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
Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Sedan
This vessel has much to recommend it for a couple or a family.
Length Over All (M):
13.42
Displacement (M):
11040
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Ryck 280
At first glance the boat appears to be a large centre console, although hidden beneath the console a...
Length Over All (M):
9.52
Displacement (M):
2700
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Boat Review
Caribbean 32 FB
With classic styling, good performance and class-leading ride and handling, there’s a lot to like ab...
Length Over All (M):
10.385
Displacement (M):
6500
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Seawind 1370
Solar panels on the vast roof help keep the batteries charged.
Length Over All (M):
13.7
Displacement (M):
11000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
12.7
CONSTRUCTION:
Infused foam-cored GRP
Sessa Yacht Line C47
Sessa vessels have a CE CLASS B rating – certified offshore to 200 miles, for winds up to force 8, a...
Length Over All (M):
14.27
Displacement (M):
14500
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
12.54
Legacy Marine L45
The L45 is intended to fulfil the role of a luxury motoryacht capable of operating in typical New Ze...
Length Over All (M):
13.8
Displacement (M):
20000
Construction:
Aluminium
Lazercat 950
The helm station is well-equipped and simple to operate, thanks to the simplified switching that’s b...
Length Over All (M):
9.5
Displacement (M):
3800
Construction:
Aluminium
CONSTRUCTION:
Assymmetric catamaran with hydrofoil
Innovision 808 Venture Estero
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
Moody 41DS
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)
Length Over All (M):
11.42
Boat Review
Boston Whaler 405 Conquest
Step aboard and the 405’s roomy cockpit certainly makes a strong first impression.
Length Over All (M):
12.6
Displacement (M):
17853
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Sargo 36
It packs more features and equipment inside its modest 36 feet (11.80m) than do many much bigger boa...
Displacement (M):
8400
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
11.8
Boat Review
Challenger 720HT
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)
Quarken 27 Cabin
This size is notably popular in New Zealand, being small enough to be trailered, yet spacious enough...
Length Over All (M):
8.35
Displacement (M):
2700
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Iliad 53 S
Compared to the range’s flybridge models, the 53 S has much less windage and greater stability, so ...
Length Over All (M):
16.35
Displacement (M):
24000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
CONSTRUCTION:
Vinylester above and below the waterline; monolithic or solid glass around the keel line and other key areas; vacuum-infused PVC closed-cell sandwich elesewhere
Boat Review
Beneteau First 36
The First 36 has a pleasingly yacht-like cockpit: this is a boat that is meant to be sailed.
Length Over All (M):
11.98
Displacement (M):
4800
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
10.25
Sea Ray Sundancer 265
The Sea Ray Sundancer 265 is an impressive example of all that is good about American production boa...
Length Over All (M):
8.07
Displacement (M):
3200
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Oceanpro 540 GTS
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
CONSTRUCTION:
Alloy pontoon type
Senator 500 Side Console
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
Straight from the factory, the Caribbean 2300 is ready for fishing action.
Length Over All (M):
7.84
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
7.0
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid hand laid GRP
Profab 1200
The quad-cam 7.6L V12 600hp Verado is stunning!
Length Over All (M):
13.0
Displacement (M):
11700
Construction:
Aluminium
Maritimo S75
My first impression of the S75 was its striking and sleek profile, thanks to nearly 75 feet (23m) of...
Length Over All (M):
23.07
Displacement (M):
48000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
22.86
Rodman 31 Spirit Hardtop
Although relatively unknown here, Rodman is one of Europe’s most respected brands.
Length Over All (M):
9.48
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
GHB 10.5m powercat
Makédo’s construction is a foam-cored, epoxy sandwich: Corecell foam for the hulls and Divinycell fo...
Length Over All (M):
10.7
Displacement (M):
3479
Construction:
Composite
Length Over All (M):
10.67
CONSTRUCTION:
Foam-cored epoxy sandwich
HH 50
After a day of sailing the HH50, I can clearly see the attraction, assuming your budget is large eno...
Length Over All (M):
15.79
Displacement (M):
16000
Construction:
Composite
Length Over All (M):
14.89
CONSTRUCTION:
E-Glass or carbon fibre versions
Grand Banks 54 Laughalot
The Grand Banks 54 delivers traditional styling with timeless good looks, comfortable accommodations...
Length Over All (M):
18.41
Displacement (M):
25000
Construction:
Composite
Length Over All (M):
16.4
CONSTRUCTION:
Resin-infused carbon fibre decks and reinforcing
Pescador 35
In a market that can sometimes confuse bling with ease of use and reliability, it is refreshing to s...
Length Over All (M):
10.8
Displacement (M):
7500
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
9.15
Stabicraft 1450 Frontier ProFish
Stabicraft boats will need no introduction to anyone with New Zealand boating experience.
Horsepower (HP):
50
Length Over All (M):
4.42
Construction:
Aluminium
CONSTRUCTION:
4mm hull, 3mm pontoons
Legacy Marine L35 Awatea
The Legacy 35 was designed by the world-famous, New Zealand-based LOMOcean team.
Length Over All (M):
10.58
Displacement (M):
6000
Construction:
Aluminium
Length Over All (M):
10
Boat Review
Aluka 823 Walkaround
At rest, the boat was extremely comfortable, and certainly fits the family-friendly bill.
Horsepower (HP):
350
Length Over All (M):
8.23
Construction:
Aluminium
Wright 52 Powercat
The Wright 52’s interior exudes sheer comfort, usability, and Kiwi boat-building craft.
Length Over All (M):
15.4
Displacement (M):
16000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid fibreglass and composite
Boat Review
Artnautica 60 Sportfisher
The hull and IPS 800s make for a happy marriage. Matuku cruises at 23-24 knots, consuming about 155 ...
Length Over All (M):
18
Displacement (M):
22000
Construction:
Carbon Fibre
CONSTRUCTION:
100% resin-infused carbon
Parker 920 Explorer Max
The 920 Explorer Max was conceived as a multi-role vessel: a day boat, fast commuter, sportfisher an...
Length Over All (M):
9.95
Displacement (M):
3413
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
L980 semi-displacement powercat Emocean
Semi-displacement power cats work well when the hulls are narrow and the bridge decks high.
Length Over All (M):
9.80
Construction:
Composite
Length Over All (M):
8.80
CONSTRUCTION:
E-glass epoxy laminate, foam core
Dufour 470
Nothing is more enjoyable to sail to windward than a deep-keeled monohull.
Length Over All (M):
14.85
Displacement (M):
13200
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Swift Trawler 48
Mature boaties will love the walk-around side decks, the ease of the sliding door at the helm, and t...
Length Over All (M):
14.7
Displacement (M):
12200
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
12.77
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095
The Merry Fisher 1095 should prove to be a most cost-effective vessel to run and own, while at the s...
Length Over All (M):
10.75
Displacement (M):
4638
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Boat Review
Boston Whaler 360 Outrage
Formally introduced at the 2022 Miami International Boat Show, the 360 Outrage has been nothing shor...
Length Over All (M):
11.12
Displacement (M):
6070
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Rodman 890 Ventura
The Rodman 890 Ventura is sold with the promise of quality, prestige, innovative features and excell...
Length Over All (M):
8.90
Displacement (M):
5150
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
7.99