Offshore Powerboating
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Mercury Racing updates the 300R and introduces the 300 ROS into the same race-ready league
Two V8s, one DNA – but very different personalities.
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Lymington Challenge cut short as Solent seas turn wild
The Lymington Challenge has long been one of the UK offshore powerboat season’s most spectator-friendly events, its Western Solent course taking boats...
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Origins of offshore powerboat racing
From riverside wagers to open-sea warfare — the wild ride to the world’s first offshore race.
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Offshore powerboating: from timber testbeds to carbon speed machines
The story of how a six-metre wooden boat called Rems sparked a marine revolution that still echoes in every offshore powerboat.
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New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association launches 2025/2026 race season calendar
NZOPA’s 2025/26 season brings offshore powerboat racing back to Auckland, adds new classes, and promises tighter competition with races across both si...
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Solent spectacle: newcomer stuns in 2025 UKOPRA Solent 80
Newcomer Alexander Welham stuns the field with a Class 2 victory at the 2025 UKOPRA Solent 80 in Portsmouth.
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50 years of service to the marine industry
Family Boats’ Tony Singe is marking
50 years in the marine industry.
The Blue Pill makes a comeback in Taupō for the NZ 2025 Offshore Powerboat Series
After the first round of the 2025 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships was called off on the second day due to high attrition rates and challe...
2025 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championships: Day 1 sees high attrition rates during the racing...
But Day 1 proved to be as much a test of endurance as of speed, with only five boats managing to finish across both the 100-Mile and 60-Mile champions...
An impressive 60 years on. What does NZ Offshore Powerboating look like today?
Boating New Zealand will be following this weekend's racing offshore at Napier. Join us throughout the weekend for developing results, and the latest ...
High-Speed thrills in Hawke’s Bay: The 2025 NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship begin
The anticipation is palpable as Napier gears up to host the inaugural round of the 2025 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship.
Maintenance is key
Keeping a racing boat together, on the water and competitive takes a great deal of ongoing maintenance. Every racer has their own set of guidelines to...
Hull design and balance, Part II
There are many different hull designs and shapes, derived and refined largely as a result of trial and error in modifications and testing. Today, tech...
Power On : Gear ratio
Outboard manufacturers make engine/gearbox configurations for the ‘most common’ applications, but these seldom give racing craft optimum performance. ...
Balance and weight
Getting the balance of a boat right is perhaps the most critical element in improving real race performance.
Safety first
Crashing a boat at high speed is not something anyone wants to experience, but it is a very real possibility when racing given the unpredictability of...
Ballast balance
At face value ballast is the most counter-intuitive system when it comes to going fast.
Power-on: Trim tabs for safety and speed
Trim tabs come in all shapes and sizes and can be fitted in a variety of ways.
Engine height
Engine height is critical for getting the most from any given boat setup – social, pleasure or race. Put simply, the higher the engine the lower the d...
Power On : Steering the way
Probably one of the most hotly-discussed topics within the powerboat racing community is steering types – what’s good and what should be avoided.
Power-On: Ski-boat racers
Before going racing, taking the hull to a boatbuilder for a once-over is a smart way to ensure the transom and hull survive the punishment that offsho...
Let’s go powerboat racing
New Zealand is home to two major series for long course power boat racing: The New Zealand Offshore (NZOPA) series and the New Zealand Boat Marathon C...
Marsden Marine Services Ltd
Maritime New Zealand, Australasian Institute Marine SurveyorsCommercially Certified Marine Surveyor
Qualified, Recognised, and Professionally Accredited
Greg Marsden DipMarSvyAIMS-CCMS, MNZ P/ ...
Dixon Stainless
A Breakthrough in Custom Stanchions
At the forefront of Dixon Stainless’ offerings is their ability to produce custom stanchions, a significant milestone for New Zealand’s marine industry. These stan...
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1946 Jack Guard 35
Step aboard Gipsy and step into a living legacy. At 35 feet, built from heart kauri in 1946, this classic launch isn’t just another pretty hull – she’s a rare survivor from a golden era of Kiwi boatbuilding, and a direct link to one of New Zealand’s most storied maritime families.
2024 Smartwave SW4800 Centre Console
This versatile 4.8m boat is designed with functionality, safety, and ease of use in mind, making it a solid choice for inshore fishing or family outings.