The newest Rayglass is available in several variants: inboard diesel, inboard petrol V8, single outboard (Mercury Verado 400hp V10 or 300hp V8), and twin outboard (Mercury 200hp or 225hp V6). We review the diesel sterndrive and outboard V10 models on page 22, as well as a new Assault 920 Amphibious and the latest from Innovision Boats,
a 616 Venture that began life as a custom build for an Australian customer but is now part of the company’s model inventory.
As a MARPOL signatory, New Zealand is bound by the latest international rules regarding exhaust emissions at sea. These are aimed primarily at commercial vessels but also apply to recreational craft. Maritime New Zealand’s recently issued Environmental Rules for Recreational Boats outlines what recreational boaters in New Zealand must do to reduce emissions.
At first blush, they make somewhat concerning reading, with new or used engines of 130kW (173.4hp) or more installed from January 2023 requiring a range of emissions documentation, depending on the engine type (petrol or diesel), showing that they meet emissions standards (IMO Tier II for diesel and EU, US, and Australian emissions regulations for spark ignition).
Older engines over 130kW installed between May 19, 2005, and January 1, 2023, may continue to be used until 2032, whether they have documentation or not, after which they will need to be replaced by engines that do. Oh, oh – that’s a lot of engines coming up for replacement in a few years’ time!
Or is it? A deeper read reveals things are not as bad as they might at first seem. New engines will have to be sold with the appropriate documentation, and it turns out that older diesel engines installed between May 2005 and January 2011 will still be okay if their technical files show they meet IMO Tier 1 standard (rather than the more stringent IMO Tier II).
And if an engine was installed before May 2005 (or January 2011 if it’s spark ignition) and it hasn’t been significantly modified since then, you can keep using it until it needs replacing (deep sigh of relief!).
Incidentally, these regulations only apply to engines that are deemed ‘installed’ – having fuel, cooling, or exhaust systems that are integral parts of the boat. An outboard engine with a portable fuel tank is not considered installed.
For more details, see page 44.
