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Boat Brief

Elliott 12m – efficiency by design
Boat Brief

Elliott 12m – efficiency by design

Greg Elliott has designed some notable vessels during his career, both power and sail. As fuel costs rise, interest has gr...
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Fury unleashed. // Supplied
Boat Brief

Fury unleashed

In the most exclusive segment of the yachting sector, there are two very distinct, but also complementary, trends: on the one...
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Boat Brief

Peter Brookes, master mariner, master crafts

A life less ordinary: restoring wooden boats. On July 12, 2025 between 150 and 200 wooden boat enthusiasts flocked to Pete...
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Electric trolling motor mount for Haines Hunter
Boat Brief

Electric trolling motor mount for Haines Hunter

Haines Hunter has recently installed a Minn Kota trolling motor on one of its 660 models. Minn Kota has been around for a ...
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Native seagrass is a beneficial species that can be difficult to tell apart from the invasive seaweed exotic caulerpa. // Photo credit: Shaun Lee
Boat Brief

Marine pest or native look-alike?

Know the difference and help protect our best boating spots.  With an army of boats out on the water this summer, it’s a g...
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Boat Brief

Secure your haul-out now for a ‘clean summer getaway’ 

Marine biosecurity experts call on New Zealand boat owners to ensure they book their haul-outs and any services they need a...
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Boat Brief

Adventure fishing: Andrew Hill’s top tips for PWC fishing

PWCs are increasingly used for recreational fishing in saltwater and freshwater. PWC (personal watercraft) fishing has bec...
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Boat Brief

Maintenance tips for your boat

As peak boating season approaches and the weather warms up, we all look forward to leisurely days on the water. However, unex...
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Boat Brief

Amphibious freedom for any boat

The latest innovation from Tectrax is a game-changer: an autonomous, amphibious trailer system.
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Boat Brief

Galvanic corrosion

Galvanic corrosion is a flow of electric current between dissimilar metals in an electrolyte such as seawater and, to a lesse...
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Boat Brief

Floating shed causes a stir in Whangamata harbour

Locals in Whangamata woke to an unusual sight this morning – a corrugated iron shed adrift in the harbour near the mouth of t...
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Boat Brief

test

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August 2025

Alternative sailing rigs: Mastfoil ketch | Inflatable wing sail | Kites

The majority of cruising sailboats are monohulls. This represents the conventional ‘wisdom’ of the yachting establishment.
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August 2025

Understanding and managing power consumption

Let’s begin by looking at some principles of electrical systems.
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Boat Brief

Map marine mammals on the move

It’s that time of year again when young fur seals start turning up in all sorts of odd places, from footpaths and paddocks to...
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Boat Brief

Battery charging and voltage levels

Most people, including boaties, don’t fully understand the relationship between battery charging and voltage levels.
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Boat Brief

Women in sport: Kelsey Muir helms the 104th Lipton Cup winner

Sailing is often perceived as an elitist sport dominated by men, and while it is much more accessible here in New Zealand, th...
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Boat Brief

K Boats: Making dreams come true

Marlborough Sounds maritime legend Grant Orchard has put his fleet of ‘K Boats’ into service supporting Oceans Seven swimmers...
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Boat Brief

Tight sailing for Etchells Cup

Following on from last year’s successful one-day regatta, the Bonus Contractors Bay of Islands Etchells Cup, now a two-day ...
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Boat Brief

NZ’s finest race for glory

The 2025 Perpetual Guardian Classic Yacht Regatta, hosted by Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, saw a fleet of 20 of New Zeala...
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Boat Brief

Waikawa Boating Club WineWorks Marlborough Wine Race

February 14 saw the 2025 running of the WineWorks Marlborough Wine Race, organised by Waikawa Boating Club and co-sponsored b...
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Boat Brief

Battery charging and maintenance for an extended battery life

This article is intended to help boat owners better understand a vessel’s batteries and how to correctly maintain them for ...
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Boat Brief

50 years of service to the marine industry

Family Boats’ Tony Singe is marking 50 years in the marine industry.
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Boat Brief

Yamaha hydrogen power: Hydrogen-fuelled outboard

The world’s first hydrogen-powered prototype outboard will make its New Zealand debut at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Sh...
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April 2025

Happy anniversary: 25th NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show

Blue skies, sparkling water, big crowds and a record number of interesting boats of every sort made the 25th anniversary of...
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April 2025

Joystick demo a world’s first

Launching in May, Mercury’s joystick steering system for single outboards is a plug-and-play upgrade designed for Mercury out...
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April 2025

The winner of the NZ Retro Boat 2025: Tugboat

The winner of Boating New Zealand magazine’s inaugural NZ Retro Boat Trophy went to Tugboat, a Savage Electra Glass ski-boat ...
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Boat Brief

New Electric Fullers ferry: Future ferry

Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator, has added an 8.9m, 100% electric foiling power catamaran to its fleet. Kerm...
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Boat Brief

Check for marine pests 

Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules ...
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Antiques & Classics

Classic yachts (and launches) as ‘Protected New Zealand Objects’

Formed in the mid-1990s, The Classic Yacht Association was at the forefront of protecting classic yachts from unlawful export...
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Boat Brief

Pioneering a green fleet: hydrogen fuel in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s future

Sailing towards sustainability The RNZN has announced its intent to investigate the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable f...
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Boat Brief

Swirly World: Winners of the Andrew Fagan book

We are very excited to announce the winners of the Swirly World book competition you read about last week. Melissa from De...
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Boat Brief

Navy trials Whangārei reserve unit

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is exploring a new avenue for community engagement and regional participation through its t...
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Boat Brief

Hull hygiene and marine pests: A guide for Kiwi boaties

Keeping your boat in shipshape condition isn't just about performance—it’s crucial for protecting New Zealand’s unique marine...
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Boat Brief

RNZYS’ Megan Thomson set to make waves on the Red Sea

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) will have its eyes fixed on Jeddah this week as Megan Thomson and her 2.0 Racing...
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Boat Brief

SVR-Lazartigue Hits Trouble in Jules Verne Trophy Bid

The Jules Verne Trophy, one of the most challenging pursuits in offshore sailing, has presented an early obstacle for Françoi...
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Boat Brief

RNZYS to Compete in 2025 Admiral’s Cup

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has confirmed its participation in the 2025 Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Adm...
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Boat Brief

HMNZS Manawanui Interim court of inquiry report: lessons in leadership and safety

The HMNZS Manawanui incident marks a sobering chapter in the history of New Zealand’s Royal Navy. On 5 October 2024, the hydr...
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Boat Brief

From the ‘Its great to live in NZ’ file: boat returned before owner notices it’s s...

In an impressive display of police vigilance, Counties Manukau South Police have recovered a stolen boat and return...
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Boat Brief

Waka Ama world rocked by ‘untimely’ death of coach and paddler Kiwi Campbell

The waka ama world has been rocked by the death of one of Aotearoa's most successful paddlers, Kiwi Campbell. A memb...
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