BOAT REVIEWS
Discover New Zealand’s best boats with expert reviews, specs, and local insights—sailboats, powerboats, and yachts covered.
Elite 15.8m Sport Sedan
The pride and joy of a multi-generational family, Bliss resides on a pier that’s home to a couple of...
Length Over All (M):
15.8
Displacement (M):
16200
Construction:
Composite
Dibley 12m canting-keeler
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
Length Over All (M):
10.85
CONSTRUCTION:
E-glass over a foam core
Buccaneer Six Fifteen
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)
Length Over All (M):
6.15
Surtees 750 Game Fisher
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show prize boat package would be every Kiwi angler’s dream to own.
Horsepower (HP):
300
Length Over All (M):
7.5
Displacement (M):
1590
Construction:
Aluminium
Sargo 31 Explorer
The Sargo 31’s exterior looks like it means business – in a cool way.
Length Over All (M):
9.96
Displacement (M):
5400
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)