which a 50” (127 cm) TV retracts on an electric lift.

Forward to starboard, the lower helm has a soft-touch upholstered top, and the 17” Garmin multifunction displays and Seakeeper control pad were set in vertical carbonfibre panels. The Volvo Penta EVC screen is to starboard with accessory switches flanking the non-tilt steering wheel. To

the left of the wheel are the engine start-stop buttons and trim-tab buttons while the digital engine controls are just to the right. Outboard of these are the Volvo Penta joystick and the bow thruster toggle. Our test boat had a single leather high-backed bucket seat that slides fore and aft and has a flip-up bolster. A noteworthy highlight of the helm is the watertight door immediately outboard to starboard. The inset hinged window is the first of its type that we’ve seen. The captain can open the door and step out with a hand on the joystick for the drives or joystick and see the whole starboard side of the boat.

THREE CABINS

Centrally positioned stairs forward of the helm lead to the Navetta 58’s accommodations deck. A companionway leads aft to the master stateroom, which has the same headroom as in the salon, 2.0 m). Large hullside windows let in lots of natural light. There’s storage on each side with a compartmentalized vanity to port and a hanging locker to starboard. Across from the foot of the berth to port is the entry to the master head that has a vessel sink, large mirror and a separate shower.

Exit the master and the companionway leads to the VIP cabin in the bow. Absolute defied convention by positioning the berth to starboard instead of the usual location on the centerline. The overhead deck hatch has a screen and a shade, but the amount of light it lets in is limited by the foredeck sunpad behind just inches above. That’s fine because the hullside windows bathe the area in natural light. There’s a mirrored hatch for the hanging locker and the en suite head is finished similarly to the master.

The bow has plenty of space for sun worshippers to stretch out.

The flying bridge offers a mix of fixed and movable lounges plus protected and open-air gathering areas.

The bow has plenty of space for sun worshippers to stretch out.

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ABSOLUTE N AV ET TA 5 8

Using advanced construction techniques and materials lets Absolute build the flying bridge hardtop with minimal supports so the views are excellent.

The VIP and master staterooms are both huge and inviting.

When the hydraulic swim platform is lowered, stairs to starboard extend with it.

In the companionway abaft the VIP stateroom to port is a cabinet with a combination washer-dryer unit.

To starboard is the guest cabin with two berths that can slide together and there’s private entry to the day head. Two more guests or crewmembers can enter the aft quarters from the swim platform. Inside, there are two berths on each side of the head. Entry to the engine compartment is via a watertight hatch in the crew head or a day hatch in the cockpit.

Circumstances beyond our control kept us from testing the Navetta 58, but Absolute provided numbers from its sea trial. The twin D8-IPS 800s maxed out at 3071 rpm and hit 27.7 knots. Best cruise came at 2300 rpm where Absolute recorded 15.1 knots and 142 lph. Do the math and that’s a range of 230 nautical miles with 10 percent of the boat’s 2,400 litre fuel capacity in reserve.

OBSERVATIONS

With her expedition yacht looks and extra-solid construction, the Navetta 58 feels every bit like the long-range cruiser she’s designed to be. The quality of her build is reflected in her creak- and rattle-free ride when underway. With the IPS joystick and bow thruster, she handles well around the docks. She also has multiple gathering areas where family and friends can spread out during an extended cruise.

When underway and while entertaining a crowd, the Navetta 58 feels bigger than her actual size.

SPECIFICATIONS Boat Design Name: Absolute Navetta 58 Year Launched: 2022 Builder: Absolute Yachts LOA: 17.42 m Beam: 5.04 m Draft: 1.4 m Displacement (dry): 33190 kg Max Speed: 27.7 Knots Construction: GRP Fuel Capacity: 2400 litres

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Water Cap: 650 litres Engine Make: Volvo Penta IPS 800 Drive Train: IPS Gyro: (Optional) Sea Keeper Anchor Winch: Quick Engine Controls: Volvo Penta MFD: Garmin Priced From: POA Contact:

www.yachtfindersglobal.com

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RISK TAKERS PART THREE

The Risk 84

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Don Aronow created an all-conquering, epochmaking race boat resulted in the adoption of a generic name for all boats of that type thereafter.

PART 3:

DON ARONOW

In this, the third part of our four-part series, Danny Casey examines the life, times and shocking, brutal death of the man who put the gloss, glitz and glamour into the then gritty but nascent sport of offshore powerboat racing – a man whose creation of an all-conquering, epoch-making race boat resulted in the adoption of a generic name for all boats of that type thereafter. The boat was known as “The Cigarette” and the man behind it created a legacy, an empire and maybe even a mystique that still resonates today.

The legendary “Cigarette” branding was named after a famous rum runner’s launch of that name from the Prohibition era.

N

ortheast 188th Street, North Miami was a bland, seedy industrial area, made up of nondescript boatbuilding facilities and allied fabrication and engineering businesses. It was the sort of stark industrial area one would also find in Auckland, Sydney or Los Angeles. However, NE 188th Street also had an imposing and impressive alternative name that belied its stark environs. It was, and still is, known as Thunderboat Row and was so named because it housed, along both sides of its short length, several companies involved in the building of highperformance offshore powerboats. And

nearly all these enterprises were spinoffs of the original company started in 1963, in that very street, by Donald Joel Aronow.

In the drug-fuelled, hedonistic Miami of the mid-late 1980s, the only excitement in this otherwise nondescript street was when the magnificent creations from these factories were craned into the canals that flanked the dead-end road for testing. But other than the start-up barks of powerful engines that then idled and lolled out into open water, the street went about its regular business of constructing very fast boats in purpose-built facilities.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, 1987, an otherwise unremarkable Miami winter

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RISK TAKERS PART THREE

day, a man walked unannounced into the office of Don Aronow’s newest boat company, USA Racing Team, on the premise that he was there on behalf of his boss, who was extremely wealthy and could not therefore be identified. This representative for the mystery buyer was muscular, well-built and very tall, at maybe six feet four inches. He looked sturdier, fitter and heavier than Aronow, who was himself six feet three and 220-plus pounds (in US parlance).

The visitor said his boss wanted him to talk to Aronow about purchasing a custom-built boat. Aronow said that that would be no problem; he’d gladly take the guy’s boss’s money and build whatever the boss wanted, but it’d be better if he talked with the boss directly. As the conversation progressed and it became apparent that the name of the visitor’s mystery employer would not be forthcoming, Aronow asked the visitor for ID and the guy made a great flourish of reaching round to his rear pocket for his wallet. “Whaddya know,” he said. “Musta left it in the car.”

Aronow then asked him his name, and the guy answered: “Jerry Jacoby.”

Aronow knew Jerry Jacoby well, as Jacoby had been the 1981 UIM World Offshore Champion and the 1982 US Offshore There was a Champion – but this visitor mercenary and unsavoury side to was not Jerry Jacoby.

Aronow’s character.

Aronow, who had seemed preoccupied and edgy for weeks, rushed to leave and fobbed “Jacoby” off on his sales manager, telling the sales manager to take the visitor out to the yard to show him the boats. But the guy had no interest in seeing any boats and briskly exited the premises.

Some minutes later, seemingly rattled and distracted, Aronow left the office, got into his white Mercedes-Benz 560 SL convertible and drove the short distance up the street to see a friend, Bob Saccenti, who was also a business competitor, at Saccenti’s boatbuilding company, Apache Performance.

Saccenti had been injured in a recent powerboat race and Aronow wanted to see how he was doing.

After some minutes schmoozing and trading friendly – albeit rather forced – banter and jibes, Aronow got back into the Benz to return to his own factory.

As Aronow pulled out of Apache Performance and turned right to return to USA Racing Team, a Lincoln Town Car approached 86

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from the opposite direction. The Lincoln (some said it was black while others swore powder blue) slowed and the driver’s window glided down. An arm discreetly signalled Aronow to stop, so he drew alongside the Lincoln and braked – both drivers’ windows side-by-side. A very brief conversation, measured in seconds, ensued, and the driver of the Lincoln extended his arm, in which there was a serious firearm: a semiautomatic .45 calibre Colt. Six shots were fired at Aronow, five of which hit him (one in the groin), with the sixth tearing its way through the passenger door.

Eyewitnesses say the Lincoln pulled away, smoothly and purposefully, but not overly rapidly, and then drove over a patch of waste ground before escaping through a warren of back streets with not a single traffic light before the freeway.

Aronow was slumped in the car with the engine screaming madly, his foot jammed hard on the accelerator and the transmission in neutral.

This was strange but, as his wife later posited, would have been because of his background with boats.

Whenever he came to a halt in his car, he always slid the automatic transmission lever from “D” to “N” – just as one would do when idling a boat. His wife maintained that if he hadn’t adopted this peculiar, boat-inspired, shift-into-neutral practice, he would have been able to get away rapidly and cheat death – but, as will become clear, that would only have postponed his demise. So badly ripped apart was Aronow’s body that paramedics at the scene said that the fluid from the IV drips was running straight out through the wounds and onto the street.

Leaving aside, for the present, his gruesome end, Aronow, up until then, had lived a charmed, healthy and wealthy life. He was in the vanguard of the “snow birds” from New York and New Jersey (Aronow was from Brooklyn, NY) who migrated to Miami in the early ‘60s, just as the town was beginning to recover from straitened times in the late ‘50s. The Mob (i.e. the Mafia) had had great plans for Miami, as it was the nearest US city to Batista’s Cuba – Batista, of course, being the dictator who allowed the Mafia to build and run casinos in Havana while palming his share. But then Castro deposed him and that was the end of the Mob’s Vegas of the South.

Aronow had done well in the construction industry in New

Cigarette Racing today are one of the world’s most recognised builders of high performance boats.

Jersey in the 1950s. In one of his early deals as a young man, he bought a tatty parcel of land on which he built 10 small “starter” houses. Each house sold for $14,500 and Aronow made a profit of $4,500 per house. Not vast sums of money even then, but it showed an eye for a buck and the ability to make a quick killing before moving on to another deal.

However, in the north-eastern states at that time, anybody with any knowledge of the construction industry would have known that there was great power held and wielded by the labour unions, and if one wanted to get ahead, one had to know how to deal with the unions. And backing the unions was another altogether more menacing, dangerous entity: the Mob.

Aronow was barely in his midthirties when he decided to decamp to Miami in semiretirement, and he began to hang out with a powerboating crowd – people like Dick Bertram, Sam Griffith and Dick Genth. He developed an initially mild interest in offshore powerboat racing, participating with moderate success in boats he had bought. Eventually the bug bit and he hooked up with two legendary boatbuilders, Jim Wynne and Walt Walters. Land was cheap in Miami at the time and, in 1963, he built a boat plant on a scrubby piece of waste ground at NE 188TH Street. He called the company Formula Marine.

This marked the birth of one of the most successful, venerable and much-copied V-hull powerboats of all time. This boat, the Formula 233, designed by Wynne and made production-ready

by Walters (it’s debatable if Aronow himself ever had much creative or design output into any of his boats), became a soaring success in terms of both sales and competition, and Aronow appointed a dealer network but gave them paltry margins so they couldn’t discount the boat – thereby keeping both residuals and brand recognition high.

Aronow realised that whilst there was a living to be made

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RISK TAKERS PART THREE

building boats, the real money came from pumping up the product and its brand equity and then selling the company.

And this is what he did with Formula after only one year – he sold it to Thunderbird. With the deal done, he bought another parcel of tatty land on NE 188TH Street, and started his second company, Donzi – another boat brand with a racy and exotic name. By 1966, Donzi had been sold to Teleflex and Aronow went on to buy a further block of land on the Row and start yet another boat company, Magnum.

Magnum was then sold in 1968, to Apeco, but Aronow now found himself, for the first time, having to rigidly adhere to a strict non-compete clause which had been imposed by Apeco. To circumvent this condition, Aronow appropriated the name of a willing friend, Elton Cary, and built a new range of boats under the Cary name. This was when the legendary “Cigarette” branding first appeared, as the first two models, the 28 and 32, were named after a famous rum runner’s launch of that name from the Prohibition era.

After Cary/Cigarette, there was Squadron Marine and then, finally, USA Racing Team – and each of these moves involved selling the previous company and buying yet more land on the Row to start another one. Aronow could be hard, combative and mean, as the buyer of one of his previous entities discovered. The buyer was loading a boat in the yard with a forklift one day, when Aronow and a bailiff arrived to repossess the machine. “You can’t do this.” The new owner protested. “I bought this company and all its assets, lock, stock and barrel.”

Aronow thrust the original inventory list in the guy’s face and said, “But not the forklift – it’s not listed on this sheet.” And he was right. Every piece of plant and equipment was listed – except the forklift (worth maybe a paltry five or six thousand dollars). This indicates a mercenary and unsavoury side to Aronow’s character.

By the early 1980s, the words “Miami” and “narcotics” were intertwined and synonymous, and the TV show Miami Vice explored this fraught symbiosis in every episode. Everyone knew that the days of tramp steamers and fishing boats being used to transport and land drugs were over, and that go-fast boats were being used instead. In fact, the entire Miamicentric world of offshore powerboat always had the taint of drug money hanging over it, and when such superstar drivers as Joey Ippolito and George Morales were arrested and jailed for long stretches, that confirmed the speculation.

It is highly unlikely that Aronow was oblivious to the machinations of the offshore racing scene, as much of his product ended up in the hands of those who ferried narcotics and those legal entities who attempted to apprehend them.

By now, Aronow was operating his latest and - although he didn’t know it - final venture, USA Racing Team, which he ostensibly ran alongside a powerboat racer and high school dropout (and, by all accounts, a borderline moron) named Ben Kramer. But it was complicated, as Aronow had supposedly sold USA Team Racing to Kramer (with a sizeable sum of money reputedly passed under the table by Kramer to Aronow), so Aronow was merely the company figurehead. This was a futile attempt to bestow some respect on Kramer, who was a major-

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Built for the US Customs – the Blue Thunder catamaran was simply a monohull split down the middle.

league drug smuggler and who was wholly unfit to operate a legitimate enterprise.

A further complication came in the form of the then vice president of the United States, George H.W. Bush. A personal friend of Aronow, he had always owned Cigarette boats. Whilst Bush was a mainly insipid vice president, Ronald Reagan had appointed him as his personal drugs tsar and it was Aronow to whom Bush turned for assistance with the purchase of high-speed interdiction craft that could chase down the drug runners’ boats. Notwithstanding the fact that Bush and Aronow were friendly, a personal entreaty of this nature was most strange in relation to a high-value government contract, as such purchases are always made at a national level through an official tender process. However, Bush, after a visit to Miami and a day schmoozing on the water with Aronow, tacitly awarded Aronow the contract. But there were two problems.

The first problem was that the tunnel-hulled boat Aronow cobbled up for US Customs - the first of what Bush called the “Blue Thunders” - was a total aberration. It was a monohull cut along the length of the keel and “peeled” open. The open side of each of the two (now extremely narrow) hulls was glassed in and both hulls were pushed slightly apart so that a deck could be added. This was supposedly a catamaran but the final product was the enlarged equivalent of two sideby-side kayaks with a pantry door strapped lengthwise over them. Consequently, the tunnel was so narrow that there was no aerodynamic lift and the running surfaces of the hulls were so knife-edge narrow that the boat had no hydrodynamic lift either.

This boat, when fitted with two 440 hp MerCruisers and fast but fragile TRS drives, could manage no more than 56 MPH – compared with drug-running boats that cruised in the high70s. In fact, the engines had to work so hard to plane and push the boat, and the TRS legs had to withstand so much strain and heat from trying to keep a boat with virtually no flat surface area on the plane, that failures of both items were measured in weeks, not months.

The second problem, however, was much more serious: Ben Kramer. Bush eventually found out that Kramer, a drug baron, was the true owner of USA Racing Team, and yet here he was on the verge of being awarded a contract for drug interception vessels – a sick and ironic joke!

Bush then contacted Aronow, unequivocally telling him that the deal was off unless, or until, Aronow bought Kramer out of the company and took back control. Aronow ostensibly did this, but whether in fact it ever actually happened is still a matter of conjecture today. But regardless of Aronow’s putative repurchasing of the company, he almost certainly never gave

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Kramer back the reputed under-the-table sum from the initial sale.

The boat company improprieties, bad as they were, were not insurmountable for Aronow – while his reputation and standing with Bush, for one, would have been tarnished, he would have lived to fight another day with myriad other deals. Where Aronow’s life gets murky (and there have been countless books, articles and theses written about it, all of which are plausible but all of which are nonetheless conjecture) is in his dealings with union – and by default Mob – activists, firstly in New Jersey and later in Miami. It is no secret that Aronow was acquainted with the venerable Mob boss, Meyer Lansky, and it is highly likely that, with all the drugs and drug money sluicing through Miami in the late ‘70s to early ‘80s, large sums of that money would have been laundered through Aronow’s businesses – whether for legitimate purchases or not.

Two journalists, Thomas Burdick and Charlene Mitchell, wrote the superb opus, Blue Thunder, a magnificent chronicle of almost 400 pages on Aronow’s life and death (boat talk is a relatively minor part of the book), and it is probably the definitive reference work on this subject.

Throughout the book, the Mob are never far from centre stage and reliable reports of dons, capos and “wise guys” litter almost half the page count.

This book states that the Justice Department had prepared a subpoena for Aronow on February 2nd, 1987, in relation to organised crime, and that it was due to be served on him one day later, on February 3rd, the day of the murder.

No one can say with certainty what really happened but, allegedly, someone in the Justice Department, with a

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RISK TAKERS PART THREE John Travolta played the persona of Aronow in the movie Speed Kills.

connection to the Mafia, saw the subpoena on an adjacent desk and called the Mob. Aronow was going to be asked about a lot of deals and associates, and although he could have “taken the Fifth”, his silence would have been a tacit admission of complicity. So the Mob scrambled a hit team at the last minute – the wellbuilt guy who entered Aronow’s office on the pretence of boat-shopping for his rich boss (and whose job it was to destabilise Aronow), plus the shooter who drove the Lincoln.

A no-account loser and career criminal named Bobby Young eventually pleaded no contest to the manslaughter of Aronow, saying that he acted on behalf of Ben Kramer, who was angry about having to return the business to Aronow and about Aronow retaining the original under-the-table money.

Young had nothing to lose, as his plea on the Aronow matter would see him removed to a less harsh prison, and the sentence for Aronow’s manslaughter was concurrent, anyway, so he wouldn’t have to serve any more time. Kramer 90

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admitted nothing, but was in prison for life anyway, with no possibility of parole (where he remains, apparently, to this day).

However, it is pretty much accepted that neither man was associated – at least directly – with the murder of Aronow.

Young in no way resembles the wellbuilt guy (whose name is known) who appeared out of the blue in Aronow’s office, and neither he nor Kramer matches the description of the driver of the Lincoln (whose name is also known).

The man from Aronow’s office is the biggest mystery of all – he went in, supposedly to flush out and destabilise Aronow, but fled and disappeared. And according to eyewitnesses, there was only one person – the shooter – in the Lincoln when Aronow was murdered, yet there were two people in it – the shooter and the big guy from Aronow’s office – when they foolishly stopped to seek directions earlier that day. What happened and why, and who really ordered and carried out the hit, and for what reason, was never, ever known – except to those involved.

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

As for Aronow’s boatbuilding legacy, he built (but probably had little input in designing) boats that were of, and for, their time. He created waterborne glitz, image and braggadocio and bestowed exciting and hubris-filled names on boats that were otherwise pretty mediocre in most key aspects - long, narrowbeamed, pared-to-the-bone, steepdeadrise hulls with no flattening-off aft to assist lift or maintain plane at lower speeds. His boats were power-hungry and brutal, and were fast purely due to the gargantuan horsepower installed rather than through any innovation or creativity in the rudimentary principles of hydrodynamic design.

And as for his legacy as a human being… probably a good guy to encounter for a back-slap and a faux insult in a boat club bar or for a photo-op at a boat race or on a boat show stand, but he straddled two entirely different worlds. There was a dark undercurrent that would have subsumed those unwise enough to get too close. The legacy and myth are much more appealing than the man.

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LOOKING BACK PA R T O N E

THE BIG TRAILERBOATS FROM 20 YEARS AGO

So what was the trailerboating scene like 20 years ago? We thought it would be cool to look back into our archives and see what we wrote about in the year 2002. What was really interesting is things have not changed a whole lot in boat design, with 100s of fibreglass and alloy boats still available, although there are now many more alloy brands and a lot less fibreglass manufacturers in New Zealand. The imports were few and just from the USA or Australia, but that to has changed with many more brands from throughout the world.

Where the biggest chances have come from are then the technical side of boating, namely outboards and electronics.

In Part One of a two part, series we look at the bigger fibreglass and RIBs over 7m, a size that is still very popular today. In fact, there were over 125 boats available in aluminium, fibreglass and RIBS in either production or semi production form and they came from just about every boat builder in the country. In Part Two (May-Jun issue) we look what was available in the 7m plus alloy boat market.

TRISTRAM

T

he Tristram Millennium 691 was the largest boat in the Tristram range in 2002, although reports are that there will be a new and bigger flagship for the company. Due to be released later this year, the new Tristram is going to be bigger than the 691, but will unquestionably still retain the exceptionally high standard of finish and appointments that are the trait of all Tristram, boats.

The 691 just sneaks into the 7m range with its overall length and hull length of 6.61m. Winner of the New Zealand Boat Show Trailer Boat of the Show award in 1997 and 1999, the 691 is available also in a slightly more basic Broadbill 691 fishing version. Not that there is anything basic about a Tristram, with the hulls laminated of high tech materials. the layout is designed for those who divide their time between fishing, diving, cruising and even overnighting.

Performance with single V6 outboard power is excellent and the 691 is available with a host of extras to give a buyer the opportunity of maximising the on-board equipment and features.

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2020 - The 691 Millennium is still a big seller. Although has been continually improved and is 'a different boat from when first released'.

2022 -Twenty years on a Tristram is still a market leader and when it comes to big trailer boats, no one does it better than Tristram. The exceptional, Tristram 821 Offshore Series is in such demand orders are out till early 2024. Tristram currently offer a range of both hardtop and open boat boats over 7m, including the 701 Offshore/Vanquish, 741 Offshore/ Vanquish and the 691 Millennium M2.

BAYLINER T

hey don’t come much bigger than Bayliner and in the 7m plus category they offer a lot. The Capri range covers a broad mix of bowriders and cuddy cabin boats that offer one of the deepest vee hull forms in the Bayliner range. Depending on the model they are available in either outboard or sterndrive. The Ciera cruisers are all weekenders and amongst the largest of the trailerable boats, they offer a lot in a compact space. Heads, showers, galleys, 2-4 berths and raised helm stations are all a feature of the Ciera series. If there is one thing the American boats have, it’s exceptional use of the available space. Power is exclusively sterndrive.

If you are seriously into your fishing, then take a look at the Bayliner Trophy range. These boats, from 7.14m through to 8.31m are all specifically designed for fishing and the layout is such that it even includes tackle boxes, live bait tanks and serious rod stowage.

All Bayliners come standard with just about everything and in some cases you don’t even need to add your electronics.

BUCCANEER

2022 One of the few US brands that has survived in New Zealand through all the ups and downs of the marine industry. Today they offer a couple of weekend cruisers; the Ciera 8 and the 742R plus there is the centre console TC22CC Trophy.

O

ne of New Zealand’s major trailerboat manufacturers, Buccaneer Boats of Hamilton produces two boats in the 7m plus category, both based on the same 7.5m hull. The Billfisher 720 is a special sportfishing machine and offers a stable fishing platform with safety and comfort. A true walk-around, the Billfisher 720 has a cockpit that is designed for fishing with built-in fish bins, flushfitted rod holders and a 300 litre long range fuel tank. The spacious cuddy cabin sleeps three in a double bed and quarter berth and also comes with a galley and ice chest.

The 720 Elite XL is designed as a day cruiser and weekender with a fibreglass moulded galley unit with stove, 50 litre fresh water tank, huge cabin and is also available in a hardtop version. Both boats are suitable for sterndrive or single/twin outboard power in the 150-225hp range.

2022 Another brand that has stood the test of time and is still a dominant force today. Their big boat range includes the 635, 685 & 735 Exess hard top models, and 685 El Dorado mid cabin.

The Billfisher range comprises the 650 & 735.

AQUAPRO F

or many years, Aquapro have concentrated on the tender and sports boat market with an extensive range of inflatable RIBs. For the coming season they have added their first full cabin RIB, based on the Wavemaster hull. Called the Wavemaster 790, the new RIB features a full GRP cabin that offers twin berths, head and holding tank, plenty of storage and more than adequate headroom. The cockpit comes standard with twin back-to-back king/queen seats and there is the option of a bimini or hardtop. The hardtop is available with solid screens or clears and provides massive protection for the helmsman and passengers.

Power is available in single outboards or sterndrives.

Based on the same hull, the Offshore 790 is a centre console version, with three options available. The 500 Series centre console is large enough to provide a head and storage area and all models are available with bimini tops.

2020 Once one of New Zealand’s leading inflatable boat builders, Aquapro long since ceased production locally and the boats are now build in China. The range now only consists of tenders and small RIBs. PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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LOOKING BACK THE BIG TRAILERBOATS FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

CHALLENGER F

or some time now, Te Puke based Challenger Boats have been increasing their model range and with it expanding their potential to fulfil market needs. Not one to be left behind in the big boat stakes, the company is offering the Challenger 680 Hardtop Offshore, which at 7.2m overall fits well within the 7m criteria.

The layout is simple. Twin swivelling forward bucket seats and a v berth forward with everything designed to cater for the fisho. Deep storage lockers, plenty of rod holders, a walkthrough transom door and coamings that are flat on top and at a nice height for fishing. The hardtop with its twin glass forward panels is open at the rear, although a drop door set of clears will soon provide a comfortable enclosure.

2022 While the Challenger brand has been somewhat dormant for quite a few years, it has recently been reserected and is back on the market. The new owners list the 720HT as an available model.

CRESTA CRAFT T

2022 Cresta Craft were one of the biggest names in the 1970s-90s and although it went through a series of new owners it quietly faded away. Rumours are that the Cresta 900 may resurface under a new name, and a total modernised layout.

he Cresta Craft 7.3 has been around for many years and is now available in both enclosed hardtop or with an open bimini. The layout allows for four berths with a double in the cabin, which also houses the head, two more in the forward area of the cockpit, which also features the galley. Although in the 7.3 there is no separate shower, the larger 8.0m does have an internal shower capability.

The 8.0m version is basically just a stretched 7.3m hull and you have the option of either a larger cockpit or cabin, with custom layouts and appointments. Power options are outboard or sterndrive in the 150-300hp range.

The Cresta Craft 900 was released in 2000 and four have been sold since. This is a big trailer boat that is more like a small launch and incorporates everything you’ll need for extended cruising. It sleeps four comfortably and comes standard with a full galley, head, shower and lockable cabin.

HAINES HUNTER H

aines Hunter is one of the most established names in New Zealand boating and their SF700 has been around in various forms since 1988. Designed primarily as a sports fisherman with overnight and weekend facilities, the 700 is now available in a sedan bridge (SS700) and sports fisherman (SF700). The latest models feature all the best attributes of the 700s that have gone before, but with a new style deckline, windscreen and an improved layout. The new screen also allows for the addition of a sedan top ((SS700) due to the increase in standing headroom The 720 series, released in 2001, also caters for both the sedan bridge market (SS720) and the sportsfishing market (SF720). While the outward profile is certainly different, the large spacious cabin with twin berths and even the optional pipe berths, small galley unit, head and copious storage remains the same. Both the 700 and 720 Haines Hunters are available with single outboard or sterndrive options.

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2022 Still a market leader in New Zealand, Haines Hunter’s over 7m range comprise the 660 and the 725, both available in open or hardtop variants.

LANCER (RIB) W

hen it comes to building luxury inflatables, Lancer is considered one of the best and their range of tenders and sportsboats has gained world-wide recognition. Lancer has the capability to build everything from 2m tenders to sportsboats for superyachts. They use hypalon in all their larger boats and were the first NZ marine manufacturer certified ISO 9002.

The RD 750 RIB is a centre console model with

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a high bow and wide beam design to help in adverse conditions. It is suitable for a variety of layouts, with teak bow steps, 300 litre fuel tank and bench seat all standard.

The RD950 is a high speed. Hi-load carrying RIB that like the RD750 uses a GRP hull and hypalon tubes. It can be powered by sterndrive, outboard, or jetdrive and is available with total custom layout.

2022 A few years ago Lancer Industries was sold to Sealegs mainly for their tube manufacturing and commercial business. The Lancer range of RIBs is no longer built.

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95

LOOKING BACK THE BIG TRAILERBOATS FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

RAYGLASS PROTECTOR (RIB) T

RAYGLASS S

2022 A Kiwi success story that is stronger today than it was 20 years ago. Now owned by Brunswick Corporation, parent company for Mercury Marine, the Protector RIB range includes nine models from the 250 Chase (the only technically trailerable model) through to the 410 Chase/Targa

2022 The association with Whittley finished many years ago and the entire Rayglass range has been revamped. At 7.7m the Legend 2500 is the smallest model that fits into the over 7m category. The big winner has been the Legend 2800, which is Rayglass’s biggest selling model.

he Rayglass Protector gained an enviable reputation during the America’s Cup when it was used by the race committee as referee and judging boats. Since then the success of the Protector has seen Rayglass develop a worldwide dealer network and currently exports account for a substantial part of the production.

The Protector is available in either centre console as a 750 or full cabin as in the 850. However, look for a new cabin version also of the 750 coming soon. Both models are suited to sterndrive or outboard power, with twin V6 outboards certainly being the most popular. The 850 cabin provides a substantial area, with twin berths and a unique forward door for access to the bow section of the boat.

The handling and rough water ride of the Protector is exceptional and with its special drop down bolster seat can be driven either seated or standing in total comfort.

NAIAD (RIB) N

aiad Inflatables has built a solid reputation over the years for its rescue and patrol boats, both locally and overseas.

While they tend to be known for their larger boats, they also produce a number of sports type cuddy cabin boats, which feature aluminium decks. The Sportline range of boats follows the same stylish lines of conventional sports runabouts, with short foredecks, cuddy cabins and wrap-around screens. Their current 7.3 and 8.5 Offshore Sportline boats are a superb example of how this type of hull form can be adapted.

Naiad use a polyurethance/pvc 96

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

ince Rayglass first released the 730 Legend, it has proven to be the most popular production fibreglass boat of its size in the country. Currently there are more than 100 730s on the water, ranging in power from single or twin outboards to diesel and petrol sterndrives.

Standard features include toughened glass windscreen, fully automatic anchoring system, lighting package, electric toilet, two burner stove and pressure water system.

The larger 850 Legend follows most of the same features of the 730, however the extra length is noticeable in the extended cockpit, making this a favourite amongst fishermen and divers. A full internal fibreglass liner is used and there is also an underfloor foam buoyancy system.

The Cruisemaster is the weekender version. Based on the same 730 hull, this is a true home away from home and more likened to a small cruiser. Ideal for 2-3 people for extended cruising, the Cruisemaster is sold in Australia under the Whittley Cruisers brand.

belnd which is exceptionally strong and durable.

The layout incorporates a generous V-berth forward and seating for up to seven in the cockpit. Sportline models are based on aluminium hulls and are also available in smaller 5.3m, 5.8m nd 6.8m models.

2022 Naiad now has Australian owners and they are still busy producing recreational and commercial RIBS. The Sportline range is still available as a custom build.

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LOOKING BACK THE BIG TRAILERBOATS FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

ROSBOROUGH M

anufactured in New Zealand by Rosborough Boats in Christchurch, this versatile range of traditionally styled trailerable boats is based on a Canadian design. Initially boats were imported from Canada, but today the semi-displacement GRP boats are built locally. The Rosborough 22 comes in a wide variety of versions, although all based on the same hull, the topside styling varies considerably. They range from a completely open dory style, through to centre consoles and full cabins. The 22 Seaskiff has proven a popular choice for those looking at the commercial aspect of the boat and the all-new weekender version which has just been released is certain to be popular with kiwis.

This is the sort of boat you would happily cruise the Bay of Islands or Marlborough Sounds in. In the weekender version you have all the comforts of a ‘caravan on water’.

They perform well with mid-range outboards or small diesel power. You have the choice of a model with a huge workable cockpit, or one with exceptional internal space for comfortable cruising. The choice is yours.

SEA RAY 2022 Still one of the world’s biggest boat builders their range is even more extensive today. Their big bowriders are stunning examples of the genre.

2022 Another great little Kiwi cruiser that has gone. They never really got any traction, but from all accounts those that owned them loved them.

N

o one offers more variations of models than Sea Ray and in the 7m plus category they certainly present the total package.

There is everything from big bowriders, the biggest on the market, to open sports boats, cabin boats and full cruisers.

Typical of all American boats they come with everything and while all the models listed are far from seriously dedicated fishing boats, they will still do the job, albeit they are more destined for boaties who enjoy comfortable day or weekend cruising.

The finish and appointments of this top US brand are impeccable and they have a reputation as being one of the highest quality trailerboat brands on the world market. They have been available in New Zealand through Sports Marine Ltd for many years.

SUPERIOR T

he Superior 750 is a very versatile trailerboat, meeting the needs of sportfishing enthusiasts with a unique combination of a weekender and hard core fishing boat.

Available in either hardtop or convertible models, the Superior 750 is a boat with a lot of volume and recent

changes to the design have made it even better.

The self draining cockpit has a walk-through transom, fresh water shower and self draining underfloor lockers. Inside, the galley comes with a two burner cooker, fridge, sink with pressure water and loads of storage. There is also a private head fitted and a double V berth with storage beneath.

Power options are petrol or diesel sterndrive or outboards.

The helm provides comfortable seating, 360 degree views and plenty of space for extra electronics. To cater for those long-range fishing trips, there is a 300 litre fuel tank underfloor.

2022 While Superior Boats is very much alive and busy, they no longer offer the 750 in their range. Today the company conentrate their time on the Superior 1050/1100 cruisers.

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TOURNAMENT I

2022 Gone but not forgotten. An outstanding example of a bluewater trailerboat, the 7m tournament was ahead of its time. Recent rumours indicate that the moulds could soon be back in use.

t’s been nearly five years since the last Tournament 7m was built. Legacy Boats of Albany, Auckland is about to change that with two boats under construction. Having had the moulds for a number of years, Legacy Boats is now in a position to reintroduce this very unique Craig Loomes design. Regarded by many as the ultimate blue water fishing machine, the 7m Tournament is a huge volume boat in all respects.

The walkaround design takes some of the internal cabin space, which at a pinch could be used as an overnighter, but is more likely to be a place to stow the gear for a day’s fishing. The cockpit is totally dedicated to fishermen. Currently Legacy Boats is developing a hardtop for the 7m walkaround and next year plans to release a full cabin hardtop version based on the same hull.

You & your family can trust a CPC Boat.

Companies that are approved to build boats to CPC certified standards are: Buccaneer Boats

Marco Boats

Smuggler Marine

Extreme Boats

McLay Boats

Southern Boats

Fi-Glass

Offshore Boats NZ

Stabicraft

Haines Hunter

Rayglass

Tristram Marine

Huntsman Boats

Salthouse Boatbuilders

Ultimate Boats

KiwiKraft

Seaforce Marine

NEW ZEALAND MADE RIBS

Just add water. www.kingwatercraft.com

You & your family can trust a CPC Boat

APPROVED BY

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LOOKING BACK THE BIG TRAILERBOATS FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

ZODIAC (RIB) Z

odiac Proline RIBs are designed by Hurricane, a Zodiac company best known for RIBs for the military and rescue organisations. They combine good looks with the legendary Hurricane Military V lift hulls. They have a number of special features, including a removable inflatable collar and an automatic intercommunicating relieve valve system that allows air pressure to be maintained evenly with a twist of your wrist.

Power options include inboard diesel or petrol jet or sterndrive units as well as single or twin outboards. Both boats are centre console with extensive seating layouts, storage and enough added extras to include them in the superyacht tender category.

2022 – Zodiac are still one of the world’s largest and most recognised manufacturers if RIBS, with their top end range being the Medline, which includes models from 5.0 through to 9m.

WAVECRUSHER I

n Waters has a big reputation for designing and building the Wavecrusher range of launches and they have an enviable reputation for their rough water handling.

He has now taken that same design philosophy and scaled it down into a range of trailerboats. The Wavecrusher 2300 hull design incorporates all the best features of the bigger boats and has proven to be outstanding in the rough water.

It’s a boat that likes plenty of horsepower and runs better with a 225outboard or big sterndrive than with lesser power.

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MIRAGE T

he Mirage 7000 is built in Dunedin, although it started life a number of years ago being built in Auckland.

While it has never been a mainstream boat, the Mirage 7000 is certainly one of the more stylish GRP boats of its size and has recently undergone something of a style change. The original low profile curved screen was replaced with a larger three piece design and the boat is available with a full bimini and canvas pack for weekending.

Features include a separate enclosed head, lock-up cabin, full galley and accommodation for 3-4 adults. There is a also a moulded swim platform and a very stylish instrument panel. Trailerable weight with a V8 sterndrive is around 2200 kg and the Mirage 7000 has a standard 200 litre fuel tank and 30 litre water tank.

2022 As the name suggests, the Mirage brand is now a mirage. While the moulds still exist, there has not been a Mirage 7000 built for many years.

The boats are semi custom built so there is really no standard layout. Seating is offered from twin bucket seats right through to full back-to-backs and bench seats.

The cockpit is open and spacious for fishing and the cabin has been left to cater for those who want to overnight, or just as a place to stow the gear during the day. Extra long squabs and a head under the front squab are all excellent features of the Wavecrusher 2300.

2022 – This Kiwi brand has long vanished off the market, the Wavecrusher 2300 was never a popular boat and did have some rough water handling issues.

MORE TO THE RIDE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

SOFT, DRY R I D E

SUP E RI OR L I F T

UN RI VA L L E D P E R F O R M A NC E

ONFIRE206507

Nothing compares to the ride of a Haines Hunter.

But when you consider the company’s obsession with hull design that comes as no surprise.

In a process pioneered by Haines Hunter, each and every hull is made millimetre perfect. It’s the result of exacting Computer Assisted Design, a painstaking manufacturing process and more than 70 years of development and refinement.

B U ILT TOU G H

S TAB LE AT R E S T

2 1° DEE P V DE S IG N

That’s why so many experienced boaties wouldn’t choose anything over a Haines Hunter. If you value security at sea, a soft, dry ride and a distinct lack of ‘slap’ or ‘bang’ as you progress through water, it would pay to run your eye over one.

We know you’ll like what you see almost as much as the ride itself. For more details visit the website or, even better, your nearest Haines Hunter dealer.

DISCOV ER MORE AT W WW.HA I NES HU NTER .CO. N Z PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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B O AT R E V I E W ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

ZERO

EXPECTATIONS

Up until recently nearly all water jet engines have been powered by fossil (petrol or diesel) fuels. However, proving that electrically powered jet boats are no longer a thing of the future, ZeroJet, partnering with Offshore Cruising Tenders (OCT), demonstrates that these electric propulsion units and vessels are here and now.

BY RON CZERNIAK - MARINE CONSULTANT

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W

hen Editor Barry Thompson approached me to conduct a sea trial of the ZeroJet System fitted to an OCT 3.5 metre tender, I jumped at the chance, as I have been following the evolution of modern day electric automobiles since I first stumbled across a copy of Elon Musk’s autobiography almost a decade ago. Having recently written an article on electric outboard motors (Pacific Powerboat September/October 2021) I was very curious and excited to experience this iteration of electrically powered boats.

ZeroJet’s story began in 2014 when co-founders Bex Rempel and Neil Mans moved to Perth and opened the world’s first Jetsurf Experience Centre. Through buying, selling and renting out these Czech-made boards, they simultaneously realised a) how big the market was, and b) the negative impact these petrol powered, two-stroke motorised surfboards were having on the environment.

So Bex and Neil decided to serve up something a bit greener; something to counteract the petrol powered Jetboards’ carbon footprint. In 2015 they moved back to New Zealand and founded Voltaic Jetboards. After assembling a team of four engineers the crew started work on a more environmentally-friendly alternative, and they spent the next two years developing highperformance electric Jetboards.

By 2018 the team had carried out significant R&D on a bespoke jet pump design paired with electric motor and custom hull design using their hydrodynamic expertise and produced a finalised design and a high-performing prototype: the world’s fastest electric Jetboard, hitting speeds of 70km/hr!

During the next two years, it was interest from boat builders that ultimately influenced the team to pivot their business and focus purely on electric jet systems for boats. During this time the first prototype electric jet tender was designed and built.

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ZEROJET OC350 TENDER

2020 was a year of exponential growth and after rebranding to ZeroJet and raising seed capital from investors, the world’s lightest electric jet tender was built utilising their in-house developed, highly efficient Jetpod system specifically designed for 3m to 4m boats; culminating in an ongoing partnership with OCT Tenders. Sales to a very interested marine industry inevitably followed.

Although I did some initial research on the ZeroJet company and its products prior to the actual on water sea trials, I really went out with zero expectations. Having experienced conventional jet boats of numerous sizes over the years, my only belief was that it should behave like any other jet boat.

After almost a week of strong NE winds and rough sea conditions in the Auckland region, a fortuitous weather window opened on the Friday before the Waitangi Day long weekend, allowing us to launch and sea trial a 3.5m OCT fitted with ZeroJet’s electric, jet propulsion system. But, before getting into the actual ‘out on the ocean’ review of the propulsion unit and tender, a bit of background regarding the ZeroJet electric jet system is definitely in order.

Researched, designed and developed in New Zealand, the jet systems are specifically designed and tuned for an electric motor equating to unbeatable performance. Compact and lightweight, it’s perfect for tenders as small as 3m where traditional heavy combustion outboard or inboard engines won’t cut it. It also means you have more space inside the boat and with no prop you can manoeuvre across shallow beach and reef ecosystems easily. The turnkey electric jet propulsion system is designed for easy installation into any suitable tender or RIB. ZeroJet teamed up with OCT to produce the world’s lightest electric jet tender. But rather than being involved in boat production the main aim was to specialise in supplying the electric jet system to boat builder partners around the world who will utilise it in their designs. Having successfully integrated their system into the OCT range and being able to offer superior manoeuvrability and capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 knots, the ZeroJet/OCT package is a more fun, more convenient, and a greener solution than the traditional internal combustion engine. Although pitched as a yacht/launch tender, it makes for a great little eco-friendly runabout as well. The ZeroJet 48 Volt (safe low voltage system) is equivalent to a 20 Hp fossil fuel motor and weighs only 40 kg. To gauge the impact of traditional petrol-powered outboard motors on the marine environment, taking one 20hp four-stroke outboard off the water is the equivalent of taking 150 cars off the road!

ZeroJet have worked hard to retain maximum internal space in the OCT, with the system and batteries neatly packaged to ensure there is still lots of space for toys/food/people, etc. inside. The carbon construction and hull shape make for a fantastic combo with the highly efficient electric jet system installed. Able to turn on the spot, these vessels are highly manoeuvrable, light and easy to handle for beach landings. It is the world’s lightest electric jet tender, providing 50% more propulsion than a conventional outboard motor of the same power level. ZeroJet Offshore Cruising tenders can plane at as little as 10 knots.

ZEROJET SYSTEM

But how does the ZeroJet System actually work in lay terms. Well, quite simply as it turns out.

Two battery boxes sitting under the gunwales of the OCT house either 5 or 10kWh batteries, these SuperB Nomada 12V 105Ah batteries provide enough power to the highly efficient quiet jet for up to 50 min - 1hr 20 min of run time at full throttle or up to 27 nautical miles.

Operating the system is as simple as pressing the on switch then turning the throttle for propulsion. A display is located on the master battery bank which displays the SOC (State Of Charge) as well as other information including current draw and voltage. A repeating display is also located on the tiller arm for ease of viewing whilst underway.

A kill cord is located on the tiller arm which will instantly shut the system down should the driver fall overboard. Operating in reverse is as simple as pulling the reverse lever located on the port side of the pod, allowing for extremely good manoeuvrability.

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IMPRESSIVE ON THE WATER

So, that’s the background. What about the actual sea trials? In a word, impressive! In terms of being able to test this craft and its electrical propulsion system, it was almost the perfect day. Flat seas close to shore, but further out in the bay. a significant short chop on the water surface – typically what any boat owner might experience having anchored his boat offshore for the day and having taken the tender ashore for provisions, or a day on the beach or whatever and then having to return to the mother ship later and finding the weather and sea conditions have changed from the early morning excursion into shore.

As the OTC hull is a relatively “flat bottom” design, I expected a fair bit of slap on the water under speed. As it turned out, with the highly manoeuvrable jet engine quickly getting the craft up on the plane, the boat handled the conditions admirably. I asked Nick how far I could push the boat to see what it was capable of. His reply? “Go for it”. So, as we both hung on to the convenient grab straps, I powered the tender through some pretty hairy turns expecting us to fish tail out of control.

Not so! The boat spun on its stern like a ballerina with nary a hint of uncontrollability. In addition it was a remarkably dry boat with just the two of us on board and considering the dead rise of the hull is only about half a metre.

Switching from forward to reverse is as simple as unlatching and pulling up the lever on the port side of the engine cowling. Be careful with the throttle however, as it is easy to reverse a bit too quickly with these jet propulsion units and you will find water slopping over the stern. No serious worries with a bit of water as ZeroJet have installed a small bilge pump close to the propulsion unit with an automatic float switch.

Although most of the testing was done with just Nick and I on board, we did take the time to have Declan and Zane climb aboard to see how the OTC handled a load of approximately 350 kg. Although not able to get up on the plane, we scooted along at a respectable 7 or 8 knots, and probably would have been able to push it a little faster, but with the wave chop, we started getting a bit of water over the bow, so throttled back. However, as noted previously, with just two of us on board, the boat was remarkably dry on the plane.

Should you decide you want to haul the boat ashore for a few hours or load it onto a trailer to take home for whatever reason, the craft is fitted with two, easy to engage, drop down wheels on the stern of the boat, making it a piece of cake to haul the boat up a ramp or beach with the two straps fitted to the bow.

The fully retracted and secured wheels in place straddle the jet unit and ride plate which also functions as a cooling plate for the electric motor coolant.

The trolley wheels can be quickly and easily “locked down” to enable the tender to be hauled up a boat ramp or beach.

FUN BOAT

Combining cutting edge green technology with the proven durability and lightweight nature of the OCT’s results in a fantastic fun little boat. ZeroJet customers are reporting that although they have been underwhelmed with the performance of a typical electric outboard motor, when it comes to the ZeroJet/OCT package, things step outside this norm, providing a fun, efficient machine. Once you're finished for the day or returning to the mothership, charging is as simple as plugging an EV style plug into the battery bank located on the starboard side of the STB battery.

ZeroJet have experienced a lot of demand over the last few months with build slots now 6-8 months away and filling up fast. They are encouraging customers to secure a build slot with a $500 NZD refundable deposit. Starting price for the ZeroJet OCT package is $34,000 + GST No pollution, no noise. Just you, the ocean, and a rechargeable battery.

I like that! There is little doubt in my mind that ZeroJet and OC Tenders will soon see a massive international interest in their innovative Kiwi products. Watch this space.

SPECIFICATIONS Make/Model: Builder: LOA: Beam: Weight Overall: Max Load: Power: Max Speed: Battery: Run Time: Price of Boat: Contact:

Zerojet OC350 Tender Zerojet & Offshore Cruising Tenders 3.51 m 1.60 m 139kg 448 kg 14kW/20hp ZeroJet drive 20 Knots 5kWh or 10kWh battery pack Up to 1hr 15mins at full throttle Up to 6hr 40mins at 3 knots NZD $34000 + gst

Zerojet Ph +64 9 886 3223 hello@zerojet.nz | www.zerojet.nz

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TOP 7

FISHFINDERS FROM 2021

Searching for the right multifunction display (MFD) or fishfinder or just about any other piece of electronics for your boat can be a bewildering experience because of all the brands and models to pick from. Identifying the one that has the functions and features you need can be daunting.

manufacturers to name the one model in a particular category of boating electronics they consider to be their best. It’s not necessarily the most technically advanced or newest or the one with the most whistles and buzzers, but rather the model they rate highest in that category for one reason or another. Could be the functions and features it offers, or maybe it breaks new ground in maximising effectiveness or utility, or maybe it’s the most popular as measured by sales to boaters. In some cases it has proved itself over the years as the go-to device.

We’re here to help.

NOTE: To offer a better representation of brands popular in New Zealand, we replaced two not so common brands from the Marine Electronics Journal list, with Simrad and Humminbird.

We asked the distributors the same question; “Name the one model fishfinder/MFD in you line up that you consider to be your best?”

Below we share the results of an exercise that USA based Marine Electronics Journal, do every year. They call it the Best & Brightest Marine Electronics. They ask 106

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Ga r m i n Pa n opti x L i veS c opE

Panoptix LiveScope is an amazing sonar technology—it’s live, realtime scanning sonar. See easyto-interpret live scanning sonar images of structure, bait and fish swimming around your boat, even when your boat is stationary. You get both LiveScope Down and LiveScope Forward modes in one

transducer. And you can easily adjust the transducer mode to fit your fishing techniques; use LiveScope Forward to see around your boat, and use LiveScope Down to see directly below it, up to 60.96 m for both modes.

The view automatically changes on your compatible Garmin

chartplotter screen. Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) stabilisation keeps your sonar view steady, even in rough conditions.

Panoptix LiveScope includes a choice of transom/trolling motor mount or thru-hull mount transducer options.

R ayma ri n e R V X 1 0 0 0 3 D CH I R P The RVX1000 3D CHIRP sonar module offers owners of LightHouse 3 Raymarine eSSeries, gS-Series and Axiom XL multifunction displays access to the same RealVision 3D and powerful 1-kW CHIRP offshore sonar found in our Axiom Pro models. The RVX1000 black box sonar module is a versatile, five-channel sonar solution for both inshore and offshore fishing.

Connect any RealVision 3D transducer and gain instant access to CHIRP SideVision, DownVision, high-frequency CHIRP and amazing RealVision 3D sonar.

RVX1000 also features a second transducer connector to support its 1-kW high-power CHIRP sonar with low, medium and high bands. Select from a wide array of Airmar broadband CHIRP transducers to tailor the sonar experience to your boat and type of fishing.

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Fur u n o DFF-3 D You may think you’ve seen 3D sonar in action, but Furuno’s DFF-3D Multi-Beam Sonar takes 3D to new depths. We’re talking depths of over 980 feet, with side scanning over 650 feet. See fish and bottom structure as you’ve never seen them before in fantastic detail. The DFF-3D turns your TZtouch/2/3 MFD into a multi-beam sonar that sees 120 degrees port to starboard, allowing you to see the depth and direction fish schools are moving while displaying the seabed condition in real time. You can even create and save stunning shaded relief charts on your TZtouch3 with PBG (Personal Bathymetric Generator) of the seafloor. Bottom images are drawn with shaded relief, depth contours, and variable colors, making it easy to identify hidden structure and ridges that hold fish.

Lo w ra n ce Acti veTa rg et The high-resolution ActiveTarget Live Sonar system reveals live-action views of fish moving in and around structure as they respond to lure presentations. This new technology delivers top-of-the-line live sonar functionality to the HDS LIVE Ultimate Fishing System, as well as HDS Carbon and Lowrance’s recently introduced Elite FS displays, bringing ActiveTarget Live Sonar capability to a wider range of displays and pricing options. Offering three viewing options, ActiveTarget can be set to Forward, Down or Scout mode. Forward and Down views allow anglers to track fish in front of or below the live sonar transducer, and Scout mode delivers an ultra-wide, overhead view of structure and fish activity in front of the transducer, ideal for finding bait balls and big schools of fish.

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YOU SEEK. IT FINDS.

Everything about NSX is designed to bring your fishing adventures closer.

Enjoy our fastest-ever Autorouting and next-gen C-MAP® charts.

Experience new, intuitive touch screens and simple sonar setup with hints to assist you when you need it. Count on high-resolution imagery from state-of-the-art sonar technology, like FishReveal™, DownScan Imaging™ and SideScan.

Add compatibility with a wide range of 1 kW transducers for even more target resolution, and there is nothing between you and your next adventure but open water. www.simrad-yachting.com/nsx

®

Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off, and ™ common law marks. Visit www.navico.com/intellectual-property to review the global trademark rights and accreditations for Navico Holding AS and other entities.

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Koden KDS-6000BB With true broadband technology and high-speed scan rate, Koden’s KDS-6000BB Digital Searchlight Sonar is increasingly popular with commercial and sportfishing captains alike. It is the first professional searchlight sonar that lets operators finetune output frequency from 130 to 210 kHz in 0.1-kH steps, as easily as tuning a radio dial. This nearly limitless frequency selection allows fishermen to “dial-in” the optimum frequency based on target species, water conditions and range.

Six programmable Condition Memory (CM) keys allow for instant recall of favourite setting parameters. Digital Signal Processing delivers high-resolution presentation of forage and fish targets at closer ranges, while reducing display noise when operating at longer ranges. Available in 15° and 20° scanning sector angle steps and four presentation modes, which makes the KDS-6000BB even more powerful.

SIMRAD NSS12evo3S Featuring an iMX 8 high-performance processor, with superfast response times, this compact package delivers extensive functionality. Enjoy stunning clarity and ultra-wide viewing angles, combined with an all-weather touchscreen and keypad for total control in all conditions. Includes preloaded C-MAP charts. Other key features include 12-inch SolarMAX IPS display with ultrawide viewing angles; viewable through Polarized sunglasses, seamless switching between touchscreen and keypad control, plus a built-in high-performance echo sounder with 1kW CHIRP. The NSS12evo3S also comes with a GPS receiver and wireless connectivity,TripIntel trip planning and support for automatic routing. You have the choice of low-profile flush mounting or convenient bracket mounting and by downloading the Simrad App you can connect with smartphones, tablets, and internet hotspots. It also supports SteadySteer, an autopilot performance enhancement for NAC-2 and NAC-3 autopilot computers fitted with RPU drive pumps and is compatible with a CZone digital switching device.

HUMMINBIRD APEX The APEX Series provides one of the clearest sonar imaging on the sharpest multi-function display that anglers have ever seen. Industry-leading MEGA Imaging+ and Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar come standard, with even more performance from a dedicated sonar channel for accessory 2D CHIRP transducers up to 2kW. Add Mega Live and Mega 360 for shallow water applications. See it all clearly with a FullHD touchscreen that provides a customised display of information from advanced network options like NMEA 2000, HDMI In/Out, WiFi and Bluetooth. Add the power of the One-Boat Network to integrate the accuracy of Humminbird GPS charts, unrivaled boat control from Minn Kota Link, and reach new depths with wireless Cannon downrigger control. The APEX Series is a new kind of MFD that features a new, slim housing design for all-glass in-dash mounting, 1920x1080 “full HD” displays, Faast dual rore CPU architecture, dual Ethernet ports (daisy-chain multiple units together) and CZONE Contact 6/Contact 6 Plus digital Switching.

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MEGA

360 ENTER THE CIRCLE OF TRUST

MEGA

360

I M A G I N G™

HUMMINBIRD.CO.NZ

EVERY DETAIL IN EVERY DIRECTION

With MEGA 360 Imaging™, we didn’t reinvent the wheel, we redefined it. We’ve brought the unmatched coverage of our 360 Imaging technology into the megahertz range for next-level detail. Like underwater radar, the MEGA 360 Imaging beam rotates giving you a 360-degree view of the water that’s constantly updating – with your boat at the center. Fish won’t ever see you coming – allowing you to cast and hook fish before they even know you’re there.

Visit humminbird.co.nz/mega-360-imaging

COMPATIBLE WITH HELIX G3N/G4N, SOLIX G2/G3 AND ALL APEX MODELS WITH MEGA IMAGING+™

boatinglifestyleadventure

D E T A L E R G N I T A O B MISTAKES

Illustrations by Charles Akins

No one is immune from a few embarrassing moments on the water, us included. We know because, unfortunately, we’ve made ‘em ourselves.

Let’s face it. Everybody makes mistakes. Some of us make lots of them. We burn the bacon, forget to lock the front door after leaving the house, totally blow by somebody’s cherished birthday or other milestone, or wander endlessly in the aisles of the supermarket, struggling to remember what it was that brought us there in the first place. And our boats? Well, unfortunately, they’re not exempt from this pesky phenomenon. Not by a long shot.

Indeed, even a bunch of guys who’ve worked for years at marine publications like Power & Motoryacht and Anglers Journal are perfectly capable of occasionally pulling off dumb boatrelated head-scratchers. So here, dear reader, are a few choice examples. We hand them over to you now in an attempt to help you avoid some of the embarrassing, expensive and/or even dangerous slipups we’ve made ourselves.

CAPT BILL PIKE

fender bender It pains me to admit this, but after leaving my slip one fine morning a month or so ago, I simply forgot to pull in my fenders. And, I suppose, during the jaunt that ensued, nobody pointed this oversight out to me via my VHF radio because boaters are so nice in northern Florida and southern Georgia.

At any rate, tragically, the seas were rather sporty that day—sporty enough to cause the upper edge of the big midship fender to rhythmically bounce, slam and rub against the 112

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starboard hullside of my boat as she proceeded through the water, thus causing a 2-inch-by-1/2-inch gouge to appear in both the hull’s Awlcraft 2000 acrylic urethane paint and the primer underneath.

Cost of the repair? Still to be determined as of this writing. But it ain’t gonna be cheap, I predict. On the upside, though, this whole awful affair brings up a useful point. Certainly, we’ve all heard the experts tell us that the failure to pull in your fenders

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

is the mark of a lubberly, deplorable neophyte without a brain in his or her head. And yeah, that may be true most of the time. But now and again, such an air-headed little slip-up may also be indicative of a highly experienced, yet temporarily distracted, boater who subconsciously wants to shell out oodles of cash for an impromptu visit to his favoUrite spray-gun-slingin’ boat yard. After an otherwise enjoyable cruise, of course.

boating related mistakes you should really try to avoid

HEAR ME ROAR Even cruising on a fine, comfy vessel can be tiring, especially if you’ve been doing it for hours and hours. So, when we arrived at my marina in Jacksonville, Florida, late that afternoon, I was tuckered out. And I was even more tuckered when, toward the shank of the evening, I finally got back to the boat after driving my cruising buddy many miles north to the airport to catch a plane. Call me crazy, but I then decided, against my better judgment, to wash down the boat before going below to hit the rack. Then, crazier still, I decided to squeeze in one last moonlit project, after the washdown was complete, by hitting the nearby pumpout station for an extraction. The

reasoning that bubbled through my absolutely exhausted mind? I’d sleep better knowing the holding tank was empty. So, after cranking up, off I went.

And everything was fine, at least for a while. Then, as I neared the pumpout station, the pitch of my old, naturally aspirated, heavyweight diesel changed drastically. In seconds it went from its usual purr to a hoarse, throaty, gutwrenching roar. “On no!” I muttered as I hit the STOP button and coasted in.

I figured out what had happened while tying up. Prior to the washdown, and in keeping with a long-time habit, I’d closed the seacock for the diesel’s rawwater intake, thinking I’d eventually be leaving the boat unattended for a couple of weeks. Then, in the throes of my nutsy pumpout craze, I’d forgotten

all about the seacock and cranked the engine, thereby encouraging it to eventually voice its hearty displeasure at having to run without cooling water.

Damage? Luckily, none. After a long, healthy cool-down I carefully opened the diesel’s seacock, cranked ’er back up, checked the exhaust-water discharge and returned to my slip.

The moral of the tale? Have a startup checklist—a mental one is okay, but printed is better—and always consult the darn thing before you turn the ignition key. And also, know when to quit—working to the point of exhaustion, particularly if you’re going it alone by moonlight, can lead to oversights and perhaps even catastrophe.

DANIEL HARDING JNR

UNINTENTIONAL FOUL Go cruising long enough and eventually you’ll be forced to face a fouled prop.

Tangling your prop with your own line—that’s a special kind of pain, but that’s a story for another day. Swimming beneath my boat as she bobbed up and down violently, trying to hack away at a knot with a dull steak knife that I‘d used for dinner the night before, I realized I did not have the right tools for the job. After finally freeing my prop I laid on deck like a wounded flounder. Since that day, I’ve been sure to not leave the dock without goggles (or a mask and snorkel) and a hand saw.

OVERSERVED

I love getting non-boaters out for a day on the water. Experiencing our pastime through the eyes of someone who doesn’t go boating much is a great way to remind yourself of how lucky you are—and to also hopefully create more boaters.

Be warned: special consideration needs to be taken when you have crew aboard without any sea legs. The risk of a stumble, misstep or even man-overboard scenario is exponentially higher. Add alcohol into the mix and now you’re really playing with matches. A slight slur and small stumble might be funny on land, but on a boat underway it can end in disaster.

How do I know this? I’m going to refrain from naming names to protect the inebriated, but let’s just say Dark n’ Stormy describes the drink being served and my mood until they were off my boat.

CHARLIE LEVINE

GAS SPILL GALORE As a college student I spent a summer working as a “houseboat instructor” on Lake Powell in Utah. I taught folks how to use the 50-foot houseboat they had just rented for a week of blissful cruising. This meant showing them how to start the engines, operate the throttles, change a prop, light the water heater and things like that.

When an incoming group notified us that they’d be arriving after hours, I offered to stay late and show them the ropes. During the walkthrough, we couldn’t get one of the outboard engines to start. The little fitting at the end of the fuel line where it attaches to the motor was damaged. It wouldn’t seal, and no matter how many times you pumped the ball in the line to prime it, the motor wasn’t getting enough fuel. I told the guests we’d have to wait till morning for a mechanic because I didn’t have access to the shop.

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The next morning, when I showed up at the marina, I was greeted with signs saying “Fuel Leak, No Smoking!” and an array of National Park Service vehicles.

Turns out the fuel line, which I had taped to the motor, had fallen off, and fuel had dribbled into the harbor all night long, causing the largest fuel leak of the summer. I felt horrible and helped set out booms to contain the fuel. I had to fill out a very long accident report and nearly lost my job, but in the end I was freed of any wrongdoing as it was truly a mistake, and one I’ll never repeat.

ANCHOR’S AWAY The Cape Canaveral Bight sits just north of a busy port inlet in central Florida. It’s a great spot to fish for Spanish mackerel, pompano, redfish and speckled sea trout.

The area is a protected national seashore with just a few NASA buildings and some rocket launchpads. I was fishing the Bight with a buddy on his 21-foot Key West center console, casting shrimp and artificial lures toward the beach.

We were staying just offshore of the surf break and working areas of clean water, hoping for pompano. We kept the outboard running so we could bump it in and out of gear to keep us from getting too close to shore. Then, the motor died and we couldn’t get it to restart.

The swells began pushing us closer to the beach, and I started to get nervous. I was fishing from the bow and my instinct told me to open up the anchor locker and toss the anchor out, which I did. But this wasn’t my boat. And the brand new anchor I had just tossed over had yet to be attached to the anchor line. Lucky for us, the engine kicked to life just as we were about to get beached, and my buddy floored it to move us out of the surf break to calm water. We made a pit stop at the marine store on the way home and I replaced his anchor.

BILL SISSON

Seeing the Light(ning) “It’s just heat lightning,” I told my fishing partner. “It’s nothing.”

As kids, we pretty much ignored these distant flashes of summer lightning. On this evening in August, my future sonin-law and I were fishing for striped bass behind Fishers Island, New York, when the sky to the east flashed repeatedly with lightning and no thunder.

I’d checked before we’d headed out that evening and saw no reports of any weather problems. The marine forecast called for light winds from the southwest. It was a typical summer forecast, perfect for taking a small boat behind the island and casting live eels along the rocky shores.

The fishing was just good enough to keep us fishing longer than we might have. Every time I thought about calling it a night, we’d get another fish and decide to stay a little longer. The temperature was mild—we fished in shorts and T-shirts and talked Red Sox and fish. These were home waters, and this kind of fishing was something I’d done for years.

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Still, the pyrotechnic show to the east was unsettling. Lightning reflected off the clouds like ragged strobe lights. It was captivating but put me on edge.

Still no sound of thunder.

It was a wind shift that caused me to pack it in. We put the rods in the holders, turned on the running lights and headed for the east end of the island, several miles away. Things happen faster at nighttime on the water.

The gusts I’d felt were the first downdrafts from a line of fast-moving thunderstorms that battered summer anchorages along eastern Long Island Sound that night, causing boats to drag their anchors and wind up on the hard.

The wind built quickly as we worked our way east. The tide was flooding, which meant we’d be looking at wind against tide once we exited the narrow passage between Fisher’s Island and the low, rocky, current-swept Wicopesset Island.

I stopped my vintage 17-foot Boston Whaler Nauset a quarter mile shy of the passage and stowed all lose gear that was on the deck. I put on a lifejacket and had my partner Dan do the same.

I knew it was going to be bumpy and wet. His job was to hang on and shine the spotlight as directed.

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I remember thinking: I can’t lose my daughter’s fiancé She’ll never forgive me. Once we turned east for Watch Hill, the steep waves and wind on the bow made it clear that we weren’t going home in that direction. We took two waves over the bow, which convinced me to change course to avoid flooding the boat.

I fell off the wind before we could hit a third wave, putting the seas and gusts on my starboard quarter as we headed north for calmer waters. When things settled down, I cleaned my glasses of spray, zoomed in the GPS and set a new course for home.

Lessons? Sometimes the long way home is the safest course. Don’t let old weather clichés put you in harm’s way. Listen to your instincts. And adjust quickly to changing conditions. Most importantly, remember, that small boats must bend and work with the wind and seas, not bash into them head-on.

boating related mistakes you should really try to avoid

MIKE SMITH

CHECK THE SALINITY As a young captain I had the opportunity to cruise to Europe and spend nine months bouncing around the Mediterranean, a great adventure that I wouldn’t mind having again, if I could afford it. But my youthful infatuation with being in charge led me to overlook some basic maintenance chores that eventually precipitated a pile of very substantial repair bills.

What happened? You might not know, as I didn’t, that the Mediterranean Sea is saltier than the waters of the U.S. East Coast, my usual stomping grounds, and of the Atlantic Ocean in general. It has to do with evaporation of water from the Med due to the warm climate; water lost to the atmosphere leaves its salt behind, so over the past five million years or so, the Med has become substantially salty. This increased the rate of galvanic corrosion of various components of my boat, including the zincs in the engine’s heat exchanger, which were eaten up by sea water much faster than usual. Once the zincs were gone, the Med water started consuming the innards of the heat exchanger. I noticed something was amiss when the water level in the tank kept rising—overflowing at times. There was also a salty track running from the overflow tube down the front of the tank, which for some reason didn’t bother me. The engine kept running okay, though—but my inattention turned it into my very first saltwater-cooled diesel!

When we stopped in Mallorca for a quick refit and repair of another engine issue before heading back home, the mechanic pointed out the result of my ignorance, adding, “We see that a lot in boats from the U.S.” The only thing that saved me was another engine failure—not my fault this time—that necessitated an engine rebuild. The cost of the new heat exchanger was absorbed by the bigger problem, and I escaped with only a few self-administered kicks in the butt for not paying attention to maintenance.

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boating related mistakes you should really try to avoid

WATCH THE CURRENT I spent a year aboard a small tanker working in New York -Harbor, where I learned a lot about boat-handling while making some nearly catastrophic errors. A commercial boat’s rugged construction, massive rubrails and excessive fendering make it forgiving of mistakes: You can take a good whack and bounce off undamaged—at least most of the time.

One day, in a commercial ship basin full of empty barges in -Bayonne, New Jersey, I forgot one of the basic boat-handling rules: check the current before casting off. As the Old Man, an Irishman with a thick County Cork brogue (who owned the boat but didn’t like to steer) turned loose of the final bowline, the current caught us and almost immediately swept us crossways toward one of the biggest, ugliest, most

intimidating barges I’d ever seen.

Before I realized it, we were under its lofty overhanging bow. The rubrail wouldn’t help—the pilothouse was in harm’s way.

“Mikel,” said the Old Man. “Do ya see that barge?”

See it? It blocked out the sun! No time for finesse: My only chance was to yank the 6-71 into reverse and hit the throttle.

For a while, a combination of prop walk, clean living and dumb luck looked like it would save me—but then the pilothouse just touched the corner of the barge. Twang! I felt the pilothouse shudder. The Old Man never said a word until we got back to our dock. “Better see if you did any damage.”

Not a mark on the top of the house, but along the base, where the wooden structure was secured to the steel deck of the boat, several fastenings had obviously pulled through. When I looked closer, however, I saw the damaged wood was gray with age. This hadn’t happened an hour ago, but years ago; I wasn’t the first one to get in a jam like this—must have been the Old Man having a bad day, way back before I signed on. But I learned my lesson—never, never maneuver around anything you can hit without checking the current. It can sneak up and bite you.

NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT One cold October day we set out to move the boat from eastern Long Island to New York City, but the seas in Long Island Sound were too steep for comfort thanks to a cold autumn wind. We backtracked to Three Mile Harbor near East Hampton to wait out the weather. During our docking, with the owner at the helm, the wind caught the bow and blew it toward a low floating dock. I jumped off the boat to fend off but miscalculated how low the dock actually was. In a trice, I found myself staring at the rubrail, barely able to reach the bowrail to pull myself back aboard. I was fully togged out in cold-weather gear—two sweaters, wool pants, full foul-weather gear and white sea boots (like those worn by commercial fishermen) rather than Top-Siders.

Jumping back aboard while pushing the bow away from the dock would have been a feat for Simone Biles in a leotard—for me, dressed like a damp Michelin man, it wasn’t gonna happen.

But I gave it my best shot: I kicked my legs up toward the gunwale with all my might, missed by at least a foot, and ended up hanging off the bowrail like a character in a Looney Tunes cartoon.

I suggested to the owner that he pull back to the dock and drop me off, but he was too busy laughing to do so. As luck would have it, this horrible event took place in my home harbor, so 90 percent of the folks watching knew me—and it was a Sunday morning— there was a big crowd.

Finally, to end the agony, I dropped into the water and backstroked to the dock. A friend of my dad’s, a burly carpenter who’d spent his whole life hammering and had the arms to show for it, stuck his jelly donut into his mouth and rolled me onto the dock, while taking care not to spill the coffee in his other hand. The owner shifted the boat to another, taller dock where we tied up for the night, and I had to endure an hour of commentary from folks I once called friends, while buying them all fresh cups of coffee.

The moral of the story? Never leave the boat until it’s tied to the dock— but if you do, do it in a place where nobody knows you.

This article originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.

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COMPANY PROFILE - LEGACY MARINE

CREATING A NEW ERA OF

ALUMINIUM

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

Builds underway in the Legacy factory.

Big things often start with a small step and over six years ago a cardboard model of a 70 ftSport Fishing Motor Yacht was put together perched on a table with every aspect of it getting critiqued and examined to the finest detail. Thoughts about how to make it look better, what was required to make it functional, perform and not only match what else already existed – but better it were running through Glenn Shaw’s mind.

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COMPANY PROFILE - LEGACY MARINE

Glen Shaw, a man with a vision.

Legacy Marine has evolved from the success of Extreme Boats, New Zealand’s most awarded alloy trailer boat builder.

No stranger to building aluminium Boats, the Shaw family are behind the helm of New Zealand’s most awarded aluminium trailer boat manufacturer Extreme Boats. From a small run of handcrafted boats in a rural shed over 25 years ago, the Shaw family have turned Extreme Boats into an internationally recognised manufacturer building over 300 boats per year with more than 90 staff and 20 different models in the range.

A natural progression to travel further than most trailer boats could and stay on the water for longer ignited the desire to come up with a range of high end aluminium motor yachts, and ultimately the birth of Legacy Marine.

THE NEXT STEP What these motor yachts required was learnt by doing what they are intended to do, and many offshore voyages between Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand and the Pacific Islands were undertaken with Glenn behind the helm in the years leading up to the design work.

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Glenn's first approach was to enable architect David De Villiers, who was commissioned to design the Legacy 70. Well known New Zealand based naval architects LoMOTION were then contracted to assist with other designs, and ensure they were built to standard and would perform in the environments they were intended and thrive on water.

The range currently offers four different models from 35ft right up to just over 70 ft in length. The smaller member of the fleet is the L35 which is a motor yacht that will appeal to many.

Very manageable in size yet with sleeping quarters to accommodate six in comfort this motor yacht will be ideal for those living on the waterways, looking for an on-water batch, or a serious fishing platform. It truly is a versatile vessel suiting many boating requirements.

The L45 is a Euro styled sedan cruiser with accommodation for 6 in two double beds and two single bunks.

This Motor Yacht is an entertainers dream with a spacious saloon opening

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Fitting the 1900HP V12 Mann diesels into place on the L70.

The first L35 is nearing completion.

REPUTATION - NZ’s most awarded Aluminium Boat

STABLE - Self flooding keel

BUILD INTEGRITY - CPC certified

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COMPANY PROFILE - LEGACY MARINE

ABOVE: The L70 interior is opulent, functional and above all, inviting.

into the cockpit through a large electric window seamlessly fusing the outside environment with the comfort offered in the luxurious saloon. One of its key features is a concealed tender garage making exploration of offshore islands and bays a breeze with the ability to simply slide the tender out and head of in exploration, or to get ashore and gather those groceries while cruising.

When it comes to a boat built for offshore adventures or serious fishing expeditions in comfort and ease the L52 comes into its own. An enclosed flybridge motor yacht with two double beds and two singles along with a shared bathroom and ensuite, stay away trips will be made in comfort.

The L70 is Legacy Marines flagship model for those that demand a boat superior in every way.

With its twin 1900HP V12 MAN’s pushing it along and 9000L of fuel capacity this is a boat designed to experience all our oceans have on offer in comfort and class. Fully air conditioned with a fresh water maker, ice maker, gyro stabiliser, dive compressor and sleeping capacity for eight there will be no hurry to return to shore.

If the success of Extreme Boats is anything to go by, Legacy Marine has an exciting voyage ahead. www.legacymarine.co.nz RIGHT: Attention to detail is obvious in the structure of the L70.

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

The 2022 Whitehaven range has been 10 years in evolution.

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Contact your local dealer today to start your journey to your dream Whitehaven.

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W H AT ' S H O T F O R 2 0 2 2 AA Solar Marine Solar Specialists

The team at AA Solar are Solar Specialists who offer a free specifying service and have 30 years of experience specifying and supplying solar products to trade and DIY enthusiasts.

They have a wealth of easy to install products, including the AA Solar 170W Half-Cut PERC Mono Solar Panels $280, The AA Champion Lithium 12V50ah Smart Battery $564 and the Trident Battery Charger $249.

AA Solar Ph 0800 119 581 www.aasolar.co.nz

Quick 12cdc Gyros

The MC² Quick Gyro X2 and X3 stabilisers are the smallest in the extended family. Just 42cm square, and delivering an anti-rolling torque of up to 3,900 Nm, the X2 is perfect for 20ft trailable centre console fishing boats or little day cruisers, while the X3 model suits heavier trailer sportfish boats and small cabin cruisers up to around 27ft.

The MC²X series stabiliser delivers up to 95% roll reduction from a machine that is physically much smaller than any other gyro on the market.

Gineico Marine Ph (+61) 7 5556 0244 www.gineicomarine.com.au

Temo Electric Outboard

Temo is a very unique product that is ideal for small tenders and is certainly right up there with the latest electric outboard technology. It’s compact, lightweight and has an exceptional battery live. Weighing less than 5kg and it has a unique design combining motor, battery and control unit. Its telescopic size (from 130 to 170 cm) allows multiposition.

Tenob Marine Ph 09 273 9180 www.tenob.co.nz

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ProMariner Waterproof Charger ProMariner ProSportHD is the updated version of the already successful ProSport series of lightweight, onboard waterproof battery chargers. Designed for use in harsh marine environments with industrial grade jacketed DC and AC power cables and rated IP67, the generation 4 ProSportHD features a new fuel gauge like display so boat owners can easily see the state of their battery’s charge status.

Pro Mariner +64 9 415 7261 | www.promariner.com

NU-DD Shackles

Highly rated the unique Kiwi designed, D-Shackle are available in 316 Stainless or galvanized and come with a with captive pin.

The big pin head is the symbolic trademark of the NU-D Rated Towing Shackle giving you more leverage. NU-D shackles are available in 8mm and 10mm and are WOF compliant and adhere to NZ standards NZS 5467:1993.

NU-D Ph 021 420 576 www.shackles.co.nz

Infinity Luxury Woven Vinyl

If you would prefer a luxurious carpet alternative that is stain resistant, soft underfoot, then you cannot go past Infinity Luxury Woven Vinyl. Made in the USA this product looks like teak and feels terrific. It can be used internally and externally and is backed by a 10-year warranty. It is flexible and can be glued down or loose laid and will not curl but will stay flat. You can bind the edges like a carpet mat or lay it wall to wall without the need for binding. There are currently 12 colours/patterns available in New Zealand.

BluSky Products Ph +64 6 308 9337 | www.bluskyproducts.com.au

Sideshift Thrusters

While other thrusters can take days to install and should only be done by a professional, Sideshift’s revolutionary design is the perfect DIY project.

As an industry leader in easy-to-install external mount bow and stern thrusters, Sideshift offers solutions for all types of boats. Perfect for all boats up to 18m, the unique universal mounting system requires no holes below the waterline, eliminating the risk of leaks associated with all other types of thruster systems.

Unlike other products that have the thruster motor mounted inside the hull which produces significant noise and vibration, Sideshift thrusters are completely silent and vibration free.

Sideshift Ph 0211549496 | www.sideshift.com

Cule Custom Hatch Solutions

If you’re retro-fitting or looking for something a little special, Cule Marine can certainly help. As a local NZ manufacturer, the team are well placed to deliver one-off or small runs of hatches that are outside the norm. From unusual-shaped trapezoid’s, curves, mirror-image hatches, alloy lids, strut arms and locks, they are up for most challenges!

Cule Marine Ph 09 835 9706 www.culemarine.co.nz PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

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ALL-NEW MU-X

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WHAT IS THE QUESTION WITH PHIL GILBERT

Tutukaka Trashed Most Auckland boaties have enjoyed the shelter and hospitality of Tutukaka harbour and its marina at some stage, meaning at some time they have either sauntered or surfed through its narrow entrance. The wave pattern and size of these waves are magnified as they compress through the passage.

O

nce inside it is usually calm, but with shallow edges and a natural deeper channel up to the marina means water has nowhere to go but up. Consequently when tsunamis’ make their appearance on the Northland coast Tutukaka suffers more than most 2010 and 2015 saw tsunami occasioned tidal movements and damage to poles and infrastructure, with reports of 1012kts currents. The Tonga volcano of 15/01/2022 saw a real doozie hit Northland, causing significant damage to the entire complex. The wave(s) easily cleared, then partially destroyed the 1.5m stone seawall, at an estimated speed of @13kts. CCTV pics were helpful in working out wave heights and volumes. The 450-500cm stone seawall boulders, which probably weigh 3-400kg each were scattered on the marina floor, and up to 200m out into the fairway. A large vessel on the T end of E pier broke free, and surfed up the marina, clearing boats off the end of the other piers, before finally lodging up by the pier near the fishing club.

The floating fuel jetty was completely

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submerged by the wave inundation, before it finally broke its poles and ripped free from the shore, and raced up the marina, then back out into the bay, before surging back in and narrowly avoiding taking out more craft from A,B and C piers. The marina management had recently upgraded the fuel tanks, and this included some very tricky auto shut off valves to all the tanks. Luckily the marina manager, consequent to getting the Civil Event notifications, was already down at the marina placing warning signs when the first surge came in, and thinking fast, he turned off all power to the water and fuel storage areas so the petrol hoses only leaked a very small amount when the jetty ripped away, and this evaporated away reasonably quickly. The fuel jetty eventually settled mid-stream and was salvaged reasonably quickly.

The wave height was such that many

PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

of the larger sports fishers on the pier by the weigh station touched down heavily on the bottom as the wave receded, causing steering and drive gear damage to a few. It is usually @ 1.5m deep here at low tide. Most boats on the starboard pontoons escaped any significant damage, broken lines and pulled bollards being the main events.

On the port side of the marina, the long L pier was smashed in two and doubled over like a staple, with J and K also being split. Nearly all the concrete floating pontoons suffered stress cracking and are all needing to be replaced. 75 mooring poles were snapped, ripped out or cracked. Many of these poles were sleeved but this had little impact on the destruction.

Boats were ripped free, landed on broken poles or just leant on other boats. 8 craft, mainly from the ends of the piers, or on the pole moorings were

thrown on the rocks and destroyed. Catamarans being in the predominance as they usually end up on the ends of piers in normal times. The pictures in print and TV media showed many a sad sight of some families pride and joy submerged or hanging on the rocks.

Immediately after the event, in the true NZ way help arrived from all quarters. Many Locals helped relocate stranded boats into berths vacant by vessels holidaying elsewhere, disentangle many craft which were tangled in ropes, and broken poles. Heron Marinas from Whangarei sent their large tug, with a crane and removed broken marina pontoons, hauled sub surface broken poles and dredged many tons of rocks off the bottom.

No less than four insurance assessors, maybe more, descended on the area, representing the Govt EQC insurers, Council insurers, Marina management insurers, and many individual boat owners’ insurers from Tower, Crombie Lockwood, NZI and AMP plus others.

So many experts in one place! The marina mangers are happy with the reaction and input to date. The insurance repair costs are going to be significant. New poles are @ $1500 each before pile driving (@$1.5k), sleeves another $1k and pontoons are @$15,000 each. Corner brackets another$700 each, and all this has to be installed. The destroyed craft probably average out at $600k. All up a multi-million dollar exercise Its speaks volumes for the management that as this is written (29/01) the fuel jetty is already reinstalled and capable of delivering diesel, although the high requirements for reinstatement of petrol delivery lines means the 95 Octane is not quite ready yet.

Tutukaka will be OK, but the events had renewed discussions of ways to mitigate future events. Breakwaters, wave attenuators, realigning the channel and other ideas are floating around, but in real terms if mother nature sends a huge amount of water your way, not much will stop it.

A bucket can only hold so much before overflowing!

WHATEVER LIES AHEAD...

THouSAnD REASonS, onE pARTnER

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STABICRAFT 2250 ULTRACAB WT

The new WT model features a full-height walk-thru in the forward-leaning cabin, allowing easy access to the foredeck, and to the bow for ease of fishing and storage options. It’s the ideal boat for island-hopping or coastal exploring, as well as undertaking fishing excursions.

Hard-core fishermen won’t be disappointed in the 2250UCWT’s on-water performance.

CONFIDENCE TO GO WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS. Whether you’re going for some alone time, or getting away with family or friends, Mercury Verado 200-400hp FourStrokes will get you there and back again with a level of power and refinement that can’t be matched.

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LET GO AND UNWIND. Sometimes you need to let go...

The suns shining, the waters flat and your with friends. So kick back, relax and let the beautifully designed, ultra reliable Mercury MerCruiser V8 do all the work. Efficient, powerful and backed

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671 Whangaparaoa Road, Whangaparaoa, North Auckland, New Zealand Phone: 09 424 5556 | Fax: 09 424 1948 | Email: craig@gulflandmarine.co.nz

DB369

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MERCURY DEALER OF THE YEAR (NZ & AUSTRALIA)

GULFLAND MARINE Mercury & MerCruiser Diamond Advantage + Dealer. Mercury Certified Workshop MerCruiser Certified Worksho . MerCruiser Diesel Dealer

Mercury Dealer of year Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

(The only New Zealand Company in history to ever receive this award)

Mercury New Zealand Dealer of the year 2017, 2018 & 2019 Stabicraft Alloy Boats. Stabicraft’s largest dealer 2017 and 2018 CSB Huntsman, Larson & Seaswirl Fiberglass boats Mercury Inflatable

HUGE STOCK SHORTAGES WORLDWIDE…

So get your order in now, to avoid disappointment !

uthorised ecialist

MERCURY PORTABLES. LIGHTWEIGHT AND BUILT TO LAST.

NEW V8 AND V6 MERCURY 4 STROKES IN STOCK AND ON SPECIAL !!

Mercury’s Portables range provide the power that you can carry, run and depend on. With twelve horsepower options ranging from 2.5hp to 30hp, these compact units punch well above their weight.

While stocks last. Subject to availability at the time of purchase

Your local authorised Mercury Specialist

YOUR NZ AUTHORISED MERCURY SPECIALIST

671 Whangaparaoa Road, Whangaparaoa, North Auckland, New Zealand Phone: 09 424 5556 | Fax: 09 424 1948 | Email: craig@gulflandmarine.co.nz

www.gulflandmarine.co.nz

DB770

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FLETCH’S TIPS It’s been a sad start to the summer so far this year with several water fatalities, currently there have been 14 drownings, with rivers being the most common place people have got into difficulty. There has also been too many near losses with divers going missing and boats being swamped on tidal estuary & bars. We all need a reminder as boaties, that wearing life jackets and keeping your safety equipment in good working order should be a requirement as a boat owner – Also remember to always check your coastal marine forecasts. And if in doubt, don’t go out!

TIP #080

TIP #081

FUEL TANK LINE CHECK Remember to do regular checks on your fuel tank and fuel lines before embarking on any long trips. To check my inboard fuel tank, I had to cut around the entire floor panel to prise it free from the silicone sealant. I was glad I did this maintenance check as the fuel line, breather and filler hose rubber were all starting to show signs of cracking on the tank connections. This is reasonably cheap to fix, just needing some 3/8” fuel line, ½” breather, some 3” filler hose and a tube of silicon. All up, it cost less than $60 and an hour of labour to have peace of mind.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to check your fuel sender unit gasket as well, these can also leak and cause problems.

www.batterytownmarine.co.nz

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FOLLOW ME DRONE During the summer break I’ve been testing one of the latest drones available on the NZ market. This little unit from DJI (www.dji.com/nz), has a great feature that follows your boat and keeps everyone in focus using it’s amazing 4K digital video. There are lots of different models to choose from and the fishing units are great for kontiki fishing. These drones will soon change how we create movies and interact with social media as they produce broadcast quality digital video.

0800 962 288

TIP #082

MISSING SHACKLES – AGAIN There is a place in Hell for the gronks that steal trailer shackles (u-bolts). This week one of these thieves has taken my boat shackle for the second time in as many weeks from the boat ramp car park, which is really annoying. Fortunately, I keep a spare in my boat toolbox and another in my tow vehicle glove box for emergencies. These 8mm shackles only cost $2.70 from a hardware store, so it is inexpensive to keep a spare one in case you lose or damage your trailer shackle.

TIP #083

TIP #084

DUAL PROP CONUNDRUM This isn’t really a tip but a question for all the marine mechanics that work on the Dual Prop systems used by Volvo, Yamaha and MerCruiser. The issue is with lining up the props at a certain angle. I have been told it’s not relevant by a couple of mechanics, however MerCruiser state in their manual that the first Prop blade must sit at the top close to the anti-cavitation plate and the second prop must be at 180 degrees opposite with the blade facing down.

Yamaha however has advised that both blades need to be aligned to the anticavitation plate. MerCruiser says that it improves fuel efficiency and reduces vibration but I can’t find any reference in the Yamaha manual for the same recommendation? Can anyone shed some light on this?

WATER TANK CLEANING In the summer heat, your fresh water tanks can take on a nasty odour which taints the water and can be manky to wash with. A handy tip to clean your fresh water tank is empty your tank and then add a large bottle of diet coke (no sugar) and slosh it around for 20 minutes. Then drain the diet coke from the tank and rinse twice with fresh water.

This will remove all smells and keep it clean for the rest of the summer.

PRO TIP: Don’t drink the coke after you have finished cleaning with it.

If you have any ideas or tips you want to share, please email fletch@boatmags.com – all published tips will receive a free online subscription to Pacific PowerBoat and Alloy Boat magazines.

Available from leading boating stores PowerboatMagazine.co.nz

DB759

Trusted brands expert advice

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PROVEN HYDROFOIL TECHNOLOGY p: +64 9 536 5070 | e: info@teknicraft.com DB262

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info@hydromarine.co.nz p: 0273 900161

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WHITE POINTER BOATS

www.metaldesigns.co.nz Custom built inflatables, re-tubes & repair of any inflatable

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Mob: 0275 815007

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MARCH / APRIL 2022

189 Stanley Road, Gisborne Ph: 06 868 6519 Fax: 06 868 9939 Email: rex@whitepointerboats.co.nz Web www.whitepointerboats.co.nz

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE

DB368

SF600R

1487A State Highway 17, Dairy Flat, Auckland.

Ph: 021 570 505 | e: info@seafarerinflatables.co.nz | www.seafarerinflatables.co.nz

REPLACE

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LIKE NEW DB112

Call 09 278 9816

FREE E INSURAENSC QUOT

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www.sandbrooks.co.nz

SALT ATTACK SALT REMOVERS KILLS SALT CORROSION

www.salt-attack.com

HOLIDAY OUTBOARD SERVICES & BOAT STORAGE

Office: (09) 4838 111 – Pete: 0274 731 260 – Luke: 021 686 394

Agents for:

We Service all brands

holidayoutboards@xtra.co.nz

ph: 09 448 1650 fax: 09 448 1651

209 Bush Road, Albany 0632 www.holidayoutboards.co.nz

FOIL ASSIST CATS +25% economy, low wash, superior ride, fully welded, CNC cut for the builder of your choice

by

jutson marine design

Email: pete@boathaulage.co.nz

MARSDEN MARINE Ship Surveyors and Valuers

MNZ, AIMS-CCMS & UK SCMS qualified, recognised and professionally accredited leisure and commercial marine surveying practice.

Greg Marsden (Practice Principal) DipMarSvy, AIMS-CCMS, AMCMS, MNZ P(AP) www.mmservices.co.nz

www.powercatamaran.ca jutson@telus.net +1 604 760 2549

enquiries@mmservices.co.nz Ph: 021 420 984

DB835

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www.shackles.co.nz RATED BIG TURN KEY MORE LEVERAGE

316 Stainless with Captive Pin & Galvanised steel, powder coated Chris 021 420 576

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12 MONTHS DIRECTORY/BRAND AWARENESS ADVERTISING OFFER FOR ONLY $100 PER MONTH. For further infomation contact: alex@boatmgs.com - 02102865298 138

AUCKLAND’S SPECIALIST BOAT REPAIR CENTRE

Recognised

member

Phone: 09 441 2000 Fax: 09 441 4000 Mob: 021 908 156

e: dale@touchofgloss.co.nz | P: 0275 951 443 www.touchofgloss.co.nz

DB192

58 Diana Drive, Glenfield Steve@boatrepairs.co.nz www.boatrepairs.co.nz

Antifouling – Touch ups – Valet – Refits

DB056

Insurance Work Specialists • Launch, Yacht and Runabout Repairs • Antifouling and Gelcoat Work • Full Marine Maintenance Service Spraypainting and Jetski Repairs

Talk to us first for all your

DB009

• Fibreglass & Timber Repairs • Spray Painting & Gelcoating • Insurance work • Antifouling 25-27 Holmes Rd, Manurewa.

PO Box 75-486. Manukau 2243 Ph (09) 267 8498

DB359

info@southaucklandboatrepairs.co.nz www.superiorgroup.co.nz

Call 021 1142 444 or info@lightningmarine.co.nz

DB453

www.fatcat.nz

POWER LIFT BRACKETS Jacking plates from $950

Power trim & tilt units from $1250

MORRINSVILLE’S MARINE CENTRE

DB261

Thames St, Morrinsville ph (07) 889 7193 • fax (07) 889 5405 Email: sportcraftboats@xtra.co.nz Jamie (021) 795 597 www.sportcraftboats.co.nz

Durable kitset pods for pontoon and houseboats, jetties, barges, floating docks, walkways and more www.pontoonz.com | pontoonz@gmail.com | +64 27 555 2000 |

MARCH / APRIL 2022

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PACIFIC POWERBOAT MAGAZINE