At the end of a long year, a new boat heads south
Boating New Zealand spoke with Cliff Schick of Surtees Boats in Whakatāne as the final cameras were packed away following the photo and video shoot for the new Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL.
Hull one sat ready. The work was done. The next task was simple and very real: hitch up and deliver the boat south to its new owner in Napier.
For Schick, it marked the final delivery in what has been a full year for the Whakatāne builder. Once the 770 Game Fisher XL was handed over, it would finally be time to down tools, step away from the factory floor, and look ahead to a well-earned Christmas break.
The timing felt fitting. A new model completed, a new chapter launched, and a boat that had been talked about for some time now ready to leave the yard.
A bigger idea of what a fishing boat can be
Surtees Boats officially released the new Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL this morning, and it signals a meaningful change in how large trailerable fishing boats are being thought about.
This is not a crossover boat dressed up for fishing. Nor is it a cruiser with a few rod holders added. The Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL is built first and foremost as a fishing platform, while offering real shelter, and the ability to stay onboard overnight comfortably.
Built at Surtees’ Whakatāne facility, the 770 Game Fisher XL reflects years of listening to owners, particularly those wanting to fish further afield, stay longer, and do so with fewer compromises. It is larger and more capable, but it still carries the hallmarks that define a Surtees on the water.
An elongated 750, by design
Where the 770 Game Fisher XL sits in the Surtees range matters.
This is an elongated Surtees 750, not a shortened or softened version of the 800. That decision underpins the entire project.
The Surtees 800 has long attracted interest, especially from Australia, but its 2.7 metre beam places it outside Australian standard road transport limits. That reality has restricted export uptake despite strong buyer interest.
Rather than altering the 800, Surtees chose to work from the proven 750 hull.
“We didn’t want to redesign the eight metre boat,” Schick explains.
“The problem wasn’t the boat, it was transport. So we took the 750, raised the sheerline, gave it more room in the cabin, and made it longer. It gives people what they’ve been asking for, without creating problems getting it on the road.”
By adding length, refining proportions, and increasing internal volume, Surtees delivered a boat that feels substantially larger while remaining easy to manage both on and off the water.
Self-contained, without feeling forced
What sets the Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL apart is how resolved it feels as a package.
The cabin is designed to be closed off at night using bifold doors, creating a proper internal space rather than a makeshift overnight arrangement. It allows the boat to function as a fishing platform by day and a comfortable shelter when the weather turns or the light fades.
Hot and cold water, an internal sink, electric hot water, and flexible sleeping arrangements provide genuine overnight capability. Overnight accommodation extends to three berths.
Surtees has taken a safety-led approach to onboard cooking, opting for diesel rather than LPG. Consumption is minimal and suits the boat’s offshore role.
Roof-mounted solar panels support the house batteries while at anchor, allowing owners to stay off-grid without fuss.
Still built to fish, properly
Despite the added comfort, nothing about the 770 Game Fisher XL suggests fishing was an afterthought.
The anchor well is covered to create a clean forward casting area. Rod storage is extensive and sensibly distributed around the boat. The bait station is plumbed and removable, keeping the cockpit adaptable and easy to clean.
Lighting has been specified with night fishing in mind, including high-output external scene lights and red and white LEDs under the roof to preserve night vision.
Provision for a bow-mounted trolling motor reinforces the boat’s intent as a serious fishing platform.
Power and confidence offshore
The Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL is rated to 350 horsepower.
The launch boat runs twin Honda 150 hp outboards, a configuration chosen for redundancy, confidence in bar conditions, and precise low-speed control. Fuel capacity sits at 400 litres, paired with an 80-litre water tank.
Electric steering and Zipwake trim control contribute to predictable handling, even when the boat is loaded for extended trips.
Built in Whakatāne, start to finish
As with the wider Surtees range, the 770 Game Fisher XL benefits from a tightly controlled build process.
Construction, fit out, upholstery, painting, and fabrication are all completed in-house at Whakatāne. Flooring is CNC cut using 3D mapping, and custom finishes are handled through Surtees’ own paint shop.
That level of integration gives owners greater choice and consistency, while allowing Surtees to maintain control over build quality at every stage.
Demand before the doors opened
Although the Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL is only now being officially released, interest has been building for some time.
Seventeen confirmed orders were placed ahead of the public announcement, many from buyers who had been waiting for a boat that offered overnighting capability without pushing into overwidth territory.
Multiple hulls are already in build and fitout, with the Whakatāne team working to keep pace with demand.
A clear shift in direction
The Surtees 770 Game Fisher XL reflects how experienced fishers are using their boats today. Longer runs, remote anchorages, and the expectation of comfort that supports the trip rather than distracts from it.
For Surtees, it closes out a busy year with a boat that feels considered, practical, and ready to be used as intended.
Hull #one headed south on 18 December. The holidays can wait just a little longer.
