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BOAT REVIEWS
Discover New Zealand’s best boats with expert reviews, specs, and local insights—sailboats, powerboats, and yachts covered.
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)
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
Sea Ray SLX 260
Sea Ray has always been about raising the bar and going beyond the expected.
Length Over All (M):
9.41
Displacement (M):
2.52
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
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
Prestige 520
This is a special review – two vessels at the same time. The Prestige 520 Fly model comes with a lar...
Length Over All (M):
16.11
Displacement (M):
15579
Construction:
Fibreglass (GRP)
Length Over All (M):
14.80
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
