Issuu

TRAILERBOATS LAUNCHES & CRUISERS

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

ANTIQUITY

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR INSURANCE COVER?

ELITE 18m MID PILOTHOUSE - LLOYD STEVENSON’S 50TH NEW BUILD

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM

FINDING THE BEST HELM SEAT

BEERS & BURGERS

Fusion party boat to The Riverhead Tavern DESTINATION ABROLHOS ISLANDS: Shipwreck,

Mutiny, Murder

MARCH/APRIL 2015 $10.00 Inc GST

INTEGRITY 32 SEDAN FYRAN 660 HARDTOP BAYLINER 185 BOWRIDER SMUGGLER STRATA 750 MID CABIN

PPB006

HORIZON MOTOR YACHTS [AUST]

Deﬁning a lifestyle. V Series I V72 I V80 • • • • •

Traditionally stylish Luxury on every level Innovation in design Safety, quality and unparalleled appeal Play, cruise, relax

Horizon Motor Yachts Australia A: 31 Masthead Way Sanctuary Cove QLD 4212 E: sales@hmya.com.au W: www.hmya.com.au

P: +61 7 5577 9009

The Horizon V Series has been purposefully reimagined to now offer the V72 motor yacht and the V80 Cockpit motor yacht models. Horizon has succeeded in increasing interior volume and adding amenities and features to the V Series without affecting the weight, draft, and performance – resulting in two models that provide safe, comfortable and functional platform that is flexible enough to satisfy an owner/operator or a crewed lifestyle.

HMYA

UNDER NEW

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Deﬁning family fun. PC Series I PC52 I PC60 I PC80 • • • • •

One Power Cat, twice the excitement The ultimate cruising platform Built for adventure The ideal owner- operated yacht Modern, chic, elegant

The PC52’s ultra-functional and modern interior provides extremely comfortable live-aboard accommodations as well as all necessary amenities need ed for extended cruising. Her 22’ beam allows for two large staterooms and a third guest cabin below deck. Her main deck incorporates a large galley with bar and seating and spacious saloon inside. The voluminous aft deck and ﬂybridge area make this vessel perfect for entertaining.

Did you know HMYA is the Australian dealer of Yacht Controller? Call our friendly team for more information ph: 7+61 7 5577 ph: +61 5577 90099009

2 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 3

FEATURES 52

DESTINATION ABROLHOS ISLANDS

POWER ON DEMAND

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

Shipwreck, mutiny, murder and survival add to the mystique of the 122 remote and rugged islands of the Houtman Abrolhos. By Emma George

In part two of our three part series on power on board, we look at inverter/ chargers, how they work.

Are you insured for any damage to your boat by accident or negligence? It’s a serious question that you need to consider.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM Having the right helm seat can make the difference between a comfortable or uncomfortable trip. David Palmer looks at some of the options.

108

18M ELITE MID PILOTHOUSE

Freddy Foote talks to the Fink family about their success and their future.

BAYLINER 185 BOWRIDER

BEER AND BURGERS AT THE RIVERHEAD

INTEGRITY 32 SEDAN

SMUGGLER STRATA 750 MID CABIN

COMPANY PROFILE - TRISTRAM MARINE

114

Barry Thompson makes his first ever visit to the historic Riverhead pub by water, with a very different style of boating transport.

118

REVIEWS

CRUISE OF THE ENVOY Laurie and Diane Cranfield continue cruising the Egadi Islands in the Med, aboard their Nordhavn, Envoy.

102

FYRAN 660 HARDTOP

REGULARS COVER The all-new Bill Upfold designed 18m Elite Mid Pilothouse during early sea trails on Auckland Harbour. See Page 44.

TRAILERBOATS LAUNCHES & CRUISERS

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

6 DESIGN FOCUS

The Kormaran - The future of tenders.

ANTIQUITY

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR INSURANCE COVER?

ELITE 18m MID PILOTHOUSE - LLOYD STEVENSON’S 50TH NEW BUILD

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM

8 LEADING COMMENT

BY BARRY THOMPSON

FINDING THE BEST HELM SEAT

New powerboat heroes – Doing the business.

BEERS & BURGERS

Fusion party boat to The Riverhead Tavern DESTINATION ABROLHOS

ISLANDS: Shipwreck, Mutiny, Murder MARCH/APRIL 2015 $10.00 Inc GST

10 PUBLISHER COMMENT BY DOUG DUKESON

New initiatives reaping benefits.

INTEGRITY 32 SEDAN FYRAN 660 HARDTOP BAYLINER 185 BOWRIDER SMUGGLER STRATA 750 MID CABIN

GUEST COMMENT BY PHIL GILBERT Slow Cruising - A Growing Trend

4 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

IS YOUR EPIRB DUE TO BE REPL ACED? 14

SEEN & ADMIRED

NEWS

KELLY’S EYE BY SHANE KELLY

Whitehaven 6000 Sport Coupe Sea Ray 370 Venture

News, new products, events and the latest boats.

Boat ramp muppets.

POWER ON

ELECTRONICS NEWS

RACING REPORT

LEGASEA

Prepare for the extreme with GME, because your life could depend on it

New releases from the electronics world.

Offshore and circuit racing results.

Fishing with the birds.

Digital EPIRBs have been around for quite some time now, and many are about to reach their expiration date. So next time you’re out

CRUISING MATTERS BY LAURIE GRANFIELD

on your boat, double check the expiration date of your EPIRB. If it has expired, or is approaching expiration, contact your local

Buying new v pre-owned.

128

Authorised GME Dealer and discuss options for replacement, including updating to the latest GPS equipped model from GME. With a GPS

FROM THE GALLEY BY DEREK THE CHEF BBQ Spiced Salmon Fillet

equipped EPIRB, you will be located faster, and rescue authorities will be able to reach you sooner. It could save your life.

M355P

122

New engine & drive releases for 2015.

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 5

>> DESIGN FOCUS TRANSFORMING THE TENDER

THE KORMARAN

IN ADDITION to the common classes of boats, monohull, catamaran and trimaran, the vision of a new class of boat emerges on the horizon, the Kormaran, with a design that aims to connect the world of luxury yachts with the world of super sports cars. At 7m overall and a beam of 3.5m, the Kormaran is powered by a 500hp engine driving a trio of small jet units. Top speed is said to be 38 knots and with a range of 108nm at maximum speed. Among the many unique features incorporated into the Kormaran, the boat can transform even when driving, and elegantly combines the agility of a monohull for quick manoeuvres with the stability of a catamaran or trimaran. The boat also includes the ability to transform into

6 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

a large bathing platform, a luxury incomparable to many of tender designs currently available. The large sunbathing island as well as its multifunctional light design and the extraordinary wingdoors will ensure every guest is satisfied when on board their new tender. The completely new designed hydrofoils allow the Kormaran the ability to drive even in shallow waters, as well as being able to land on shore. The use of hydrofoils means that water resistance can be reduced by up to 80%, resulting in higher speeds with lower energy consumption and a much more comfortable ride thanks to the decoupling of the waves. The innovative technology means that the hydrofoils have been designed to be retractable for advanced usability.

The Kormaran is fully constructed from carbon fibre, including a carbon fibre monocoque, and she features FEM and CFD analysis. Carbon fibre with automotive standards and integrated formula 1 technology coupled with lightweight aircraft technology and the latest security features make the Kormaran a high-tech watercraft of the highest quality. The business behind the new tender is Kormaran. The Austrian company was founded in 2010, and the new tender is an actual research project that is officially approved by the government. The innovative technology behind the transformation and hydrofoils on the new tender has been patented, and the total project investment exceeds $10,000,000. www.kormaran.com

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 7

>> EDITOR’S NOTE BARRY THOMPSON

PUBLISHER D&B Publishing Ltd Trading as BoatMags.com EDITORIAL Barry Thompson, Editor DDI: +64 (0)9 428 2086 Mob: +64 (0)21 777 355 email: barry@boatmags.com CONTRIBUTORS Shane Kelly, Doug Dukeson, Phil Gilbert, Derek the Chef, Laurie Cranfield, Warren Steptoe ADVERTISING New Zealand & Australia Doug Dukeson DDI: +64 (0)9 428 2328 Mob: +64 (0)21 772 202 email: doug@boatmags.com Alex Ram DDI: +64 (0)9 428 7277 Mob: +64 (0)21 0286 5298 email: alex@boatmags.com Australia: Peter Rhodes Ph: +64 (0)3 8786 8993 Mob: 0413 154 460 email: pete.rhodes@bigpond.com PRODUCTION Design & Prepress: Annabelle Rose Design Mob: +64 (0)27 427 4559 email: design@annabellerose.co.nz Printer: MH Publications Ltd WEBSITE Momentum Marketing Carl Thompson Tel: +64 (0)21 762 275 email: carl@gomomentum.marketing ACCOUNTS Soraja Thompson Tel: +64 (0)9 428 2086 email: accounts@boatmags.com CIRCULATION NZ: Netlink Ltd Aust: Gordon & Gotch Ltd SUBSCRIPTIONS Printed & Digital subs.boatmags.com Pacific PowerBoat is published bi-monthly January, March, May, July, September, November REGISTERED OFFICE Advertising & Editorial enquiries: 14 Glamis Ave, Manly, Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand. Tel: +64 (0)9 428 2086 email: barry@boatmags.com www.boatmags.com Postal Address: PO Box 132 Whangaparaoa, Auckland 0930, New Zealand. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or part is expressly forbidden, except by written permission of the publisher. Printed in New Zealand ISSN 2230-4134 (Printed) ISSN 2230-4142 (Online)

DOING THE BUSINESS WHILE I HAVE NOT been actively involved with offshore powerboat racing in New Zealand for a while, in fact every since my son went to Australia to race for Maritimo Offshore, I must say how impressed I am with the Pro Floors team. Wayne Valder and Chris Hanley pulled of the ultimate double last year with not only the 2014 New Zealand Championship, but also the Australian Superboat Championship. This has never been done before and is a remarkable achievement considering the competitive nature of the sport. I have been to a number of races in Australia and seen the Kiwis competing and not only do they ‘do the business’ they hold up the Kiwi tradition of having fun, especially after the event. The sound of their weed-eater motor driven blender mixing cocktails in the pits is now legendary. Winning the NZ1 title was a great result, despite a lack of any tough competition, but winning in Australia was an exceptional achievement. Running a borrowed boat, Mark Gilbert’s 39ft MTI, Global Racing, they competed in the seven race series with consistency. They not only lead the series from the opening round, they were never out of the points. Seven starts, seven finishes. That’s what it’s all about. What makes it more significant is they were competing in SuperBoat, the second tier class, so had very strong competition for the overall title from the SuperBoat Extreme class. That’s the class that Maritimo Offshore competes at and the difference in speed between the two is significant. However, it doesn’t matter how fast you are it’s all about reliability and consistency and that’s something that the Global Team had in spades. So if that wasn’t enough, they then went off to Qatar at the beginning of February to compete in the inaugural Qatar Cup. Not content with taking his existing Phantom 34, Pro Floors to the event, Wayne purchased Tony Coleman’s much faster Skater 34, had Richard Ryan sign write it with the Pro Floors branding, plus both NZ1

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RIB Jet Boating on the Kaituna River

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ISSUE 6 Pacific PassageMaker • 2014 ANNUAL

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and AUS1 numbers on the bow and shipped it to Qatar. Running twin 525s up against higher horsepower cats, didn’t faze the team and with some tweaking and fine-tuning they got some more power from the engines, knowing they would need every bit extra they could. The two race series was run with a variety of classes, with a handicap system and the Kiwi team showed their metal right from the start. “Toughest racing we have ever had”, says Wayne. Two races resulted in 2nd and 3rd placing’s in a very competitive field. What was also impressive is that Wayne and Chris competed in each of the series in three different boats; Phantom 34 for NZ, MTI 39 for Aus. and the Skater 34 for Qatar. For 2015, Wayne says the pressure will be on to retain both the Australasian titles and he and Chris plan to run the Skater 34 for the rest of the local races in the NZ series. With the Skater still overseas, the Phantom was run at Lake Karapiro and Taupo, with mixed results so far, with a win at Lake Karapiro but a DNS at Taupo. Expect to see the Skater at Whitianga (March 21). The fact also that Warren Lewis has brought his identical Skater, Fairview, back out to play, will make the local series a far harder challenge this season. Such is the commitment of the team, that on Saturday March 25 they will race at Napier in round five of the NZ Championship and then the following day plan to be in Newcastle for round one of the Australian series. But wait there’s more! Wayne told me that they are currently in negotiations to lease a boat for the US circuit to run in the 750 Supercat class. This may mean that Key West 2015 will see both Kiwi and Aussie entrants. Now that’s Trans Tasman rivalry at it’s very best. If you are interested in going to the Key West World Superboat Championships in November, check out the 2015 tour on: www.ticket2ride.com.au

2014 ANNUAL

THE 100% ALUMINIUM BOAT MAGAZINE

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2015 - ISSUE 4

SATCOM AT SEA Keeping In Touching

ON DEMAND POWER

A FLEMING IN NORWAY

MCLAY 701 PREMIER HT A TOUCH OF CLASS

Exploring the Fjords

Facts about Generators

also reviewed Reviewed:

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FISHING & DIVING AT THE MOKES

Integrity 44

Alaska 59 Sedan

Explorer 50

Big Snapper Islands

Frewza F18 Fisher Quintrex 440 Renegade Surtees 850 Gamefisher Aqualine 545 Fisherman Aqualine 545 Sports Southern XP 716 Enduro 6400 $10.00 inc GST

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WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE of Pacific PowerBoat – for those with a sharper eye – you may have noticed our new look design of the publication – a cleaner- sharper look, by Annabelle Rose. It is not only the magazine we have been working on. We have been further developing our website (www.boatmags.com), where you can not only just read your favourite marine publication online, but we have loaded 100s of past boat reviews and articles, archived for your reference. We have also introduced an e-shop with relevant marine products. We are continually adding more items and plans are to grow this into a ‘Peoples Cho leading marine product online buying site. We are currently working on adding video footage – so you will not only All Purpo be able to read a boat or product review – but actually watch a short clip of the product operating. Our boatmags.com website is growing very quickly with over 5,300 digital subscriber in just a little over six months. In between compiling our summer editions of Pacific PowerBoat, Alloy Boat and RIB magazine and the website – I did get a chance to get out and enjoy some time on the water, in what seems to be one of our best summers in decades, long sunny days and the wind managed to stay away J. It took me back to my boyhood days of fishing, water toys and picnicking. Our Rayglass Projet was a great all-rounder and we even tried a little river exploring up the Whakatane River, until we ran out of water L. Oh well back to work - so we can pay for the gas for our next adventure. Enjoy the new look publication – in print or online, whatever your preference, and make the most of this beautiful weather and waterways we have.

Cruising up the Whakatane River.

Contact us for a quote: Sara Meyer, Trade Manager – Projects & Marine Phone: +64-9-9666573 Mobile: +64-21-658133 Email: saram@oceanbridge.co.nz

www.oceanbridge.co.nz Members of: NZ Marine Export Group NZ Marine Industry Assn

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www.pacifictech.co.nz 12 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Phil Gilbert. MD of Gilbert Marine, Auckland, New Zealand www.gilbertmarine.co.nz

SLOW CRUISING: A GROWING TREND OR JUST FUEL CONSCIOUSNESS? THIS SEASON, most of New Zealand, and certainly the Hauraki Gulf, Northland and the B.O.P have enjoyed some of the best boating weather we have had for many years,. Fine days, balmy nights and predominantly light to moderate winds for a change, meant we could enjoy all our cruising grounds to their maximum. Consequently, it seemed to me that nearly everyone appeared to be travelling a bit slower unless transiting from an island to a coastal setting. Was this because there was no hurry to get away from annoying swells, or trying to be first to the best anchorages. Or maybe it was the cost of going fast needlessly in sublime conditions held back the throttle hand and the consequent visit to a fuel outlet. Either way, it demonstrated the benefits of having a boat that can go slow efficiently as well as handle the transits at an adequate speed if required. There appears to be a growing buyer awareness of the modern displacement and semi-displacement cruisers, often known as ‘trawler styles’. Most anchorages held at least one Selene, Explorer, Clipper or Integrity trawler in the Northland and Gt Barrier areas. It was also interesting to note the number of modern sedan or cabriolet styled craft, with minimum exposure to the sun or elements for the crew unless one decides to slide back the roof. Most of these I saw were travelling at slower speeds when just cruising, compared to previous year’s observations. The remorseless (until recent times) increase’s in the cost of diesel certainly helps those promoting the more fuel miserly cruising craft, and may have encouraged those with craft capable of higher speeds to pull back the throttles more when at

their destination. As a broker, I have noticed the ‘how much does she burn’ question is always asked now, and the answer listened to with intent. Many buyers are more concerned with how many lt/hr the craft consumed rather than the more important query of how far does it go per litre (lpnm). Many of the more efficient planning craft like Dean Salthouse’s Cabriolet range offer better lpnm at 18-20kts than an inefficient 10kt craft and are downright stingy at slower speeds. Worldwide it appears the 40 -75’ new boat market is now unevenly divided into three main camps; planning and semi-displacement cruisers with all the creature comforts of home, and the serious Sports fisher’s with enormous horsepower to get to ‘the grounds’ quickly.Truth is they probably cruise at 7kts for many hours anyway. Then there is displacement style cruisers capable of ocean passages at slower speeds. It is interesting that Australia and the USA appear to be the predominant producers of sports fishers for the world. China and Taiwan have mainly assumed the mantle of producing trawlers, both semi and full displacement, with notables such as Nordhavn, Selene, Explorer, Fleming, Ocean Alexander, Horizon and Grand Banks all being produced in Asia. Also high-end stylish cruisers such as the Johnson. The European craft with their stylish profiles such as Azimut and Ferretti are still aimed at the high performance ‘damn the torpedos’ end of the market. The same applies to Australian builders Riviera and Maritimo. So maybe it was the weather, but even the fast boats seemed to be going slow this Xmas. At least this means the Ships Movements Officer did not need to put everything away each time the vessel moved to another spot.

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>> SEEN

ADMIRED WHITEHAVEN 6000 SPORT COUPE

AS GOOD AS IT GETS WHITEHAVEN MOTOR YACHTS elegant new Coupe 6000 will be a star attraction at the 2015 Gold Coast International Marine Expo from 21-24 May 2015. Launched in early February in Taiwan, the 6000 Sport exceeded performance expectations. The Coupe is the second model release from the new Whitehaven marque, founded by long-time blue water specialist and respected industry identity Keith Hanson. The three-cabin, two-bathroom Coupe 6000 is designed to cater to those seeking sophisticated styling and performance as part of an overall package incorporating the Euro-inspired, master-crafted internal elegance that Keith says defines the luxurious Whitehaven Motor Yachts.

14 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The Coupe 6000 ensures smooth performance in all conditions and with an interior layout and finish for those who appreciate the ultimate in quality. She is also very practical, with a 450kg hydraulic lift swim platform and a stern garage that can accommodate a 3.2m tender with 20hp Honda four-stroke, or a three-seater jet ski. The cockpit is a platform for alfresco living and is easily serviced by the aft starboard galley that includes all the modern conveniences and, to port, the stylish saloon. The saloon featuring aft galley reflects a premium apartment style living experience, leading to a spacious elevated mezzanine cockpit. Once again offering well designed and implemented

owner benefits not offered by most other brands. Forward is the state-of-the-art helm from which all the marine navigation technology is at your fingertips, while, below, are the cabins including a full beam master with en-suite. Featuring all of the construction and finish benefits of the Whitehaven range, the 19.1m 6000 Coupe will offer blue water capable cruising in a single level coupe layout. Power is a pair of MTU 825hp Series 60. LOOK FOR A FULL REVIEW IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF PACIFIC POWERBOAT. www.whitehavenmotoryachts.com.au

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>> SEEN

ADMIRED

SEA RAY 370 VENTURE

For over 40 years, NHK MEC have been providing the highest quality engine control systems to the marine industry. For boats with mechanical throttle and mechanical shift, the KE-4+ is the perfect answer to smooth and easy shift and throttle control. The KE-4+ is suitable for most applications and has been designed specifically to meet the performance, reliability endurance and aesthetic requirements of today’s modern craft.

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16 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

WITH THE 370 VENTURE, Sea Ray has created a completely new type of boat that has a number of important advantages for owners. Although you wouldn’t know it from the outside, the 370 Venture is powered by a pair of Mercury’s 300 hp Verados. These are installed in a well, cleverly concealed beneath the aft sun pads, yet the engines remain accessible for service and retain the ability to tilt completely clear of the water. The 370 Venture is a very quiet running cruiser and is equipped with Sea Ray’s Dynamic Running Surface (DRS) system, which incorporates automatic leveling planes that dynamically adjust the boat’s trim. And since there’s no need to take up space inside the boat for engines, there’s more room for people. The cockpit is massive since no motor box intrudes. Below decks, the aft stateroom extends the full-beam width of the boat. The standard layout of the 370 Venture leaves the master open to the forward saloon, making it ideal for a cruising couple or perhaps a couple with young children. Without the bulkhead, the layout is very open plan. The space, where an engine room would be now, becomes a huge storage and equipment room, with excellent

access to the generator, water heater and airconditioner. There’s a small galley with a sink, microwave, refrigerator and a coffeemaker. There is no stove top, but topside there is an optional electric stove and grill installed in the counter. The head is to starboard complete with a VacuFlush toilet plumbed to a 106 L holding tank. There is a shower curtain and a shower wand with a vertical adjustment. The 370 Venture is as luxurious as it is technological, in the Sea Ray cruiser fashion. The interior decor has a distinctive Europeanmodern look in terms of materials used, shapes and colour. Long hull side windows, skylights and a deck hatch allow sunlight to flood the cabin. The Sea Ray 370 Venture has a LOA of 11.3 m and a beam of 3.4 m, so it’s not trailerable. With a pair of 300-hp Mercury Verado 4-stroke engines (the only power choice available for the 370 Venture) turning 15 x 15 Enertia propellers, top speed at 6400 rpm is 43.7 mph. New Zealand Sea Ray importer, Sports Marine landed their first 370 Venture in late February. LOOK FOR A FULL REVIEW ON THE SEA RAY 370 VENTURE IN MAY-JUN ISSUE OF PPB. www.searay.com

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NEWS

ELANDRA YACHTS SALES SUCCESS

Australian luxury motor yacht builder Elandra Yachts has achieved multiple sales of its Elandra 53 semi-custom sports yacht following its unveiling in September last year. The first two Elandra 53s were sold to New South Wales buyers. Elandra 53 No.2, with a gleaming gold hull colour, is in-build at the company’s yard in Queensland and is scheduled for completion in May. A white gel coat-hulled Boat No.3. will be completed in August. “The market response has been phenomenal,” said Elandra Yachts Managing Director Luke Durman. “It’s a great endorsement of the build quality, performance and value of the Elandra 53. It’s rewarding for the team to see the success of their

hard work and dedication over the past few years.” Commenting on the progress, Durman said the team had already joined the hull and deck of Elandra 53 No.2. “The team is well into the engineering and assembly stage,” said Durman. “We expect to deliver to her new owner in June after the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.” Reinforcing the brand’s relationship with German engine supplier MAN, all three builds have been specified with MAN R6 800HP engines. “This engine highlights some of Germany’s finest engineering,” said Durman. “Apart from fuel savings and an increase in torque and power, this engine runs remarkably smoothly and quietly compared to any other diesel engine currently available.”

“We worked hard to get the design concepts right at the very beginning,” said Durman. “It is gratifying to know that while we offer a custom design service, the owner of our second boat has not moved far from our original ideas.” Elandra Yachts has also announced the appointment of Chris Hills of Australian Boat Sales to represent the company in Sydney Harbour. The dealership has operated from offices on the Harbour for the past 11 years. Elandra 53 No.1 is now conveniently berthed at Birkenhead Point, Sydney Harbour’s largest marina, which is also home to Australian Boat Sales. Inspection is strictly by appointment. Chris Hills can be contacted on 02 9810 9662. www.elandrayachts.com

SEAKEEPER POISED FOR GROWTH Seakeeper, a leader in marine gyro stabilisation, reported record growth in 2014. Shipments of gyros increased 46% over 2013 as more boat manufacturers added Seakeeper as standard and optional equipment on new builds. A sizable portion of its sales also came from refits. Additional sales personnel, third party partners and industry acceptance helped to increase this segment. The company expanded its markets in 2014 with its portfolio of five new models, scaled to fit a wider range of boats from 9m–67m. The updated units are more compact than earlier versions and cost less due to the company’s investment in manufacturing efficiency. Until now, owners of smaller boats put up with a rolling vessel in rough weather or simply stayed ashore. With the launch last year of the of the Seakeeper 5, they now enjoy the comfort and safety of gyro stabilization, in a wide range of sea states. Based on the same technology found in more than 2,000 larger Seakeeper installations worldwide, the scaled Seakeeper 5 reduces resonant boat roll by up to 90% on boats 9m–15m. The unit uses a built-in computer to actively control a powerful gyro. Spinning in a vacuum environment, it produces powerful righting forces to stabilize the boat. While underway or at rest, the innovative unit dramatically lessens boat movement. “In response to increased demand, 2014 saw Seakeeper invest in its future,” said Shepard McKenney, Seakeeper founder and CEO. “We’re strong, and strategically situated for further growth.” www.seakeeper.com

18 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

NEWS

POWERBOATS OF ALL SIZES AT 60TH HUTCHWILCO NZ BOAT SHOW The largest collection of powerboats, big and small, will be on show at this year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on May 14-17. As part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations, an impressive fleet on the Big Boat Marina will again join the hundreds of new powerboats on display at New Zealand’s oldest, largest and most popular boat show. “Each year New Zealand’s leading GRP and aluminium boat builders choose to release their latest models to the 35,000-plus boaties that attend the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show,” says show general manager Dave Gibbs. “This year, they will again be complemented by some of New Zealand’s finest launches, game fishers and cruisers on the Big Boat Marina.” Visitors to the show will also be the first in the world to see (and have a chance to win) Stabicraft’s revolutionary new carbon fibre models. All paying visitors to the show can go into the draw to win one of the two new carbon fibre Stabicraft/Yamaha Grand Prize Packages, each valued at around $60,000. These stunning prize packages include either a new Stabicraft1600 Fisher or a new Stabicraft 1600 Frontier, a 70hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard and a huge range of practical extras. Both prize boats will feature a brand new, lightweight, resin-infused carbon fibre superstructure and will be the first aluminium powerboats in New Zealand to feature carbon fibre in their construction. Those keen on their fishing will also be in for a special treat. TV star and marine adventurer Matt Watson is creating a new, very dynamic ITM Fishing Show Experience especially for this year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. Visitors will be able to hear Matt share his top fishing tips and experiences and ask him questions. They will also be able to enter a competition that gives them the chance to be on his hit TV show! The 2015 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show will also feature the alwayspopular Radio Sport Fishing Hall, often referred to as New Zealand’s largest Fishing Supermarket and the Top Catch free Ask the Experts seminar series (with some of the country’s top fishing gurus). The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show will be open from 10am until 6pm from Thursday, May 14 until Sunday, May 17. There will also be a late night, until 9pm on Friday, May 15. www.boatshow.co.nz

EVOLUTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE Constantly improving, constantly evolving. For every new generation of engines the Volvo Penta diesel range get greener and cleaner. And the new D6-400 – the world’s most powerful diesel engine with sterndrive – doesn’t compromise. By reducing the environmental impact without undermining the unparalleled performance and by meeting the Tier 3 emission standards, the D6-400 is the obvious choice. For the present and for future generations.

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NEWS

IT PAYS TO FUELRIGHT

FuelRight of USA, is now in New Zealand, being offered by Fuel360 and Diesel Clean. It is a very unique fuel treatment technology that works like no other in this field and is much more than just diesel bug treatment. Phil van Loghem, managing director of Fuel360 says he is excited about Fuel Right, which he adds is truly a revolution in the managing of diesel bug and other fuel related issues especially with common rail diesels and the advent of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel. FuelRight involves complex Amine chemistry which among other functions, is extremely effective in breaking down sludge in fuel and preventing recurrence. Amines ‘melt’ the polysaccharides or binding agents holding bacterial sludge together, thereby releasing the bacteria into the fuel allowing them to be safely burnt away. Amines naturally clean and lubricate the injectors ensuring proper atomisation of fuel, and a more complete combustion, thereby improving economy, smoother running and reducing smoke and emissions. Proper FuelRight non biocide treatment together with polishing and or filtration will clear even the worst case of bug”, says Phil. “Because of the way it works, there is no need to penetrate a tank anymore, which is often a difficult and expensive task.” he says. Diesel bug, even in a mild form, causes the formation of sulphuric acid which in turn leads to pitting and corrosion in fuel tanks and lines FuelRight not only inhibits the acid production but also coats steel surfaces in your system, protecting them against corrosion from the combined effects of moisture and contamination. FuelRight is designed to work across a multitude of applications from marine and road transport diesel systems, to storage tanks for back up power. In USA and Canada, FuelRight is the dominant force in the treatment of fuel for Canadian Coastguard, commercial ferries, railways, tugboats and commercial fishing. Cost per litre treated is considerably cheaper than most other options on the market. Fuel360. Ph: 0800 777 551 E: phil@fuel360.co.nz www.fuel360.co.nz

20 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR STEBER IN 2015 Promoting the Steber boat brand across international and domestic markets will be a key focus for the 2015 year according to managing director, Alan Steber. “We are looking forward to an improved year, with increased government support, and will soon look to put on apprentices as export plans begin to ramp up”, he said. “Part of our 2015 program is the construction of a 38ft deluxe commercial vessel to be displayed at the upcoming Sanctuary Cove

and Sydney boat shows. “The vessel, ideal for private charters, diving, fishing and other recreational and commercial activities, will be available for sale at a reduced rate after the shows”, Mr Steber said. In addition to a busy global boat show schedule, Steber we will be continuing their extensive research and development program. Sea trials for the SSS Bluebottle, the unmanned surface surveillance vessel, will be stepped up. www.steber.com.au

BEST BARS UNVEILS NEW POWDER-COATING PROCESS Leading Australasian automotive accessory company, Best Bars Ltd, has unveiled a new $750,000 powder-coating process that will deliver better protected and better-looking products. The new facility, designed specifically for Best Bars’ exacting requirements, is described as a “one-of-a-kind” process in New Zealand that will provide a market-leading coating for the company’s tow bars and automotive accessory products. “As part of our ongoing customer engagement, Best Bars has listened to the needs of customers in New Zealand and Australia and invested in excess of threequarters of a million dollars in a new state-ofthe-art powder coating line, powder transfer and baking technology,” says CEO Stephen de Kriek. “These new processes provide Best Bars with

a significant point of difference and a range of superior, best-in-class products. The investment comes as demand for powdercoated towbars & automotive accessories is rising fast in New Zealand and Australia, for both functional & aesthetic reasons. Mr de Kriek says the new facility employs market-leading technology drawn from Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and it is currently the most up-to-date plant of its type in Australasia. It is fully automated, with products being hung and transferred by conveyor throughout the process, right through to the final stage at the packing team. Strong efforts have been made to ensure that the powder-coating facility is future-proofed to cope with growing demands and that it is capable of producing all the company’s requirements within a single shift operation. www.bestbars.co.nz

NEWS

WHITECLOUD 9.5 SETS NEW STANDARDS

Craig Wild one of New Zealand’s finest custom boat builders latest creation may well be his best work yet. Approximately three years ago the forerunner to this new 9.5m trailerable boat was presented to the market. It proved to be a superb craft that both Craig and company owners, John and Christine Erkkila, knew had the potential to be something even more special. The use of space aboard this production version of the boat is arguably unprecedented in a New Zealand design. There is no engine box, which creates a completely uninterrupted cockpit deck that every game fisherman or diver will love. The inboard diesel runs to a duoprop leg via a jackshaft and, in a beautifully designed touch, the main cockpit sole lifts on hydraulic struts with the press of

a button, giving complete access to the motor and all ships systems. Throughout the vessel, John Erkkila’s foresight and attention to detail can be seen. The main cabin being just one example. The accommodation built into it is superbly designed, such that four guys or the whole family, won’t feel cramped even on an extended trip. Elsewhere the design is modular making the boat easy and cost-efficient to configure to individual customer’s requirements. The boat is designed to be trailerable or to be kept on a hardstand.The first production boat will be launched late March and the boat will be released at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in May. White Cloud Boats P: 0274941627 E: mike@whitecloudboats.co.nz

NANO-CLEAR OFFERS ULTIMATE PROTECTION PPB recently had both their Isuzu vehicles, a D-Max and an M-UX coated with Nano-Clear, by Auckland based TransVisual and the results are outstanding. Nano-Clear is a single component clear coat system that will rejuvenate highly oxidised surfaces to restore colour, gloss and UV properties. It is ideal for boats, from small alloy trailer boats through to large cruisers. Fyran boats now offer Nano-Clear coating on all their models as well as wrapping rather than painting. Another service from Transvisual. After the

22 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

alloy surfaces are acid washed, the Nano-Clear coat is applied and the surfaces look like they are finished in a grey/silver paint. It will protect almost any surface to give longevity and is easy to clean. It will revive and protect fibreglass, paint, plastics, vinyl, stainless steel, aluminium and to provide extreme weathering and scratch resistance. It’s innovative self-cleaning properties as well as being chemical and solvent proof offer easy maintenance. It will also repel algae, dirt, oil, grime and other

surface contaminants, making cleaning bird droppings and salt spray that much easier. You can also eliminate the need for polishing and waxing. Nano-Clear produces a permanent scratch resistant and self-cleaning surface for above and below waterline applications. Water droplets roll across a cured Nano-Clear surface picking-up dirt and contaminants leaving behind a cleaner surface. TransVisual: P +64 9 279 7351 E: Richard@transvisual.co.nz www.transvisual.co.nz

R566 MY

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•All models Alloycan and GRP composite be customised with layout options to models can be customised with layout options to suit owner’s specific requirements. •All Engineering excellence suit owner’s specific requirements.

We offer a range models both monohull or catamaran, from 11m to 30m. We can custom designof and build any type of craft to

We can custom design and build any type of craft to owner’s specific requirements. All models can be customised with layout options to suit owner’s specific requirements. owner’s specific requirements.

We can custom design and build any type of craft to owner’s specific requirements. MONOHULLS: 385 | 416 | 475 | 545 | 616 MONOHULLS: 385 | 416 | 475 | 545 | 616

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CATAMARANS: 375 | 433 | 533 | 575 | 655 CATAMARANS: 375 | 433 | 533 | 575 | 655

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NEWS

LRC FROM DICKEY The new Long Range Cruiser 58 hit the water in Napier over Christmas! The first LRC58 (prototype) from the drawing board of Artnautica yacht design has been launched! This first vessel is also Dennis Harjamaa’s, own vessel. He is planning to do extensive coastal cruising followed by a global adventure that will span a number of years. It hit the water for the first time from Dickey Boats in Napier and was followed by rigorous sea trials and testing before making the trip up to Auckland. It has now done close to 1000NM.

This project has been in design and development for the past six years and according to Jason Dickey, during the sea trials it exceeded expectations in performance, economy and comfort and all involved are very excited. This is a vessel that fits into the cruising market with features including a self-righting hull design and a very efficient hull form that provides stability, a top speed of 11knots and a cruise of 9 knots at well under 1L/NM with only 75hp. It is set to be an exciting new option for coastal and offshore cruising.

DIBLEY BASS BOAT Auckland based Dibley Marine have developed an interesting new bass boat for the Chinese market. This modern bass boat has swivel chairs that permit the angler to cast to any position around the boat, storage bins for fishing tackle and equipment such as rods and lures, and a live well with recirculating water where caught fish may be stored and kept alive. It is hugely popular in the USA, and with China’s growing obsession with recreational fishing, local boat-builder, David Winter felt there was a niche market ready to support. David is CEO of the Xiamen boatyard “Red Dragon / Paramount Yacht Building Ltd”. With many years experience in the production boatbuilding trade, David and his team are well set up to mass produce these at a competitive price. First production run will be for a 17’ and 19’. www.dibleymarine.com

24 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The interior also has the flexibility for clients to work with Dickey boats to customise a layout. There are already client requests for hybrid options and coastal cruising options with the ability to cruise at 18knots, and lengthened wheelhouse. The second LRC58 was commissioned last year. Already half way through the build at Dickey Boats, it is due to be finished later in the year to set sail through the Pacific to the Caribbean. www.dickeyboats.com

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GOES CARBON stronger and more efficient hull without adding additional weight. The Carbon Kevlar is tactically laid throughout the hull with the fibres running in a specific direction. This focuses the reinforcement to areas of the hull that take the highest impacts. The structural resin is then combined with the Carbon Kevlar fabric, locking the fibres in position providing immense impact resistance. Haines Signature then sandwich the Carbon Kevlar fabric between multiple layers of fibreglass matting and woven rovings to give the hull its unique strength. This is all encapsulated in a durable UV resistant gel coat. “Our 2015 built models will all feature this new build technology and we are extremely proud and confident that the Best Just Got Better,” finished John Haines. signatureboats.com.au

FIJI MARINA PLANS LONG-TERM INVESTMENT PROJECT Port Denarau Marina, Fiji’s leading yachting hub, has applied for planning approval relating to a large, long-term, multimillion-dollar investment plan. The project is anticipated to take ten years or more to complete and will involve a FJD$200 (NZ$130m) - plus investment on a 50ha site. Commenting on the project, Nigel Skeggs, managing director of Port Denarau Marina, told The Fiji Sun: “This development is a long-term plan for the extension of our current services and to allow Fiji to compete for the repairs and maintenance business for vessels, which will bring in significant foreign reserves to Fiji’s economy. It will also allow us to upskill the current workforce, creating hundreds of jobs.” The development site, located directly opposite the present marina facilities, is a 50ha area of

undeveloped land and major civil works will have to be done before construction of the new facilities can start. It is a multi-faceted project involving a 200-berth marina, a large boat yard, a maritime academy and sailing school. There will also be residential apartments, an industrial and office zone, a marina village with retail outlets, and a 20,000-seat stadium. The new marina will offer berths for various yacht sizes up to superyachts. The new boat yard will be equipped with a 600-tonne travel lift and offer various haul-out systems. A range of workshops will provide facilities for all the necessary trades for yacht repairs and refits, as well as small boat storage and warehouses. The aim of the new boat yard is to provide a service quality equivalent to that of international yards.

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Haines Signature Boats has announced a class-leading, technological addition to their manufacturing process. With 55 years of innovation in the Australian Trailer Boat market, Haines Signature Boats has invested significant time and resources developing a technology that provides their hulls with maximum strength and increases the hull’s impact, tear and penetration resistance. Haines Signature Boats CEO John Haines said, “From 2015, the Haines Group will introduce Carbon Kevlar fabric into our hulls. “This introduction has allowed us to deliver boats that have an increase in overall strength as well as providing a vast improvement to impact, tear and penetration resistance. Testing has shown that the strategic reinforcement of key planning areas in the hull has created a

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NEWS

HUTCHWILCO EXTENDS DISTRIBUTION WITH ZODIAC

Long lasting batteries from the AGM technology pioneers. Accept nothing less for your fleet. Hand built in the USA Class leading cranking amps Rapid recharging Ultra low self-discharge rates Unmatched life-cycles Reliable under harsh vibration Available from leading Marine Auto Electricians and Specialist Battery Outlets New Zealand Ph (09) 634 8634 www.hcb.co.nz Australia Ph (02) 9879 5422 www.federalbatteries.com.au

26 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Hutchwilco Limited has extended its sales and service agreement with Zodiac MilPro to distribute the company’s range of military and high-end specification rigid hull inflatable boats into the New Zealand market. The Zodiac name has been associated with innovation since 1899 and has evolved to become the world’s most known and respected manufacturers of RIBs and inflatable marine products. The Zodiac MilPro brand was established in 1990 to focus on the military and professional sectors with five dedicated production facilities in USA, Canada, Spain, UK, and Australia.

The company now develops and manufactures an unrivalled range of over 60 different inflatables, rigid inflatable’s and aluminium boats that are suitable for every mission profile and all sea conditions. Hutchwilco Operations Manager Bernard Orme says the extension of the distribution agreement is a strategic alliance between the two organisations and will allow Hutchwilco to move forward and to offer a broader range of products especially to the high-end leisure operator. www.hutchwilco.co.nz

MAUI JIM OFFERS BEST EYE PROTECTION In the early 1980’s, a small company began selling sunglasses on the beach of Maui, Hawaii. However, the sunglasses quickly proved no match for the Hawaiian sun’s severe glare and harmful ultraviolet rays. As with many splendid business ideas, Maui Jim Sunglasses were born out of need. In this case, the need was for a sunglass that would eliminate the harsh Hawaiian glare without distorting the beautiful colours of the island scenery. After five years of research and development, the impossible became a reality and Maui Jim PolarisedPlus emerged. Most polarised lenses stop with ordinary polarising film, whereas Maui Jim incorporates a bi-gradient mirror, waterproof coating and an anti-reflective treatment. PolarisedPlus lens technology blocks glare from above, behind and below, while providing unmatched comfort and protection. Maui Jim has now taken technology a step further by introducing PolarisedPlus2. The proprietary Maui Jim PolarisedPlus2 feature boosts colours, heightens contrast and improved

depth perception. This technology uses three, rare earth elements (Neodymium, Erbium and Praseodymium) in the ST (SuperThin) glass technology and a proprietary lens treatment in Maui Evolution and Polycarbonate lenses. The lens is optically correct, distortion-free and sheds water and snow through a waterproof coating. The result is unmatched visual clarity, comfort and reduced eye fatigue, protection and contrast. Another addition to Maui Jim’s lens collection is MauiGradient, which features a darker coating at the top that gradually gets lighter moving down the lens leaving an appropriate amount of light to filter through certain areas, while less in places where protection is paramount Fishermen will love the MauiPure, which complements Maui Jim’s entire line of superior polarised lenses by adding an option that has the closest clarity to glass in an ultra-lightweight lens that has superior impact-resistance. www.mauijim.com

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NEWS

CHAPARRAL CREATES THE WORLD’S FIRST JET SURF WAKE

which is great for waterskiing, but not ideal for wake boarding or surfing’, says Scott O’Hare from Chaparral Australia. Now the new “aerial surf platform” or “ASP” from Chaparral changes all of that. A combination of 3 ballast tanks and a patented fixed surf platform lowers into the water and reshapes the jet stream directly from the propulsion pump, offering a fully adjustable wake.’

The ASP features on Chaparral’s all new 223 and 243 Vortex twin jet bowriders and integrates into the existing swim platform to provide a bigger zone for prep and relaxation. The Vortex Jet boat range from 20 – 25 feet with single or twin Rotax propulsion units from 150 to 500HP are available in the standard VR or enhanced VRX models. www.chaparralboats.com

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Following the 2014 release of the Vortex jet boat range from Chaparral the company has now developed a world first wake enhancement system that transforms the jet propulsion unit into a fully adjustable surf wave. It took out a coveted Innovation Award at the recent Miami Boat Show. ‘The lighter engines and drive units associated with jet boats in the past usually means smaller wakes,

Cuddy Cabins - 3 models - 6.53m - 7.32m

28 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Bowriders - 10 models - 4.63m - 6.86m

TEAM BRITANNIA BID TO CAPTURE RTW RECORD

CMY

A £3m bid has been launched by Team Britannia to recapture the record for circumnavigating the world in a powerboat currently held by New Zealander Pete Bethune, the skipper of Earthrace. The challenge will be carried out from November 1, 2015, starting and ending in Gibraltar. The challenge is being led by Alan Priddy, an adventurer and businessman who has a long track record of breaking world and other marine records. Just five members of the handpicked 10-man crew hold over 125 records between them. The as yet unnamed 24.4m (80ft) craft will have a professional crew of 10. In addition, there will be two servicemen, injured on active service, on each leg of TOH118 Advertising HP dealers background.ai

the voyage as part of the Royal British Legion being the chosen charity for the challenge. The £3m funding has been provided by SulNOx Fuel Fusions Plc, whose eco-friendly emulsion fuel will be used to power the boat on its 25,000 mile or so trip. This money will cover the cost of the boat and other project costs. The challenge is an all-British initiative with all the technology onboard coming from the UK. Raymarine is one of the companies contributing to the project. The team hope to break the current 60 day, 23 hours and 49-minute record held by Bethune and achieved in 2008 by at least seven days. They will also make attempts for the fastest passages of the Panama and 1

1/11/10

Suez Canals as part of the challenge. “The present record was achieved at a speed of 16.1 knots,” Alan Priddy told a launch event yesterday. “So all we have to do is 16.2 knots and the record is ours, but we are hopeful of doing 22 or 23 knots.” The route will take the boat from Gibraltar, with refuelling stops at Puerto Rico, Acapulco, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and if necessary, Malta before returning to Gibraltar. The powerboat is being built on Hayling Island by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company (ABC). Work is due to start shortly and it is anticipated to be a six -month build.

4:50 PM

DELIVERING RELIABILITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS C

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What makes Tohatsu outboards different? While other manufacturers focus on building higher horsepower engines, at Tohatsu our focus has always been on building the most reliable engines.

For more information on the full range of 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Tohatsu engines Visit www.tohatsu.co.nz

What makes Tohatsu outboards different? While other manufacturers focus on building higher horsepower engines, at Tohatsu our focus has always been on building the most reliable engines.

Try a Tohatsu and experience the dif erence. The dif erence is reliability.

Our huge range of 4-Stroke and award-winning TLDI engines also include some of the lowest emission outboards available. Our engines deliver both power you can rely on, and all the benefits of lower emissions. Try a Tohatsu and experience the difference. The difference is reliability. | fx 02 4392 1587 | sales@lakesidemarineptyltd.com

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WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 29

NEWS The Fleming 55 will be on display at SCIBS.

SCIBS LOOKS TO BUMPER EVENT Some of the marine industry’s biggest names have already signed up for the 2015 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Bookings are on par with this time last year – where 307 exhibitors turned out – which bodes well for another bumper event. Among the standouts on-water are Maritimo, Fleming Australia, Horizon, Outer Reef, Integrity, Meridian, Elandra, Bering Yachts and an array of sailing brands, mono and multihull. In the main pavilion, the electronics brands and accessories will be back in numbers, among them Navico, Raymarine, Furuno, GME, Coursemaster, Ronstan, Garmin and Humminbird, as well as some of the leading names in chandlery, apparel, shoes, maps and charts and marinas. The Superyacht Pavilion will include Superior Jetties who will showcase their range of pontoon products with the theme “Walk on Water”. They will be joined by companies like Pantaenius, Bellingham, P&W Marine Engineers, Ultimate Marine Power, along with Australian manufacturers

30 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

such as Aqualumain the section known as “AIMEX/ Superyacht Australia Alley”. Around the Marina Village, space is selling quickly, with the likes of JSW Powersports, Runaway Bay Pontoon Boats, All Marine Spares, Nitro Marine, Collins Marine and engine brands Yanmar, Isuzu, Scania, among many others, signing up for another year. Johan Hasser, the General Manager for Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, welcomes new and long-standing exhibitors for the 2015 SCIBS. “We are heartened by the support for the show this year from the marine industry, exhibitors, sponsors and partners. The Sanctuary Cove tenants and residents, and the Gold Coast community are right behind us for our 27th show, ” Mr Hasser said. Maritimo will again have one of the largest on-water displays at this year’s SCIBS. Maritimo’s sales and marketing manager Greg Haines said the company would have the world premiere of two of its state-of-the-art new models,

the M65 cruising motor yacht and the M48 cruising motoryacht. Maritimo will be again partnering with Maserati and B&O at their stand. An exhibitor since the company’s launch in 2007, Horizon Motor Yachts Australia is looking forward to another busy SCIBS. Based at Sanctuary Cove, the team, under new ownership of Matt Yapp and Gary Wahlstedt, are thrilled to be hosting the Australian debut of the V72 and PC52 Catamaran. There will also be a Horizon E56 on show, along with a yet to be decided fourth vessel. Another stalwart on the marina, Multihull Solutions, will be back in force for 2015. According to Managing Director, Mark Elkington, Multihull Solutions will be staging the exclusive Southern Hemisphere launch of three stunning new multihulls from Fountaine Pajot’s sail and power range: the Saba 50 sailing catamaran, and the impressive MY37 and Cumberland 47 Long Range power catamarans.

MARINE ENGINES AND GENERATORS Lombardini Engines

GOLD COAST EXPO SELLING OUT Gold Coast International Marine Expo has confirmed that more than 50 percent of its outdoor exhibitor space from 2014 has been sold less than eight weeks since the announcement of new May event dates. The news comes as the deadline nears for past exhibitors to claim their first right of refusal to their sites across an expanded Expo circuit that will, this year, encompass almost the entire Gold Coast Marine Precinct. “This year the Expo will have new boats, new product launches, new exhibitors, new attractions … and that’s all in addition to a new site layout,” said Event & Marketing Manager Emma Milne. “We are extremely encouraged by the bookings so far and there’s a long list of new exhibitors interested in sites that have previously been occupied by past exhibitors … so we expect a busy few days leading up to January 30 as people confirm their space for 2015,” she said. The date for this massive showcase of all things aquatic – from superyachts to kayaks and jet skis to fishing equipment … and everything else in between … this year is 21-24 May, coinciding with the Riviera Festival of Boating and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Many more announcements are scheduled over the next 16 weeks in the countdown to Expo 2015. However Ms Milne confirmed that Australia’s largest aluminium boat-builder Telwater will display all its 2015 Quintrex new model releases exclusively at the Expo, with some 18 new models making their world premieres. The on-water displays at Expo 2015 – spread over three marinas – will each showcase many world and Australian premieres from the industry’s leading brands too. The details of these new launches will be announced in the coming weeks. Ms Milne said the Expo – now in its 5th year – has a firm heritage of being family friendly, offering interactive entertainment and live demonstrations every 15 minutes across an expanded event site which includes a 3kmlong display circuit, as well as factory tours of the biggest luxury yacht and aluminium boat-building facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. Ms Milne said the new date of the Expo in May is aimed at creating a compelling reason for boaties from interstate and overseas to visit the Gold Coast and Queensland for four fantastic days to take advantage of three separate and major boat shows and events featuring every marine industry display you could imagine. Contact Emma Milne on 0447 758 884 www.gcmarineexpo.com.au

13hp to 87hp

Perkins Engines 86hp - 300hp

VM Motori Engines 114hp - 345hp

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Contact: Scott McAlpine 027 294 1421 - 09 279 6236 scott.mcalpine@transdiesel.co.nz www.transdiesel.com

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 31

NEWS

PATHFINDER UNDERWAY WITH NEW PASSAGEMAKER Construction is well underway of the next model in Peter Brady’s new range of displaning power catamarans. The Pathfinder Passagemaker 14.4m follows in the footsteps of “Rehab”, a 17.4m Pathfinder Pilothouse that was launched in 2014 and successfully completed a 4,700nm delivery voyage around the top end of Australia. This new version, again for Western Australian clients, is based on a moulded production hull, with a cray-boat inspired custom deck and cabin arrangement with forward raked windows to reduce glare and a large aft deck. The layout features a single level deck-house comprising a generous helm station forward, a large well equipped U-shaped galley with plenty of practical storage to starboard, settee to port and separate bathroom and toilet/laundry either side of the large central doors opening out onto the aft deck. The mounting of the tanks up on the wingdeck level proved so successful on “Rehab” in terms of reducing motion and providing torsional rigidity, that it was used in this new design along with a couple of new refinements. Whilst double flooring this area does require higher topsides to keep the proportions of the boat balanced, it makes the decks drier and removing the tanks from the hulls opens up and dramatically simplifies construction of the fit out. As the boat will be live-aboard for extended periods, visibility, ventilation and comfort have been a priority in the design with a larger than usual master cabin and en-suite for a vessel of this size. Guest accommodation for 4 is provided for in 2 cabins, one

32 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

with a double berth and the other with two singles beds; again with the emphasis on room and storage. There is also a day berth in the saloon that can be created by removing the deep back cushion on the settee. On long passages this allows a backup helmsman to be resting within talking distance to the skipper should there be a problem with instruments or equipment, or if a second opinion be required on a changing sea state or weather pattern. Twin helm seats will allow the clients to both enjoy a comfortable view when steaming, again a feature that Peter has used very successfully over the years to make the cruising experience more inclusive. The 18sqm aft deck features storage and a eutectic freezer with the aft beam housing a barbecue, icebox-kill tank, storage, bilge system, large sink and gas bottle storage. These are all accessed from the 5sqm duckboard that lowers into the water to become either a dive or swim platform. The area on the cabin top, although not officially called a flybridge on this design has a large deck box that not only provides storage for lightweight safety gear such as life jackets, but it also houses the saloon air-con unit and doubles as a sunbed. This is also a perfect place to sit when helming the boat using the remotes through the reefs or sightseeing in the Kimberly where you are looking up at the cliffs rather than out to sea. Powered by 2 x 315hp Yanmar 6LPA series diesels, the vessel will have top speed of 24 knots with an optimised cruise speed of 17 knots using 48 litres

per hour in total for a 900nm range. This range can be extended to 1,400nm @12 knots and 2,500nm @ 8 knots on its standard tanks making the boat trans-ocean capable, although the clients will predominantly use it for long-range coastal cruising to the Kimberly. Following this theme of transocean capable, the boat will be constructed using commercial regulations as a guide with extra strength in the areas requiring it that Peter has identified through long experience. The clients are low voltage electrical specialists, so the vessel will showcase a number of the systems they use and sell. The 24 volt system includes their own designed and built variable speed DC gensets, high output direct drive 200amp alternators mounted on the front of each main engine, a solar panel system and 2 large battery banks operating through 2 powerful inverters for any AC requirements. The Pathfinder Passagemaker 14.4 provides a proven entry-level into the world of fast long-range or coastal power cruising with range, comfort and rugged simplicity its strengths. A flybridge version is also on the drawing board based on the styling of “Bathurst” a 15.5m sports fishing power catamaran launched in 2009 and operating out of Darwin.

Pathfinder Powercats: Peter Brady, Ph +617 3393 5077 E: info@pathfinderpowercats.com www.pathfinderpowercats.com

LUXURY TAX CUT IN TAIWAN

Introducing Horizon Series Rigid Inflatable’s

was based on a minimal NT$3m (US$94,937) sales price. That sales tax was started in 2011. Lawmakers made the change to boost the domestic boatbuilding industry. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that most Taiwan-built yachts bound for the domestic market are under 100ft, while larger yachts are built for export.

Moor your cruiser with ease... This totally handheld ‘wireless’ remote control operates: 1. Engine Gears F-N-R [electronic controls] Yacht 2. Bow / Stern Thrusters [if equipped] Controller 3. Anchor Winch [optional]

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This award winning device will amaze you at the ease in which you can control large motor yachts. Ideal for single handed mooring or picking up anchor bouys. Over 3000 already sold in Australia over 20,000 world wide. Perfect for Flybridge Cruisers with restricted vistion. The landyard allows you to drive the boat and do the ropes singlehanded. See www.yachtcontroller.com.au for further information, brochure and videos or contact Russell 0411 724 176 info@yachtcontroller.com.au *This quality Italian product is backed with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty

PPB1013

Horizon Motor Yachts Australia now offer a range of RIB inflatables of the highest quality french hypalon. 11 different models to choose from ranging in size from 2.7m to 8.3m. All standard models are loaded with options and can be customised to your requirements. RIB and motor packages available 3.3m RIB Centre console with Yamaha F20 4 STK P/Trim $15,500* 3.8m RIB Centre console with Yamaha 30D oil inj P/trim $17,900* 4.3m RIB Centre console with Yamaha 50H oil inj P/trim $24,900*

A revised luxury tax on recreational vessels could help boost domestic production of Taiwan-built boats. The country’s legislative branch (Yuan) has passed a revision to its tax code that now eliminates the 10% luxury tax on yachts for boats under 30m built and sold in that country. The law is a major change from when the 10% tax on yachts

Horizon Motor Yachts Australia +61 7 5577 9009 sales@hmya.com.au www.hmya.com.au WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 33

>> KELLY’S EYE COLUMN BY SHANE KELLY

BOAT RAMP MUPPETRY, 2014

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS is over (sorry to drive that home to you once again) so it must be time to look at stories of great boat ramp muppetry. Food for thought, this is, with some from this year compared with the “greatest hits” from the past. I’m not sure whether those who dumped boats off trailers onto the road could be considered “boat ramp” muppets. There were several of these in the papers over the period and while they were most surely muppets, they weren’t even clever enough to be near the ramp before ejecting their machinery. Bad form, guys. And what about those characters up north who decided to steal someone’s rig and when sprung just kept on going, towing the boat along the road behind the trailer? Umm, excuse me Sir but how far did you think you’d get with the boat dragging behind? Makes you wonder whether their brains accidentally fell into the berley mincer before they left home. I always enjoy a couple of hours sitting at the boat ramp. There is entertainment in one form or another, although this year’s highlight was more of a misdemeanour and more likely to backfire on the recipients than their fellow ramp users. There are always plenty of examples of people arriving at the ramp at its busiest and backing down the apron before loading up and generally getting the boat ready. While this really pisses everyone off, I haven’t seen anyone come to blows over it – maybe we need to step things up there with a few good knuckle-ups as a way of adding boxing entertainment to the rampside. As I said, I do have an act that has made it onto the list this year. This is the Laser sailors who chose one of summer’s busiest days to leave their trailers parked at the bottom of the apron. Why do these guys think their trailers should be parked there? What’s special about them? No-one else is allowed to do that. I thought their behaviour was pretty naff, but the boatie in me came out when I helped to rescue the

34 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

things as the tide came in with a bit of swell and they started washing randomly around the place. I half-wondered whether I should just let them be and watch what transpired. Another couple of additions to the “muppetry” stakes were the people who insisted on swimming off the ramp among the boats as they came and went and the woman who insisted on throwing a stick from the ramp apron and into the water for her dog. This, next to about 2km of beautiful sand. I’m far too kind to suggest stupidity but there’s sure a brain fade warning going off my head. This one is not new but is still one of my favourite boat ramp muppetry moments. Picture this - there’s lots of noise. Shouting and gesticulating. A bunch of guys are trying to launch quite a big trailerboat which is behind a nice-looking Toyota Prado. Not the sort of car you want in the drink but as they shout back and forth the Prado is backing further and further down the ramp. The hubs are under. The brakes too. The bodywork gets a salt bath and the exhaust is bubbling away. The driver keeps getting out of the car and having a look back, trying to understand why the boat won’t shift from the trailer. He’s wearing jeans so every time he gets back aboard, water cascades onto the seat, carpets and floor. I am horrified; torn between minding my own business or giving him the simple piece of advice that the boat will slide off the trailer so much easier if they untie the bow rope. I’ll take you back a few years for the next great act of boat ramp muppetry – this one an ill-fated husband and wife show. Picture an old-style flat trailer with washing machine wringers used as rollers – a common practice before the advent of the wobble roller (gotta love those wobblers.) After nosing the boat onto the beach at low tide the husband then grinds it onto the trailer inch by inch. The loadings must be massive. Suddenly the bow fitting pulls through the fibreglass and

the forces are unleashed – at least until the fitting and D-shackle smash into the wife’s thigh with a “thwack” I could hear, and almost feel, 100 metres up the beach. The poor woman dropped like a stone, poleaxed, and I wondered if I had just witnessed a very serious accident. The boat remained on the beach half on the trailer with the bow pointed towards the sky for the next hour or so while the pair sought medical attention. They eventually returned and she seemed Ok – but how much worse that could have been if it had hit her in the face or eye? I reckon that, while I’m pointing the finger at others and their boat ramp muppetry, I should ‘fess up to a couple of my own. The first is the most embarrassing. I managed to self-launch my 6.2m boat into the Omaha Estuary on a Friday arvo. Backing it down the ramp with the bow rope unsecured. No-one was around and I was heading out for a quiet solo mission. I had to swim after the boat (this was successful only because there was no wind at all - with even the slightest puff I would have been screwed.) The boat was already moving pretty quickly with the outgoing tide. I clambered aboard (thank goodness for boarding ladders) started the boat and motored back to the ramp. When I got back to the car realised that I had left it sitting on the ramp, running and in reverse. Fortunately the hand brake was on and the car was still there. Imagine how wrong that could have gone.... I’ve had to swim under a boat, in July, to screw in a forgotten bung. You’d think that having done that once it would be enough but no…. But that’s enough about me. One ramp I used a lot was extended by the council. They placed a wall of earth across the lower half to protect the fresh concrete surface and a moveable barrier at the top of the ramp. A bunch of muppets ripped onto the ramp all gung-ho and cast aside the top barrier (without for a minute wondering why it might have been there) before backing down. You couldn’t have scripted a movie more cleverly than this – the tide had just covered the lower earth wall and it was out of sight as the muppets stopped with the outboard a couple of feet short of it. Then they wondered why their boat would move backwards a couple of feet off the trailer but no further. Man, that had them scratchin’ their heads. Great entertainment and right up there in the muppetry stakes. None of the above changes the greatest all-time act of boat ramp muppetry – my own personal award. Notice came in the form of a phone call to the newspaper at which I worked in the 1970s, the North Shore Times Advertiser. The person at the other end recommended that I get down to the boat ramp with a camera and when I did there was nothing but a car aerial sticking out of the water. Soon a tow truck arrived and after much haggling over the price the towie swam out with his prized (new) tow cable and attached it to something out in the water. It turned out to be a Chev Impala car with a boat, still strapped down to a trailer. The driver had stopped on the ramp to untie the boat and stamped on the foot-operated park brake. It had snapped and somehow the driver had panicked, reversing at speed to give the whole rig a massive enema until it was well under water. What do you reckon? There’s some nice muppetry in there but I still reckon the Chev Impala incident takes the top award so far.

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191

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>> POWER ON

VOLVO PENTA FORWARD DRIVE Volvo Penta’s new Forward Drive (FWD) propulsion system was released recently at the Miami Boat Show and immediately won an Innovation Award in the “alternate drive technology” category. The system features a forward-facing dual counter-rotating propellers with an adjustable trim drive. The drive, with its twin forward-facing propellers, resembles the Volvo Penta IPS, a diesel application, and can be paired with all of Volvo Penta’s V8 gasoline sterndrive engines from 300 to 430 hp. The Forward Drive has underwater exhaust for quieter and cleaner operation, a feature that is highly attractive to the water sports crowd. The forward-facing, counter-rotating wheels allowed the boat to maintain its bite in hard turns at 25 to 30 mph. The props sit 68cm farther forward than a conventional Volvo Penta drive’s wheels, increasing the overall safety factor. The system has two mechanisms to guard the drive against

damage during an accidental impact. Volvo Penta will begin shipping the new drives to dealers in March, although it is not yet decided that this product will come to NZ.

BRP RECEIVES NMMA INNOVATION AWARD BRP received the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) 2015 Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show recently for its Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard engine. The award is recognition of the new engine’s unrivaled performance, bold breakthrough design, and unmatched value. Unveiled to the industry last June at a dealer event, the Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard is the first “clean sheet of paper” engine design by BRP since it acquired the Evinrude brand in 2001. The result is a line-up of new, industry-leading engines ranging from 200 hp to 300 hp and delivering 20 percent more torque, up to 15 percent better fuel efficiency and up to 75 percent fewer total regulated emissions than many leading competitors’ four-stroke engines*. www.evinrude.com.

36 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

YAMAHA RELEASES ALL NEW F130 Yamaha’s new F130 is a totally new engine packed full of exciting technology. Fitting neatly into the power space between two of Yamaha’s most recent launches – the F115 and F150 - the perfectly positioned F130 is an example of how Yamaha’s constant drive to develop the very latest 4-stroke and electronic technology brings huge benefits to the end-user – and the environment. In fact, despite its unique-in-class strength and power, this new engine is so compactly designed and light in weight, that it compares almost directly with equivalent 2-stroke engines. The new Yamaha F130 weighs in at only 174kg, making it one of the best power-to-weight outboards in its class. The F130 is based on a 16 big valve engine (1,832cc in-line 4-cylinder format with DOHC), featuring the latestgeneration styling with new top cowling and sleek design. Multi-point electronic fuel injection, microcomputer ECM control, direct ignition system, electronic throttle valve and streamlined intake manifold are all features of the new F130. The F130 also is available with the optional Digital Network System, designed to drive the latest multi-function gauges. Variable trolling RPM allows you to adjust low-speed rpm in 50rpm increments and the Yamaha Y-COP immobiliser/security system gives you peace of mind. The engine is fitted with Yamaha’s compact, lightweight single-ram Power Trim and Tilt unit, which includes a Tilt Angle Limiter available as an option. A 35 Amp high output alternator provides extra power for starting and accessories and the F130 uses the new Talon Series aluminium propellers. www.yamahaoutboards.com.

MERCURY LAUNCHES A 400HP VERADO Mercury Marine also launched new engines at the Miami show. They include the Verado 350hp outboard, Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard, Mercury Racing QC4v 1550 sterndrive and Mercury 4.5-liter 200hp sterndrive. The Verado 350 is the most powerful engine in the line of four- and six-cylinder four-stroke outboards. The Verado 350 operates on 89 octane gas with 91 octane recommended for full performance, providing up to 10% greater fuel economy than competitive outboards, according to a company statement. It is also 41 kg. lighter than its nearest four-stroke competitor. The Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard is the most powerful consumer outboard ever produced by Mercury, with the highest power-to- weight ratio of all four-stroke outboards in its class, according to the statement. The Verado Racing 400R is the first Mercury Racing outboard to feature Joystick Piloting for Outboards

(JPO) technology. At a staggering 153 horsepower per liter, the all-new Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard is the most powerful consumer outboard ever produced by Mercury and provides the highest power-to-weight ratio of all four-stroke outboards in its class, achieved through a number of advancements to the proven 2.6L Verado platform. An all-new water-cooled supercharger is designed to reduce intake temperatures and significantly increase air density, enabling the engine to generate unprecedented torque and unmatched acceleration all the way from the lower end of the power band up to the 7,000 rpm maximum engine speed. Electronic knock control enables the engine to safely run on 89 octane (95 Ron) fuel when the recommended premium 91-octane (98 RON) fuel is not available to maximize performance. The Mercury Racing Verado 400R is available in classic Phantom Black or Cold Fusion White to complement virtually any boat hull colour.

VORTEX BUDGET 18HP 2S Vortex has released a new 18hp, 2 stroke, offering customers more variety in their budget friendly outboard range which now includes over 15 models. Available as a long and short shaft the new 18hp offers customers an upgrade from the 15hp when they need a little extra power but can’t add too much weight to their boating package. The 18hp weighs in at only 40kg for the long shaft option making it only 4kg heavier than the 15hp model. The 18hp offers a complete new engine design with a strong mounting system and a larger tiller handle making those tight turns easier. Easy to handle the 18hp uses a standard CDI ignition system complete with charging circuit, a larger shift lever located in the traditional position on the side of the engine and offers a maximum output of 13.2Kw at 5000 rpm. www.vortexmarine.com.au

MERCURY ADDS NEW 135HP 4S Mercury Marine has added another engine to its range, with the release of its new 135hp FourStroke EFI outboard. The compact 135hp FourStroke EFI has a 3.0-litre, 4-cyl in-line configuration, is low weight, has fewer moving parts, and has been designed to be incredibly reliable and durable. Its 412.5cm gearcase housing is built to handle higher horsepower, but thanks to its ultra-efficient hydrodynamics this larger housing doesn’t increase drag. Its focus mount system, which situates the mounts farther from the powerhead, significantly reduces mount temperature and significantly increases mount durability. Like many of Mercury’s latest FourStroke models, the new 135hp FourStroke EFI can be rigged with the full suite of Mercury SmartCraft gauges and Mercury’s innovative BigTiller system. www.mercurymarine.com

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>> ELECTRONICS NEWS

FUSION’S MS-BB300 IDEAL FOR SMALL SPACES Fusion’s MS-BB300 “black box” is a fully-featured Marine entertainment system perfect for a limited space helm, as it can be installed in almost any location, like a locker or storage-compartment. With no-compromise power and performance, the MS-BB300 can be controlled by a supported Multi-Function Display screen (MFD), connected via Fusion-Link. As the first entertainment system to utilise the NMEA 2000 bus already in many larger boats, installation is quicker and lower cost. Trailer boats and those without NMEA can also have Fusion entertainment, by choosing the MS-

NEW FROM LOWRANCE

GEN 3 HDS Lowrance’s, High Definition System (HDS) Gen 3 fishfinder/chartplotter series is available in 7-, 9- and 12-inch models and combines a faster processor with enhanced, built-in fishfinder technologies, as well as a modified menu system that’s even easier to use. With an improved Lowrance user interface plus multi-touch and full keypad operation, the HDS Gen3 series provides quicker, fingertip access to all features – along with an enhanced, lightningfast processor for more responsive performance. Instinctive, icon-driven commands are easy to learn, and convenient features such as scrolling menus, cursor assist, snap-to setting markers and preview panes with quick-touch slider bars, provide a userfriendly feel, similar to operating a smartphone or tablet. Each HDS Gen3 model comes standard with StructureScan HD and DownScan Imaging, which provide picture-like images of fish-holding cover – to CHIRP Sonar for improved target separation and superior noise rejection for clearer, easy-to-see bait fish and game fish targets.

38 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

BB300R model. Fusion’s Wired Remote Control (MS-NRX200i) is included, for connection through the supplied cable to the entertainment centre. One or more remotes can be in the system, including the primary remote at the helm or other convenient location. It’s easy to view the remote’s large LCD screen as you scroll through sources, music, tracks and more, using the large rotary encoder knob. Fusion’s BB300 range of features is exceptional, like 4x50 watts output, AM/FM, three zones, Aux, or Bluetooth audio streaming. USB and 3.5mm panel mount connectors are included for dash installation.

The BB300 is compatible with most mobile phones, Apple or MTP Android/Windows media devices. Multi-Zone technology enables three Zones, two with independent volume and balance control and a global subwoofer setting, plus a third Zone which operates with an additional amplifier, (MS-AM702 zone amp recommended), delivering an extra 2x70 Watts output. The Fusion Marine UNI-Dock can be added to offer all-weather protection, connection and charging of any supported mobile phone. www.fusionentertainment.com.

Additionally, the HDS Gen3 features built-in wireless connectivity for convenient mapping and software downloads directly to your fishfinder/chartplotter, as well as connection with mobile devices using the GoFree App. All HDS Gen3 models are also plugand-play compatible with performance-enhancing options such as SpotlightScan Sonar, Broadband Radar, SonicHub Marine Audio, SiriusXM Marine Weather and audio, Class B AIS and DSC VHF, as well as the recently released SmartSteer™ control for MotorGuide Xi5 electric-steer trolling motors and the Lowrance Outboard Pilot.

frequency 455/800 kHz DownScan Imaging operation, and features an LED-backlit colour display with detailed 320Vx240W-pixel resolution that’s easy to see in full sunlight from wide viewing angles. The pages button allows users to quickly switch between sonar frequency views and dedicated quick keys allow anglers to zoom up to four times the standard view and focus on key fishing areas. The power button also doubles as a backlight control to adjust for daylight or nighttime fishing situations. The Elite-3x DSI’s quick-release, tilt and swivel mounting bracket makes it easy to adjust the viewing angle or disconnect the fishfinder for storage.

ELITE-9 CHIRP The Elite-9 CHIRP series features a 9-inch widescreen SolarMAX Plus display for enhanced viewability especially in sunlight. The Elite CHIRP lineup now includes 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-inch fishfinder/chartplotter models, as well as standalone fishfinder displays, and all Elite CHIRP models can produce and display multiple CHIRP sonar frequency settings from a single Lowrance Skimmer® transducer. The Elite-9 CHIRP sonar provides improved target resolution and superior noise rejection for clearer, easy-to-see baitfish and game fish targets. By displaying two user-selected ranges simultaneously, anglers can more easily observe better target separation at greater depths and mark fish clearly at higher boat speeds. When combined with the Lowrance HDI Skimmer transducer, the Elite-9 CHIRP can also display a DownScan Imaging™ view of the area beneath the boat, for picture-like views of fish-holding structure. The new Elite-9 CHIRP series offers a choice of HDI 83/200 kHz or HDI 50/200 kHz transducer options with depth capabilities of 1,000 and 3,000 feet, respectively. ELITE-3X DSI Designed to enhance any fishing experience by providing crystal clear images even at high speeds, Lowrance’s patented DownScan Imaging allows anglers to quickly and easily view photo-like images of fish holding structure, as well as fish targets. Easy to operate, the Elite-3x DSI delivers dual-

MARK-4 AND ELITE-4 CHIRP SERIES The all-new, easy-to-use Mark-4 and Elite-4 combine CHIRP Sonar with DownScan Imaging technology, a super-bright, daylight-viewable, LED-backlit display, built-in GPS antenna and high-definition mapping options. Featuring a Lowrance-exclusive, 4.3-inch, highresolution display – in grayscale or colour, respectively – the Mark-4 and Elite-4 CHIRP models include all of the features of the Mark-4 and Elite-4 HDI Series with the addition of CHIRP sonar technology, which provides improved target resolution and superior noise rejection for clearer, easy-to-see baitfish and game fish targets. Anglers can also select a DownScan Imaging view, which provides picture-like images of fish-holding structure beneath the boat. and fish targets to designate locations with a waypoint. The Elite-4 CHIRP features a built-in GPS antenna and is compatible with the Insight Genesis mapcreation service, which allows users to make custom, high-resolution contour maps from recorded sonar logs, including bottom-hardness and vegetation overlays, as well as Insight Genesis Social Map community chart sharing. www.lowrance.com.

“Who you gonna call when things go bad and you’re out of cell phone or VHF range?” McMurdo 220 FastFind GPS PLB, small, light, tough, 406, GPS, Floats, Waterproof, SOS Strobe 175grams, powerful.

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GARMIN NEW PANOPTIX SONAR ELEC Garmin has released advance details of its new Panoptix sonar, which gives boaters the ability to see all around their boat in real-time – forwards, backwards, sideways and down – even while stationary. Based on technology previously available only in the offshore commercial market, Garmin Panoptix is centred around a multi-beam transducer that utilises phased-array scanning sonar – creating multiple, simultaneous steerable beams in a single ping – to deliver incredible fishing-finding power in freshwater, estuary, inshore and offshore applications. Garmin Australasia general manager Matt DeMoss said Panoptix would revolutionise the way recreational anglers used sonar. “Never before have anglers had the ability to see all around their boat in real time,” DeMoss said. “Available as a forward or down transducer, Garmin Panoptix is sonar like you’ve never seen it.” Compatible with Garmin’s GPSMAP 8000 series, GPSMAP 7400 series, GPSMAP 751, 820 and 1020 series and select echoMAP models, the PS31 Panoptix forward transducer and PS30 Panoptix down transducer are each equipped with an internal Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) sensor that constantly adjusts sonar beams to compensate for boat motion. Trolling motor transducer mounting kits are also available. Garmin Panoptix will be available in Q2 of 2015 with a RRP of AU$2399 / $NZ$2599. www.garmin.com/panoptix

GOFREE BOOSTS INSIGHT GENESIS MAPPING GoFree, the provider of digital content and has added a significant upgrade to the Insight Genesis personal and social mapping utility. A service exclusive to the Navico family of brands, Insight Genesis is an easy-to-use, cloud-based tool that allows boaters to open a free account, upload sonar logs recorded on a multifunction display, and download up-todate, personalised contour maps. An industry-first, Insight Genesis now supports the use of sonar recordings in High CHIRP mode, in addition to the existing support for 200 kHz sounder logs – eliminating the need to switch sonar recording formats to generate custom maps. Users can also enhance community charting by sharing collected data publicly to the Insight Genesis Social Map, as well as search community contributed contour data from users around the globe, then download Social Map charts for personal use. A choice of powerful free and premium features are available for boaters to create contour maps created for use on Lowrance Elite, HDS Gen2 Touch and Gen3, Simrad NSS evo2, NSO evo2 and B&G Zeus2 multifunction displays. www.gofreemarine.com.

McMurdo A5G SmartFind GPS EPIRB Every boat should have one! 406, GPS, Large Strobe Light, Manual Start

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>> RACING NEWS

KARAPIRO OPENS OFFSHORE SEASON Round one of the NZ Offshore Championship kicked off at Lake Karapiro on the Waikato River with 23 boats making it to the start line on day one of the Acceleration On Water Festival of Speed. Wayne Valder and Chris Hanley in the “Pro-Floors” Superboat lead the 100 mile field for most of the first race before being slowed by a technical issue, allowing Gordon Robinson and Allan Branch in Superboat Lite “Fuel Doctor” to take the advantage. Fuel Doctor won the Superboat Lite Class title with ‘Total Home Developments” taking second place, Barely Legal and Global Security tied for third place on the day, both with a DNS in one of the day’s two races. The second race of the two race format was filled with drama when Brett Archer’s Secret Agent caught the wake of another boat and flipped

over causing havoc on the first turn, stopping the race. The attrition rate within the rapidly growing and immensely popular classic class was high with only six of the eleven boat field completing the day’s racing. Gull Force 10 taking out the Classic Class race, with Total Home Developments Classic Class entry second and Topaz third. The 60 mile sport classes got off to an exciting start with husband and wife team, Haydon and Delia Spiers from Whangarei in their Ocke Mannerfelt 23 monohull Outboard Pro taking the win in Sports 300. Sports 200 was taken out by Alex Smith and Josh Smith in their Sonic 1900SS Triple Trouble closely followed by NZ Home Loans 1 and CRD Automotive in third place. Chris Haeger and Nick Campbell in New Zealand Home Loans 2 won Sports 150 with

D & H Steel and Red Steel fighting it out for second and third. Round two was held at Taupo, which saw the return of Warren Lewis’s super fast Skater, Fairview. Driven by Bob Smith, Fairview was the only starter in the Superboat class at the Vertigo Taupo Thunder on the Lake event and had an effortless run for victory in both races. Second in race one was Barely Legal, with third place going to Global Security. Second in race two was Total Home Development and third going to Fuel Doctor. Image (above) 1. Gordon Robinson and Allan Branch in Fuel Doctor took out the first race at Karapiro. 2. (above) CRD Automotive are one of the strong competitors in the Sports 200 class.

Fairview is back and took both races at Taupo.

AUSTRALIAN OFFSHORE RACE DATES

40 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

RND 1, Newcastle, 25th-26th April RND 2, Mackay, 13th-14th June RND 3, Bowen, 18th-19th July RND 4, Coffs Harbour, 15th-16th August RND 5, Location to be confirmed, 5th-6th September RND 6, Hervey Bay, 28th-29th November

Masport Cup to Lupton

Raymond Hart showed that The Boss can still do the business.

The Masport Cup, New Zealand’s longest running motorsport cup, was again dominated by the Waverley based Lupton team. Heat one went to GP57, driven by young Jack Lupton and heat two to father, Warwick Lupton in Annihilator Race Boats. With the winner of the cup decided on the best of two heats, GP57 needed a strong finish in race two to win the 2015 Masport Cup. However, it was not to be with Annihilator Race Boats taking first place and GP57 recording a DNS and never making the race. With 700 points, Warwick once again takes this coveted trophy home. Raymond Hart drove The Boss to second overall with fourth and second place finishers, with GP57 taking third.

Jack Lupton won the first heat, but was unable to start the second.

Warwick Lupton heads to another Masport Cup win.

PRO FLOORS SUCCESS AT QATAR Kiwi’s Wayne Valder and Chris Hanley came away from the inaugural Qatar Cup with podium finishers in both races. Interestingly this was the first time the NZ and Aus championship winning team had raced their recently purchased, Skater 34 from Tony Coleman. The Pro Floors Racing crew looked likely to win a thrilling SuperCat race one, after leading from lap eight to lap 11. A fierce battle waged between Pro Floors Racing, long-time leaders Motley Crew and Racing for Cancer and the Kiwis were deprived of the win after being overtaken by Racing for Cancer’s Jay Cooke and Randy Sweers on lap 12. Motley Crew later retired. The Kiwis eventually finished 17 seconds behind their American rivals. Spirit of Qatar 20’s Ali Al-

Neama and Billy Moore led on lap one before slipping down to fifth and then climbing back to third. Six SuperCat and two SuperVee boats lined up at the start of the 14-lap second race, with the crews of Spirit of Qatar 20 and Outerlimits hoping for a second successive win on Doha Bay. Al-Neama and Moore made a superb start for the host nation and held a one-second advantage over Jay Cooke and Randy Sweers in Racing for Cancer after one lap. SuperVee class leaders Joe Sgro and Steve Curtis were third in Outerlimits. But Al-Neama’s luck ran out on the next lap and the Qatar boat slipped to fifth, as Motley Crew took up the running from Pro Floors Racing. They were overtaken by Peppers/Peters & May Racing, as Motley Crew entered the fourth lap of a fascinating

contest with a 3.6-second lead. As Pro Floors regained second from Peters & May, Spirit of Qatar slipped behind Outerlimits, but remained well clear of Paul Boudreaux and Jay Price in Thordon. By lap seven, there were a mere seven-tenths of a second between Motley Crew and Pro Floors Racing, with Peters & May in third. But the race was far from over and Pro Floors moved in front, as a retiring Motley Crew and Peters & May fell behind Racing for Cancer over the closing stages. The race was won by Racing for Cancer, with Pro Floors finishing second, a mere 17 seconds behind. Overall a fantastic result for the crack Kiwi team. Image (above): Pro Floors finished on the podium of both rounds of the Qatar Cup.

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 41

>> LEGASEA COLUMN

SEABIRDS & FISHING Summer is a hectic time of year for the LegaSea team as there are so many fund raising events, fishing contests and community gatherings to attend. It is such a buzz to see people enjoying the fishing, the camaraderie with their mates, and spending quality time amongst family. And this is just a snapshot of how fishing provides for our wellbeing. We must all work together to ensure we have abundant fisheries so our kids can enjoy a meaningful fishing experience. While hard to imagine, their lives are likely to be much busier than ours so they will need time-out, and simple pleasures like fishing, just to stay sane. One of LegaSea’s 5 Principles is to value recreational fishing. Our fishing supports a vast array of businesses, from boat builders, tackle dealers, bait and ice suppliers and the assortment of fishing media. Many coastal communities rely on the summer influx of tourists, including fishing families, to maintain their accommodation, fuel and goods supply businesses. It is irrefutable that recreational fishing adds value not only to our lifestyle but also to our communities and national wealth. In 2013 Seafood New Zealand, the lead industry fishing organisation, submitted against the Minister adjusting the recreational allowance for snapper to meet current needs. Instead they submitted, (in part) “we would note that the interests of New Zealand are better served by: • The generation of export receipts rather than the high-value consumption of imported components; • The need to ensure that available savings are channelled into productive investment and not wasteful consumption.

So what does this mean? We stop buying tackle and imported fishing gear? We stop building boats and outboards and seaside infrastructure? Forget about coastal communities who thrive during the summer months? Not likely! LegaSea is adamant, recreational fishing and the economy of our fishing activities is not “wasteful consumption”, it is pure gold.

FISH FAST • Sink your bait fast and well below the surface, particularly when there are lots of seabirds in the area. • Take particular care around boil-ups or “meatballs”. • Seabirds move fast – if birds are nearby, keep a keen watch when setting and retrieving your fishing gear.

SEA BIRDS & FISHING The Hauraki Gulf has been described as the seabird capital of the world. If fishing in the Gulf this summer please take care to firstly avoid catching birds, and if you do hook them, learn how to release them with as little damage as possible to the animal (and you). A basic release kit includes items you would most likely have on board: • Line clippers or scissors • Towel • Pliers • Landing net. Small changes in the way we fish can make a big difference to seabird survival. We might even catch more fish if we learn how to be smart around these natural fish finders.

BURLEY WELL BELOW THE BIRDS • Sink burley containers deep, further from the birds and closer to the fish.

FISH TIDY • Seabirds are hunting for food. Keep unused bait and scraps in covered bins until you have finished fishing. • Gut and fillet your catch once your hooks are out of the water. • Never feed seabirds while you are fishing. It only encourages them to hang about, get in your way when fishing and steal your baits

Seabirds and fishing go together – as Kiwi anglers we can make a difference out on the water. Let’s fish seabird smart this summer. You can download a copy of the full Safe Seabird Release Guidelines from the web www.southernseabirds.org. LegaSea appreciates the support of the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust in providing this information. www.legasea.co.nz/seabirds.php

DETER BIRDS FROM YOUR GEAR • Create a ‘safe zone’ so you can get your gear up and down. • Some fishers tie streamers to a spare rod or outrigger with a half-filled plastic milk bottle tied securely to the end. This bounces over the water and distracts the bird from your fishing gear. • Others throw a bucket of water towards the birds to shoo them away from hooks and baits. • A deck hose sprayed off the back of the transom is a good deterrent too.

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ELITE 18M BOAT TEST

EXPERIENCE CREATES A CLASSIC BEAUTY TEXT BY MIKE ROSE | IMAGES BY BRYCE TAYLOR

Having previously owned a Lloyd Stevenson-built Elite midpilothouse launch, Alan and Gloria Day knew exactly what they wanted in their new 18m creation. 44 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

LAN and Gloria Day are experienced boaties. In their younger years, they were into sailing boats and owned a number of yachts. Then, after “seeing the light”, they progressed to powerboats and became the proud owners of the Bill Upfold-designed Boudica. Boudica (the name is the correct spelling of Boadicea, the famous early British warrior queen) was an Elite 16-metre midpilothouse and boat builder Lloyd Stevenson’s boat. Last year, no doubt with a fair degree of encouragement from Lloyd, the couple decided it was time for a change. “We wanted a bigger boat, something new with the latest design features and the most upto-date electronics,” explains Gloria. “We also realised that this will probably be our last boat,

Antiquity carries up to 4050 litres of fuel, giving a cruising range of over 400 nautical miles while cruising at 23 knots.

so we wanted to make sure it incorporated everything we had learned while owning Boudica.” Alan explains that while they had loved being on board Boudica they had also noticed that there were things that they wanted to add: “There were also things we never used so there was no point in including them again.” While that might have proved a problem for another designer and boat builder, it was an approach that was welcomed by both Bill and Lloyd. “I love incorporating owners’ ideas,” says Bill, himself a keen and regular boatie. Lloyd, too, clearly enjoys involving the owners in the build process as much as possible: “Every Friday during the build I would do a progress report, complete with photographs,

for Alan and Gloria.” “This was an excellent idea,” says Alan. “It was something we would look forward to. We not only got to see our boat taking shape, we also got a record of the whole process.” “Lloyd was great, too,” echoes Gloria. “Nothing was too much trouble. Whatever we asked for the answer was always ‘Yes’.” For his part, Lloyd found building a boat with owners who were as involved as Alan and Gloria a lot of fun. “I think we all really enjoyed it.” Those familiar with the 18-metre Elite midpilothouse design might not immediately see how Antiquity is that much different. “Most of the changes are subtle,” admits Bill, “but they significant.”

COCKPIT CHANGES One change the Days are quick to point out is the extra overhang provided by extended the poop deck at the back of the pilothouse. This creates extra shelter from both sun and rain and has allowed the addition of a permanent al fresco dining area (complete with both built-in bench seating and a permanent table) forward on the starboard side of the cockpit. The cockpit is also now protected on both sides by an attractive new triangular panel of glass that lets light in but keeps spray and other moisture out. With the cockpit now home to another dining/ entertaining area, it was more important than ever to make access to it and the galley as easy as possible. Lloyd has done this by turning the entire aft starboard bulkhead into a single WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 45

ELITE 18M BOAT TEST

pane of retractable glass. Combined with the removal of the centre post, this completely opens up the interior of Antiquity and means there is virtually no separation between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. While the Days are both very keen on their fishing, they also believe it should be kept out of the cockpit as much as possible. As a result, the extended boarding platform has been made more user-friendly with stainless steel pushpits especially designed to double as bait board holders. Because Alan and Gloria are seasoned boat owners, Lloyd decided to install additional hand rails throughout the boat. “Although these were primarily for Alan and Gloria, it is interesting to see how much they are used, even by the younger members of our crew!” Antiquity’s pilothouse, accessed either via a stylish staircase direct from the cockpit or through galley and then lounge, is another area where Alan and Gloria’s experience has been put to good use. Although Boudica had a large sliding hatch above the helm station, the Days never used it “because of the sun.” As a result, it is gone, replaced with a conventional hatch, although one with both a sunshade and a mosquito net. The pair has also fitted blinds on both sides of the pilothouse. “This reduces the size of the sun cover we need for the screen,” explains 46 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Antiquity is the 20th Elite built by Lloyd Stevenson Yachts and the 50th new build from the yard.

Alan. “This is a real benefit when I have to put it on or take it off by myself.” Antiquity’s leather bench seat is also special. When not in use at the helm, it can pivot forward (using electric actuators) to create a handy table area, ideal for snacks and drinks. A good deal of thought has also gone into the side seating. Upholstered in an unusual but very attractive fabric it is rather striking. A well-placed bolster on the starboard side means the person sitting or lounging here can converse closely with the skipper while keeping a watchful eye out the back. Visibility out is another area where the Days have had significant input. With one-half of the couple a little less tall than average, the inability to easily see out of the side windows was obviously a nuisance. In typical fashion, Bill and Lloyd took this on board and lowered both the pilothouse and galley windows. Those sitting in either place can now effortlessly keep a watch on what is happening around them, regardless of how tall they are. The Days also got their wish for the latest electronics: Antiquity boasts a sizeable Glass Bridge with twin Furuno 19” screens occupying the entire width of the helm station. Keen fishers, they have also installed a substantial rod locker under the port hand bench seat. Complete with numerous shelves and compartments and plenty of full-length space for all the rods, it also has its own LED

light and opens effortlessly on gas struts. Another clever tweak sees the sliding doors out onto the aft deck (home to the tender and its davit) divided into three with each able to be opened or not depending on conditions. “This is excellent while underway on a hot day,” explains Lloyd. “By closing the outer two and leaving the centre one open, you get a cooling breeze without any spray or suckback.” INVISIBLE ANCHOR Before we leave the flybridge, Bill points out another subtle change that has been well thought through. From the bridge, Antiquity appears to be ready to head to sea with no anchor. Right up to the stem, the foredeck is clean and uncluttered with no anchor, winch or fairlead to be seen. Bill explains that these have been installed underneath the stem. “As well as leaving the foredeck clear, this is also a better use of marina space.” To ensure the skipper can keep an eye on the anchor’s deployment, a camera, connected to the glass bridge screens, is sited just above. While the lounge, galley and accommodation areas are fairly standard for a large Elite midpilothouse, there are exceptions. The Day’s extensive use of oak is one. The cabinetry, doorway surrounds, stair flashings, the floorboards and even the bathroom vanities are all oak. The overall effect is

Take a look inside

1. The aft dinette is a little different: the usual U-shape has been supplanted by an L shape, allowing for a larger table. 2. Looking aft to the galley/dinette to starboard and entrance to the pilothouse opposite. 3. Like the rest of the boat, Antiquityâ€™s galley is full of little surprises. 4. With the deck hatches closed, the foredeck is clean and uncluttered with no anchor, winch or fairlead to be seen. 5. The accommodation plan has the main stateroom forward with en suite to port and a secondary guest cabin across the walkway. 6. Like all Elite mid pilothouse designs, the main saloon is designed for easy living. WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 47

ELITE 18M BOAT TEST

undeniably classy and provides a delightful counterpoint to the modern fittings: Italian basins in the heads; surround sound speakers and a flat-screen TV in the lounge; and the domestic fridge in the galley. Antiquity’s accommodation plan has the main stateroom forward with en suite to port and a secondary guest cabin (with a single berth over a ¾ one) across the walkway. A door from the en suite onto the walkway allows it to both service the cabin and act as a day head while access to the engine room is via the smaller cabin. As one would expect from a Lloyd Stevensonbuilt boat, the engine room is immaculately laid out and finished. In addition to the twin 715hp QSM11 Cummins diesel engines, there is a brace of large inverters, a watermaker and a washing machine. There is also plumbed fresh water, a diesel heater (with outlets throughout the vessel) and a number of handy stowage lockers (another of Alan’s ideas). Bill points out the engines have been deliberately separated from the drive train using a combination of universal joints and thrust bearings. “This isolates any vibration and means the engine is not taking any thrust.” Antiquity carries up to 4050 litres of fuel, giving the 18-metre Elite a cruising range of over 400 nautical miles while cruising at 23 knots (2200rpm) or a massive 1300 nautical miles at 10 knots (at just 1000rpm). Also on board is a 1000-litre water capacity: “They don’t have to fill it right up, but it does make 48 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Antiquity’s pilothouse can be accessed either via a stylish staircase direct from the cockpit or through the lounge.

them self-sufficient, even if there is a problem with the watermaker,” says Bill. Like the rest of the boat, Antiquity’s galley is full of little surprises. As well as the welldisguised domestic fridge, there are stowage areas hidden behind oak roll-top desk fittings, a dedicated spice drawer, special inserts in the cutlery drawers, a waste disposal and a dish drawer dishwasher. Antiquity’s aft dinette is also a little different: the usual U-shape has been supplanted by an L shape, creating space for a larger table. In standard Elite mid-pilothouse fashion, the main guest cabin is aft, opposite the dinette. On Boudica, the en suite was accessed from both the cabin and the walkway but the Days found the latter door was almost never used. As a result, it is gone and entry is now solely via the cabin. JUST ONE MORE THING Apple founder Steve Jobs was famous for ending his new product announcements, apparently as an afterthought, with the phrase: “Just more thing.” He would then reveal yet another incredible new offering, usually the most spectacular of the day. Bill Upfold and Lloyd Stevenson appear to have studied the man in depth. Every time I thought we were done and all of Antiquity’s secrets had been revealed, one or the other would suddenly (usually as I was about halfway through putting on my shoes) point out yet another clever little addition.

The three most memorable of these are: Rather than having to crane the tender on board each time they wanted to get underway, Alan suggested putting a fitting in the centre of the duckboard so he could haul it on board and into the cockpit for relatively short trips. Lloyd thought about it and then went one better: why not create a removable two-roller fitting that overhangs the duckboard? Not only is it easier to bring the dinghy on board by oneself, it is also ideal for bringing up craypots and the like without damaging the woodwork. The wide side decks are almost entirely fittingfree; a boon to those (like myself) who have no trouble stubbing toes on any and all deck fittings. Bill and Lloyd’s answer has been to install raised full-length toe rails down each side. Not only is there nothing to stub feet on, there is also nowhere for any dirt to collect, making the decks easier to keep clean. Finally, my attention is drawn to the teak in the cockpit. This, Lloyd points out, is not your usual marine teak. Instead, it is perfectly quarter sawn 12mm timber, designed to wear more evenly and to last considerably longer. Although Antiquity is the first motor yacht the Days have had built from scratch, they were involved in a substantial refit of Boudica. During the 12-month build, the pair say they were constantly amazed at Lloyd’s attention to detail and the quality of the workmanship. “Our experience of having a boat built has been a real pleasure, we have enjoyed every minute.”

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ELITE 18M BOAT TEST

The extended poop deck creates extra shelter from both sun and rain and has allowed the addition of a permanent al fresco dining area.

Technical Specifications Boat Design Name: House Year Launched: Designer: Interior Designer: Builder: LOA: LOH: Beam: Draft: Displ (loaded): Max Speed: Cruise Speed: Construction: Water Cap: Engines Make/HP:

Elite 18.2m Mid Pilot

2015 Elite Marine Design Owners Lloyd Stevenson B/B 18.2m (60’) 18.2m (60’) 5.4m (17.8’) 1.2m (4’) 26,600KG 28kt 20-24kt Epoxy composite 1000 L 2 x Cummins QSM11 @ 715hp Engine Controller: ZF Drive Train: Conventional shaft Propellers: Teignbridge Generator: Onan Inverter/Charger: Master volt Bow Thruster: Sea Recovery Stern Thruster: Vetus Stabilisers/Gyro N/A

Fuel & Performance Data Anchor Winch: Muir VR3500 Anchors: Manson Boss Steering: Hy-pro Engine Controls: ZF Lighting: Cantaloupe Underwater Lights: Lumitec Paint (Antifouling): Altex #5 Hatches: Maxwell Wipers: Exalto Windows: Seamac Porthole Hatches: Maxwell Heads: Sealand Dometic Woodwork: Oak Davit Crane: Steelhead Tenders: Aquapro Stainless Steel Fab: Precision Stainless Trim Tabs: Bennett Upholstery: Howick Upholstery ELECTRONICS Autopilot: Furuno GPS/Plotter/Sounder: Furuno Radar/VFH/AIS: Furuno Ent Systems: Marantz Price As Tested: $3.85m

Contact: Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders. Ph +64 9 274 7680 | www lloydstevensonyachts.co.nz Elite Marine Design www.elitemarine.co.nz 50 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Elite 18m/ 2 x Cummins QSM11 @ 715hp Fuel Capacity: 4000 litres RPM

L/H

Knots

L/NM

800

8.5

1.88

1913

1000

10.1

2.77

1299

1200

45.4

4.13

872

1400

66.6

11.6

5.74

627

1600

95.4

13.9

6.86

525

1800

126.2

16.4

7.70

468

2000

154.2

7.71

467

2200

196

23.1

8.48

424

2400

252

9.69

371

2500

292

10.43

345

Range is based on 90% of fuel capacity

Range

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DESTINATION ABROLHOS BY EMMA GEORGE

Western Australiaâ€™s Houtman Abrolhos Islands are rich in history & wildlife.

OPPOSITE: The white-bellied sea eagle is one of millions of birds which live on or visit the Abrolhos Islands every year. THIS PAGE: Shacks are situated on 22 of the islands, with the main export being the profitable western rock lobster.

SHIPWRECK, MUTINY, MURDER AND SURVIVAL add to the mystique of the 122 remote and rugged islands of the Houtman Abrolhos, often referred to informally as the Abrolhos Islands, located off Geraldton on Western Australia’s mid-west coast. Rich in history and sunken treasure, 20 shipwrecks have been found in Abrolhos waters and, while the Batavia and Zeewijk are the most well-known, there are thought to be many more lying undiscovered. In addition to their colourful past, the Abrolhos Islands display a remarkable assortment of sea life, flora and fauna, with over two million birds breeding on the islands. Tropical and temperate oceans meet along the 100km spread of islands, treating anglers to a variety fish from pink snapper to coral trout and big pelagic species. Famous for its superb diving, fishing, snorkelling, windsurfing and surfing, the Abrolhos is a destination we always wanted to visit. It was only when we purchased our seven-metre LeisureCat that we had a suitable vessel to attempt the voyage, which, in our case, was more than a 400km round trip. WAITING FOR WEATHER Following some marine chart preparation, our only problem was waiting for the perfect weekend, with very little wind and swell; a rare occurrence at the Abrolhos. Our three boys, Austin (eight years old), Cooper (5) and Bailey (3), were as excited as we were about our big adventure. They had visited the shipwreck museum in Perth several times and were enthralled by stories of the Batavia – mutiny, lost treasure and particularly seeing the skeleton exhumed from Beacon Island, complete with a grizzly axe wound to the skull!

A perfect weekend loomed in March – the weather was set to be calm for the following five days – so I sprang into action, getting everything packed for an evening tow to Geraldton. There are shacks on the Abrolhos owned by lobster fisherman who work there, but unless you have written consent to stay, all visitors must sleep on their own vessel and be fully self-sufficient. SAFETY FIRST Safety is paramount, particularly when attempting offshore trips. We took every extra piece of safety equipment we owned – a satellite phone, a spare EPIRB, a well-equipped first aid kit plus a new Yagi antenna to provide mobile phone coverage. I filled the esky with ice, packed pre-made frozen

meals and filled every available storage space in the boat with food, a small barbecue, some pots and eating utensils, snorkelling gear, fishing gear, inflatable body boards, cameras and plenty of extra fresh water. Having towed the LeisureCat the last 100km of the drive on Saturday morning, we were greeted by the most spectacular view – the Indian Ocean was like a lake. We couldn’t have wished for a better weekend. We filled the boat with fuel and launched at the main Geraldton boat ramp. We have done plenty of adventurous four-wheel drive trips and remote camping, but this was easily the biggest trip we had attempted in our boat. Totally self-sufficient, we felt like early explorers, ready to discover a shipwreck for the first time.

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130mm Soft plastics proved to be irresistible to the local population, including this nice coral trout.

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Austin proudly shows off his bald chin grouper (endemic to Western Australia and great eating), caught on a soft plastic in shallow water.

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Phone: 09 374 4461 Fax: +64-9-374 4462 Email: info@pier21.co.nz / www.pier21.co.nz Our destination was the northern Wallabi Group of islands, around 50nm (90km) from Geraldton. I was hoping the swell would be minimal so Austin and I could snorkel the Batavia wreck. My husband, Ashley was keen to catch some good sports fish, while Cooper was rather intrigued by the story of the Batavia mutiny and wanted to visit Long Island where the â€˜baddiesâ€™ were hung. We were all hopeful of finding the Webbe-Hayes Forts, the oldest European-made structures in Australia, now 385 years old. Travelling at 23 knots, we were making comfortable progress to the Wallabi Islands. Undistracted by flocks of birds feeding on bait pushed up by tuna and other pelagic species, we focused on our initial goal â€“ to find Batavia. We motored past big fish sounding on our Garmin and after almost two hours of travelling, land appeared in the distance. Batavia ahoy! As we approached Morning Reef, the shipwreck icon appeared on the sounder and we scouted for the sand patch, easily spotting a bright blue break in the reef. The planets had aligned â€“ it was calm. Ashley dropped me off in three metres of water, then took the boat out deeper to avoid the dangerous reef ahead. I was greeted by a massive coral trout, schools of buffalo bream and huge King George whiting as I hunted for remains of the wreck. As I swam further toward the reef I saw an anchor, then a cannon and yet another anchor. It was incredible. There I was in just two metres of water, looking at history, which has been in a watery grave for almost 400 years. I yelled to everyone that we had found it and Austin quickly donned his fins and mask to join me, full of adrenaline. He held my hand and squealed with excitement as the cannons and anchors came into sight. This was a great experience shared with my eight-year-old, who was courageous enough to jump into an unknown ocean, with breaking waves behind us, to discover history. After so much hype and anticipation, this experience surpassed all our expectations. Tired after hours in the boat, it was time to hit the beach so we made our way to East Wallabi Island and the squeaky white sands of spectacular Turtle Bay. There was only one other boat on a mooring buoy, so we had the island to ourselves and the kids ran along the beach searching for shells. Lizards scurried along the tracks and a majestic white-bellied sea eagle lurched into full flight as the boys approached its perch on the viewing platform. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sun shelter, marked walking trails and

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Stunning Turtle Bay.

numerous signs outlining the wildlife and history of the island. My only wish was that we could stay longer as our first day was nearly over. After exploring the island, we motored to the public mooring, 100m offshore. Dinner and sleeping on the boat was cosy and cheerful and we were so excited about our day’s activities, we couldn’t wait for morning.

large grouper, tropical fish swam past and stag horn coral and plate coral surrounded us, with about 30m of visibility in all directions. It was a delight to be in this underwater wonderland, so spectacularly beautiful. As the sun approached the horizon, we stopped off for a quick exploration at Long Island, before mooring in Turtle Bay for our last night.

SIGHT FISHING The visibility was amazing; some of the best I have seen. Coral trout were cruising between the fanshaped coral and bommies, 12m below the boat. We could see fish following our soft plastics and the kids delighted in watching trout, emperor, cod and baldchin grouper take their lures. With a wealth of fishing options, we headed for the deeper water and reef breaks for a bit of pelagic action. It didn’t take long for our deep diving lures to cause a stir, producing a good-sized Spanish mackerel. But dinner was on the agenda so we changed direction again, this time targeting bottom-dwellers. Within minutes of dropping my bait, I hooked a lovely West Australian dhufish, my favourite eating fish. The crystal clear water was so inviting, it was time to pack away the rods and explore some of the closer reefs. The water was so astonishingly calm and clear and the fish were indifferent to our presence. Coral trout poked their heads out to greet us and the kids swam over a two-to-three-metre shovel nosed shark, sleeping soundly beneath them. We bobbed our heads under plate coral to see a

FORTIFICATIONS With no clear boat passage, it was difficult to know which way to access the forts on West Wallabi Island. I stood on the front of the boat, scouting coral bommies as we tried to find access from the eastern side. Fortunately, the presence of a sightseeing plane doing circuits around the island was a great clue as to the location of the forts. We tracked further north with the water only 70cm deep and decided to drop anchor around 300m from shore and wade in. I dragged the older boys on their inflatable boards and Bailey rode on Ashley’s shoulders as we headed for land. I envisaged the mutineers doing the same thing, but with their bare feet being torn to shreds on the jagged coral. We clamoured up the sharp rocks to be met by a historic sign about the forts and how to look after the area. We couldn’t believe our luck; we had arrived in exactly the right location. The boys ran ahead on the scrubby tracks, scaring the small wallabies in their haste to find the forts. We could hear excited yelling ahead; they had discovered a fort perched on the high point of the island.

56 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Small enough to shelter 10 or so men, the handbuilt structure has survived intact for over 385 years, despite cyclones and the roughest of weather imaginable. The shallow wells, which kept the soldiers alive, were still visible and a local carpet python had even taken up residence in one. While the snake distracted the kids, I made my way to the second fort and hid some replica pewter Batavia coins I had secretly purchased at the Perth Shipwreck Museum and waited for them to find the ‘treasure’. The excitement on their faces was like Christmas morning. With a two-hour boat trip and a five-hour drive home ahead of us, it was time to leave the Wallabi Group and head for Geraldton. This trip was one of our best weekends ever, but with so much more to do and see, we all can’t wait to return.

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MUTINY, MAYHEM & MURDER The story of the Batavia is one of the most shocking in Australian maritime history, involving the brutal murder of over 120 men, women and children by mutineers, who took control after the ship ran aground at the Abrolhos Islands on June 4, 1629. OWNED BY THE Dutch East India Company, she was on her maiden voyage to the Spice Islands (now known as the Maluku Islands of Indonesia), carrying a wealth of silver coins, gold and jewels. It was also one of the most heavily armed ships of its time. The ship ran aground on a moonlit night and despite the crew’s best effort to offload ballast in the form of cannons and anchors, it could not be freed and finally broke apart on the reef a few days later. But there was enough time for most of the 322 people aboard to reach the nearby islands, although about 40 lives were lost in the treacherous seas. Essential supplies were recovered, along with some of the treasure, but there was minimal fresh water and food available, with most surviving on sea lions, birds and shellfish. Commander Francisco Pelsaert, as well as some crew and passengers, left 268 survivors on two islands whilst they went in search of water. Unsuccessful on mainland Australia, the party instead made its way in a nine-metre longboat to Batavia (modern Jakarta), to seek help. It took 33 days for the voyage; considered one of the greatest feats of navigation in an open boat. Governor General Coen provided Pelsaert with the ‘jacht’ Saardam to rescue the survivors, but it took an incredible 63 days to re-locate the wreck site.

58 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

MUTINOUS MURMURINGS Senior officer Jeronimus Cornelisz had been scheming a mutiny for weeks and the shipwreck provided the perfect opportunity to take control, while Pelsaert was on his rescue mission. Cornelisz sent a group of soldiers under the command of Wiebbe Hayes to explore the islands that could be seen on the horizon. He confiscated their firearms before they left and assumed they would never return. With his accomplices, Cornelisz then set about eliminating any potential opponents, murdering men, women and children, while keeping a few women for himself and his devotees. As luck would have it, Wiebbe Hayes found water on West Wallabi Island and sent a smoke signal to alert Cornelisz. But some days later, survivors from Beacon Island swam to West Wallabi Island, informing the soldiers of Cornelisz’s murderous rampage. Wiebbe Hayes and his men built forts from limestone and coral blocks and made weapons from materials washed up from the wreck. They kept watch during the night in anticipation of an attack. Cornelisz did attack, but the soldiers were well fed and managed to win several battles, finally taking Cornelisz hostage. The mutineers who escaped

regrouped under Wouter Loos and launched another attack, this time almost defeating the soldiers. The mutineers’ plan was to hijack the rescue ship. The delusional Cornelisz even envisaged starting a new kingdom, using the gold and silver salvaged from the Batavia. When the Saardam finally came into sight, both parties made a rush for the boat. Luckily, Wiebbe Hayes made it first, alerting Pelsaert to the atrocities of the past three months. Pelsaert conducted a trial immediately. Cornelisz and several of the major mutineers had their hands chopped off before being hanged on the islands. Wouter Loos and a cabin boy were abandoned on mainland Australia, as they were considered minor offenders. The remaining mutineers were taken to Batavia for trial, where five were hanged, with others receiving various punishments. A board of inquiry decided that Pelsaert had exercised a lack of authority and was partly responsible. His financial assets were seized, and he died a desperate man within a year. Wiebbe Hayes was hailed a hero and promoted to sergeant and later lieutenant, which increased his salary immensely. Of the 322 people on board the Batavia, only 68 made it to the port of Batavia alive.

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BAYLINER 185 BOAT TEST

test by boattest.com

Compact & Functional

With the 185 Bowrider, Bayliner is focusing on the first time boater, or one moving up from a smaller aluminum boat or fiberglass boat who wants more room and function. 60 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

AYLINER have been building Bowriders for more years than most and the new 185 encompasses a lot of those years of experience. Bayliner have made sure also that not only is the boat feature packed and functional itâ€™s also easy to launch, recover and overall provide family fun on the water. Most important, the Bayliner 185 Bowrider provides all of the standard features in an affordable package. The Bayliner 185 Bowrider we tested was equipped with the Flight Series Package and is loaded with watersport amenities. However, also available is a Fishing Package and a Preferred Equipment Package.

Loaded up with the whole family and all the gear for the day, the Bayliner 185 Bowrider is up on plane and well balanced.

The first and foremost question that we wanted answered had to do with the carbureted 190-hp MerCruiser 4.3 L TKS engine. Did it have enough raw power to get a wake boarder up? Further, if it could do that, what were the performance capabilities and handling characteristics? It was apparent right from the start that the 190-hp 4.3L, MerCruiser TKS with the Alpha One sterndrive was up to the challenge. With less than half a tank of fuel, two people on board and test gear, we had a test weight of just under 1,270 kgs. We reached a top speed at 4400 rpm of 40.5 knots (46.5 mph).

Unfortunately, our fuel flow meter chose this time to go on the fritz so we can not present best cruise and other fuel flow. We can report that at 3500 rpm, where most boats of this type typically see their most efficient running, we had a speed of 30 knots (34.6 mph). She got on plane between 2000 and 2500 rpm. The time to plane of 3.8 seconds and her ability to trim out quickly with minimal bow rise was impressive to us. Because of the 19deg deadrise angle that Bayliner has incorporated into the hull, the ride quality was apparent at speed. Frankly, this was a degree or two more than we expected, but her time to plane and

the comfort of the ride, proved that Bayliner had made a good decision. When we added a tube with a rider and a spotter to the boat, she handled the load with minimal effort and we were off and tubing. So, when making a buying decision and faced with a choice between the carbureted 4.3L TKS and the 3.0L MPI engines, both will pulled wakeboarders and while the 3.0L engine needs to rev over 2500 rpm to get on plane, the 4.3L MPI engine can do easily at 2500 rpm. We have found that most boats in class run pretty well at 3500 rpm and these two WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 61

BAYLINER 185 BOAT TEST

are no exceptions - there is just about 6 knots (7.1 mph) difference in their speeds. HANDLING Applying full throttle, the boat responded quickly, the bow rise was approximately 12-degrees, starting to come down when she hit plane in 3.8 seconds and was firmly at her stable running angle of 5-degrees in 8.6 seconds. The Bayliner 185 Bowrider is an easy boat to trim, just get her up on plane and set the trim to approximately one quarter on the console trim gauge. If you should set the trim too high, the bow will start to bob up and down (porpoise) and the boat will begin to lose speed. Just lower the trim until the bow stabilises. The boat handles excellently when pushed in hard-over turns at higher speeds. She is stable and predictable in her reactions to the hard turns in choppy water. I did not encounter any chine walking or oscillation from side to side. The boat will naturally shave off hull speed during these types of manoeuvers, keeping everyone safe and on board the boat. It would be hard to get in trouble with this boat -- we tried! From the sharp “V” bow entry to the lifting strakes running the length of the hull that lead out to a reverse chine. At the transom, the deadrise angle is 19-degrees. When the boat was fully up on plane, it cut through the waves. The chines were effective on knocking 62 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The improved ride quality was apparent at speed, thanks to the increased deadrise angle that Bayliner has incorporated into the hull.

down the spray and keeping the boat dry. Because this hull is so forgiving, it’s easy to see why the 185 Bowrider is such a good fit for those new to boating. This boat has the ability to provide a confidence-building learning experience, safely, for young and old alike. STANDARD EQUIPMENT The Bayliner 185 Bowrider comes standard with a lot more tha most local boats, but not untypical for a US built boat. Firstly there’s the Bluetooth stereo system that is located on the port side at the console. The system is a waterproof 120-watt AM/FM stereo with audio input for iPod and MP3. Then there’s the tilt wheel at the helm provided a good range of motion and settings to accommodate the operator, whether seated down in the bucket seat or propped up on the bolster. The helm bucket seat had a thigh rise bolster that when raised up, elevated the operator above the windshield. The helm seat and all the seats in the boat are well padded and made of a stain-resistant vinyl that is said to be easy to keep clean. The moulded fiberglass engine cover is well disguised under the stern sun pad and is assisted with a hinged gas strut when opened. The compartment is ventilated by a 12V blower and access to the bilge pump is through this compartment. The seating design, comfort and stainresistant weatherproof fabric throughout the boat had dual stitching and lots of padding in

all the right places. The stern seating section could easily accommodate 4 adults, and the seat back is high, thanks to the deep cockpit, which averaged approximately 85.09 cm. The standard seating layout is with two aft jump seats that convert to a sunlounger. Our test boat featured the sport seating package, which provides dual swivel bucket seats in the cockpit and a bench stern seating area that will easily accommodate 4 people. The bucket seats will come around 180-degrees to provide a clear view of all the activities off the stern. The seats have a padded bolster that can be raised to increase height. The padding on the seats is comfortable and the double stitching all around the seat gives it a classy look. When seated in the bow, we liked the placement of the grab handles. It will give the parents some comfort to see the kids sitting up front while underway with a sturdy place to hang on. ABUNDANT STORAGE There is a lockable glove box, on the port side console area. On the port and starboard side of the cockpit gunwales, there is not one, but two shelves built in. With a raised edge, we could put our gear or water bottle without any of it coming out while putting the boat through her paces. Great use of this space and the finish detail adds to the quality feel of the cockpit. At the bow, under each of the seat cushions, are large storage boxes for the gear. The

forward bow compartment in the center serves as additional storage and the anchor locker. While we would like to see a dedicated anchor locker with all the features to properly secure and stow the line and anchor, there was plenty of room in this compartment to get all the ground tackle in and out of when needed. Just when we thought we had discovered all of the storage areas in this space, we discovered the port and starboard console storage located behind the bow seating rear supports. Across the entire stern seating area, under the cushions, there are a lot more storage areas. And with the cushions removed, the non-skid deck provides a safe step up to the stern. There is a large in-deck storage locker with stainless steel latching hardware for stowing the ski gear and water toys. The hatch cover is held open by not one, but two gas struts. No worries about this lid dropping down on our fingers.

and also when turning the wheel back and forth at speed with a skier in tow. And the standard tilt steering was nice to have to find that sweet spot when running the boat for an extended period of time. The helm bucket seat is on a pedestal and is fully adjustable. The seat can be rotated a full 180-degrees to face the aft. It has adjustments to raise and lower the height, which we found easy to operate and find just the right setting. The seat is well padded and comfortable to sit in. When the centre section of the windshield is in the open position and the boat is underway, we noted that the windshield would bounce up and down a bit when getting into some choppy water. A strap or latch to fasten the windshield walkthrough when it is in the open position would be useful. On the other hand, when running, people should not be walking around the boat and the windshield could be closed.

for the spotter when towing a skier, tuber or wakeboarder. The other added benefit to this seating set-up is the ability to slide a cooler, or any other gear and provisions, under the seat when taking the boat out for a long day on the water. The stern of the 185 Bowrider had moulded stern seating, sundeck and swim platform. This made for a solid feel to this area that will get a lot of foot traffic during boarding and playing in the water. The stern seating is cushioned with storage area below. The sun pad measured 1.9m wide x 80cm deep. On the starboard side, the cushion flips up to reveal a large storage area. Under the port side cushion is access to the batteries. The center hatch of the sun pad opens wide to provide access to the engine compartment. It is easy to perform engine checks and routine maintenance from here. The hatch cover is held open by a gas assist strut.

GREAT HELM The custom moulded dash panels have a non-glare brow which made it easy to see the instrumentation without having to squint. The instrumentation is well laid out and easy to see. The steering wheel is padded and comfortable to the touch and the boat is equipped with rack and pinion power steering, which is nice to have when manoeuvering around the dock at slow speed

SPACIOUS DESIGN Baylinerâ€™s beam forward design has given this boat a roomy cockpit and bow area for a boat this size. With an estimated average width of 125cm at the bow seating area, there is plenty of room for several passengers to sit. The companion seat on our test boat was the optional bucket seat mounted on a pedestal with the ability to adjust the height and spin it completely around to face aft. This is perfect

OPTIONAL PACKAGES Our test boat had the Flight Series Packages, which is designed for watersports, and is one of three packages available. There is also a graphics package that includes the hull side flight graphics that gave the boat a sporty look. The swim platform extension had the new SeaDeck design that has the Flight Series logo and provides a comfortable padded non-skid

Take a look inside

1. The swiveling helm seat is nicely positioned with the windscreen offering good protection. 2. There is the usual array of gauges, fuel, oil pressure, speedometer, tachometer, trim and volt. 3. Plenty of room in the bow to put feet up and enjoy the ride. 4. The aft rear foldaway table is a neat feature. 5. Stow everything from life jackets to ski gear to water toys in the cockpitâ€™s deep in-deck storage locker.

5 WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 63

BAYLINER 185 BOAT TEST surface. The platform provided plenty of room for setting up the watersports activities and is low to the water. It measured 1.98 m x .63 m deep. Keep in mind that this is an extension off of the existing moulded hull swim platform. This made for an abundance of room and areas to sit while gearing up. This also made it easy for our wakeboarder to suit up and drop into the water. When the skiing was completed, the wakeboarder could easily put his gear back up on the swim platform and climb back aboard. The platform is equipped with a swim ladder off the starboard side, if needed. The wakeboard tower is made by Monster and has a sleek look to it. There are removable

wakeboard racks on the port and starboard side. The racks have a quick disconnect latch and can be easily stowed when not in use. When the boards are in the racks, a bungee cord keeps them safely in place. There is also an integrated Bimini top that goes with the tower and we installed it while at the dock. It was a bit difficult to install on test day, but well worth it on a 90-degree day. And once installed, it provides good cover and an unimpeded view both fore and aft from the helm and companion seating area. There is also a Preferred Equipment Package, which includes a Bimini canvas top with boot, colour choice (blue, black, or red) and the deck gel stripe. The test boat was also fitted with this upgraded stainless steel trim

upgrade package, which makes the boat look a little more up-market. For the fisherman, Bayliner has put together a package which includes a 24 volt trolling motor, bow/aft casting platform and seat, livewell, Garmin fishfinder, rod storage and tackle bag. Bayliner has always made it its goal to get people on the water. And with this 185 Bowrider, it should appeal to the first time boater as well as to veteran boaters who know what they want and how much they want to spend. With its boat and trailer combination and a base price of around $NZ48,000, it is a competitive package.

Underfloor storage is perfect for the boards and jackets.

The swim platform extension makes it easy to gear up before hitting the water.

Technical Specifications Make &Model: Manufacturer: Priced From: Type: Construction: LOA:

Bayliner185 Bowrider Bayliner Boats $NZ45500 Bowrider GRP 5.49 m

Beam: Deadrise: Height on trailer: Trailerable Wgt: Test Power: Maximum RPM:

2.31 m 19 deg 2.41 m 1361 kg 190-hp MerCruiser 4.3L TKS 4500

Top Speed: Power Options: HP Range: Fuel Capacity: Trailer:

40.5 Knots Sterndrive 135-220 hp 106 litres Bayliner

Contact: NZ: Auckland: Family Boats, Ph 09 476 4282 / Taupo: Lakeland Marine, Ph 0800 888 500 / Christchurch: Mr Boats, Ph 03 384 2726 Timaru: Mr Boats, Ph 03 684 4107 / www.bayliner.com 64 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

INDUSTRY FIRST

INVERTOR // CHARGER FEATURE

66 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Inverters convert the 12V or 24V DC into 240V AC electricity to run household appliances such as microwaves and coffee machines.

ENJOY THE HOME COMFORTS In Part 2 of our three part series about power on board, we look at inverter/chargers, how they work and suggest what might suit your needs.

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 67

INVERTOR // CHARGER FEATURE

All Vetus invertors have a shore power connection and an inbuilt UPS function.

Magnum Energy now offers the MS-E Series Inverter/Charger for 230 VAC/50 Hz installations.

INVERTERS CONVERT the 12V or 24V DC energy stored in your batteries into household 240V AC electricity to run standard business and household appliances, televisions and tools when shore power is not available, or when running a generator is impractical or inappropriate. Inverters convert the DC energy by electronically increasing the voltage roughly tenfold from 24VDC or twenty times from 12VDC, and by changing direct current into alternating current. So why not use a generator to do this instead? While both inverters and gensets (generators) create 240V AC electricity, inverters are better for variable demand and loads up to 2,000 to 3,000 watts.

Unlike noisy, fossil fuel-driven gensets, inverters are silent, require virtually no maintenance, and are easy to install. On the other hand, their effectiveness is limited by your battery capacity. Gensets are better for large, continuous loads like air conditioning, heating, and cooking. If your 240V energy requirements exceed 2,000 watt-hours per day, a genset is probably indicated. Another option is to use an inverter/charger with a genset. The genset is operated during meal times, and other high-load times, during which it recharges the house batteries using the inverter’s battery charger. During off-peak times, the inverter takes over, silently supplying power for smaller loads.

Power Technology offers a range of inverters from 1.5kW to 80kW brands and sizes to meet your solar installation needs.

HOW BIG SHOULD MY INVERTER BE? Inverters range from tiny 100W models, good for laptops, to 4,000W models that can run electric galleys and refrigeration systems. The size you select is governed by the maximum power needed at one time or the capacity of the house battery bank. A computer (100W), TV (80W), and microwave (800W ~ 1200W) all running at the same time will need an inverter that delivers more than 1400W of continuous power. Inverters typically fall into three categories: Portable inverters, generally connect to your DC electrical system using the common “cigarette lighter socket”. These DC sockets are often restricted by

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$409 $396 $456 $440 $524 $499 $830 TBC

LiFePO4Y Batteries 40Ah 13.2V $359 60Ah 13.2V $539 100Ah 13.2V $899 200Ah 13.2V $1799 300Ah 13.2V $2689 400Ah 13.2V $3579 10 Year Conditional Warranty

CF Series Inverter Chargers 1500W 12V 60A $1870 2000W 24V 40A $2273 2500W 12V 90A $2530 3000W 24V 60A $2848 4000W 48V 40A $3376 6000W 48V 60A $5033

WE ALSO HAVE COMPETITIVELY PRICED AGM BATTERIES, WIND GENERATORS, AND OF COURSE SOLAR AND ALTERNATIVE POWER SYSTEMS Votronic Battery Monitors LCD100S 12V/24V with 100A Shunt $269 LCD200S 12V/24V with 200A Shunt $299 LCD400S 12V/24V with 400A Shunt $329 48V Versions Now Available Prices and specs subject to change without notice. Please contact us to confirm...

STUDER INVERTERS Too many to list, please ask… Inverter Only:AJ 275W 12V $453 AJ 350W 24V $490 AJ 500W 12V $689 AJ 600W 24V $689 AJ 1000W 12V $1149 AJ 1300W 24V $1149 AJ 2100W 12V $2299 AJ 2400W 24V $1889 Compact Inverter Charger:C 1600W 12V $2569 C 2600W 24V $2919 C 4000W 48V $3634 Xtender Inverter Charger:XPC 1400W 12V $2058 XTM 1500W 12V $3333 XTM 2400W 24V $3489 XTM 4000W 48V $3927 XTH 3000W 12V $4249 XTH 8000W 48V $8721

UNIT 4 / 70 FORGE ROAD SILVERDALE, AUCKLAND 0932 Ph: 09 427 4040 or 09 427 4143 Fax: 09 427 4040 Mob: 0274 905 901 sales@aasolar.co.nz sales@sunpowerplus.co.nz www.aasolar.co.nz www.sunpowerplus.co.nz 68 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

We Make Boating Easy! Victron offer a wide range of 12 / 24 / 48 Volt / Phoenix Inverters.

Simply pick up the phone and request a launching. their current rating, poor plug contact or insufficient gauge wire constricting the flow of current and contributing to DC voltage drop at the socket. Portable Inverters are instant gratification products: just plug â€™em in, and start using their modest AC outputs (typically up to 300 watts). Ideal for laptops, small lights and tools. AC appliances are plugged into the front of the inverter. Portable inverters are also excellent for family trips in the minivan or SUV. Permanent-mount inverters (400 watts or more) are hardwired directly to the battery bank. Inverters in this range usually have receptacles for appliances to plug into, but do not integrate with your boatâ€™s existing AC wiring. Some allow you to easily wire more receptacles in remote locations. Top-of-the-line models include built-in transfer switches enabling full integration with existing AC wiring. Inverter/chargers have outputs that rival small generators (2,000 to 4,000 watts) and include a powerful battery charger and associated battery monitors and remote controls. Inverter/chargers almost always include an automatic transfer switch, so that when your inverter/charger detects another source of AC power (because you plugged into shore power or started your genset) the inverter/charger shifts gears from inverting to charging batteries. If the outside source of AC goes away, it automatically switches back from battery charger to inverter. Inverter/chargers should be professionally installed because they draw a lot of amps, with the potential for dangerous shorts and electrical fires if theyâ€™re wired inadequately. They become an integral part of your boatâ€™s electrical system and can rapidly replenish battery banks in the 400-800Ah range. We find that many trawler owners are drifting away from a large diesel generator, and are instead installing a large inverter/charger for their AC loads complemented by propane ranges and DC refrigeration systems. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Wave form: inverters today generally produce one of two types of AC power: Modified Sine Wave (MSW) or Pure Sine Wave (PSW). Affordable MSW inverters are the most popular type, and work well with common appliances you are likely to use. PSW inverters are more expensive, but will run all AC loads, and are best for stereos, computers and other sensitive electronics. Portable tool chargers, light dimmers, variable speed tools, plasma screens, home theatre sound systems and certain other items may not perform as well with MSW. MSW inverters are prone to electronic noise known as harmonic distortion, which can cause disturbances in some electronic circuits. Modified sine wave may have only one step per cycle. Pure sine wave inverters, on the other hand, are extremely sophisticated and can produce AC power at or above the quality levels of shoreline power grids. A pure sine wave inverter can eliminate static lines in televisions and improve the quality of a sound system. A good pure sine wave inverter can have as many as 1,333 steps per cycle and have a total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 5%, typically around 2%. Remote controls: Being able to control, monitor at-a-glance and program your inverter from inside the cabin is an important consideration, especially when the inverter is in a hard-to-reach place. Remote panels are a â€œmusthaveâ€? for inverter chargers. Powerful surge capability: An inverter must be powerful enough to handle the â€œsurgeâ€? or starting requirements of appliances. A 125 watt TV might need 625 watts for a few seconds when starting cold. If you are using an inverter without the adequate surge capability, it wonâ€™t start the appliance.

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WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 69

INVERTOR // CHARGER FEATURE

Nomad’s compact Mobile 300w pure sine wave inverter is ideal for trailer boats.

The Xantrex ProSine1000, provides 1000 and 1800 watts of sine wave AC power from a DC source.

The PureSine II 1000 is an advance true sine wave power inverter perfect for operating appliances and equipment requiring up to 1000 watts.

Use common sense here, but always err on the side of the inverter. After all, nobody wants to have to remember to turn off the entertainment centre when using the microwave to pop the popcorn! If there is any possibility of the loads running concurrently, include both in your calculations.” Low electrical interference: High-frequency inverters frequently produce some EMI, or electromagnetic interference. This can cause problems with SSB and Ham reception and weather fax reception. However, many of the newer designs, especially true sine wave inverters, are meeting FCC Class A requirements so there is great improvement in this area. Of course, a simple solution to the problem of radio interference is to turn off your inverter.

HOW MUCH BATTERY CAPACITY WILL I NEED? Design Rule: To be effective, we recommend inverters have access to a battery bank that is 20% as large in amp-hours as the inverter size in watts. This means a 1000-watt inverter should be supported by at least 200Ah of battery capacity. The rationale behind this rule is that inverters use about 100Ah of electricity for every 1,000-watthours of use. So if a 1000 watt-hour were used at its maximum capacity for an hour, it would consume 100Ah. This would discharge a 200Ah battery by 50% if it started out fully charged. This is a recommended minimum: as usual, more battery capacity is better. Calculating electrical loads: Many appliances and electronics have their wattage on a back panel. If

TACTICS AND MASTERSTROKES POWERED BY MASTERVOLT

only the amp rating is provided, use the following conversion formula: Volts x Amps = Watts. For each appliance, its wattage, multiplied by hours run per day, divided by 10 will approximate the number of amp-hours consumed from your batteries. If an inverter is going to run a 500-watt load, it will draw around 50A DC. The math behind this rule is as follows: 500-watts AC ÷ 85% efficiency ÷12.5V = 47A DC. Keep two things in mind: 500W is not very much power (think about a small cabin heater that draws 1500W or a large hair dryer that draws 1000W); and 50A is a heck of a lot of DC current use. Not many DC loads on boats 40’ and under would draw 50A or more for more than a few minutes. Therefore, an inverter frequently becomes

ONE TOUCH. FULL CONTROL. Imagine having full control of your onboard power system with just a single touch. One touch to go boating, one touch to shut down, one touch to operate your customized onboard system. CZone by Mastervolt makes this possible. You can use a key fob or a tablet, or integrate CZone with other major electronic brands to create a clean helm. Whether out for the day cruising or facing the toughest of race conditions that Volvo Ocean Race vessels endure, the ability

Photo: Matt Knighton/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

to monitor and control your power system is at yo r n ertip

WWW.MASTERVOLT.COM/CZONE

70 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The Mastervolt Combi Ultra is a compact inverter/charger combination with a smart transfer system and separate second charger.

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the largest DC load on most boats, and may require substantial changes in the battery capacity and wiring of the boat in which it is installed. INVERTER LOCATION We recommend installing a fixed-mount inverter no more than 3m from the battery bank, to avoid a voltage drop or extra large cables. Inverters are not ignition protected, so are not safe for installation in gasoline engine compartments, but can be installed in a diesel engine space. In general, you should pick a location that is cool, dry, well ventilated and safe from explosive gasses produced by batteries, engines and fuels. HOW EFFICIENT IS IT? Inverter efficiency is a rating of how much of the DC energy gets converted into usable AC power, ranging from about 85% to 95%, with 90% being about average. Efficiency ratings often are created using a resistive load (basically something like a light bulb or electric heater). When running loads such as motors, we split efficiency into two parts, the efficiency of the inverter we mentioned above, and the efficiency of the waveform. Waveform efficiency means that most motors and many electronic appliances run better and use less power with a pure sine wave. Typically, an electric motor (such as a pump or refrigerator) will consume from 15% to 20% more power with a modified sine wave than with a true sine wave. When choosing an inverter based on efficiency, you should also consider the type of appliances you’ll most often be running. The charger in an inverter/charger presents a large, inductive load for a small generator (under 8kW). Chargers with a high “power factor” are desirable because they are less sensitive to peak voltage and need less AC power. It is usually accepted that a generator be sized at 2.5 times the power draw of the charger. Inverter/Chargers such as the Mastervolt Mass Combi and Combi Ultra have high efficiency chargers with virtually unity power factor so there is no need to oversize a generator. A WORD ON INVERTER WATTAGE RATING. Not all manufacturers use a wattage rating to describe the output capability of the inverter. Some use Volt/Amps ~ VA. To convert VA to Wattage, one must multiply the VA by the powerfactor ~ PF of the inverter. Typically, this could be 0.85 To convert say 1500VA to wattage ~ 1500VA X .85PF = 1275W. It pays to ask if your inverter is rated in VA or Watts or you may be a little short of power.

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IN THE NEXT ISSUE (MAY-JUNE) PART 3 OF OUR POWER ON BOARD SERIES LOOKS AT GENERATORS. WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 71

READY TO PERFORM 3 TONNE TOW RATING

Introducing the All-New ISUZU MU-X. With an impressive 3 tonne towing capacity (braked), The All-New ISUZU MU-X never knocks back hard work. Be it towing your boat, caravan, horse float or trailer, the MU-X does it effortlessly and with seven seats you can bring the whole family along for the ride.

72 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 73

INTEGRITY 320 EXPRESS SEDAN BOAT TEST

Text by Warren Steptoe

Small ParcelGood Thing! Each year Integrity presents new models and have gradually progressed with larger boats up to 13.5m. In 2014 however they reversed direction and came up with a comprehensively reviewed 32 footer, the 320 Express Sedan. 74 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

NTEGRITY first grabbed attention in the Antipodes with their 320 Sedan. An excellent trawler style displacement cruiser in a compact package with an even more impressive price tag, the Integrity 320 Sedan sold very well indeed. And in doing so it set the precedent for what became the Integrity line we know today. As boat builders tend to do, each progressively larger Integrity model introduced subtle changes as ideas developed and were fine-tuned. Many of them were incremental steps but one in particular stands clear as a notable step forward - when they introduced the 380 Sedan, a model with strong family lines; except that the deck in the forward half of the hull had been raised 100mm.

Our reviewer rated Integrity’s new 320 Express as the “biggest 32 footer I’ve ever seen.”

Not that any Integrity has ever been cramped or lacking cabin and saloon space, but the new ceiling height “downstairs” in the staterooms and bathroom wrought profound change. All the more remarkable for it being achieved without compromising the boat’s overall height above the water line. While this may or may not be of special interest to some potential owners, it’s a critical consideration for others. Especially people living in places such as Qld’s Gold Coast where a day out in the boat invariably involves passage beneath several low bridges. While developing the 320 Express Sedan, Integrity would have been silly to depart

too far from the theme they so successfully established with their 320 Sedan. And they haven’t. The interior and hull configurations remain essentially the same, with an appropriate updating here and there. The single exception is a new raised deck level. An obvious trickle down perhaps, but as successful as the 100mm higher deck was in the 380 Sedan, Integrity’s recent move upmarket with the 420 Aspire would be another example. In this new 10m boat, the amount of interior space that the higher deck line creates, makes it stand out amongst competitors. According to Integrity Motor Yacht’s Brett Flanagan my reaction when I

first stepped aboard is pretty typical. “Bloody hell is this a 32 footer?” I exclaimed when I first entered the saloon. “Yeah, it is, everybody says that,” Brett deadpanned. Fair enough, compared with low profile sports cruisers the same length, interior space and standing head height are what you expect to gain with a trawler style displacement cruiser. But THIS much interior space takes the gain into another dimension. SPACE PLUS PLUS Given the boat remains low enough above the waterline to get under most bridges, WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 75

INTEGRITY 320 EXPRESS SEDAN BOAT TEST

there’s no downside here. Taller folk will be particularly happy with the headroom available “downstairs.” The bow stateroom and separate toilet and shower put lots of larger boats to shame. After singing the praises of the increased downstairs headroom, the saloon/galley/ dinette area and aft cockpit lounge were always more than roomy for the two people this boat is configured for. If another couple happens to join them, the dinette converts to a full-size double bed. When stowed, the trifold table is neat and compact, leaving lots of space for entertaining. Folded out to its full size, four people can easily dine there without crowding each other. Aft in the cockpit lounge, options are available to make it a second dining area, which can be insect and weather proof if you so choose. Or you can leave it open and simply be more floor space. Unfortunately, the boat reviewed was a preproduction example, so a few details were still being finalised. One of which being that the saloon doors were to be replaced with Integrity’s familiar arrangement, where the aft of the saloon can be opened wide to integrate the saloon and cockpit lounge. Conversely this can be closed to separate them. Several Integrity owners I’ve spoken to enclosed the cockpit area in their boats 76 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

with camper covers, usually with insect screened zip open/closed windows. They also said that the (optional in this model) air conditioning from the saloon does a good job of cooling or warming the cockpit when everything’s closed up.

Integrity boats offer no stress, comfortable cruising on the smell of an oily rag. HIGH STANDARD Inside the new 320 Express Sedan follows Integrity’s established high standard of finish, designed to keep housework to a possible

A new higher deck line creates a remarkable amount of interior space, and yet doesn’t compromise the traditional “trawler” lines.

minimum. Thanks to massive windows around the saloon the upstairs areas are very well lit. Integrity always have left the final choices of fabrics and timber décor to individual clients, so it can also be as stylish or understated as you like to make it. Our review boat featured Antico flooring in stonewashed American Oak, Ultra Leather upholstery, and Caesar stone bench tops in the galley area. The teak main deck in this particular boat will be on the options list in the future. The helm is to starboard with a comfortable wide seat behind the wheel and ample dash space available if sophisticated electronics are your thing. Behind the helm seat, galley cupboards stretch all the way aft to the saloon bulkhead. Portside, the galley sink is set above more cupboards as well as a 140 litre Waeco fridge. A cooktop is incorporated into the bench top above it. When we reviewed the boat, exactly what would be on the standard inventory and what would be on the options list was still a work in progress. Some thought, for example, is being given to supplementing that galley cooktop with a portable “Weber” style barbecue/oven out in the cockpit area. Now that’s a great idea both for the food options it offers, and for the social ones.

VALUE BUYING Out on the transom, it’s a simple step aboard onto a wide swim deck from a marina pontoon or a tender. As a grandad, I’m happy to report twin transom doors placed for ease of access to the swim deck both have gates to contain those precious little folk. As a boatie who invariably carts lots of gear along on any trip, I’m also pleased to report there’s a voluminous lazarette stowage compartment beneath the cockpit lounge deck. Here in Australia it’s planned to offer this boat as a fully functional unit at an attractive price point. At the time of this review, Integrity were anticipating that would be somewhere below the $AUD300K barrier. However sure to be popular options like camper covers and a teak deck, are sure to challenge that. It will be interesting to see how many 320 Express Sedan owners succeed in containing their investment below the magic $AUD300K barrier. One signature Integrity feature that won’t go on the options list is bow access. They

ALWAYS ensure bow and side rails are high and the side deck wide enough to go forward while mooring or to handle ground tackle in complete safety. This boat displaces around 7.5 tonnes and carries another tonne of fuel and water. Although our time aboard was on calm water, if experience with previous Integrity boats is anything to go by, the 320 Express Sedan can be expected to be as surefooted under way and stable at anchor as only trawler style displacement motor cruisers can be. EASILY DRIVEN The standard power unit is a 150hp John Deere ‘4045T’ 4 cylinder turbo diesel with a 225 hp six cylinder ‘6068T’ engine from the same maker amongst the options. The preproduction boat came from the factory with a Steyr 230, which while not being a standard option on future models, did perform well. On the day, we cruised along at 7-8 knots in much the same style as every other Integrity I’ve ever been aboard.

What Brett could tell us was that the same engine delivers a top speed around 11 knots, maybe a bit more lightly loaded with a clean bottom, in their 10.36m (34ft) models. At least similar performance seems a reasonable expectation from this smaller and lighter boat. He also told me that the 150hp ‘4045T’ engine burned 7 lph powering a 10.36m Integrity en route to Papua New Guinea from the Gold Coast. This to my mind is why Integrity’s trawler style displacement cruisers are so popular. They invariably offer no stress, comfortable cruising on the smell of an oily rag and a similar lack of stress handling the boat while anchoring and docking. As I commented awhile ago, sport yachts might steal a few points off the Integrity 320 Express Sedan in the looks department; if you prefer low slung and slinky, above standing tall and proud traditional trawler styling that is. In terms of headroom and space to “live” inside though, there’s no contest!

Take a look inside

1. The bow stateroom is roomy with connected toilet and bathroom, and a remarkable amount of headroom created by a new raised deck level. 2. The port side settee can be converted to another double berth. 3. Looking through the Integrity 320 Express’ salon gives an accurate impression of the space available. 4. Mr Integrity, Brett Flanagan is passionate about the brand and treats every boat he sells as his own. 5. The entire stern area is occupied with this spacious cockpit lounge. WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 77

INTEGRITY 320 EXPRESS SEDAN BOAT TEST

Equipment Spec List Boat Design Name: Integrity 320 Express Cruiser Year Launched: 2014 Designer: Integrity Motor Yachts Builder: Integrity Motor Yachts LOA: 9.75m Beam: 3.72m Draft: 1.1m Displ (loaded): 7,500 kg Max Speed: 13 knots Cruise Speed: 8 knots Construction: Hand laid GRP Fuel Cap: 980 Litres Water Cap: 500 Litres Engine Make/HP: Steyr SE236E40 @ 230hp Drive Train: Shaft Anchor Winch: Quick Anchors: Plough Engine Controls: Morse & ZF Heads: Jabsco VHF: Raymarine Entertainment: Fusion Base Price of Boat: $AUD299,000 Price As Tested: $AUD329,000 78 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Out on the transom, itâ€™s a simple step aboard onto a wide swim deck from a marina pontoon or a tender.

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INSURANCE FEATURE // A GUIDE

Hinchinbrook after Cyclone Yasi went through….. unbelievable! 80 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE

Oh Shit!

If tradespeople or other professionals are working on your boat, are they insured for any damage they cause by accident or negligence? It’s a serious question, given how many boats are damaged or even sunk in marina accidents. Well, if the insurance companies are right, they probably aren’t. ONE DAY you get a call on your cellphone from the marina where your pride and joy is moored. Two words gut you: “She’s sinking!” You rush over to find a desolate gap in the moorings row where your 20m cruiser used to be. Only its flybridge protrudes out of the scum. The salvage bill? $35,000. The problem is, you’re not insured. But at least you know who was responsible: a contractor you had working on the engine. He had taken out a water filter but not refitted it properly, causing a slow leak. Well, at least he’ll be covered by insurance, you think. He does have a public liability policy that he says covers his work on boats. But after a call to his insurance company and a closer look at the small print he comes back with the news that his policy

covers only boats up to 10m. The result? Either you foot the repair bill or you send your lawyers into action against someone who may lack the assets to recover more than a fraction of it. Your boat can be exposed to danger even when far from the sea and your presence at the helm. Take the case of the marina operator juggling boats who shifted a boat out of the repair yard so another vessel could be moved. Unfortunately, a repair job on the boat was still underway and the shafts were drawn out. The result? A six-figure water damage bill. Apart from these specific worst-case scenarios, fire is an often unrecognised hazard of repair and maintenance work, with so much electrical gear packed into enclosed spaces with gas and inflammable substances. For example, the Nomex

used as a core for veneers burns readily when heated and gives off a highly corrosive smoke: all you need, is a source of heat on the other side of a bulkhead - from a spot of welding, for example. There has been a number of examples of boats catching fire while under construction in recent years, i.e. Graeme Hart’s MV Ulysses, only days prior to hand-over in a US yard and Star Fish at the McMullen & Wing yard while well into the fit out stages of construction. Both underwent catastrophic damage, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. Ulysses was rebuilt in Australia and Star Fish is currently well into its rebuild. Accidents happen, and with the increasing sophistication of modern pleasure craft leading to an increasing range of people needed to administer

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 81

INSURANCEFEATURE FEATURE////AAGUIDE GUIDE INSURANCE

to them - engineers, painters, cabinet makers, electricians, interior decorators and computer technicians just for starters - the opportunities for accidents are not diminishing. Which leads us to insurance. It seems that not all tradespeople, brokers and marina operators who board boats over 10m in a professional capacity are covered. LAND OR SEA COVERAGE? The increasing value of pleasure craft, in particular, must lead to some soul searching in businesses that service the marine industry. The insurance premiums paid by a contractor are driven by their staff numbers, turnover, and the maximum and average values of the boats they work on. So if the pleasure craft a company services follow the general trend by getting bigger, more electronics-based and more luxurious, its insurance costs go up. The incidence of uninsured tradesmen on boats probably owes something to the ‘helping out a mate’ and ‘give anything a go’ ethics so well known to New Zealanders and Australians. But tradesmen are not the only people who work on boats without insurance. Marina and yard operators and brokers will often move a boat on behalf of its owner without being covered for accidents. It’s

82 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

because of this that they may ask a boat owner to sign a ‘no blame’ or ‘whole harmless’ waiver, which means the operator or broker accepts no responsibility for damage to the boat, and/or

Your insurer will be your best friend in the event of a disaster. damage caused by the boat to third party property, while they are on it. These waivers are dangerous things to sign as if you’re not insured, they prevent you from suing for damages in the event of an accident. If you are

insured, signing will be in breach of your policy conditions for it means your insurer loses their right to seek recompense. Never sign one of these waivers! AREA OF EXPOSURE Another example of what insurance companies call an ‘area of exposure’ to risk, are delivery crews, such as those that return a boat after its owner has completed a month summer cruise in Fiji and flown home. It is not uncommon for a boat owner to entrust his boat to a mate of uncertain skill level, however in some cases this would void most marine polices. HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN SHOULD ALL THIS BE TO BOAT OWNERS? In general, if your boat is insured you shouldn’t have too much to worry about in financial terms, if uninsured people working on your boat cause damage to your boat or third party property. Collecting damages from them will be your insurer’s headache. However, it does pay to read the small print before signing an insurance policy. While your boat should be covered for damage regardless of who is aboard, some insurers may insert an exclusion relating to third party property damaged from or by your boat - in this case the policy may cover it if you

magic

Immerse yourself into boating It’s where the happens

A careless and uncaring workman could do serious damage to your pristine interior and cost you thousands.

are responsible, but not if someone else is. Plus, of course, you need to make sure you are operating the boat within the terms of the policy: for example not using a vessel insured as a pleasure craft for commercial benefit. If your boat isn’t insured, then all this constitutes a significant area of exposure to risk. Regardless of whether your boat is insured or not, before you let a contractor do the work aboard, ask to see their insurance coverage certificate; it will show the limits of their policy. And if you’re going off-shore bear in mind that a ship repairer’s cover should be global. If you don’t feel comfortable asking for documentation, for example if, it’s a mate helping you out, remind you how much you’ve invested in your boat. You might also bear in mind that if an uninsured tradesman on your boat damages someone else’s vessel, the owner of that vessel or their insurer will be taking aim at everyone in sight to recover costs, which will include you. TRANSPARENT COVER Insurance can be a mind-numbing subject, and it can also arouse negative emotional reactions based on the fact that the premiums cost money without giving you anything back unless you have a disaster. In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests many boat owners feel they’re safe enough without insurance in any case since they only boat in sunny, calm weather and rarely go out of sight of land. The result is that a surprising proportion of pleasure craft over 10m are uninsured. In New Zealand, it is suggested that is 35-40% and in Australia, industry experts estimate there are some 200-220,000 insured boats there of all sizes. Assuming most of Australia’s 850,000 registered vessels are trailersized, this might put the proportion of uninsured Australian luxury boats in line with New Zealand’s.

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INSURANCEFEATURE FEATURE////AAGUIDE GUIDE INSURANCE

Yard operators in hardstand areas may move a boat on behalf of its owner without being covered for accidents.

84 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Whether you choose to insure or not to insure your boat, it would be wise to take into account certain facts. First, the need to be careful who you contract to work on your boat. Second, New Zealand and Australian weather is renowned for its fickleness. Just ask the Maritime Safety Authority how many boats have been happily sunning themselves on a blue and silver day just off the coast, only to be overwhelmed by a squall that came out of nowhere. Third, storms aren’t confined to the sea. Among the casualties of the one that devastated the Lyttelton marina in 2002, was a $1 million vessel that has the dubious distinction of being the single biggest uninsured loss in New Zealand history. In February 2011, Hinchinbrook Marina was demolished by Cyclone Yasi, leaving over unprecedented carnage that saw well of 50 boats totally written off or severely damaged. Fourth, pleasure craft are jam-packed these days with all kinds of expensive goodies, both technological and decorative, and are hence vulnerable to four- or even five-figure damage from quite humble origins, such as a welding accident. Fifth, the ocean isn’t as big as it used to be. There are an estimated 500,000 pleasure craft ranging in size from superyachts to kayaks wandering around the coast of New Zealand. With no obligatory registration or licensing, the standards to which these vessels are operated, can be highly variable. The equivalent figure for Australia is perhaps about 1.4 million. The good news is that if you do get into trouble, help is more likely to be close at hand than ever before. The bad news is that collisions are a more likely cause of getting into trouble than ever before.

New New

Causing a stir at sea. Causing

a stir at sea.

Causing a stir at sea. Causing

a stir at sea.

ran

PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL Your insurer will be your best friend in the event of a disaster. Two key rules apply when buying insurance. The first rule is transparency. Just as in a marriage, communication is vital. An insurance contract is an agreement of the utmost good faith. Insurers rely on establishing the mutual trust that allows communication. With the Australasian maritime scene still small enough for word to get around concerning the seaworthiness, seamanship and trustworthiness of individual boats and owners, specialist marine insurers keep their ear close to the water and may decline business in some instances. From the boat owner’s perspective, transparency means being up-front: in the first place before signing on the dotted line; after that whenever the condition or operation of your boat changes. For example, if it’s to be taken out of the water, it pays to keep your insurer in the loop if you’re going to have work done on your boat. Some work may not be covered by your standard marine insurance policy. In particular, for major renovations, refits or extensions, a ‘contract works’ or ‘builder’s risk’ cover is needed. Make sure you’re clear with your insurer on the distinction it draws between general maintenance - such as paint jobs, a new shaft or new electronics - and major refits that need this special cover. If you’re putting on a new flying bridge and a sudden downpour ruins the electronics and carpet, MAN‘s marine engines are on the crest of the wave to success. Their superb dynamics, cultivated running and exemplary your standard marine insurance policy, may not cover it. environmental compatibility are sure to convince you. As are their impressive power ratings from 535 kW (730 hp) to 1,324insured kW (1,800 hp). They get luxury yachts planing engines fast and send theiron owners raptures. MAN’s marine are the into crest of the wave to success. Their Another area for transparency is the commercial use of boats. A vessel Australia Pty Ltd, 284 South Terrace, South Fremantle WA 6162, telephone +61 8 9335 9777 as a ‘pleasurecraft’ may not be used commercially. Insurance Seapower companies MAN‘s marine engines are on the crest of the wave to success. Their superb dynamics, cultivated running and exemplary www.seapower.com.au superb dynamics, cultivated running and exemplary environmental follow government regulations, which are strict. For example, say you run environmental compatibility are sure to convince you. As are their impressive power ratings from 535 kW (730 hp) to a beachfront hotel and the guests get free use of your boat as part of the 1,324 kW (1,800 hp). They get luxury yachts planing engines fast and send theiron owners raptures. MAN’s marine the into crest of the to success.power Their compatibility are sure toare convince you. As are wave their impressive marine engines are on the New crest ofSeapower the wave superb dynamics, cultivatedWA running and exemplary service. Does this constitute MAN‘s commercial use? Maritime Zealand isto success. Australia Pty Ltd,Their 284 South Terrace, South Fremantle 6162, telephone +61 8 9335 9777 www.seapower.com.au quite clear on this. According environmental to it, the boat is being used to enhance your compatibility are sure to convince you. As are theirsuperb impressive ratings from (730 hp) to dynamics, cultivated running and exemplary ratings frompower 535 kW (730 hp)535 to kW 1,324 kW (1,800 hp).environmental They get luxury MAN Nutzfahrzeuge business. For this reason, it won’t by They a pleasure craft insurance 1,324be kWcovered (1,800 hp). get luxury yachts planing fast and send their owners into raptures. compatibility are sure to convince you. As are their impressive power policy. On the other hand, if your boat sinks while you’re using it the to take yachts planing fastcultivated and send owners into raptures. MAN‘s marine engines are on the crest of wave atoSouth success. Their superb dynamics, exemplary Seapower Australia Pty Ltd, 284 South Terrace, Fremantle WA 6162, telephone +61running 8their 9335and 9777 client out fishing on a deal sweetener, the insurer might consider it covered environmental compatibility are sure to convince you. As are theirratings impressive ratings from (730kW hp)(1,800 to www.seapower.com.au frompower 535 kW (730 hp)535 to kW 1,324 hp). They get luxury MAN Nutzfahrzeuge if there’s no direct correlation between boat use and income. In both 1,324 kW (1,800 hp). They get luxury yachts planing fast and send their owners into raptures. cases, though, you would save yourself the stress of uncertainty by first yachts planing fast and send into raptures. Seapower Australia Pty Ltd, 284 South Terrace, South Fremantle WA 6162, telephone +61 8their 9335owners 9777 being candid with your insurer concerning how you intend using your boat.

MAN engines. Fascination in hp. in hp MAN engines. Fascination MAN engines. Fascination in hp. in hp MAN engines. Fascination

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OFFSHORE COVERAGE Transparency also smoothes blue water boating. As soon as you leave customs the rules change. An insurer can cover you worldwide with an additional premium to provide cover if you’re cruising across the Tasman, rather than shipping it. New Zealand boat owners intending to cruise in Australian waters need to be particularly aware of liability, since under Australian law you can be sued for damages and compensation if a law court decides you were responsible for someone’s injury. While New Zealand injury payouts come from a common fund subsidised by all income earners through a government department, Australians leave it up to employer-financed employee insurance schemes or the law courts. The result is that $10 million is a standard legal liability cover for pleasure craft. New Zealanders also need to be aware that Australian insurance regulations and their legal interpretations vary from state to state. Anyone crossing the Tasman, in either direction, needs to remember they are entering a different legal environment. You should find out from your broker or underwriter exactly how well your policy will stand. A good policy should cover you across the Tasman for a certain period, but if your boat is going to be domiciled there you will be better off getting a local insurance cover. Being transparent also applies to your insurance company. Every condition of

17.10.2008 10:50:40 Uh

MAN Nutzfahrzeuge

17.10.2008 10:50:40 Uh

MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Whiting Power Systems Ltd 156 Beaumont St Westhaven Whiting Power Systems Ltd Auckland, New Zealand 156 Beaumont St Ph: +64 9 358 2050 Westhaven Fax: +64 9 358 0285 Auckland, New Zealand Email: sales@whitingpower.com Ph: +64 9 358 2050 www.whitingpower.com Fax: +64 9 358 0285

17.10.2008 10:50:40 Uhr

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WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 85

INSURANCEFEATURE FEATURE////AAGUIDE GUIDE INSURANCE Storms aren’t confined to the sea. Among the casualties of the one that devastated the Lyttelton marina in 2002, was a $1 million uninsured vessel.

Locking your trailer boat with some sort of wheel clamp or towball lock can result in a discount in your insurance.

the policy must be displayed on the policy document. Provided you’re familiar with the document the law requires that you get no surprises. The onus for your being familiar, however, lies with you. Which brings us to the second rule of buying insurance.....knowing your policy. If you’re not sure about a clause, don’t guess, find out. Go through the policy with a fine tooth comb. It’s your insurer’s job to answer all your questions; it’s up to you to have them.

equipment is lower than your hull excess. Most policies exclude personal effects from the boat’s cover. Again, be sure you know what your insurer would include as ‘personal effects’. For example, how about a laptop that you use ashore but which is also part of the boat’s nav/comms system?

AREAS OF AWARENESS In choosing an insurance policy for your boat, you should be aware of the following. Some policies will insure the boat on an ‘agreed value’ basis - i.e. you and your insurer agree on the boat’s value, which is what you get in the event of a total loss. Other policies provide cover on a ‘market value’ basis - i.e. although you are paying premiums based on the boat’s new value, the sum you get in the event of total loss will be a market value, which could be considerably less. Some insurers combine the two, offering an agreed value if your boat is a total loss, and a market value if it is a partial loss. There may be clauses relating to how the tenders and toys are secured to the boat. Some policies are strict on this. If the policy uses such words as ‘securely attached’, you should find out exactly what this means. There may also be restrictions concerning the size and maximum speed of a tender that the policy will cover. The excess can be flexible, so negotiating for the lowest one you can is prudent. Also, ask for an excess that varies. The variable excesses offered by some insurers mean the excess of a claim on the

There is no more expensive insurance than a cheap insurance that does not pay a claim.

86 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Some policies will exclude cover for damage to motors, connections and electrical equipment if caused by heavy weather. If the vessel has a boat from which waterskiing takes place, you may need to extend the cover to include it. The same applies for fishing and diving gear. Fire damage won’t be covered with some

policies unless the galley has an automatic fire extinguishing system. There might be a clause that states if you hit rocks no cover is provided for the propellers, struts, rudders or shafts. Check how companies treat their no claims bonus. It is possible to get a permanent maximum no claims bonus after three years. Find out if the insurer provides extra coverage for salvage charges over and above the sum insured. In this case, if your boat requires salvage you get paid not only the sum insured but also the salvage costs, which can be significant for larger vessels. Some cheaper insurers will offer cover with very high hidden deductibles that may affect you in the event of a claim. Be wary of choosing an insurance policy on the basis of cheap premiums. There is no more expensive insurance than a cheap insurance that does not pay a claim. It is advisable to use marine specialists when buying insurance, as you can be confident the cover they provide gives minimal exposure to risk. A broker with a specialist marine division will only use underwriters they are sure provide comprehensive cover and have a full understanding of boats. It’s far easier to discuss the technical aspects of a boat with specialists than with those who look at yacht insurance as part of a general portfolio, and they will also better appreciate your needs if it becomes necessary to appoint a surveyor to handle a claim.” Your insurance is your business. Just bear in mind the dangers your boat is exposed to can often come from unexpected quarters, and from sources you can’t control.

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SMUGGLER 750 MID CABIN BOAT TEST

Wow Factor TEXT BY BARRY THOMPSON

What can I say? Unbelievable! Quite simply thatâ€™s the best adjective to describe what I thought of the new Evinrude 250 HO ETEC Gen2 / Smuggler Strata 750 Mid Cabin package. Unique, different and, above all, cool! 88 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

IBs have been around for a long time and although cabin RIBs are not that common, there are still a few brands for those that want more than a simple centre console for protection. Smuggler have been building their Strata RIB range for 10 years now and have progressively increased the size of them, from tenders to sport boats and more recently adapting the Sealegs technology to their larger range. Until now the boats have almost been 100% centre console, but with the release of the Strata 750 Mid Cabin thatâ€™s all changed. David Pringle, the MD of Smuggler Marine, says that the boat is the result of customer feedback.

Wow, what a package!

We had clients that loved our boats, but were looking for something that afforded better allweather protection, be it rain and wind or the harsh sun. “While the centre console with full wrap around clears went a long way to addressing those needs, there were still those that wanted more, so we set about looking at a totally new cabin design that incorporated all those wants”, says David. One aspect was for a toilet, the other to still have easy access forward, that was more than a precarious walk along the side tubes and a generous size bow cockpit suitable for fishing

as well as a place to sit and enjoy the journey. The result is the mid cabin design, which effectively is one main large grp mould that incorporates the forward seating, helm, enclosed space for the head and side decks. “We wanted a boat that offered more than just all-weather protection and I think we have achieved it with the 750 Mid Cabin”, says David. The Mid Cabin is available in two models both based on the same well proven ultra deep vee Smuggler hull. The 750 is a conventional deep vee monohull and the 770 is the Sealegs adaptation. Both are single, or twin outboard

powered. The only difference between the two is the 770 has the addition of three sets of wheels and hydraulics, more knobs and controls on the dash and a generator tucked away inside the mid cabin. Unfortunately that means there’s no room for the head, so it’s back to the ‘bucket & chuck it’ system. The bonus is, however, that the generator doesn’t take up space in the cockpit, leaving it free and open, something that has not been possible on previous models. Our test boat was the first out of the mould and came with the optional soft top bimini with clears on three sides. There is an optional WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 89

SMUGGLER 750 MID CABIN BOAT TEST

grp hardtop that follows the same profile of the custom made Sandbrook windscreen and with a glass front panel you can also have the benefit of a windscreen wiper. SPACIOUS BOW “We spent sometime making sure we got the bow design right as we wanted to make it multi-functional and practical,” David points out. The 750 Mid Cabin uses the same through hull ‘hidden’ auto anchoring system with a deep anchor locker, Lewmar V700 winch and pop up fairlead all very neatly recessed out of sight under the front sun pad. If you do need to get access to the anchor locker, it’s simply a matter of lifting the squabs. Moulded into the mid cabin is a double forward facing seat with a built-in chilly/isky bin. The high profile tubes and uninterrupted viewing from the helm make this a safe area for kids when underway. If you are into soft baiting, then there’s space for two fisherman and the raised forward sun pad doubles up as a casting deck. Our test boat had Railblaza rod holders mounted either side. There’s also a massive wet locker under the sole, which David says is the ideal place to stow the dive bags. What I liked were the moulded, wide flat side decks that provide easy and secure access to and from the cockpit. Smuggler has even gone to the trouble of adding extra steps either end in the deck mould and another glued onto the side tube. Handholds come from the bimini and rocket launcher, although with a solid hardtop there is the option of a fixed handrail. ROOM TO SIT When designing the cabin, David says that while the head (toilet) was a prerequisite, he 90 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

was conscious not to spoil the low profile of the cabin lines by adding too much height. While access through the Cule hatch is not generous, once you are inside, there is ample sitting headroom. The rest of the space in the cabin is used for dry storage, batteries and the Marinco battery switches. Nice and easy to reach through a large drop down hatch. Storage outside in the helm area is provided in a lockable glovebox and side lockers, so there is plenty of spaces for keys, cell phone and sunnies. Smuggler have certainly put a lot of thought into the design of the dash, with the carbon fibre finished display large enough for not only a couple of 12” MFD screens and all the extra coms and electronics people seem to load aboard a boat these days, but also for the extra controls and requirements of the Sealegs version. Our dash had a Lowrance HDS9 MFD and an Evinrude Icon Touch 7 CTS display, with a Fusion Bluetooth head, Cobra VHF and Lectrotab indicator alongside. There was still plenty of room for more. Evinrude’s Icon Touch display is functional and very easy to use, providing all the information you need while out on the water. Everything from the gauges to the throttle has been completely redesigned to give you better command of your Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine. The self-draining cockpit is well designed for fishing or general cruising, with plenty of workable space. If you are into fishing, then the centrally mounted Manta bait board is at a nice height and comes with three rod holders. There’s also a couple more rod holders in the aft deck as well as a six pack on the rocket launcher.

The Smuggler Strata Mid Cabin 750 breaks new ground when it comes to cabin RIBs.

Standard seating at the helm is a large moulded unit, which doubles as dive bottle storage or simply as another massive storage space. There is also the option of a fridge unit, or small electric hob and Smuggler will build the unit to any height to make it more suitable to an owner’s requirements. The rear bolster cushion on the helm seat swings fore/aft and there are stainless footrests either side. You can have a variety of seating layouts such as single pedestals or side cantilevered seats. The choice is yours. Across the transom, there are a pair of jump seats with a live bait tank under the port cushion and extra storage to starboard. In the centre of the sole is another cavernous wet locker. The Manta bait board between the seats can be removed and replaced with a ski pole, with an Icey Tek bin seat providing extra seating in our boat. The standard boat has seating for four in the cockpit and two forward in the open bow area. Over the transom, you’ll find a couple of small teak covered aft decks with a Manta drop down ladder to port. SILENT & DEADLY With over 30 Strata 750/770 RIBs built, David and his team at Smuggler Marine have got a fair idea of how to set up a boat and from the start it was obvious they had it right on the new version. Running a 21” three blade s/s Viper propeller, the high-performance Evinrude 250 HO ETEC Gen2 pushed the Strata 750 to an impressive 52.5 knots (60.5mph). I would expect that the standard 250 ETEC Gen2 would be marginally slower although 50 knots should be still achievable. What impressed me was the power of the

high-tech, direct-injected two-stroke design. The natural two-stroke advantage paired with direct injection and the combustion system of the engine means amazing torque, making your holeshot more like a slingshot. Idle to 6000 rpm in 10 seconds. Impressive! The new G2 are based on a 74 deg V6, 3.4 litre engine that weighs in at 244 kg. The Evinrude ETEC 250 by comparison uses a 90 deg, 3.4 litre powerhead and weighs in 14 kg less. Both run the same lower unit gear ratio of 1.85:1. Overall through the entire rpm range the Gen2 engine is quiet and smooth. Although the Evinrude E-TEC G2 features a new, fully integrated i-Trim, which automatically provides the most optimal trim, David didn’t have it fitted and like me prefers to trim a boat himself rather than be told what to do by a computer. Evinrude’s Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) makes driving the boat an effortless experience with zero feedback at the Seastar helm. Throttle controls are Evinrude’s Icon II shift with a separate rpm control that allows you to increase or decrease the rpm by 50

rpm at a time. Again smooth as silk and responsive. Test conditions were light to moderate on Auckland Harbour, but that was fine as I already know and have reported previously on just how good this hull is in the moderate to rough water. Dry, responsive and predictable. Probably the best riding trailer boat of its size in the country. Evinrude claim the PurePower Combustion design of an Evinrude E-TEC G2 is so clean burning that it’s showing 75% fewer regulated emissions than competitive four-strokes, ensuring every drop is burned, not wasted. What I can say, is the engine I tested, which was the very first one in the country was very very efficient. Across the mid range, the fuel burn was especially good and even at the top end of the rpm range the results were impressive. At 5000 rpm, the fuel gauge was showing 66.5 lph @ 46.5 knots, which gave a range of around 200nm. Drop that back to 4000 rpm @ 32.5 knots and the fuel use was only 35 lph and the range increased to 240nm. At the other end of the range at trolling

speeds, the Gen2 uses under three lph and the range is around 500nm. And then there’s the colour. You can choose from five side panel colours, five top and front panel colours, and fourteen accent colours to design an engine to perfectly match your boat. You can be loud like the red panels on our engine that stood out and made a statement, or be more sedate with black and white to match the boat. EYE CATCHER The Smuggler Strata Mid Cabin 750 breaks new ground when it comes to cabin RIBs and opens a new market for Smuggler Marine, which was previously unattainable with the centre console design. The new boat offers a fresh look and comes with a host of cool features that have been intelligently thought and executed. Nothing is out of place and the practical layout should find wide appeal, no matter what your style of boating is. Plus when you package that with the hottest new outboard on the planet, the Evinrude ETEC Gen2, you can’t go wrong.

Take a look around

1. Plenty of space on the dash for large MFDs. 2/2A. The open bow is great for fishing. The squabs removed show the ‘hidden’ anchor system. 3. The helm seat doubles as a great dive bottle storage locker. 4. The transom area is full of storage options. 5/5A. Access from cockpit to cabin is made easy with these moulded side decks and tube steps WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 91

SMUGGLER 750 MID CABIN BOAT TEST

Technical Specifications

Model: Priced From: Price as tested: Type: Construction: LOA: Beam: Deadrise: Height on trailer: Trailerable weight: Power: Propeller: Power options: Fuel capacity: Trailer:

Smuggler Strata 750 $NZ101,500 $NZ136,860 Mid Cabin GRP/Hypalon 7.50m 2.80m 27 deg 2.80m 1900 kgs Evinrude 250 HO ETEC Gen2 21â€? Viper 150-300hp 300 litres DMW

Notable Standard Items on Test Boat 5yr hull warranty, 6yr tube warranty, teak trim & brass keel strip, bilge pump, lighting, compass, Lectrotabs, boarding ladder. Notable Options on Test Boat Lewmar V700, Fusion stereo, Live bait tank, Lowrance HDS9, Dive bottle storage, Bimini with clears. 92 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The mid cabin layout offers maximum protection and use of space.

Fuel & Performance Data

SMUGGLER STRATA 750/EVINRUDE 250 HO ETEC GEN2 Fuel capacity: 300 litres RPM

KNOTS

L/H

L/NM

RANGE (NM)

500

2.0

1.1

0.6

490

750

3.0

1.5

0.4

540

1000

4.5

2.5

0.6

480

1500

6.0

0.8

320

2000

9.5

8.5

0.9

300

2500

15.0

0.9

280

3000

21.5

20.5

1.0

280

3500

27.0

1.0

270

4000

32.5

1.1

240

4500

37.5

41.5

1.2

220

5000

41.5

53.5

1.3

200

5500

46.5

66.5

1.5

180

6000

50.0

1.7

150

6150

52.5

1.7

150

Manufacturer: Smuggler Marine, 7 Enterprise Drive, Henderson, New Zealand Ph +64 9 838 9024 / E: david@smuggler.co.nz / W: www.smuggler.co.nz

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HELM SEATS // A GUIDE

A SURE FIT Having the right helm seat can make the difference between a comfortable or uncomfortable trip, be it in a 35m cruiser or a 6m trailer boat. David Palmer looks at some of the options.

94 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

A helm seat is a combination of comfort and style.

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 95

HELM SEATS // A GUIDE

A pair of Navigator helm seats from Sydney based Navigator Marine, as fitted to this Riviera 515, provide the ultimate in comfort and style.

Engineered to thrive in the harshest of conditions, and keep you in utmost comfort. When choosing a Navigator you know you are buying the best. Over 14 years of history without a single breakage. Navigator Helm Seats have been tested, proven & fitted by the best boat builders in the world. Riviera, VMR NSW, NSW Police, Australian Navy, Assegai and many more...

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Engel 40 Litre Combi Fridge / Freezer Engel’s latest addition

This new model is a new combination Fridge and Freezer, with added features including the removable internal divider and thermostatically controlled fan. The MT45FCP gives three versatile configurations; Freezer 16 litres / Fridge 23 Litres

option 1

(total 39 Litres) option 2

Freezer 22Litres / Fridge 17 litres (total 39 Litres) option 3

Refrigerator Only (Divider removed total 40 Litres)

Three-Year Warranty

Eastsun make a wide range of trailer boat helm chairs.

This model also includes the user-friendly digital control with LED display, along with built in battery monitor. Supplied with both cords, the 12 volt cord that plugs straight into your vehicle’s cigarette socket and the 240 volt lead with three pin plug, (Auto switching).

STRESS & STRAIN A lounge chair or car seat will cope with a well-nourished 120kg without any problem, but they aren’t subject to the kind of pitching and rolling movements, and hence accelerations, which a helm chair is. There are chairs and pedestals made for trailer boats and those made for bigger boats. There are big differences in cost, construction and function

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THE DAYS OF using a converted seat from a luxury 4WD for your helm chair have long gone. Today’s helm seats are a science in themselves, an art form in technology and aesthetics, rivalled only by the very latest in first-class airline seats. No longer are they just a place to sit. They are a command station, a place where you can control the boat’s every motion and do it in the ultimate of comfort. Fighter pilots used to have a theory regarding UK and US aircraft design philosophies. British aircraft manufacturers, they said, would design the loveliest, most streamlined fighter plane you could imagine. Then remember the thing needed a pilot, and cut a hole in it hardly big enough to fit a midget, fit a bent girder for a seat, and call this the cockpit. US manufacturers, on the other hand, would start by designing an armchair, with cushions, recliner mechanism and space enough for a Chicago Bulls player to stretch his legs . . . then design the fighter plane around it. The UK fighter design philosophy lives on among boat owners, say some of the suppliers of helm chairs. Or does it? It used to be that the helm chair was the last thing a lot of boat owners wanted to spend money on, but to some degree that has changed. While production boat builders tend to offer a more basic, yet still highly functional chair, some custom boat builders have found discerning owners are prepared to pay a little extra for a more technical chair. Unfortunately, the selection of helm chairs for a boat is often left to the last minute after the budget has been blown, so the cheapest option is selected. When buying a car, one of the first things we often do is try it on for size by sitting in the driver’s seat. Yet how many of us buy a boat without really looking long and hard at the helm seat and it’s not until you are driving out of the marina that you discover you don’t like the helm seat. You and your helm seat are going to have a close relationship. So you’d better make sure you fit together. Any boat from about 10m upwards should have a purpose designed helm seat on it for safety, comfort and good looks. When installing the helm seat there is often limited room and the last place to be given serious thought, and often a helm seat is installed with little or no thought given to comfort, seat recline, leg support or seat adjustment. A helm seat is often installed because it fits. The value of having the right seat is paramount for both comfort and style.

PPB0714

For more information visit:

www.engelnewzealand.co.nz

0800 128 658 (0800 12 Volt) www.batterydirect.co.nz WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 97

HELM SEATS // A GUIDE The Vetus King flip up seat also comes with a head rest.

MTI’s Voyager Helm chair includes gas assist recline, lift up arms rests and a stainless steel frame.

Recaro are race bred seats that are fitted by some of the world’s leading superyacht builders.

A Hi Tech Plastics 5000 Seat on Softrider pedestal complete with footrest is ideal for mid range and larger trailer boats.

Besenzoni make a wide range of luxury chairs, including these President models.

This Eastsun bucket seat with a bolster option, allows you to sit or stand to drive.

and some good reasons why these differences exist. For this reason, it is important not to use a trailer boat seat on any flybridge cruiser or bigger boat. Interestingly, the higher above the water, the more stress placed on the chair. This is because the acceleration that a helm chair is subjected to in a superyacht can be far greater than that on your average small cruiser, when the vessels are having accelerations forced on them by wave action. A pitching boat is a bit like a seesaw. On a small boat, the helm chair will be close to the waterline, probably quite central, and so not far from the pivot point. But on a big planing motor yacht the flybridge will be three metres or more above the pivot point; furthermore, the helm chair will likely be raised further from its pedestal than on small boats since the skippers of larger vessels need to sit higher to see over the bow. So when that big boat starts pitching, the helm chair will be hurled to and fro across a considerable arc. If a 120kg body is sitting on it, the stresses on the chair and its pedestal will be prodigious. Likewise, when a large yacht heels, the helm chair gets swung across a larger lateral arc than for a small sailboat. It obviously makes sense to have a helm chair that is comfortable, but the unique motion characteristics of different boats – and of all boats as opposed to houses, trucks and cars – takes user comfort beyond mere convenience to a serious operational issue. Comfort, in fact, is a part of safety. A helm chair has to hold you in a good posture, or you could end up with back problems after years of being banged around. Your helm chair also needs to be tight fitting. If you haven’t got armrests, or the chair doesn’t hold you firmly, your body will be subjected to even greater inertia forces as you are tossed about in your chair as you fight to stay seated. Boat seats don’t have seat belts to hold you

98 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

in, so the support needs to be designed into the whole chair and foams concept, creating comfort and support. A strong purpose-built helm chair is essential for big, fast, boats. Everyone aboard needs to be seated when you’re going full speed. These boats

You and your helm seat are going to have a close relationship. So you’d better make sure you fit together. give a smooth ride – until you chop the throttle. The deceleration forces will not only threaten to bowl over anyone standing, but will put serious stresses on the chairs.” The moulded plastic chairs or converted vehicle seats that may be adequate for small boats aren’t designed to handle these forces. And even if they

do survive the stresses of large boat cruising, there’s no guarantee your back will survive the stresses of using them.. If you’re in the market for a helm chair, the following are key factors to consider. The Pedestal The helm chair and its pedestal are two separate components. You can purchase them together as a unit from one manufacturer, or because the interfaces between them come in standard sizes, you can mix and match chairs and pedestals from different suppliers. Be aware that there is a big difference between pedestals made for trailer boats and those made for flybridge cruisers and big yachts. In particular, aluminium pedestals made for these two markets vary considerably in strength, function, design, corrosion resistance, and cosmetics and, of course, price. Some chairs have a completely integral pedestal with hidden structure, colour matched to the chair covering. The first point to consider about separate pedestals – and also external chair frames – is whether you want them in stainless steel or aluminium. Each material has one obvious advantage. The mirror finish of stainless steel looks very fine on the bridge, but it comes at a cost: a luxury helm chair made of aluminium can be less expensive. Also, some décor designs require the colour of good quality anodised aluminium. But there are other fewer obvious factors to take into account. Aluminium is not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel, however if the pedestal is constructed of highquality aluminium and it is inside your boat, then it may not be an issue. Also because it is a softer metal, aluminium swivels can get sloppy with wear and tear over time. However, in hardware properly

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 99

HELM SEATS // A GUIDE Alphatron’s Multicommand helm seat is the latest in high-tec seating.

Stidd helm seats are found on many of the world’s better known motor yachts, such as the Elandra 58.

MTI’s Voyager low back twin helm seat is part of an exclusive range designed using the latest materials to bring you a seat that is durable, comfortable and stylish.

A King and Queen complete with 3000 Seat from Hi Tech Plastics has the option of swivels and sliders.

made, with nylon bushes typically used between the two opposing metals, this problem can be almost eliminated. The main advantage stainless steel has, is the style and it should be stronger. However be warned there is some very poor quality stainless on the market that may look good, but lacks the right qualities of a quality stainless product. If you’re going to spend an extra million dollars on a good looking boat, you might as well spend an extra thousand dollars and get a shiny chair to go with it. Whatever the relative merits of stainless steel and aluminium intended for marine use, corrosion will inevitably be a factor in any metal chair designed for use on land that gets transplanted to a boat. A common feature now is gas-filled pedestals. There are two types. The springy-bouncy that are generally only for trailer boats and the gas assisted - where the gas stay acts to assist adjustment of the chair to the right height and is then locked off solid. A pedestal just bolts the chair to the deck, but there are different kinds of pedestals to suit different options. Pedestals can be made higher to elevate the chair, or with a longer floor plate for added strength. Pedestals can also be adapted to fit electric floor sliders that range up to 1,600mm long; an option typically used to shift a helm chair between a control station and social environment. THE CHAIR Snugness is a big issue here: first in the sense that the chair needs to be a snug fit for whoever is using it; and second because it may have to fit a snug space. One of the key things in a helm chair is the slider, more so than the elevation since you’re likely to use it more often. The slider moves the chair forward or back on its pedestal, the usual maximum distance being between 100 and 250mm. A lot of skippers prefer to stand when docking or in rough weather,

and you need a slider or fold-up chair to do that. The slider is also useful for access, especially on cramped lower bridges when docking big boats. The typical swinging room for a big helm chair is 815mm, and for some workstations you need a slider to be able to swing the chair around so you can sit in it. A footrest is an essential accessory for a chair mounted on an elevated pedestal unless you want your lower legs dangling like a baby’s on a high chair. Here you have the option of the footrest attached to the chair or the pedestal. Make sure your swivel chair is lockable. Otherwise the boat will turn one way, the chair will swing the other, and you’ll risk a wrenched spine as you twist to stay on the controls just as the boat rams into a wave. The sliding system is crucial to give the ability to sit comfortably in the steering position and can slide far enough back to stand comfortably at the helm. Another type of seat – the folding bolster seat, can give one step better access than a slider. This is a seat on which the front half of the seat cushion folds up and creates an access space or a bolster that a skipper can stand and lean against for stability. Most of the helm chair developments in recent years have involved the contours and plushness of the chair. You can adjust the tilts and angles of incidence of the seat cushion, backrest and headrest. Some seat backs now have horizontal rows of bolsters with different degrees of compressibility to suit the different parts of your back. You can get helm chairs with lumbar support, electric heating, cooling and a vibrator that works at different speeds for different parts of your body. As more and more people are doing long distance cruising, you need a seat that you will be able to sit in for long periods and still feel refreshed at the end of a journey. It is important that you are held in tight and feel relaxed. If you need to tighten your abs to sit properly, then it is the wrong seat.

100 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

The fabric choice is also important as this is where you will spend most of your time. You need to make sure that the fabric is long lasting and can breathe. The worst thing in the world is arriving in port all hot and flustered because you have been sweating in a seat for the past 24 hours. Always try and get something that not only feels great, but can also breathe. A lot of people were putting on real leather, but more and more people are now moving towards Ultraleather as it is built for the harsh marine environment, is longer lasting, a lot easier to clean and keep clean, breathes, and does not get hot like a lot of other materials. The worst thing is getting back into a hot seat after a day out on the boat. HOW MUCH? Cost is another important factor. Just because it is the cheapest or most expensive seat on the market doesn’t mean that it is right for you. Helm chairs vary in price considerably – it just depends on what you want. $3-5,000 will get you a good one that won’t look out of place on any boat. $12-25,000 will get you an all-electric chair with enough style to be an adornment to any super yacht and enough features to make any skipper happy in his work. And if you really want to go for the ultimate in helm seats and you have a spare $25k to $40k to spend, a custom made helm chair that will put the boat controls at your fingertips, mounted in the armrests is available. This even includes a toggle for steering. These aren’t common, though, perhaps because most boaters are romantic enough to picture themselves standing manfully at a helm. While in some cases you may find yourself paying more for a prestigious name than for features, a good quality helm chair is not just an aesthetic asset, but also an important safety feature and an integral aspect of controlling the boat. Ultimately, you need to be comfortable and that’s where the right choice of seat is so important.

Gilbert Marine Ltd

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Harrier - a beautiful S&S designed classic motoryacht, presented in excellent condition. Twin Yanmars, genset, stabs, full electronics package, a stunning interior fitout, recent repaint. new dinghy, davit and jetski. First time available in many years. Asking NZD$1.1m

SEA CLIPPER

EXPLORER ODYSSEY 52

Our original 2005 demonstrator is available, single 370 Cummins and bow thrusters, teak interior 2 dble cabins, good electronics inc sat TV and freshly groomed. Retiring vendors ask $350,000

New release Explorer Odyssey 52 A New Highly spec’ed long range cruiser. 16m and 38T John Deere and Onan genset, full Wesmar zero spd stabs and thrusters package, 2 or 3 cabin layouts Only NZD$1.85m FOB Shanghai, China.

EXPLORER 46

6 sisterships already in NZ, this classic is a great coastal cruiser. 230 QSB. Many options available from $585,000. NOW AVAILABLE WITH HARDTOP FLYBRIDGE.

13.9m LOA, single or twins. A big volume semi disp with covered or open side deck options like her big sister. From NZD$995,000 ex electronics.

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EXPLORER 58

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Our 15.8m loa Sedan flybridge, twin 315 Yanmar, comprehensive std fitout . $1.15m

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our new pilothouse 50 #2 under construction for Our new 58, a stunning boat, #1 & #2 under construction E62 pilothouse, a big volume 62, big aft deck many options Australian buyers, single or twins , huge master stateroom now..from $2.050m available from $2.20m and guest cabins. All new boat. also available as a 46’

email: phil@gilbertmarine.co.nz

View: www.yachtworld.com/gilbertmarinenz or www.explorermotoryachts.com Ph (0274) 923 374 or 09 426 5895 • Skype: philgilmar • PO Box 295, Orewa

FYRAN 660 BOAT TEST

New & Improved Fyran continues to upgrade and enhance their range of models that are setting new standards for this iconic Kiwi boat builder. Barry Thompson spent a day checking out the fishing aspects of the latest Fyran 660 hardtop. 102 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

HEN Nick Herd, Production Manager for Fyran Boats, asked me about doing a review on the new Fyran 660 Hardtop he suggested that we should make it a fishing trip, as thatâ€™s the target market for the boat. No argument from me, although recently I have been finding the snapper fishing around Auckland a little lean. Plenty of fish but all undersize or just legal. Not that that would ever stop me from a day on the water. Fyran have come up with something a little different with the 660 Hardtop, which sets it apart from anything they have done before. They have taken a novel approach to the foredeck and hardtop design and in so doing maximised the

The Honda 135 pushed the 660 Hardtop to over 35 knots.

space available internally. This is also the first Fyran hardtop in about ten years, to come with an all alloy roof, as opposed to previous models that featured GRP hardtops on alloy frames. The full wrap-around window treatment is fresh and modern and, above all, the finish and presentation of the boat are to a very high standard. Fyran is on a mission. A mission of achieving the highest quality of finish, construction and style. “We want to put the Fyran name right back on the top of the list when it comes to quality, so we are doing everything we can to achieve that, right from the way we build the boats, to how we fit them out”, says Nick.

His passion for the Fyran brand is reflected in every aspect of design, construction and presentation. A lot of the construction techniques used in the new 550 that was released in 2014 have been carried over to the 660. Interestingly, the 660 Hardtop, like many of the new Fyran’s, was clear coated with Nano Clear by TransVisual in Auckland. This process not only protects the alloy, but it presents an almost paint-like finish to the unpainted areas. Nick says that painting hulls are now secondary to vinyl wrapping, is less expensive to apply and incredibly tough and durable. It also allows you to personalise your boat with some cool hull graphics. Another

benefit is it makes the boat so easy to wash after a day on the saltwater. FOR REAL FISHOS If you are serious about marketing a boat as a fishing platform, then you need to make sure that everything about that boat is targeted to the fishing enthusiast. This goes right from the height of the coamings, depth of the toe kicks, to the design of the bait station and the working size of the cockpit. So when Fyran looked at a total redesign of their 635/650, they effectively started with the same wellproven hull, added a little more rake on the bow, extended the gull-wing profile, changed WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 103

FYRAN 660 BOAT TEST An impressive boat from any angle.

the shape and size of the pod, and then took a clean sheet of paper to everything above the waterline. The result is a genuinely fisherman friendly boat, which comes standard with everything you need in a fishing boat, but also with the ability to add plenty of options to make it even better. So it was only natural, that for the boat test, we went fishing and I got to experience the fishability of the layout. Prior to leaving the ramp at Gulf Harbour, Auckland, the first task was to put the rods in the rocket launcher. Not a difficult task you say, but if you are vertically challenged, it can be a bitch reaching up to mount the rods. What Fyran have done is added a ‘buddy’ seat behind the two pedestal seats that are ideal to stand on to gain some altitude when dropping the rods into the rod mounting tubes. Then 104 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

there’s also the dedicated steps built into the side decks, which are not only ideal when having to access the foredeck, but also again give you a lot more height when reaching above. The weather conditions on Auckland Harbour were light to moderate on the cruise out to the back of Tiri Tiri Matangi Island. I had been there a few days prior and although we only brought back a few small snapper, I had lost a fight with a reasonable size kinghie, so had some unfinished business. Next great fishing accessory has to be a good size MFD and the 660 came with the latest 12” Simrad. Nice size screen, easy to read and quickly helped me position the boat on the edge of the 20m line just north of the lighthouse. Fish sign was not good, but I decided I knew better. Yeah right! Plenty of fish but all undersized and my kinghie had probably long since departed.

We had three aboard and could easily have had more in the 3m long cockpit. This is a boat that has a cockpit big enough for 4-6 anglers. I liked the stability of the boat at rest, which was often tested as we moved around the cockpit. Fyran have used a very similar ‘new’ transom as on the 550, with a central bait station that is multi-functional. The base is a kill tank that comes standard as a live bait tank, complete with a viewing window and the top is the bait board. The thick kauri board is flanked by pockets for tackle that you might need in a hurry and don’t want to go searching through your tackle box. If you find the board too low, it’s designed so that it can be folded up by another 150mm. This can only be done when the outboard is down, so you need to remember to fold it back down when tilting the engine.

I found the coaming height at 580-600mm was perfect for me for fishing and the 340mm wide side decks great to sit on. Fyran have added their touch by incorporating a handrail running full length of the coaming. This is recessed and flush with the deck so it doesn’t break the line or usability of the side deck. It is also a great place to tie lines or fenders. I brought along a large Engel fishbin full of bait and while we left this on the cockpit sole, there was provision to stow it under the starboard side transom walkthrough. The 660 Hardtop has twin walk-throughs with optional drop in washboards. They double as extra seating and provide easy and wide access through to both sides of the boarding platforms and the drop down alloy T-bar ladder. SEATING OPTIONS There is a variety of seating options available, such as Softrider pedestals and king/queens, but as this was the fishing version the seat option was basic. Twin fixed pedestal seats with flat alloy ‘buddy’seats hinged off the rear. The fold away buddy seats, says Nick, “are work in progress” and still needed some refinement. The idea was to not encroach into the cockpit, yet still provide adequate and comfortable seating for two under the 2.9m high hardtop. Interestingly the all alloy hardtop is glued and screwed to the cabin top, which isolates it from the main hull and reduces vibration and any noise. 5mm toughened glass is used

and there is provision for a windscreen wiper. A lack of heavy forward mullions means visibility is not impeded. Personally I like sliders so I can position the seat base where it best suits me. However in saying that, the driving position was great, the large dash nicely positioned for direct eye contact and the controls came easily to hand. Fully lined lockers either side provide space for keys, phones, wallets, etc. Storage trays either side run full length of the cockpit and is a handy place to stow the rods. An underfloor wet storage locker is easily access with hatches that fold 180 deg, so no problem dropping gear in. Overall a great and very practical fishing cockpit that works as it should. Fyran describes their new foredeck styling as a ‘step-around’, which incorporates a step either side in the coamings. This has allowed for maximum space in the cabin and yet at the same time giving accessibility around the hardtop. The fabric lined cabin is very traditional, with twin 1.8m berths, a central infill squab to make a massive double and provision forward for a head. EASILY DRIVEN I would have thought that a boat this size would require a minimum of 150hp to perform at its best, but not so. While our test engine was a Honda BF135, Nick says they are rating the boat as low as 115hp and right through to 200hp.

I was surprised at the top speed with the Honda BF135 was 35.4 knots (40.7 mph) and impressed with the fuel consumption of 45 lph. For the run across to Tiri, I found around 4000 rpm @ 23 knots (26.5 mph) gave a comfortable ride and certainly an economical one at 18.6 lph. On the return trip, the wind had got up and the white capped waves followed us all the way home. I did give the boat full throttle in the following sea and it ran well. The hull was quiet, easily driven and predictable. A little tab was required to counteract the breeze, but no more than you would expect from any hardtop. I am not sure what the ride would be like in a heavy sea, being 17 deg deadrise at the transom. I have a trip planned on the 660 Hardtop to White Island sometime soon so I will let you know after that. COMBO PACKAGE The Fyran 660 Hardtop is designed as a combo package. It’s a fishing boat that you can still use as a family day boat or an overnighter. It has a big cockpit for a boat this size, ample enough space under the hardtop and a more than adequate cabin. Next new model to be released from Fyran will be the 610, which will have a similar appearance to the 660, but with a smaller cockpit and cabin. Fyran is on target for the revamp of their entire range and with the 660 Hardtop, they are certainly showing they are heading in the right direction.

Take a look around

1. Large boarding platforms either side are easily accessed from the cockpit. 2. The central bait station comes standard with a live-bait tank and kauri boat board. 3. Height under the all alloy hardtop is impressive. 4. The cabin has twin 1.8m berths, provision for a head and plenty of storage options. 5. Fyran describes their new foredeck styling as a ‘step-around’. 6. The dash is well positioned with everything in the right place. WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 105

FYRAN 660 BOAT TEST A great fishing cockpit with plenty of space.

Technical Specifications Model: Priced from: Price as tested: Type: Construction: LOA: Beam: Deadrise:

Fyran 660 HT $NZ 78,955 $NZ 95,489 Hardtop Alloy 5mm/4mm 6.875m 2.43m 17 deg

Fuel & Performance Data Height on trailer: Trailerable weight: Power: Propeller: Power options: Fuel capacity: Trailer:

2.80m 1750kgs Honda BF 135 17â€? 3 bld SS Solas 115-200hp 180 litres Hoskings

Notable Standard Items on Test Boat Buddy seats, full length cockpit grab rails, dual walkthrough, Live Bait tank.

FYRAN 660HT / HONDA BF135 Fuel capacity: 180 litres RPM

KNOTS

L/H

L/NM

RANGE (NM)

1000

4.8

2.1

0.44

360

1500

6.2

3.9

0.60

250

2000

7.6

4.8

0.64

250

2500

9.1

8.1

0.90

180

3000

12.9

10.8

0.84

190

3500

18.4

13.2

0.72

220

Notable Options on Test Boat Maxwell RC6 winch, Forward cabin Non-Skid, Lenco trim tabs, Nano clear, Fusion stereo, Simrad GPS/fishfinder, Garmin engine management guarge, ICOM VHF.

4000

23.2

18.6

0.81

200

4500

27.3

24.9

0.92

170

5000

30.2

34.

1.20

130

Manufacturer: Fyran Boats Ltd, 11 Reg Savory Place | East Tamaki, Auckland, Ph+64 9 273 1700 | E sales@fyran.co.nz | W www.fyran.co.nz

5500

33.0

43.8

1.40

110

5900

35.4

45.

1.30

120

106 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

New Global Headquarters at

Hudson Bay Series from $189,000 28 | 32 | 34 | 39 | 50

Heritage Series from $449,000 36 | 40

Cordova Series from $875,000 45 | 48 | 60

Explorer Series from $1,250,000 50 | 58

Brett Thurley +61(0)419 788 000 +617 5519 4019 brett@clippermotoryachts.com.au Gold Coast City Marina, 76-84 Waterway Dr, Coomera QLD Australia 4209

www.clippermotoryachts.com.au

The recently released Tristram 701 Vanquish has been a huge success.

COMPANY PROFILE TRISTRAM MARINE

In Pursuit of Perfection Freddy Foote talks to the Fink family about their success and their dedicated and totally focused approach to the market.

108 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Kingsley and Lance Fink are passionate about their brand.

At this point of the interview, Fink takes a phone call to confirm the order for a 741 Offshore. IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD of the Tristram Marine brand, you have probably been under a rock. The Hamilton-based company, under the leadership of Managing Director and founder, Lance Fink, produces arguably the finest range of fiberglass trailer boats in Australasia. Tristram Marine is very much a family owned and operated business. Lance’s wife Bronwyn works alongside her husband on a daily basis. Eldest son Tristram handles the brand’s marketing, and youngest son Kingsley is the company’s General Manager and heads up design with his father. Over the road, Lance’s younger brother Andrew has his boat-building company – Andrew Fink Marine, and builds his own range of Enduro aluminum boats,

and also constructs the trailers for the Tristram Marine brand and other boat brands called Enduro Trailers. 28 YEARS OF SUCCESS Lance started boat building on his own in 1987 having left his father’s boat-building business after 11 years, setting out on his own to build launches. After a few years, the first Tristram fiberglass model was released on Xmas Eve in 1990 – the wildly popular 550, of which the company went on to produce around 250 examples - remembering this was a growing brand. Since then the company has steadily grown into now what is one of the leaders of the industry. Under Fink’s leadership, the company has seen out the

tougher financial times and now is stronger than ever. “I could read the global financial crisis a year in advance in 2008/09 and made a few adjustments to our business model,” says Fink. However not only did the company have to deal with dwindling sales with the rest of the industry, the Te Rapa factory had to deal with a devastating fire. “Sadly we then had a fire in 2010 where we had to rebuild the company almost from the ground up.” “We lost all of our hull and deck molds except for the 851, even the brand new 741 we lost that, the first boat was due to come out of the mold the day after the fire.” “Since then, we have rebuilt all of our molds. We still had all of our plugs which allowed us to quickly

WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 109

The quality and cleanliness of the workshop is reflected in the boats.

To sell a Tristram you have to be passionate about the quality of the product you’re selling. rebuild the molds and get going again.” “I think we’re now stronger than we have ever been as a company. The pleasing thing however, is that we managed to retain all of our staff throughout the entire process.” QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY Quality and accuracy is foremost in the finish of any Tristram model developed, the company using the latest technologies to make sure every boat is accurate and performs as it should when on the water. “We work with our CAD designer, to ensure everything is perfectly accurate – it’s the only way to go.” “We still design our own boats, we always have and always will, but we use CAD designers to draw the boats digitally. That’s why we believe no-one will ever build a more accurate boat than us.” Fink says the market for Tristram Marine craft is extremely buoyant. “We have 12 models in our range, and they are all selling well. The hardtops are very popular, and our new 701’s have taken off like wildfire – sales are extremely buoyant.” At this point of the interview, Fink takes a phone call to confirm the order for a 741 Offshore from a Gisborne client.

110 PACIFIC POWERBOAT MARCH/APRIL 2015

Kingsley Fink, comments that one of the company’s newest releases the 701 Vanquish has been extremely popular. “The 701 Vanquish has proven popular for those who are into water skiing, diving, fishing and fits into a lower garage,” says the younger Fink. Tristram Marine is one of the few builders in New Zealand that operates without a dealer network with all boats sold direct from the factory, something Lance makes no apologies about. “A number of years ago, we made the decision to start dissolving our dealer network and sell everything from our manufacturing plant and showroom as the NZ Tristram dealer - trading in and selling boats as usual.” “To sell a Tristram you have to be passionate about the quality of the product you’re selling, not the margin you’re making. The margin follows when your customer base appreciates the quality of the product.” Shying away from boat shows in recent years, Tristram Marine only attends one boat show a year, a move Kingsley says makes economical sense. “Certainly trying to attend every boat show in New Zealand, financially is ridiculous. The disruption to boat building companies in NZ, trying to attend too

many boat shows is out of control. We’re attending less boat shows now, and we don’t believe it has affected sales one bit – in fact sales have increased.” “We support and attend the marine industry boat show, which is the On Water Boat show in Auckland.” “Our brand is so accessible now, in fact through the internet we’re in everyone’s homes already. People can research our boats and models on the website, and then they get in touch,” says Kingsley. PASSION FOR THE BRAND Lance says Tristram customers or members of the ‘Tristram Family’ are the brands best sales tool. “We have a lot of customers who are just as passionate about the brand as we are, and they’re our best sales tool. We have so many people come to the factory who have seen the boat elsewhere or been referred to come and see us when purchasing their next boat.” Repeat customers are another driver of the business, with Fink saying returning business amounts to as much as 30 percent of their yearly business. “We’ve been told that is quite high in the industry. A lot of our customers also hold onto their boat for a long time, and when they do come up for sale they are sold quite quickly still at quite a high market value.”

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THE FUTURE Lance is adamant that he will never retire. Never. “I’ll never walk out the door. Mobile phones have meant that I can always be at the helm, but in the future I’ll probably be to one side of the helm and let other people steer it.” “The business will always be in the family.” “I love the industry too much; I love the clientele. I enjoy the business side of it, I enjoy the designing side – it’s been my life. And I’m fortunate that my wife Bronwyn has enjoyed it as well for the 35-years we have been together.” “The only way our company would cease to operate would be if government legislations got too heavy. If GST keeps going up, it’s going to kill industries and it could kill the marine industry. GST cannot go up any more than it already is.”

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RUNNING AT CAPACITY Tristram Marine’s impressive manufacturing and retail facility saw completion of it’s first stage in 1999, with the second stage completed in 2004. “We’ve been at a squeezing point since before Xmas. We are trying to expand, and looking at purchasing adjacent land to the current site. Since Xmas 2014 we have experienced sales growth that we have never experienced in any other year.” “We’re having a little spell from designing and developing new models. It’s time to build boats. With the great sales we’ve had over the last 12-months, it’s time to knuckle down and build what we have created.” PPB0514

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Itâ€™s only a short walk up to The Riverhead from the jetty below.

BEERS & BURGERS AT THE RIVERHEAD The Riverhead is easily accessible by water as long as you are mindful of the tides.

Barry Thompson makes his first ever visit to the historic Riverhead pub by water and experiences a very different style of boating transport. WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 113

IT’S AMAZING HOW you can live in a place for so long and yet still not see it all. I have boated all over the Hauraki Gulf, landed on just about every island, swum at countless beaches and fished most of the major reefs, channels and sand flats….but I have hardly ever been to the far reaches of the upper harbour. Until now. In recent years, I have done a lot of boat testing in the waters above the Auckland Harbour Bridge, but always stop around Hobsonville and the Greenhithe Bridge. So when the opportunity to go boating into the northern most reaches of the harbour was offered, I was keen to check out what I had been missing. Our mode of transport was ideal for the journey, a custom made ‘party pontoon’ boat from Fusion Marine in Silverdale. The plan was to launch at Greenhithe and motor quietly the 4nm up to The Riverhead, stop for lunch and then return before the tide dropped too far and stranded us for the next 12 hours. The upper harbour is extremely tidal and if you are planning a visit to the historic pub, you only have about 1 ½ hours either side of the high tide. Leave it too late to leave and you may find yourself wading through the mud to get to your boat. Judge it right and it’s a great trip. Judge it wrong and it’s a long wait at the bar.

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This is a boat that deserves to be driven slowly. No rush, no pace, just a relaxed cruising mode

THE BOAT The Fusion pontoon boat is all about space, with the full 2.5m x 7.6m floor span totally useable. In our sister publication, Alloy Boat (Issue 4) we recently ran an article on alloy pontoon boats, which are huge in the US and a growing market sector in Australia. Unfortunately our rivers and waterway systems are not as pontoon boat friendly as places like the Gold Coast, but there are exceptions. Fusion Marine have followed the pontoon boat trend, but with composites, from the infused 680mm pontoons – each with three watertight compartments- to all composite superstructure and deck. Trailerable weight is around 1500 kgs. The Fusion 7m pontoon boat is very much a custom built craft with the layout 100% owner driven. Boat #1 has been setup for day tripping and overnighting, with a compact galley unit, complete with twoburner stove, Engel fridge and stainless sink. A railmounted bbq on the aft rail also assists with cooking chores. Opposite is a very neat ‘toilet tent’, which also doubles as a privacy area to change. To complement the overnight status of the Fusion 7.6m pontoon boat, there is also a pair of large single berths forward and dining table. A dropdown set of steps for ease of access to the beach is

The Fusion 7.6 party pontoon b oat is all about no fuss, no rush!

The roof can be folded completely flat for towing.

Make your next cruise to the top of the Waitemata Harbour

Bookings essential. For directions visit www.theriverhead.co.nz or call 09 412 8902 WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 115

1: 2: 3:

An open expansive layout that is all about enjoying the space.

incorporated in the bow section. The central helm has a dash large enough for the necessary instruments such as the twin Yamaha gauges for the pair of Yamaha 60hp High Thrust engines. Power is optional, from twin 25s through to twin 60s. All depends on how fast you want to go. The pair of 60hp Yamaha’s, running big blade area 11” x 14” props gave a top speed of 23 mph @ 6100 rpm. I only did that just the once to see what it would do and then quickly dropped back to a sedate ten mph @ 3000 rpm. This is a boat that deserves to be driven slowly. No rush, no pace, just a relaxed cruising mode. Quiet, calm and very very relaxing. There is a choice of a completely open top, a soft bimini or as in our case, a composite hardtop with clears. This can be folded down for transportation or storage of the boat. Fusion points out that the type of finish and layout style can be anything an owner wants, from simple, basic and practical to something that emulates the style and fit out of the latest US pontoon boats. Base price starts at $NZ60,000 for the boat only. HISTORIC RIVERHEAD Riverhead is the township at the head of the upper Waitemat Harbour, 31 km from central Auckland. In the 19th century, it was a centre for gum digging and a vital trading link with Helensville and the Kaipara. The river setting was also ideal for milling timber, flour and paper and in the 20th-century tobacco was grown. The region around Riverhead and the neighbouring

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The Riverhead was built on its current site before the 1870’s and has been a house of hospitality with a continual liquor license since then

towns of Kumeu and Huapai is known for its vineyards. Riverhead was briefly a railway terminus in the 19th century, located at the eastern end of the isolated Kumeu-Riverhead Section. The line operated from 1875 and 1881 as a link from Auckland to regions north, with Riverhead acting as the transition point from ferry to railway. When the North Auckland Line connected Kumeu with Auckland via rail in 1881, the coastal shipping became unnecessary, and with no reason to continue operating, the railway to Riverhead was closed. Today there are still a few two historic places left to visit in Riverhead, but it is the pub, The Riverhead, which is still attracting visitors and day trippers to the area. THE RIVERHEAD The Riverhead was built on its current site before the 1870’s. It has been a house of hospitality with a continual liquor license since then, being the second oldest in the country. Mr Thomas Deacon, who built the tavern, had a ‘liquor shop’ on the bank of the estuary to the south. This spot had shallow entry from the water, ideal for the Maori coming up the waterways so they could beach their waka on the beach. They then ‘portaged’ their craft the 3 or 4 km to the Kumeu River to gain water access to the Kaipara Harbour which they would then be able to navigate right up to Dargaville and their Northern lands. Essentially the pioneers followed this same route (because there were no roads or railway in the area

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at the time), but they needed deep water dockage for their 27m steamers. Thomas Deacon saw the value in this and positioned his new tavern on the knoll and a large wharf was built to accommodate the growing numbers of people arriving and transiting through the area on their way north. Later Aucklanders would come to the same spot for their weekend breaks. There are many articles on the walls of The Riverhead showing these excursionists and the vessels they used to arrive in throughout the 1800s and early 1900’s. The tavern has always been a favourite with both the local people and a destination for those with boats who knew how to navigate the upper harbour and a favourite drive on the weekend from Auckland, now being only 25 minutes on the motorway. However, over the years the dock fell into disrepair, before being reinstated by the new owners of the tavern, who have plans to double its size in the near future due to demand. Ferries (The Red Boats) from Auckland come up regularly on the high tide bringing thousands to The Riverhead yearly. The tavern was renowned through the years for its excellent hospitality, but fell into disrepair around the 1990s before being bought by Paula and Stephen Pepperell in 2010 who closed it for 9 months while they extensively renovated it. It is now a favourite destination once more, with a variety of places to eat, drink and meet, from the Landing Restaurant, the neighbourhood Portage bar and The Boat House functions venue. The Riverhead is surrounded by 100-year-old Oak trees and has a long flowing lawn, outside bar and unique BBQ Adaso grill and wood-fired pizza oven. It is now a firm favourite attracting a wide range of people, who come to enjoy the free music, a few drinks and a relaxing meal on Sunday afternoons. I can highly recommend you make a visit to The Riverhead, if not by boat, by land. You will not be disappointed.

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For quality boat builders, contact the team at Fusion Marine for all your boatbuilding, refits or repairs. Our boatbuilding and Haulout Yard is situated on the Weiti River, Silverdale, with slipway access. +64 9 426 7400 or +64 21 064 0300 14C Manga Rd, Silverdale, Auckland, NZ

www.fusionmarine.co.nz WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 117

VOYAGE OF THE ENVOY // PART THIRTY ONE

TOURING INLAND FROM CASTELLAMARE DEL GOLFO MARINA // With our son John, daughter-inlaw Alice and granddaughter Lily aboard Envoy, we arrive in the sheltered harbour at Castellamare del Golfo, north-west Sicily. This is a delightful village with the obligatory ancient castle and a picturesque sea front lined with inviting bars and restaurants. It’s possible to anchor inside the harbour, but as we’ll be exploring inland by rental car we decide to leave Envoy secured to a jetty for 60 Euros (NZ$92) per night including power and water. First inland stop is the ruins of Segesta, originally settled during the Bronze Age by descendents of the legendary Trojans and inhabited into the Middle Ages. Here is the stunning site of a never-completed but incredibly well preserved Doric temple with 36 majestic columns, dating from about 430 BC and serenely perched on the edge of a rugged gorge

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cut deeply through the surrounding lush farmland. Next stop is Sicily’s notoriously litter-strewn capital Palermo, where we visit the ghoulish Catacombs of the Capuchins to view thousands of mummified bodies dating from the 1600s to 1800s displayed in a gloomy labyrinth of underground passages. Included are the still reasonably intact bodies of men, women and children dressed in clothing from that period, some laid down and others propped standing up against the walls. It’s all very macabre and we agree the bodies look like props from Michael Jackson’s Thriller DVD. Our visit here is unique and interesting but we wouldn’t want to do it again. Just outside Palermo is Monreale, the site of an awesome cathedral commissioned by the Norman King of Sicily, William the second. Completed in1184 Monreale is considered the finest example of

Norman architecture in Sicily containing numerous gold-leaf paintings depicting notable events in biblical history. Lonely Planet says the beauty of this cathedral is impossible to describe – you have to see it, and as we gaze in awe we wonder how it so well survived Sicily’s tempestuous history. Sicily is hot in mid summer and we finish the day with a cooling swim at a stony beach, finding a small rock pool ideal for Lily to splash around in. Next day we visit Scopello, a small and sleepy atmospheric hillside village based around an 18th century baglio (fortified manor house). The owners of a small boutique hotel invite us onto their rear balcony to view the coastal site of an old tonnara (tuna processing factory) below. The site is sheltered from the open sea by several small islands and very popular for swimming, despite the fact you have to pay to enter and can only sit on glaringly hot concrete.

Now we have a family conference and a change of plans. John and Alice decide they’d like to spend their remaining week back at the Egadi Islands, rather than continue exploring mainland Sicily. Fortunately the seven hour return trip is made in calm conditions unlike our outward bound trip. BACK IN SICILY’S EGADI ISLANDS // Having been settled by Greeks, Corinthians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish the Egadis have a fascinating legacy of history culminating in the now-defunct tuna trade. Since the 1960s tourism has taken over as the major economic activity. Favignana is the only island in the Egadi group with reasonably sheltered anchorages, the other two being subject to more swell as well as restrictions on cruising and anchoring.

John, Alice and Lily enjoy their remaining time with us mostly around Favignana - strolling in the village with stops for cappuccino and delicious cannoli (traditional pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese), going ashore to sunbathe and swim, and completing an all day bike tour of the island. The wind is mostly a brisk 15-20 knots alternating every few days between north-west and south-east, requiring us to move from one side of the island to the other, sometimes anchoring and at other times picking up a mooring buoy for 25 Euros (about NZ$39). There is always a slight swell so we use our flopper stoppers most of the time as well as a stern anchor to reduce Envoy’s roll. The greatest joy in our cruising life is sharing memorable times with family and friends; two fabulous weeks pass all too quickly and we cruise back to Trapani to drive our family to Palermo airport.

Envoy uses only about six litres of fuel per hour so refueling is a rare event, but while in Trapani we buy some for the first time this year taking on 804 litres of diesel as well as petrol for our RHIBs. We have two weeks before the arrival of our daughter, Amy, so head back to Favignana where we meet some Australians – Gary and Vanessa with two children aboard their 13 metre yacht Neptune 2. They sailed from Brisbane six years ago and only Vanessa has been back one time since then, so interestingly their younger child has spent nearly her whole life aboard Neptune 2 with no memory of Australia. Although we meet many cruisers, it’s rare to meet any with children aboard or who don’t return to their home country once every year or so. Gary and Vanessa provide their children with onboard schooling, but they plan to sail home during the next two years, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, partly so their children can receive a more formal education. We discover that Gary is a talented saxophone player and enjoy a great evening together aboard Neptune 2 singing to the accompaniment of guitar and sax. Late one afternoon we’re enjoying a peaceful swim in a sheltered sandy cove when a large RHIB containing several noisy Italians drops anchor right beside us. Our initial dismay soon turns to delight as they introduce themselves and produce a bag of freshly-gathered sea eggs (known in New Zealand as kina). We share kina roe on fresh bread as our new friends ask all sorts of questions to satisfy their curiosity, but we’re surprised to find out they don’t know where New Zealand is – “close to Scotland isn’t it?” One night we secure to a mooring in Favignana Island’s Cala Rossa (Cove of Blood). Here in 241BC a Roman fleet of 200 galleys defeated a much larger Carthaginian fleet, taking 15,000 prisoners and making the sea red with the blood of the killed and wounded. All around this part of the island are extensive Carthaginian ruins, laid waste by the Romans. DAUGHTER AMY’S VISIT TO THE EGADIS // Although we’ve already spent six weeks around the Egadi Islands we always find different places of interest when we have new visitors arrive, and this proves to be the case with Amy. We cruise to Marettimo Island and berth in a small marina. It’s expensive at 85 Euros (NZ$131) per night, but here there’s no safe place to anchor providing shelter from the 15 knot wind and choppy sea. In a village overlooking the marina we dine at a great restaurant, La Scalatta, made famous after a visit and positive reviews from famous British chef Jamie Oliver. Here there’s no menu, and chef

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VOYAGE OF THE ENVOY // PART THIRTY ONE

Giovanni serves whatever delicious daily fare he feels like preparing, with a heavy fresh seafood bias. We savour a six course culinary treat of bruschetta, clam chowder, grilled tuna, prawn risotto, mixed grilled fish and lemon gateau with cassata, of course washed down with copious quantities of various local wines. Next day we join a guided boat tour of the island’s coastline, exploring many interesting sea caves and grottos gouged out of the cliffs by centuries of heavy seas. The two metre choppy swell makes it a real adrenalin rush as our small boat bounces among the waves, inches from rocks to the background thunder of blowholes. Our day is completed with a swim in the pristine waters of one of Marettimo stunning beaches. We cruise to the third Egadi Island - Levanzo Island and take a guided four wheel drive trip to visit Grotta del Genovese - a deep cave on the coastline discovered in 1949 containing well-preserved 14,000 year old cave paintings depicting humans and various wild animals such as deer, horses, cows, tuna and dolphins. To see something this ancient is an amazing experience and part of what cruising in the Med all about. ENVOY CRUISES WEST ALONG THE NORTH COAST OF SICILY // You can’t write about Sicily without mentioning the Mafia, a major feature of Sicily’s more recent history. Tourists don’t come into contact with the Mafia and have nothing to fear from them, but it’s estimated that 70 per cent of Sicilian businesses pay pizzo (protection money) ranging from about 200 Euros (NZ$308) per month for a small shop or bar, to Euro 5,000 (NZ$7,692) for a supermarket. Back in 2004 the Italian Mafia’s total annual income was estimated at 90 billion Euros (NZ$141 billion), of which about a third was generated in Sicily, and the Mafia’s total assets were estimated at over a trillion Euros. Thankfully the murder of anti-Mafia judges and police has ceased, but while a good part of the Mafia leadership is now serving lengthy prison sentences the organization apparently continues to

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thrive with tentacles reaching the highest levels of society. After Amy’s departure we leave Trapani heading east and anchoring off several north coast beaches – Scialandra, Capo Rama, Mondello and Porticello. None of these anchorages offer complete shelter but fortunately the winds are either southerly or very light northerlies with little swell. There are very few other boats anchored overnight but we’re surprised by the large number of RHIBs during daytime – at Mondello there were several hundred of them with people just sunbathing and swimming off them. In New Zealand you’d normally beach your RHIB or anchor it very close to shore to enjoy the beach, but here motor boats have to anchor outside buoyed swimming areas, and considering the way many Italians drive their small craft this seems a sensible precaution. We bypass Palermo and head to Cefalu on Sicily’s central northern coast, anchoring off the marina with some protection from a large breakwater. This is a wonderful picturesque anchorage, protected from all except north-east winds and dominated by La Rocca (the Rock), 278 metres high and the site of Il Castello, a ruined Norman castle. Some swell penetrates the anchorage but our flopper stoppers keep us comfortable as well as preventing other boats from passing too closely. Here our Kiwi friends Doug and Mary join us for two weeks and we have no qualms about leaving Envoy unattended at anchor while exploring ashore. Although we’d spent some time in Cefalu in 2007 it was great to revisit this absolutely stunning medieval town - a highlight being the Duomo di Cefalu, a Norman church built in the 12th century. THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGES OF MADONIE REGIONAL PARK // We hire a car and driver, Marco, for a tour of mountain villages surrounding Cefalu within the Madonie Regional Park. Driving along some of these extremely narrow mountain roads with sheer drops and oncoming traffic can be nervewracking and we’re glad of Marco’s driving skills as well as his knowledgeable commentary.

At the village of Pollina we come across a group of young urchin-like boys playing soccer in a cobblestone courtyard. Mary asks them to line up for a group photo and they are happy to oblige, afterwards examining Mary’s pictures with great excitement. Our favourite village is Castelbuono where we enjoy a sumptuous lunch of wild boar hocks in a stunning, wood-paneled restaurant called Nangalarruni, set in the middle of a maze of narrow cobbled lanes - we would certainly never have found this without our guide. The village’s castle built in 1316 remains in great shape, and is supposedly still haunted by a ghostly apparition of Queen Constance Chiaramonte appearing in the corridors. After leaving Cefalu we plan to berth at Marina Capo D’Orlando. Arriving outside the marina with a 20 knot onshore wind and one to two metre swells we peer inside and can’t see any yacht masts or larger motor vessels, but do notice some sand banks and apparent silting. Not wanting to take any chances in the adverse lee-shore conditions we cruise on to anchor inside a lagoon sheltered by an extensive sandbank south east of Capo Tindari, near the village of Marinello. While most of the anchorages along this coast are fully exposed except to the south, this one has reasonable shelter from all directions except the east, so we stay here a few nights. August is peak holiday time and ashore is busy with mostly local tourists, while large RHIBs between five to nine metres long predominate on the water. There are no apparent safe boating regulations such as we have in New Zealand, so all day long RHIBs, jet skis, ferries and other vessels travel at excessive speed close inshore and close to other vessels, creating large wakes and making us thankful for our flopper stoppers. PPB’s next issue sees Envoy visit the Aeolian Islands and complete her circumnavigation of Sicily. Meanwhile visit www.envoyinthemed.blogspot.com for detailed current reports and additional pictures.

1. Jamie Oliver with Marettimo Island restaurant chef Giovanni 2. Cefalu backed by La Rocca viewed from the sea 3. Gary from Brisbane aboard Neptune 2 is a great sax player 4. Envoy in stunning Cefalu anchorage

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>> CRUISING MATTERS BY LAURIE CRANFIELD

BUYING NEW VS. PRE-OWNED & ARE SURVEYS WORTHWHILE? IT MUST BE GREAT to experience the sheer pleasure of buying a brand-new boat without the slightest blemish detracting from its pristine appearance. We wouldn’t know for sure as all five boats Diane and I have owned over more than 30 years have been pre-owned, but over the years we’ve been surprised to meet a sizeable number of new boat buyers who’ve been disappointed to some degree. So what are the real pros and cons of buying new or pre-owned? What follows mainly applies to larger vessels as we’ve not heard the same level of discontent with trailer boats. PURCHASING A NEW VESSEL Many buyers prefer the appeal of a new vessel for some of the following reasons, all of which are valid to some extent. • With many brands they are able to customise a vessel to suit their boating requirements and tastes by specifying layout, engineering options, equipment types and brands, decor and furnishings. However in some cases the option to make more than minor changes is limited and usually adds considerable expense. • They may be able to visit the builder’s factory to see their vessel take shape during the build stage, form relationships, and gain a better understanding of the vessel’s construction and systems. • They experience the joy of taking delivery of a brand new vessel, never used by anyone else, and if this spins your wheels it’s hard to put a price on. • They have a complete knowledge of the vessel’s history from day one. • They receive a warranty and more ongoing support from the manufacturer and agent than could normally be expected with a preowned option. However support levels vary

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•

considerably and the prudent buyer should carefully research this aspect. They should benefit from lower maintenance costs for the first few years, certainly during the warranty period, although there’s no question some new buyers are disappointed with what they consider to be undue numbers of problems occurring. It seems that many new boat brands need to cruise for a few months to resolve initial teething issues, and even if successfully resolved at no cost they are frustrating, inconvenient and reduce the boat’s availability for use. They are able to spread payments over the vessel’s construction time, though financing options are also available for pre-owned boats.

PURCHASING A PRE-OWNED VESSEL Other buyers prefer to purchase a pre-owned vessel for some of these reasons, again all valid to some extent. • They can generally take immediate delivery; there is usually a wait for new vessels ranging from several to many months. • They pay a significantly lower investment cost and then have spare cash available if required to make the boat more suited to their needs and replace outmoded equipment. • They suffer less depreciation cost because like cars, a new boat generally takes its biggest depreciation hit early on from new. • They believe a pre-owned vessel is tried, tested and reliable, and while this is true to some extent, when vessels age they become prone to more maintenance, especially with ancillary equipment, and some of her electronics may well be outdated. • A used boat is likely to have more equipment included at little or no extra cost – many are purchased complete with spare parts, tools,

chandlery, bedding, cutlery, crockery, galley utensils etc. For example we only had to add two fire extinguishers and stores to our Nordhavn 46 before commencing cruising. ENTER THE PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR Whether your preference is for new or pre-owned most of the risks can be significantly reduced by contracting a professional surveyor who acts for and is paid by the buyer. This is particularly so for pre-owned vessels, but should also be considered for new vessels as these are not immune from poor practice and resulting problems. Surveyors not only have considerable technical expertise, but follow a logical documented process for an objective examination of the vessel, whereas the enthusiastic buyer may be prone to overlook or downplay some negative issues. An initial survey is also helpful when arranging insurance and provides a benchmark for later surveys. The survey will include a sea trial and an out of water inspection, and in most cases the surveyor will discover some defects and then discuss their level of importance with the buyer, who must then negotiate with the seller to remedy them. A survey for a pre-owned 14 metre vessel typically costs between NZ$1,800 to $3,000 depending on its value, plus lift-out fees, so is a relatively small percentage of the investment cost. The buyer of a pre-owned vessel should also examine her service records and discuss her service history directly with the contractor so that a full inspection can be arranged if there is any doubt about her mechanical condition. Exercising caution during the purchase stage for either new or pre-owned vessels should maximize your cruising enjoyment. Photo: A used boat is likely to have more equipment included at little or no extra cost.

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