BOAT REVIEWS
Discover New Zealand’s best boats with expert reviews, specs, and local insights—sailboats, powerboats, and yachts covered.
Oliver Royale 370 Sport Fisher
Oliver Twist may have asked for more, but with its Royale 370 Sport Fisher, Oliver Marine has served...
Horsepower (HP):
370hp
Length Over All (M):
12.05
Displacement (M):
11,000
Length Over All (M):
11.45
CONSTRUCTION:
fibreglass
Breezecraft Sports Catamaran 4.1m
Breezecraft have added a 4.1m sports catamaran to their range of moulded polyethylene boats. Geoff G...
Length Over All (M):
7.1
Displacement (M):
22
Genesis 400 Open Targa
Genesis recently launched a new model designed to provide el fresco dinning, social appeal and cruis...
Length Over All (M):
12.1
YEAR:
2001
Displacement (M):
8
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
Hunter 356
Major US yacht builder Hunter Marine build vessels that are strikingly different to the production n...
Horsepower (HP):
27
YEAR:
2000
Displacement (M):
6318
Construction:
GRP/balsa/Kevlar
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP/balsa/Kevlar
Bénéteau ‘Benny’ 53
The epitome of design, the Benny 53 Go offers the same level of style and comfort as a Sydney pentho...
Length Over All (M):
17.12
YEAR:
1990
Displacement (M):
15,599
Construction:
carbon, e-glass and epoxy
CONSTRUCTION:
carbon, e-glass and epoxy
Bavaria Match 42
Boating New Zealand · Review
Boat Review / Racer Cruisers
Bavaria Match 42
Words by...
Sea Nymph 580 Regal
Testing a boat on a choppy seaway can often make it difficult to get a feel for its balance—to find ...
Horsepower (HP):
70–100
Length Over All (M):
5.8
CONSTRUCTION:
Fibreglass
Fi-Glass Warrior
It has been two years since Fi-Glass Boats has released a new model. It was no surprise, therefore, ...
Length Over All (M):
6.4
YEAR:
1998
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
White Pointer 8m Cruiser
Sophistication and style are qualities not often associated with aluminium trailer boats, but as Tra...
Horsepower (HP):
200 to 400 (outboard) Options: include petrol or diesel sterndrive
Length Over All (M):
8.2
YEAR:
1992
Length Over All (M):
7.6
Rayglass Cruisemaster 700
The term Cruisemaster may evoke images of classic American automobiles on Route 66, but it also desc...
Dixon Performance Cruiser
Liara is a beautiful example of a comfortable performance cruiser endowed with spark and speed throu...
Horsepower (HP):
190
Length Over All (M):
19.8
Displacement (M):
23,500kg
Bols
Building and designing a yacht to smash world speed sailing records requires a big budget, lateral t...
Length Over All (M):
28.3
Displacement (M):
23 tonnes
CONSTRUCTION:
Carbon fibre/Airex
AMF 580 V-Berth (2003)
Every AMF 580 V-Berth displays the builder's mission statement - Guaranteed Tough - across the trans...
Horsepower (HP):
115-150hp
Length Over All (M):
5.8
YEAR:
2003
Construction:
Aluminium
Length Over All (M):
5.33
CONSTRUCTION:
Aluminium
Bavaria Yachts 42
It was supposed to be a genteel cruise to assess the Bavaria 42 but Lawrence Schaffler says his test...
Displacement (M):
8400
Length Over All (M):
11.15
CONSTRUCTION:
Bavaria Yachts
Bavaria Yachts 40
The first Bavaria 40 to enter New Zealand was launched at Westhaven in December. It's roomy, comfort...
Length Over All (M):
12.35
Displacement (M):
7,900
Beneteau Oceanis 411
Decades of chartering know-how have been synthesised in the Beneteau Oceanis 411's crisp lines, grea...
YEAR:
1997-2005
Senator 540 Hardtop
Hardtops extend crew comfort and sea keeping but their extra weight and height can compromise small ...
Horsepower (HP):
75
Length Over All (M):
5.58
Displacement (M):
500
Construction:
5mm hull, 3mm pontoons and floor
CONSTRUCTION:
Aluminium
Challenger 618 Platinum
Occasionally a trailer boat will stand out as being exceptional. The Challenger 618 Platinum is just...
Horsepower (HP):
140 – 180
Length Over All (M):
6.5
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
Breeze 4.9m Dory
The commercial and contracting sectors have embraced the Breeze dory because it is virtually indestr...
Horsepower (HP):
30-40 (max 50)
YEAR:
2005
Displacement (M):
280
Length Over All (M):
4.9
CONSTRUCTION:
Polyethylene
Buccaneer 550 Billfisher
The Buccaneer 550 Billfisher is the smallest in Buccaneer's walk-around range. Geoff Green took one ...
Horsepower (HP):
115-150hp
Length Over All (M):
5.91
YEAR:
2004
Length Over All (M):
5.49
Seawind 1160
Following its launch at last year's Sydney Boat Show, Seawind Catamarans' 1160 looks to become the c...
Length Over All (M):
11.60
YEAR:
2004
Displacement (M):
7,000
Construction:
foam sad/vinylester
Length Over All (M):
11.30
CONSTRUCTION:
foam sad/vinylester
Southernsportz 720 HT
Introducing the newest addition to the Trade-A-Boat team, the Southernsportz 720 HT - a versatile al...
Length Over All (M):
7.7
YEAR:
2000
Construction:
Topsides: 5 mm marine-grade alloy. Deck & Cabin: 4 mm marine-grade alloy
CONSTRUCTION:
Aluminium
Cat Concepts NZ38
The Cat Concepts NZ38 powercat is another example of a New Zealand-built production boat enjoying st...
Horsepower (HP):
250-300
Length Over All (M):
11.5
Displacement (M):
7.8 tonnes (half load)
Length Over All (M):
9.5
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
Riviera 37
With a styling makeover, new hull and improved systems, our Australian correspondent David Lockwood ...
Horsepower (HP):
315
YEAR:
2001-2008
Displacement (M):
10.3
Construction:
Solid fibreglass with composite superstructure
Length Over All (M):
11.56
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid fibreglass
Turbocraft 600
The Turbocraft 600 combines the ample power of a 5.7l V8 with the operational safety of a jet unit t...
Horsepower (HP):
300
YEAR:
Early 2000s
Construction:
Fibreglass
Length Over All (M):
6
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP/Polyester, solid timber full-length girders
Elite 16m Pilothouse
The latest Elite 16m pilothouse, Boudica, meets diverse cruising, fishing, chartering and promotiona...
Horsepower (HP):
450
Length Over All (M):
16
YEAR:
2000
Displacement (M):
16800
CONSTRUCTION:
Durakore/composite
Reflex Ribs 5500 Offshore
Inflatable boat manufacturers are getting a big slice of the new-boat pie as buyers weigh up the adv...
Horsepower (HP):
90
Length Over All (M):
5.50
Displacement (M):
350
CONSTRUCTION:
Fibreglass
Hanse 371 (2003)
Voted 'Boat of the Show' at Europe's largest boat show in 2000, the Hanse 371 has become the German ...
Length Over All (M):
11.25
YEAR:
2003
Displacement (M):
5,950
Construction:
Fibreglass
Length Over All (M):
9.85
CONSTRUCTION:
Fibreglass
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 (Sun Fast 35)
Designed for comfortable family cruising and twilight club racing, the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 i...
Length Over All (M):
10.67
YEAR:
2003
Displacement (M):
5,200
Construction:
Fibreglass
Length Over All (M):
9.73
CONSTRUCTION:
Fibreglass
Roger Hill Black Cat 8.9m
The very capable 8.9m Black Cat fills a gap in the market, has the ability to travel fast and offers...
Horsepower (HP):
Twin 90-150hp
Length Over All (M):
8.9
YEAR:
2001
Displacement (M):
3.5
Length Over All (M):
7
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
Mac Millennium 600
The release of the all-new Mac Millennium 600 has elevated rotationally moulded plastic boats to a n...
Horsepower (HP):
90-135hp
YEAR:
early 2000s
Construction:
polyethylene (PE) thermoplastic
CONSTRUCTION:
polyethylene (PE) thermoplastic
Elliott 1250 Tourer
This Aussie-built, Kiwi-designed deckhouse cruiser has the legs for fast passagemaking around the ba...
YEAR:
2002
Buccaneer 635 Exess
Buccaneer Pleasure Craft has released the 17th model in its Buccaneer range. Geoff Green says the fa...
Horsepower (HP):
150-225
Length Over All (M):
6.77
YEAR:
2002
Construction:
fibreglass
Length Over All (M):
6.33
CONSTRUCTION:
fibreglass
Hahn 47 Sportsfisher
An avid sportfishing couple built AuSUM II to crown their retirement and it represents the distillat...
Horsepower (HP):
660hp each @ 2300rpm
Length Over All (M):
14.3
YEAR:
2002
Displacement (M):
14,500
Construction:
Kevlar, carbon fibre, E-glass, Corecell epoxy composite
Length Over All (M):
12.6
CONSTRUCTION:
Composite
Beneteau First 36.7
In March 2006, the latest model in Beneteau's First cruiser/racer range looked set to follow the suc...
YEAR:
2002
Hanse 341
German production yachtbuilder Hanse is making giant strides in Australia, but has yet to reach New ...
Horsepower (HP):
18
Length Over All (M):
10.35
YEAR:
2002
Displacement (M):
5150 approx
Construction:
GRP/foam core topsides & deck
Length Over All (M):
8.90
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP/foam core topsides & deck
W/L 3800 Flybridge Powercat
Catamarans New Zealand's all new W/L 3800 Flybridge powercat is optimised for sport fishing without ...
Horsepower (HP):
130-420hp per side
Length Over All (M):
11.6
YEAR:
2001
Displacement (M):
9,500kg light trim, 11,000kg heavy trim
Construction:
GRP
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP
Alexcraft 4.9
When I first reviewed the Alexcraft 4.9 back in February 1998, I made the analogy that if this boat ...
Horsepower (HP):
360 @ 5200 rpm
Length Over All (M):
4.9
Construction:
10mm centre, 5mm outer bottoms, 3mm transom and sides.
CONSTRUCTION:
Alloy