Boat Reviews & Insights Menu
BOAT REVIEWS
Discover New Zealand’s best boats with expert reviews, specs, and local insights—sailboats, powerboats, and yachts covered.
BOAT REVIEW
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 695
A trailerable launch, Jeanneau’s 695 Merry Fisher is billed as multi-use, family-oriented vessel. Th...
Length Over All (M):
6.55
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
White Pointer 1050 Custom
The new White Pointer 1050 Custom Oona is the first vessel Honda Marine New Zealand has fitted with ...
Horsepower (HP):
750
Displacement (M):
7300
Length Over All (M):
10.5
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Dufour 460
You can pull on another oilskin, sheet in the jib and grit your teeth – or you can ease back and sai...
Displacement (M):
10760
Length Over All (M):
14.15
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Whittley CW 1600 Cuddy
Australia’s Whittley Boats is best known for its cruisers – family-sized cabin boats with sterndrive...
Length Over All (M):
5.0
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Senator RH770
Napier aluminium boatbuilder Senator Boats is happy to customise any model in its extensive range to...
Length Over All (M):
7.93
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Beneteau Oceanis 41.1
When it comes to creating cruising yachts, you’d expect Beneteau to know their stuff. The new 12.4-m...
Displacement (M):
8777
Length Over All (M):
11.98
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht
Riviera’s latest Sport Yacht, the impressive 5400, takes the boating lifestyle very seriously.
Displacement (M):
24725
Length Over All (M):
17.46
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Tristram 701 Vanquish
The 701 is the latest model release from Hamilton-based Tristram Marine, available in a soft top con...
Horsepower (HP):
225
Length Over All (M):
7.1
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Aquila 44
The new Aquila 44 power catamaran is a vessel tailor-made for partying in style.
Displacement (M):
16240
Length Over All (M):
13.34
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Caribbean 35 Mk III
Proving that there is always room for improvement, the new Caribbean 35 Mk III expands her fishing-f...
Displacement (M):
850
Length Over All (M):
12
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Jeanneau 54
Fortunate indeed is the boatbuilder who announces a proposed, new model and immediately sells out th...
Displacement (M):
17164
Length Over All (M):
16.5
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Mac 470 Sportfisher
The newest model from Mac Boats is a versatile family runabout that lends itself equally easily to f...
Horsepower (HP):
70
Length Over All (M):
4.7
Construction:
Other
BOAT REVIEW
Whittley FF2100
A hardcore angler embraces his softer side with the new Whittley FF2100 – an Aussie “crossover” boat...
Length Over All (M):
6.13
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Southern XP896
Launch
Smart looking, nicely finished and boasting great performance and handling, the top of the range twi...
Horsepower (HP):
400
Length Over All (M):
9.43
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Stabicraft 2500 Ultracab XL
Launch
Just when you think Stabicraft’s design team has settled into a conventional frame-of-mind, along c...
Horsepower (HP):
300
Displacement (M):
2500
Length Over All (M):
7.62
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Smuggler Strata 750 RIB
With a tight deadline to review the new Smuggler Strata 750 Cabin, the weather wasn’t playing ball. ...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
7.5
Construction:
Inflatable
BOAT REVIEW
Innovision 555
Trailer Boat
The boat had to be a ‘pure lure-fishing weapon’
Horsepower (HP):
150
Length Over All (M):
5.56
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria C45
Launch
Beautiful weather doesn’t always equal the best weather for going sailing, but sometimes you just ha...
Displacement (M):
11935
Length Over All (M):
13.98
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria C42
Launch
Getting back out on the water after an extended period in lockdown felt so good — especially with ...
Displacement (M):
9678
Length Over All (M):
12.9
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Purekraft 800HT
Launch
Purekraft designs and builds custom aluminium boats – but its extraordinary flexibility was particul...
Horsepower (HP):
400
Length Over All (M):
8.0
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
McLay 741 Raptor
Launch
A boat that can operate on land as well as on water is obviously attractive: amphibious vessels and...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
7.4
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Marco 750 Sou’wester
Launch
If you plan to spend your fishing hours in the turbulent waters of the deep South, you’d better mak...
Displacement (M):
2300
Length Over All (M):
8.10
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Image Prestige 10.75m
Launch
In boatbuilding, as with business, the best clients are the ones that return. You don’t have to con...
Horsepower (HP):
700
Length Over All (M):
10.75
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria C50
Launch
It used to be that cruising in a yacht – compared to a launch – meant making compromises in terms o...
Length Over All (M):
15.39
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
DNA 570 XHT
Launch
Game On was a special project for Jake, the DNA 570 XHT’s Taupo-based owner, replacing a smaller DN...
Horsepower (HP):
140
Length Over All (M):
5.7
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Elite AT43
Launch
Once upon a time, New Zealand had a thriving production boat industry. Now only a few diehards rema...
Displacement (M):
10500
Length Over All (M):
13.2
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Maritimo M51 Flybridge
Launch
Classic flybridge models like this glorious Maritimo M51 combine luxury with performance, a combina...
Displacement (M):
21000
Length Over All (M):
13.19
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
CSB Huntsman Centurion
Launch
The new CSB Huntsman Centurion Carbon Edition debuted at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show – and...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
6.5
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Grand Banks 60 Skylounge
Launch
Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? The Grand Banks 60 Skylounge is made for enjoying...
Displacement (M):
28000
Length Over All (M):
19.9
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Purekraft 700 HT
Launch
Purekraft is a relative newcomer among aluminium trailer boat brands, but the personnel behind it c...
Length Over All (M):
7.2
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Marco 950 Sou’wester
Launch
The award-winning Marco 950 Sou’wester Resolute is the Tauranga company’s third custom aluminium bui...
Displacement (M):
4800
Length Over All (M):
10
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Grand Banks 60
Launch
The marriage of two high-profile boat yards – Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts – has delivere...
Displacement (M):
29000
Length Over All (M):
19.9
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
CSB Huntsman Sotalia
Launch
CSB Huntsman’s handy 5.85m Sotalia is a conventional cabin-style trailer boat of a type that’s peren...
Horsepower (HP):
180
Length Over All (M):
5.85
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria S36 HT Sports Cruiser
Launch
There comes a time in every yachtie’s life when he/she considers switching to a powerboat. For the ...
Displacement (M):
6800
Length Over All (M):
11.66
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria E40 Sedan
Launch
Most readers associate Bavaria with performance-cruiser yachts, but the German manufacturer’s stable...
Displacement (M):
10500
Length Over All (M):
12.29
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Azimut Magellano 43
Launch
Aimed at the luxury end of the market, Azimut’s range encompasses 33 models across eight styles in l...
Displacement (M):
17399
Length Over All (M):
12.96
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
CSB Huntsman Xcalibur
Launch
Most of us can only afford one boat and if it is a family asset, the boat has to be multifunctional ...
Horsepower (HP):
300
Displacement (M):
1650
Length Over All (M):
7.5
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Bavaria 37 Cruiser
Launch
When you migrate to the Bay of Islands for six months of the year to escape the UK winter, having a ...
Displacement (M):
7000
Length Over All (M):
11.3
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Image 7.08 Pontoon
Launch
The Image Pontoon 7.08 is the latest addition to the now 15-strong Image Boats range and marks a dis...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
7.36
Construction:
Aluminium