BOAT REVIEWS
Discover New Zealand’s best boats with expert reviews, specs, and local insights—sailboats, powerboats, and yachts covered.
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
Innovision 757 Explorer
The stern of the 757 is a great example of what a fishing boat should be.
Horsepower (HP):
400
Length Over All (M):
7.65
Construction:
Aluminium
Beneteau GT45
The GT has a very Mediterranean feel to it, with its swooshy styling and open entertaining areas jus...
Length Over All (M):
14.78
Displacement (M):
11241
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
13.50
Wind Spirit – LSB 24m Expedition Ketch
The warm tones of the naturally finished anegre wood paneling creates a snug ambience and the carefu...
Length Over All (M):
24
Displacement (M):
50000
Construction:
Wood
Length Over All (M):
22
CONSTRUCTION:
Cold-moulded multi-layer strip-plank yellow cedar encased in E-glass and Kevlar
Regal 42 Grand Coupe
Steering is light and the Regal responds immediately to helm inputs.
Length Over All (M):
12.78
Displacement (M):
11204
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Classic 45
Stepping into the saloon one is immediately impressed by the spacious full-width salon and generous ...
Length Over All (M):
13.98
Displacement (M):
19500
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
12.6
Sasga Menorquín 54
The boat feels like a large boat underway, its 24 tonnes just gliding along, powered by twin Volvo D...
Length Over All (M):
17.15
Displacement (M):
24260
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
14.98
King K5000 RIB
If you’re in the market for a highly spec’d, high-quality RIB with good looks and performance, take ...
Length Over All (M):
5.1
Construction:
Aluminium
CONSTRUCTION:
Aluminium hull, Hypalon tubes
Caribbean 2400 Hardtop
These vessels will take you a long way out, run all day long, and get you back home safe, sound, and...
Horsepower (HP):
400
Length Over All (M):
8.0
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
7.2
Legacy L70
Legacy Marine’s first L70 is the sort of sportfishing paragon other vessels will be measured against...
Length Over All (M):
24
Displacement (M):
60000
Construction:
Aluminium
Sealegs 12m RIB Cabin
On land it’s a big machine to pilot – tall, wide, and long, with a very wide turning circle, though ...
Length Over All (M):
11.3
Displacement (M):
7000
Construction:
Aluminium
CONSTRUCTION:
Aluminium hull, Hypalon tubes
Maritimo S600
Such is the refinement, handling and practical feel of the excellent Maritimo S600, it reminds me of...
Length Over All (M):
18.62
Displacement (M):
32600
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
18.43
Buccaneer Exess XL
The overwhelming impression I took away from our few hours on Lake Dunstan is how well this boat goe...
Horsepower (HP):
200
Length Over All (M):
6.46
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
6.05
NEEL 43
The NEEL 43 has a versatile sail plan, making it ideal for the varied conditions of bluewater voyagi...
Length Over All (M):
13.1
Displacement (M):
9000
Construction:
Composite
CONSTRUCTION:
Vinylester, vacuum moulded
ILIAD 62
Since the brand’s inception just over three years ago, ILIAD is quickly become an established brand ...
Length Over All (M):
18.95
Displacement (M):
40000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Princess F55
Princess has been making high quality motoryachts since 1965, with a range that currently runs from ...
Length Over All (M):
17.6
Displacement (M):
4.6
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Fjord 38xpress
The angular lines of plumb bow, flat sheer and abrupt transom are reminiscent of the Banfield’s Wall...
Length Over All (M):
11.63
Displacement (M):
6060
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
11.28
Candela C7
One of the keys to the C7’s impressive performance is its light weight. All up, it weighs just 1.4 t...
Length Over All (M):
7.7
Displacement (M):
1300
Construction:
Carbon Fibre
Sasga 42 HT
The Menorquín range (pronounced Men-or-keen) are based on the look and shape of a traditional small ...
Length Over All (M):
13.2
Displacement (M):
11260
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
11.98
Dreadnort V5500 CC
Gypsy Rose is a highly-spec’d semi-custom V5500 CC model with several customer-driven features.
Length Over All (M):
5.76
Displacement (M):
1970
Construction:
Aluminium
Length Over All (M):
5.50
Riviera 78 Motor Yacht
On boarding the 78 MY, the words of Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst echoed in my head: “timeless and ...
Length Over All (M):
24.82
Displacement (M):
56299
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid GRP hull, cored topsides and decks
Given 14.5m Sailing Catamaran Katoa
Despite the lumpy, confused seas and changeable breeze, Katoa felt great throughout.
Length Over All (M):
14.5
Displacement (M):
10500
Construction:
Composite
Length Over All (M):
14.25
CONSTRUCTION:
Foam sandwich hulls, ply-foam-ply bridgedeck, foam-glass panel decks
Fleury 6.7 Keeler
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Leonardo Da Vinci. A simple boat can mean basic; more ...
Length Over All (M):
6.7
Displacement (M):
850
Construction:
Wood
Length Over All (M):
6.7
CONSTRUCTION:
Plywood
Marex 330 Scandinavia
Norwegian boat builder Marex is on to winner with its Lithuanian-built 330 Scandinavia, as evidenced...
Length Over All (M):
10.49
Displacement (M):
5500
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
9.99
Innovision 616 Explorer
Painted in a striking metallic Brisbane Blue from Superyacht Coatings, this distinctive looking trai...
Length Over All (M):
6.18
Displacement (M):
1950
Construction:
Aluminium
Assault Pursuit 8m Amphibious
New Zealanders have led the world in developing amphibious RIBs, and the latest offering from Assaul...
Length Over All (M):
8.6
Displacement (M):
1900
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
8.0
CONSTRUCTION:
GRP composite with Carbon Hypalon tubes
Takacat Predator T640P
Takacat started in Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore in 2007 supplying a range of inflatable catama...
Horsepower (HP):
180
Length Over All (M):
6.4
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid GRP hull, Hypalon tubes
Gran Turismo 41
The Italian phrase Gran Turismo, meaning Grand Touring, has been used by the car industry to signify...
Length Over All (M):
12.67
Displacement (M):
7958
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
11.5
Absolute 47 Flybridge
We’re parking the Absolute 47 back on her Westhaven berth in a 18-knot breeze. The fairway looks awf...
Length Over All (M):
14.63
Displacement (M):
23000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
11.55
Saxdor 200 Pro Sport
It is not often that we get to review a boat as innovative as this one, with features I have not so ...
Length Over All (M):
5.94
Displacement (M):
1100
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
ZeroJet OC350
According to a quote in the United Nation’s Our World publication, “the future has arrived, and it i...
Length Over All (M):
3.51
Displacement (M):
183
Construction:
Carbon Fibre
CONSTRUCTION:
Carbon fibre or fibreglass versions
Dreadnort D7500
It takes considerable courage to design and then build a trailer boat as radically different as the ...
Horsepower (HP):
350
Length Over All (M):
7.9
Displacement (M):
3520
Construction:
Aluminium
Length Over All (M):
7.5
CONSTRUCTION:
6mm bottom, chine, transom, stiffening; 5/6mm frames; 5mm sides; 4mm decks, superstructure
Sasga Menorquín 34 HT
Occasionally you see a boat that makes a memorable impression, as happened to Ernest Henshaw a few y...
Length Over All (M):
10.03
Displacement (M):
9000
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Stryda 900C Amphibious
2019 was an auspicious year in New Zealand, although thinking back to those heady pre-Covid days som...
Length Over All (M):
9.0
Construction:
Aluminium
Innovision 656 Explorer
Like the rest of the range, the 656’s distinctive styling – largely the result of function dictating...
Horsepower (HP):
250
Length Over All (M):
6.65
Construction:
Aluminium
Brig Eagle 8 and Eagle 6.7
The two Eagles are birds of a feather, with versatile layouts, good quality fittings, similar trim l...
Horsepower (HP):
300
Length Over All (M):
7.98
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
CONSTRUCTION:
Solid GRP hull, Orca (Hypalon) tubes