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
Sealegs 12RC
Trailer Boat
‘Behemoth’ is a word which springs to mind or, perhaps more nautically, ‘leviathan’.
Length Over All (M):
12.3
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Haines Hunter SP635
Trailer Boat
The hardtop SP635 shares the same underpinnings as the popular SF 635 which was a completely new mod...
Horsepower (HP):
200
Length Over All (M):
6.76
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Elite 15.8m Sport Sedan
Launch
The pride and joy of a multi-generational family, Bliss resides on a pier that’s home to a couple of...
Displacement (M):
16200
Length Over All (M):
15.8
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Dibley 12m canting-keeler
Yacht
The cockpit is open and spacious, raceboat-style, with a cool curved edge to the deck at the open tr...
Length Over All (M):
12
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Rayglass 3000
Launch
There are two different powerplant configurations currently available: either twin outboards or sing...
Horsepower (HP):
600
Length Over All (M):
8
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Buccaneer Six Fifteen
Trailer Boat
Based on the well-known Buccaneer 605 hull, the Buccaneer Six Fifteen has increased the 605’s waterl...
Horsepower (HP):
200
Length Over All (M):
6.78
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Surtees 750 Game Fisher
Trailer Boat
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show prize boat package would be every Kiwi angler’s dream to own.
Horsepower (HP):
300
Displacement (M):
1590
Length Over All (M):
7.5
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Sargo 31 Explorer
Launch
The Sargo 31’s exterior looks like it means business – in a cool way.
Displacement (M):
5400
Length Over All (M):
9.96
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Sedan
This vessel has much to recommend it for a couple or a family.
Displacement (M):
11040
Length Over All (M):
13.42
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Haines Hunter Overlander OP725
Trailer Boat
The Anura system is not only pleasingly quiet in operation (no noisy internal combustion engine in t...
Horsepower (HP):
300
Displacement (M):
2400
Length Over All (M):
7.5
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Caribbean 32 FB
Launch
With classic styling, good performance and class-leading ride and handling, there’s a lot to like ab...
Displacement (M):
6500
Length Over All (M):
10.385
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Seawind 1370
Yacht
Solar panels on the vast roof help keep the batteries charged.
Displacement (M):
11000
Length Over All (M):
13.7
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Sessa Yacht Line C47
Launch
Sessa vessels have a CE CLASS B rating – certified offshore to 200 miles, for winds up to force 8, a...
Displacement (M):
14500
Length Over All (M):
14.27
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Legacy Marine L45
Launch
The L45 is intended to fulfil the role of a luxury motoryacht capable of operating in typical New Ze...
Displacement (M):
20000
Length Over All (M):
13.8
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Lazercat 950
Launch
The helm station is well-equipped and simple to operate, thanks to the simplified switching that’s b...
Displacement (M):
3800
Length Over All (M):
9.5
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Innovision 808 Venture Estero
Launch
As has become more usual for the crew at Innovision Boats, Estero has been extensively customised.
Horsepower (HP):
400
Length Over All (M):
8.2
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Moody 41DS
Yacht
The major point of difference between this boat and a regular cruising yacht is the high-profile dec...
Length Over All (M):
12.52
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Boston Whaler 405 Conquest
Launch
Step aboard and the 405’s roomy cockpit certainly makes a strong first impression.
Displacement (M):
17853
Length Over All (M):
12.6
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Elite 18m Mid Pilothouse
Launch
The loving care and attention that has gone into every detail is clearly evident.
Displacement (M):
28000
Length Over All (M):
18
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Challenger 720HT
Trailer Boat
Like the rest of the Challenger range, the 720 HT’s fibreglass hull is designed by Terry Reid, who h...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
7.15
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Quarken 27 Cabin
Launch
This size is notably popular in New Zealand, being small enough to be trailered, yet spacious enough...
Displacement (M):
2700
Length Over All (M):
8.35
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Iliad 53 S
Launch
Compared to the range’s flybridge models, the 53 S has much less windage and greater stability, so ...
Displacement (M):
24000
Length Over All (M):
16.35
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Beneteau First 36
Yacht
The First 36 has a pleasingly yacht-like cockpit: this is a boat that is meant to be sailed.
Displacement (M):
4800
Length Over All (M):
11.98
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Sea Ray Sundancer 265
Launch
The Sea Ray Sundancer 265 is an impressive example of all that is good about American production boa...
Displacement (M):
3200
Length Over All (M):
8.07
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Oceanpro 540 GTS
Trailer Boat
He aimed to produce something that provided the best of both worlds: the tough, rigid hull sides of ...
Horsepower (HP):
115
Length Over All (M):
5.4
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Senator 500 Side Console
Trailer Boat
Senator allows owners to spec the boat however they want it, starting with a base, but very comprehe...
Length Over All (M):
5.2
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Caribbean 2300 Hardtop
Trailer Boat
Straight from the factory, the Caribbean 2300 is ready for fishing action.
Length Over All (M):
7.84
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Profab 1200
Launch
The quad-cam 7.6L V12 600hp Verado is stunning!
Displacement (M):
11700
Length Over All (M):
13.0
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Maritimo S75
Launch
My first impression of the S75 was its striking and sleek profile, thanks to nearly 75 feet (23m) of...
Displacement (M):
48000
Length Over All (M):
23.07
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Rodman 31 Spirit Hardtop
Power Boat
Although relatively unknown here, Rodman is one of Europe’s most respected brands.
Length Over All (M):
9.48
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
GHB 10.5m powercat
Launch
Makédo’s construction is a foam-cored, epoxy sandwich: Corecell foam for the hulls and Divinycell fo...
Displacement (M):
3479
Length Over All (M):
10.7
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Grand Banks 54 Laughalot
Launch
The Grand Banks 54 delivers traditional styling with timeless good looks, comfortable accommodations...
Displacement (M):
25000
Length Over All (M):
18.41
Construction:
Composite
BOAT REVIEW
Pescador 35
Launch
In a market that can sometimes confuse bling with ease of use and reliability, it is refreshing to s...
Displacement (M):
7500
Length Over All (M):
10.8
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
BOAT REVIEW
Stabicraft 1450 Frontier ProFish
Trailer Boat
Stabicraft boats will need no introduction to anyone with New Zealand boating experience.
Horsepower (HP):
50
Length Over All (M):
4.42
Construction:
Aluminium
BOAT REVIEW
Legacy Marine L35 Awatea
Launch
The Legacy 35 was designed by the world-famous, New Zealand-based LOMOcean team.
Displacement (M):
6000
Length Over All (M):
10.58
Construction:
Aluminium
