PACIFIC
T R A I L E R B O AT S | L A U N C H E S | C R U I S E R S W W W.BOAT MAGS. CO M
Rae Line 185 OB A VERSATILE KIWI BOWRIDER
A BUYERS GUIDE TO INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS
THE MACKAY RACE BOAT DYNASTY DELIVERING THE PERFECT WAKE REVIEWED: ALASKA 49 SEDAN CHAPARRAL 210 SUNCOAST RAE LINE 185 OB HATTERAS 45SF SACS 13 RIB ALASKA 49 SEDAN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 $10.00 Inc GST
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7 71173 809004
LED LIGHTS: ABOVE & BELOW THE WATER
LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE IN PERFECT HARMONY Offering you a highly efficient straight shaft drive and a beam-to-beam master cabin the Maritimo M54 marries luxury and play without compromising either. Enjoy the luxurious apartment sized interior space that includes an internal staircase to the fully enclosed saloon style flybridge, while our low angle straight drive delivers a very comfortable 5 degree bow high cruise attitude for long range fuel efficiency and a motoryacht that handles rough seas with remarkable assurity. There’s so much more to a Maritimo.
maritimo.com.au
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.
CONTENTS
76 REVIEWS 48 CHAPARRAL 210 SUNCOAST 62 RAE LINE 185 OB 76 ALASKA 49 SEDAN PACIFIC
90 HATTERAS 45SF
T R A I L E R B O AT S | L A U N C H E S | C R U I S E R S WWW.BOATMAGS.COM
ISSUE 35
102 SACS 13 RIB
Rae Line 185 OB A VERSATILE KIWI BOWRIDER
COVER
THE MACKAY RACE BOAT DYNASTY
See page 62
DELIVERING THE PERFECT WAKE REVIEWED: ALASKA 49 SEDAN CHAPARRAL 210 SUNCOAST RAE LINE 185 OB HATTERAS 45SF SACS 13 RIB
F E AT U R E S
A BUYERS GUIDE TO INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS
LED LIGHTS: ABOVE & BELOW THE WATER
ALASKA 49 SEDAN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 $10.00 Inc GST
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54 DELIVERING THE PERFECT WAKE
96 AN EVER CHANGING LANDSCAPE FOR KIWI BUILT BOATS
118 LED LIGHTING TEN THINGS TO CONSIDER
The New Zealand boat building industry has undergone considerable changes in recent years and re-established itself from a dominance on superyachts to trailer boats.
Not all LED lights are created equal, so how do you decide which ones to purchase?
If you wanted to win offshore powerboat races in the 1970s, you needed a big monohull and no one did them better than Jim Mackay.
108 CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
Barry Thompson looks at underwater lights and what’s available for today’s trailer boat, cruiser or super yacht owner.
82 INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS GUIDE
Graeme Rose recounts his circumnavigating the South Island and exploring Fiordland, like Cook did in the Endeavour, albeit in a little more comfort!
Crossover boats are designed to give you the ability to ski, wake or surf and deliver the perfect wake for the task. We look at four options.
68 THE MACKAY RACE BOAT DYNASTY
The new styles of inflatable life jackets bring comfort and function to a whole new level that make wearing a life jacket so much more appealing.
4 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
122 LIGHTING DOWNUNDER
132 CRUISE OF THE ENVOY Laurie and Diane Cranfield continue their cruising south in the Ionian Sea.
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Your Boat Deserves Your Boat Deserves
REGULARS 6 DESIGN FOCUS
38 POWER ON
Wally 48
Mercury Joystick Piloting, maximum movement with minimum effort.
How to avoid ramp rage.
10 PUBLISHER’S COMMENT Decision time.
12 GUEST COMMENT Constant research and development. Greg Haines – Sales & Marketing Maritimo.
14 SEEN & ADMIRED Robalo 302 Hudson Bay 54
18 NEWS News, new products, boats and events.
40 ELECTRONICS NEWS Hot new products from some of the world’s leading brands with the latest from Megaray, Fusion, Simrad and WASSP.
42 RACING NEWS Graeme Horne 1946-2016 To Finish First, First You Have To Finish.
44 CRUISING MATTERS Laurie Cranfield looks at cruising at night.
46 FROM THE GALLEY Derek the Chef prepares Smoked Kahawai & Asparagus Pie
· Comfortable, durable, EVA foam · 3M™ Peel & stick application · Great wet/dry traction Easily cut to fitdurable, EVA foam www.seadek.com · Comfortable, Customizable · 3M™ Peel & stick application Coverswet/dry spider cracks and · Great traction · other Easily surface cut to fitimperfections www.seadek.com UV Protected non absorbent foam. · Customizable www.batavian.co.nz · Covers spider cracks and other surface imperfections EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR. ·BATAVIAN UV ProtectedRUBBER non absorbent foam. INTERNATIONAL LTD. EMAIL: ADMIN@BATAVIAN.CO.NZ TEL: 0064 6 308 9337 EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR.
BATAVIAN RUBBER INTERNATIONAL LTD. EMAIL: ADMIN@BATAVIAN.CO.NZ TEL: 0064 6 308 9337 DB143
8 LEADING COMMENT
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 5
DESIGN FOCUS
Wally 58
AVANTEGARDE DESIGN Wally builders know perfectly well how to combine the most avant-garde design with the latest technology, in order to satisfy extremely demanding, and sometimes eccentric, clients. Wally 58 is their flagship. The hull has been made with very light materials, making Wally 58 a nimble and manoeuvrable yacht despite its more than 17m of length. Teak wood has been used to build the deck, while the interior has been finished in noble woods. Wally 58 has three cabins, completely furnished with high end taste, three bathrooms and a galley with a large dining-room. Its amazingly futuristic design gives it an aerodynamic performance that beats most yachts in its category, sailing faster and at a lower expense. The Wally 58 is the ultimate open sports cruiser and makes no secret of it. Its lines are overtly sporty and it has two powerful Volvo IPS1200 engines, giving a top speed of 40 knots. While you enjoy the pure performance, your guests can stretch out on the plentiful seats and daybeds on the unusually generous deck space, sheltered by the oversized wraparound windscreen. The Wally 58 has a hydraulic swim ladder which doubles as a passerelle, making it a wonderful place to chill out by the sea. The spacious interior, available with either two or three cabins, offers the perfect retreat when the sun goes down. www.wally.com WWW.BOATMAGS.COM 7
EDITOR’S NOTE
Barry Thompson
HOW TO AVOID RAMP RAGE THIS SUMMER
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 Doug Dukeson, Freddy Foote Derek the Chef, Laurie Cranfield, Mike Rose 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 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 14 Glamis Ave, Manly, Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand. 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)
R
amp rage, we have all experienced it and it’s usual caused because someone ahead of you isn’t organised before they get to the ramp. Or it may be you causing the problem. It’s quite simple, make a checklist of things before you are ready to back down the ramp and you shouldn’t have any problems....or everyone on the ramp thinking you’re a muppet! The first thing is to learn about the ramp you are using. All ramps are not created equal. Angles and depths will differ and there may be some issues with currents going past the end that will really skew your boat, both getting it on and off the trailer. Anyone who has launched at Omaha will know what I am talking about. This summer you may be launching at an unfamiliar ramp, so it pays to ask around and check with a local or others who have used the ramp before. Sometimes one side is better than the other or there may be a part where the concrete ramp finishes and it’s certainly a pain if you drop your wheels off the end into a big hole. Been there, done that! I remember a time at Whangapoua when I launched a Smuggler 6.3 onto the ramp. Bloody embarrassing, particularly since the name of the magazine was emblazoned down the side of the hull and there were plenty of people waiting to use the ramp. The reason was miscommunication between the driver and me and again not being properly prepared. If you have a multi roller trailer, you should never undo the safety chain or winch strap/ wire until the boat is in the water. Padded or bunk style trailers aren’t so bad as they usually stick fast until there is enough water to float the boat off. Before backing down the ramp, check you have the transom tie downs removed, the outboard tilt lock off and of course the bungs in. We have all forgotten all or one of those at some time. WelI I know I have. It also pays to have the engine tilted up, so you don’t drive the lower unit into the sand or mud at the end of the ramp. Once you have the boat in the water and everything unhooked, then there are a number of options, depending on whether you are on your own or with a mate. For selflaunching I always have a painter attached to the boat and around the trailer post, as quite often when you unhook the chain and
8 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
winch, the boat starts to slide off without any help. Nothing worse than having to go halfway down the trailer to take the hook off the bow eye. Also, a flying winch handle can be a dangerous object. When the tension is on the rope, you can simply lean forward unhook the cable and gently ease the boat back in the water, using the rope wrapped around the winch post to relieve the tension. If you have someone else with you, then the other option is put the engine in gear and get your mate to unhook the cable and safety chain. This takes the tension off and the boat can simply slide back into the water. If it’s still not wanting to come off, you may need to reverse the trailer back further or you can put the engine into reverse gear and give it a helping hand. Once in the water, simply hook the rope onto a mooring point at the jetty (if there is one) or give it to someone to hold while you go and park the trailer. Or just hang around off the launching ramp, out of the way until you need to come back in and pick up your buddies. Retrieving is also about being prepared and not rushing things. Just how far you need to reverse the trailer into the water depends on the trailer design. Multi roller trailers only need to go in so the back rollers are just in the water if the ramp is steep enough, but bunk style trailers require a lot more depth to float the boat on. If you have a multi roller trailer, then you should be able to drive the boat part way or even all the way up the trailer to the snubbing block. Attach the winch cable and chain before exiting the water. Also, make sure your engine is up. Aluminium skegs wear out really fast on concrete! To avoid ramp rage this summer, it’s all about being prepared. Do it right and you should avoid all those nasty stares and abusive comments that are never a good start to a great day on the water.
WATCH VIDEO ONLINE AT BOATMAGS.COM
A LONG TRUSTED NAME IN NEW ZEALAND BOATING
DB070
Buccaneer create superbly designed, exceptionally well-built and finished boats with a full fibreglass one-piece Hull Liner. With 19 boat designs across 5 different ranges, there’s a model to suit everyone – from an agile runabout to tow the sea biscuit, right through to the ultimate marlin vessel. See what Buccaneer’s experience has done for Kiwis to create their own magical moments on the water.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Doug Dukeson This ones gone. Need to replace it with something for the summer.
DECISION TIME
A
bout a month back I sold my Rayglass Projet, after a few seasons of great fun with the family and now need to replace it. I have five teenagers in the family and not having a boat, or at least a PWC is not an option. So what to get? Before the Projet, we had a PWC and the kids loved it. It got a lot of use both in Auckland and around Whakatane one summer and the kids spent countless hours towing water toys. While I did have big plans to set it up to go fishing, sadly I only ever did a couple of times. I think I was really more used to the space and protection that a boat offers, rather than the compact fishing platform of a PWC. When I sold the PWC, I moved into the Projet, which gives you the best of both a PWC and a large RIB. Rayglass have done a brilliant job in fitting the ski into a moulded grp hull and then wrapping it with tubes. The versatility of the Project is great and I found I did do more fishing, as well as spent as much time towing biscuits, wakeboards and skiers. But now that has gone and it’s time to get something else. After talking with the family, there was a general feeling that they would like another PWC, or rather two as they felt the family was big enough to justify having a pair. Interestingly when you compare the price of a couple of entry level PWCs from say SeaDoo and Yamaha, the costs aren’t so bad and not much more than buying one of their top of the line performance models.
10 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
In the past, I have also had a number of smaller cabin and bow riders and I have to admit I have a bit of a hankering to get back in a boat. My search has taken me right across the fibreglass market from imports to local and I am still not sure which way to go. The thing I like about bow riders is they are great all round family boats and after all, whatever I get has to be a compromise. I need something I can go fishing with a few mates or take the family (well maybe not all at once) to an island for a cruisey day out, but also a boat the kids can tow things behind. I have a couple of teenagers now keen on wakeboarding, so having the ability to ‘weigh-up’ the boat to get a better wake is a real plus and something not possible on a PWC. The cabin or hardtop option is not really in the equation as it’s just not the sort of boat I want. I found the cabin boats such as the CSB Huntsman Dorado I had (well more than one) were great when we had a small family and the kids had somewhere to go. Now they are not interested in a quiet sleep in the cabin during the day. It’s more about doing things such as, swimming, diving, fishing or riding something. So what to do? Well by the time you read my next column I should have a boat or a PWC (maybe two) in my driveway. With summer fast approaching I need something soon, as I don’t plan to spend my time sitting on the beach watching all you guys on the water…without me.
Power Performance Style
STRATA 1120
STRATA 900
DB155
STRATA 820 CABIN
Phone +64 9 838 9024 Mobile 021 969282 Web: www.smuggler.co.nz WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 11
GUEST COMMENT
Greg Haines, Sales & Marketing Manager, Maritimo Australia
CONSTANT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
O
ver the past twelve months we have seen a significant increase in the market, particularly overseas. Markets in South East Asia are showing potential with numerous sales achieved recently. The continuous growth in Europe and the Americas has been welcome. Forty-eight dealers in eighteen countries worldwide currently represent Maritimo, with the dealer network growing constantly. We have seen that the customers are now looking towards traditional shaft drive boats, over pod driven boats. The wow factor of joystick steering is now readily available for shaft drive boats from numerous manufacturers. Twin Disc, ZF, Xenta, Cummins, Volvo, CAT and Yacht Controller all have very good systems that work as well, as if not better, than pod driven joystick systems. We are getting better efficiency from our boats with traditional, low angle shaft drives than our competitors pod driven boats, in some cases over 30% better fuel consumption. Advances in navigation and sonar technology over the recent period have been astounding. We are regularly fitting larger screens and sometimes multiple screens with all the bells and whistles. In the past twelve months we have released the new M51, revised the M54 and released the M64. In the sedan range we released the S51 and revised the S54. Coming in the next few months, and to be released at next years Miami International Boat Show, are the M59 and S59. Maritimo’s growth can be attributed to constant research and development. We now have a team of designers that we work with, both in house and externally. We have embarked on extensive customer focus groups. They give us insights in what our clients like about their boats as well as what they dislike. This is not only current and past Maritimo customers, as we also seek feedback from our competitor’s customers. The feedback that we get is invaluable. We consider all the feedback and try and incorporate as much of it as we can. Maritimo recently purchased the locally made Elandra range of boats and we are in the initial stages of redeveloping the range, with the first release of the new Elandra 58 at the 2017 Sydney Boat Show . There are some innovations in this range that have never seen in any other boat around the world. They are going to be something very special. Online marketing has become a significant part of customer research of late. With the advances in technology we are now able to give our customers a virtual experience. Customers are very well informed before the sales people even get to speak with them. Our racing program has also expanded this year. We are running two boats in the Australian series and we will also be returning to the World Superboat Championships in Key West. The past twelve months a have been great for the marine industry and I am sure we can look forward to further growth in the new year.
12 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
SEEN & ADMIRED
Robalo R302
CENTRE CONSOLE SENSATION R
obalo ’s flagship Centre Console, the R300, has undergone a massive upgrade to become the latest boat to benefit from a huge R & D push by the iconic offshore fishing brand. Renamed the R302, the changes include, an all new deck and console with modern styling cues and premium features such as; glass enclosed t-top, oversized helm space suitable for two 16 inch screens, large easy access head - big enough to take a shower in, new seating, bigger hardtop and several other improvements that are sure to take this boat to the top of the offshore centre console pecking order. For any serious offshore fisho looking for the ultimate deck space and a quick machine to be first to the runs and big barrels, the R302 is going to be hard to beat; according to Scott O’Hare from Robalo Australia. “The best thing about the old R300 was the hull. The hydralift hull is so silky smooth in big water that it takes on bigger swells, waves or savage chop like a hot knife through butter, so R & D have taken what was already a great boat and turned it into a brilliant boat”, says Scott. The R302 has a revised weight distribution, friction hinges on hatches, better grab rail positions, new modern t-top frame, bigger glass enclosed hardtop and improved ergonomics of the helm. Robalo offers the R302 with Optimus Joystick control making docking a breeze, which also incorporates ‘Seastation’, that will hold the boat on the spot via GPS. Particularly useful if you are spot fishing, searching for holes, working cliffs, have a hook up and need to get organised. Just push the button and the Optimus system will hold you steady. All the usual features you would expect from a Robalo such as big kill tanks, 2 x live bait tanks, bronze pumps, strainers and through hulls, self draining decks, electric anchor winch, endless storage, clever workstation-wet bar, 1100 litre fuel capacity, up to 700 HP engine capacity are featured on the new R302. www.robalo.com or call Robalo Australia on +61 (03) 9397-6977 14 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
52 model featured with options fitted.
A triumph of function and form Isn’t she beautiful? Graceful and areodynamic, she exudes effortless power. The water is her natural domain and her practicality and luxury delight those fortunate enough to travel with her. She is the magnificent Rivera 52 Enclosed Flybridge: embodying all the superior blue-water ability, operational ease and refined living for which Riviera is internationally renowned. Three levels of gracious on-water living filled with light, space, generous headroom, thoughtful inclusions and luxurious handcrafted touches everywhere you look. Industry-leading Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) with simple joystick maneuverability and Glass Cockpit easy touch-screen navigation and digital switching make boating with Riviera a dream.
52 - Featured
43
45
57
77
The 5 year Riviera structural warranty and 5 year Volvo Penta engines, drives and systems warranty will make your boating with Riviera carefree.
160430
The breathtaking Riviera 52 Enclosed Flybridge. Discover the whole story at RiveraAustralia.com
THE COLLECTION — SUV 445 525 575
SPORT YACHT 3600 4800 5400 6000
SPORTS MOTOR YACHT 68 72
BELIZE 54 SEDAN 54 DAYBRIDGE
SEEN & ADMIRED
Hudson Bay 54
EXPANDING THE RANGE G
old Coast based Clipper Motor Yachts is releasing an expanded range of Hudson Bay sedan motor yachts initially with Clipper’s largest sedan ever built. The first of these new designs, a 54 foot semi-displacement cruiser, is already in-build at Clipper’s Asian yard and has been sold to a South Australian buyer. Pricing for the 54 starts at $1.49 million well equipped, according to Clipper. Clipper Motor Yacht’s Managing Director, Brett Thurley, said the ‘next generation’ Hudson Bay’s evolved after a long and detailed search for new product across European and Asian builders. Ultimately the range will expand in 2017 to include a Hudson Bay 35 footer, 39 footer (in build now,) with single and double cabin options, a 50 footer, 54 footer and 64 footer. There is also a new Hudson Bay 47 currently in-build . “We spent a lot of time and effort reviewing
every aspect of the original Hudson Bay Lobster Boat style of cruisers and while they are very good boats we have received client feedback that there is demand for a larger volume range of sedan cruiser,” said Thurley. The major changes have increase significantly the volume in all models in the range and the new hull designs have embraced some of the ‘must have’ features desired by the Australian boating public including some industry firsts that will be a significant point of difference for owners. Full beam master suites, large covered cockpits, hinged rear saloon windows which open up the whole saloon, galley, lounge and cockpit into one large useable entertaining space, full height refrigerators and pull out galley pantries have all been included. Thurley said the vessels would be manufactured in Asia with an extremely high level of quality control managed by
16 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Clipper representatives. Custom hull painting for the 50, 54 and 64 will be undertaken at Gold Coast City Marina allowing the highest possible quality of finish to the owners custom request making each boat an individual statement on the water. The first Hudson Bay 54 that has been sold and in build will be powered by twin 550 horsepower Cummins motors with an Onan 17.5 kva genset. This boat, which will be kept at Hamilton Island, is capable of 21 knots and will cruise comfortably at 17 knots. Thurley said the first Hudson Bay 39 and 35 would have their world premiere at the Gold Coast Boat Show weekend in May 2017 and are in build currently. The Hudson Bay 64 will be the next to be rolled out by Clipper Motor Yachts with the first one due to land in Australia late 2017. Clipper Motor Yachts, Ph: +61 07 55194 019, brett@clippermotoryachts.com.au, www.clippermotoryachts.com.au
Monterey 224FSC The perfect weekend getaway afloat on the water. The 224FSC is well equipped for a weekend of fun in the sun. The sun island is ideal for lounging away the day. Down below is a spacious cabin for two. A large round day hatch provides light and ventilation and the cabin door has built in steps to the forward deck which comes standard with a stainless steel wraparound rail.
LOA 22’9” (6.9 m)
Beam 8’6” (2.5 m)
Fuel Capacity 55 gal (208.2 ltr)
Max Power 300 hp (223.7 kw)
montereyboats.com
Monterey Boats New Zealand 120 Beaumont Street Auckland City 1010 (09) 377 6602 info@pinnaclemarine.co.nz WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 17
NEWS
AOWBS INSTILLS CONFIDENCE IN MARKET
18 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Selling out all the exhibitor space for the Auckland On Water Boat Show, three months ahead was a strong indication that the marine industry was keen and enthusiastic for the show. This was the first time in the 10-year history of the show that this had happened and demonstrated the confidence the industry has right now. Peter Busfield, Executive Director of NZ Marine, says he was very pleased with not only the fact the show was booked out so early but the quality and diversity of the exhibitors. “We saw good numbers through the show despite some inclement weather on the weekend and having to compete with an All Black rugby test, but overall we were happy with the visitor numbers which were on a par with 2015”, says Busfield. From reports after the show most exhibitors reinforced Busfield’s confidence, with some saying it was by far the best show they had had in years. Genuine buyers attended from not only throughout New Zealand, but also Australia and not only was a lot of product sold, but boat sales were also well up on the last few years. “The show fulfilled all the expectations we had, but more importantly the show meet or exceeded the expectations of 9 out of 10 of all the exhibitors and proved it, is a major marketing tool for the industry”, added Busfield. There were a record 100 boats on the water on the redesigned marina layout which allowed for the increase and it is now second only to the Sydney International Boat Show, with a total of 185 exhibitors. Boat sales were reported from the smallest inflatables to larger yachts and launches in the $500,000 to $1.5m range. The 2017 AOWBS will be held around the same time, with the final date yet to be decided.
others have yet to catch up It’s been ten years. The revolution goes on. Easy boating is for real. Volvo Penta IPS means higher performance at lower fuel consumption and less emissions. Ten years of smooth, quiet and comfortable running. Intuitive, responsive steering and docking. Volvo Penta IPS has become the natural industry benchmark. 10 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE POWER.
Volvo Penta IPS New Zealand & Pacific Islands – Volpower NZ Limited. www.volpower.co.nz
DB075
Ph: 0800 865 769 or +64 9 274 4305
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 19
NEWS
Biggest Outboard Powercat from RHYD Roger Hill Yacht Design is unquestionably one of New Zealand’s most prolific powercat designers with boats under construction throughout the world. One of the latest launchings was a 12.5m power cat in Seattle. It is a sedan version of the 12.5m that was built in Australia as a ‘Montebello 12.5, and is now under the Arrowcat brand and made in China and Seattle.
This is the biggest outboard powered power cat that RHYD has designed and the results, according to the designer, Roger Hill, exceeded expectations. Top speed with reasonable load was 40 knots (46 mph) with the twin 350hp Mercury Verados. Hill says the boat was a bit of a ‘special’ as the standard boat is fitted with inboards and shafts. “We did a reasonable amount
STELLA TO MARKET ITALWINCH Stella Systems have announced they are now the distributors for the Italian Italwinch. The extensive range includes vertical and horizontal winches, as well as chain counters, multi-control panels and remote units. The Kompass-8 radio remote control can handle two winches as well as the bow and stern thrusters. With this shortcut key, it is possible to operate simultaneously two thrusters and the winches, making mooring or docking even easier. The Smart vertical winch range goes from 500W to 1000W and is available in high or low profile, with different drives. They are suitable for boats to around 13m. The Smart Plus is a stainless steel vertical windlass for boats up to around 16m and is suitable for 6mm,8mm or 10mm chain. Sizes range from 700W to 1700W. In the vertical range, there are a number of options in either drum or gypsy configuration. The Devon models are offered from 1000W to 1500W and the FYN Series caters for boats up to 18m, with chain sizes of 8mm,10mm,12mm, and 13mm. The Raya Series and ESK Series are the big ones in the Italwinch range with electric motors from 2000W to 4000W. The ESK is suitable for boats to 32m and uses chain from 12mm to 16mm. All winches are constructed of the highest quality stainless drums with anodised alloy casings. www.stellasystems.co.nz 20 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
of design work, modifying the bottom a bit and the back end, very careful weight study and trim analysis, some water ballast for trimming, set some strict guidelines for the builders”, says Hill. The owner already has had one of the smaller Arrowcats and is an outboard enthusiast, so the new boat was a natural step. www.powercatsnz.com
BILGEKOTE INTERIOR PROTECTION FROM INTERNATIONAL PAINT International Paint has introduced Bilgekote to Australia & New Zealand. Bilgekote is formulated to protect bilges, lockers and bulkheads against moisture, oil and sludge penetration and wear and tear. Bilgekote has been available in Europe and North American regions for many years and has a proven track record. In Europe, it is known as Danboline. Bilgekote is suitable for all wood, aluminium, steel and GRP/FPR/Composite substrates. Applied with spray or brush and roller, Bilgekote is available in grey or white in 1-litre pack sizes. www.yachtpaint.com
NEWS
BAYLINER RELEASE NEW VR5 CUDDY
The VR5 builds on Bayliner’s proven V-bottom runabout heritage, with the wide beam forward design. This carries the beam further forward in the boat than has been traditionally done. The self-bailing cockpit features Bayliner’s new AftAdvantage design that increases the aft seating area by extending it to the aft most point of the running surface, then adding the swim platform at the end of the running surface. This keeps the platform apart from the usable
interior space, rather than encroaching on it. The result is a boat that maximises space and value. The 6.20m VR5 Cuddy features high gunnels and an extremely roomy cockpit thanks to their exclusive AftAdvantage design. The VR5 Cuddy is available with either a Mercury 150hp 4S outboard or a mercruiser 4.5 l MPI sterndrive. The new cuddy runs a 132-litre fuel tank and comes with a host of standard features. Options include an
Equipment Pack (cockpit carpets, cockpit table, Porta Potti), bucket seat upgrade and a portside sink and transom shower. Lakeland Marine: Kevin Cotton Ph 0800 888 500, Mob: 0272853500, E: sales@lakelandmarine.co.nz, www.lakelandmarine.co.nz Mr Boats: Christchurch Ph. 03 3842726, Timaru Ph. 03 6844107, www.mrboats.co.nz
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w w w. e u r o l y n x . c o . n z Mention ‘boatmags’ for exclusive offers
Eurolynx Travel Limited
Specialist in the Waterways of Europe
DB132
Telephone: 64-9-361 3661 email: info@eurolynx.co.nz
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 21
NEWS
NOOSA MARINE & YANMAR - THE PERFECT MATCH FOR HI-TECH CATS
Noosa Marine deals exclusively in high technology, composite construction. The company only builds custom multi-hull vessels, both sailing or power for the most discerning of owners who have a passion for multi-hull designs. Julian Griffiths began his boat building career as an apprentice at the Norman R Wright & Sons shipyard in Brisbane. Julian’s passion is sailing and his speciality has always been one-off, cold moulded or composite hulls. In 2008, he struck out on his own, founding
Noosa Marine, and in the process, returning to his hometown. Today at Noosa Marine the big cat under construction fills the shed to bursting point. A dedicated team of seven, including three apprentices, work on each project. One of the most recent boats which have given Noosa Marine prominence was the powercat, Bajaca. The 18.7m Bajaca came from the drawing board of Roger Hill in New Zealand and despite its bulk, Bajaca has flowing lines and
Beneteau releases new generation Antares Series
22 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
is as sleek a cat as you will ever see. With dual Yanmar 530mhp 6CX-530CR engines in the engine rooms, Bajaca is capable of reaching 25 knots if required. “Our strength at Noosa Marine lies in our ability to build custom designed hulls entirely from composite materials,” said Julian Griffiths. The hull currently under construction in the Noosa Marine shed is the biggest hull to date with a length of 19.5 m. www.noosamarine.com.au
Bénéteau has initiated the redesign of its Antares range, ensuring that its 40th anniversary is celebrated in style. The Antares 7 and 8 outboards are the first of this new generation. Designed entirely by the Beneteau design team, the Antares 7 and 8 boast a new hull design with improved performance and even better handling. The tulip-shaped hull design of both new models in the Antares range deflects waves effectively, but still ensures stability on the water. The engines can provide up to 175hp for the Antares 7, and 200hp for the 8m model. Bow thrusters can be fitted for easy manoeuvring. There is a full double forward en-suite cabin. The beds have been carefully designed and the amount of storage space available is more than sufficient for voyages lasting several days. The modular cockpit can be transformed into a spacious sunbathing area, whilst the rear bench slides to allow the motor to be raised easily. www.familyboats.co.nz
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NEWS
ULTIMATE SACS RIB Looking for a cool RHIB, then check out this latest offering from the Italian builder SACS. The hull is designed by Picton based Naiad and built in Italy for an Australian owner. The new 20m SACS Strider is powered by a couple of V12MANs at 1900hp each. Top speed is 57knots, with a comfortable cruise speed at 45-50knots. www.sacsmarine.com.au
SUZUKI MARINE RELEASE THEIR LATEST “BIG BLOCK” The Haines Group, distributors of Suzuki Marine outboards, has announced the release of its new high performance, 4-cylinder DF150AP/ DF175AP 4-stroke outboard motors. Repackaged with the latest refinements and innovations as seen in the DF200AP, the DF150AP and DF175AP offer the same lightweight and compact design while boasting the largest displacement in their respective classes (2,867cm3), for outstanding performance and power. Equipped with the same 2.9 litre “Big Block” in-line 4-cylinder DOHC engine, the new outboards also feature a higher 10.2:1 compression
ratio generating more power to deliver exceptional acceleration and low end torque. Options available with the DF150AP/ DF175AP include the new Suzuki Precision Manoeuvering joystick system, which utilises Suzuki Precision Control to provide fully integrated electronic throttle, shift, steering and joystick control for a seamless driving experience and greater manoeuvrability, no matter the condition or speed. The DF150AP/DF175AP are available to order now in two colours – Pearl Nebular Black or Cool White and feature new 3D decals. www.suzukimarine.co.nz.
Terminator is first all GRP with Sealegs The Terminator T755 SF (7.55m) is the latest in a range of boats built by international manufacturers specifically to take advantage of the Sealegs System 60 Amphibious Enablement System. Released at the recent Auckland On water Boat Show, the T755 SF is the first ever Sealegsenhanced craft made 100% in fibreglass. It features a large enclosed cabin, spacious cockpit, with highback seats and walk-around side decks with stainless steel bow rail. The swivel helm seats are upholstered in marine-grade synthetic leather, and the mast arch, bow rail, boarding ladder and cleats are finished in stainless steel. The laminated glass windshield includes wipers and side clears, and the craft includes a self-draining anchor locker and manual and electric bilge pump. The AES, including a fully marinised system of hydraulically powered legs and wheels, is powered by a marinised 22HP inboard engine. This allows the craft to travel for up to 30 minutes within every hour at 7.5kph on land. The Terminator 755 SF also has All Wheel Drive (AWD) and Automatic Braking System (ABS). Both the front wheel and rear wheels have their own wheel motor. This allows for maximum traction and terrain capability when encountering beach inclines of soft sand, shell, shingle and/or pebbles. By leveraging the efficient manufacturing base in Malaysia, and the lower cost manufacturing process of fiberglass, Sealegs have been able to make an extremely competitive introductory offer on the T755. www.sealegsrecreational.com/terminator-755-sf. 24 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Pure Style Pure Luxury Pure Hatteras
45EX GT54 I GT60 I GT63 I GT70 I 60MY I 70MY I 80MY I 100MY
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45EX CRUISER I MEZANINE
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Game & Leisure Boats Pty Ltd TEL.
(07) 5577 5811
Factory 1 Runaway Bay Marina, Queensland.
sales@gandlb.com.au WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 25
HTRAS45EXPCPWR001
CONTACT AUSTRALIA’S OFFICIAL HATTERAS FACTORY DISTRIBUTOR:
NEWS
THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE POWER BOATIE IN YOUR FAMILY!
Two new boats from Grady White Send to: Pacific PowerBoat Subscription Service PO Box 886, Whangaparaoa, Auckland, NZ or visit BOATMAGS.COM & subscribe online today.
Grady White recently introduced two new models, the Fisherman 236 and Freedom 235. The Fisherman 236 is foremost a great fishing boat, bred of Grady’s saltwater DNA yet more feature-rich and family-friendly than any competitive 23-foot centre console. The 236 has unmatched sport fishing essentials— oversize cockpit, rod and tackle storage, plus huge capacity fish boxes and a standard livewell. The family will love two built-in swim platforms, the oversized enclosed head, and comfortable bow seating with optional forward facing fold away backrests.
26 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Grady White say their new Freedom 235 dual console is bigger, better in every way than any competitive 23-foot dual console. The 235 has many “big boat” features along with exceptional quality, luxurious seating, and an oversized enclosed head. A Grady first is the built-in swim platform extensions port and starboard and stern auxiliary anchor storage. Grady White, www.gradywhite.com Marine Imports Ltd, www.gradywhite.co.nz Game and Leisure Boats, www.gandlb.com.au
NEWS
REDUCE
YOUR BOAT ROLL
DICKEY BOATS LAUNCH FIRST SF45 Dickey Boats, has launched their first Dickey Semifly 45. Building on the foundations of the award winning Semifly 32, the new Semifly 45 takes the popular range to new level of luxury and performance befitting the company’s respected reputation. Designed as a serious offshore sports fisher and constructed with New Zealand’s challenging conditions in mind, the SF45 has impressive volume, with a wide 4.75m beam. With two full cabins downstairs and options for a third, seven adults can be accommodated, with a full size bathroom and head completing the overnighting amenities. The wheelhouse proper boasts twin luxury helm seats while
At anchor and underway
Anti Rolling Gyro Stabilizer
accommodating a large U-shaped social lounger, bar leaner and a generous and functional galley. Additional seating is offered as an option in the rear cockpit, which can also be configured to include a BBQ island, full bait station, game-chairs and an array of custom rods holders and accessories to suit any owner’s particular needs. Power is a pair of Volvo IPS 600 drives and the boat comes with CZone digital switching system, 2000L of fuel, 400L of water, on-board diesel heating, a watermaker and generator. With hull number one launching October and hull two well underway, Dickey Boats is keen to find an owner for hull number three. www.dickeyboats.com
- with over a decade of experience of creating stable situations on pleasure and commercial craft all over the world. For Luxury Yachts, Trawlers and Sports Fishers ◗
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Allow crew and guests to move around safely and enjoy themselves. Provides a comfortable setting for dining and entertaining. Sleep in comfort at the dock or anchored out. Keeps your vessel steady when docking. Effective at trolling and at ‘zero’ speeds. Less maintenance means more time to fish. Easy to use, just flip a switch. Improves fuel efficiency.
There are over 3000 installed worldwide
ARG 175T New Model
Compact size. Boats to 25 Tons
PEEL AWAY PAINT WITH PEEL AWAY layers of paint. After a set time of two to three days the laminated cover is carefully removed, with the paste and the layers of paint attached to the cover sheet that can now be disposed in a safe manner, then wash the surface down with water. Peel Away is suitable for commercial, domestic, industrial, automotive and marine, and can be used on surfaces such as brick, concrete, soft-wood, hardwood, fine furniture, marble, steel, cast iron, fibreglass, plaster and for asbestos removal. www.peelaway.co.nz
ARG 250T
Boats to 40Tons
DB119
Peel Away is a revolutionary unique and environmentally friendly paint removal system that can remove multiple layers of paint at any one time. There are no harsh solvents used in the product, the chemicals used are safe to handle and apply. What makes this product unique is the ease of application. The product unique is a thick paste that is applied to the surface by hand or sprayed then covered with laminated cover sheet which allows the paste to be sealed and emulsify the
ARG 375T
Boats to 60Tons
Zealandand andAustralian Austrailian Distributor: NNew ew Zealand Distributor :
Pacific ImportsLtd Ltd Pacific Tech Tech Imports +64 9 4152278 1029 P:ph: +64 9 424 PO Box 300 797 PO Box 153, Albany, Auckland Whangaparaoa 0752 New Zealand
www.pacifictech.co.nz www.pacifictech.co.nz WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 27
NEWS
NEW COASTGUARD RESCUE VESSEL TO ASSIST NORTHLAND BOATIES replace the ageing existing vessel, which was donated to Coastguard Whangaroa in mid-2012 after over a decade’s service with another Northland Coastguard Unit. To complement the new vessel, extensive volunteer recruitment and training has been undertaken to increase the number of skilled wet crew volunteers, ensuring the unit can continue to respond to incidents 24 hours a day. Built by Smuggler Marine of Henderson, Auckland and powered by dual Volvo Penta 260HP engines, Whangaroa Rescue was custom designed for the conditions in Northland and will be much more capable
than its predecessor. Coastguard Northern Region CEO Callum Gillespie is delighted to see this project come to life, enhancing the Coastguard fleet in the Far North. “Whangaroa Rescue is an exciting new vessel to add to the 26-strong fleet that now supports Coastguard’s marine search and rescue activities around the Northern Region.” Volunteers from Coastguard Whangaroa attended 41 incidents since January 2015, ranging from mechanical difficulties to fullblown emergencies, ensuring dozens of boaties have been brought back to safety. www.smuggler.co.nz
DB157
Coastguard’s new, purpose built rescue vessel, based at Whangaroa has been aptly named, Kahurangi, ‘Jewel of the North’. Support from the community has been crucial in getting the new Smuggler 11.2m, custombuilt RIB rescue vessel across the line. It has taken five years of planning and fundraising to get to this stage, with over $125,000 of the vessel’s funding coming from community donations, donors and Unit reserves. Funding for the over $750,000 vessel was also made possible by grants from Foundation North, the Lottery Grants Board, Pub Charity, Trillian Trust and the Oxford Sports Trust. The new vessel was commissioned to
2017 VR5 Cuddy (6.20m)
28 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
2017 Ciera 8 Cuddy (8.15m)
NEWS
Tristram & Mercury Join Forces Tristram Marine and Mercury Marine have been working closely together to develop economical and unrivalled sterndrive packages. Released at the recent Auckland Viaduct Boat Show, was the first Tristram 741 Offshore, using MerCruiser’s very own 4.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Diesel sterndrive packages have dominated Tristram hardtop sterndrive sales over the past decades, but the recent addition of this more affordable non-diesel option to Tristram’s hardtop range could quite possibly change this. Tested at Mercury Marine’s recent Dealer Conference, this 250hp engine proved
that fuel efficiency is maintained in the petrol-powered Tristram, and owners are also set to save upon purchase with the engine’s lower retail price. MerCruiser’s V6 block has been designed solely for marine use with cast-iron componentry where the engine intersects with seawater and uses corrosion-resistant aluminium and composites everywhere else. A new refined Electronic Throttle Body with Adaptive Speed Control (ASC) holds RPM during hard turns and rough seas, allowing the operator to keep both hands on the wheel. Acceleration is significantly
more responsive and exciting. The 4.5 litre’s rear-facing throttle body, anti-whistle throttle plate, engine cover and mounts, lightweight flywheel, fuel supply module, and structural oil pan all work together to deliver superior idle, smoothness and low vibration, resulting in an exceptional driving experience. Tristram has offered MerCruiser’s Bravo Three Drive as standard on all sterndrive packages since the early 2000’s. This drive has once again been chosen as a standard item with the new Tristram 741 Offshore petrol package. www.tristram.co.nz
In 1956 the Tohatsu tradition began by building reliable motors for Japanese commercial fishermen who needed an outboard motor that could run for days on end, no matter what the weather. The ocean-tested engineering that enabled Tohatsu motors to work under these demanding and often harsh conditions have given Tohatsu a reputation for reliability and toughness.
DB094
This has continued over the past 60 years, with Tohatsu’s commitment to introducing new products and technology into the market that evolves with the times and needs of their customers.
Phone: 04 237 7800 | email: sales@diversifiedproducts.co.nz
For more information on the full range of 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke Tohatsu engines visit our website: www.tohatsu.co.nz WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 29
NEWS
AMPHIBIOUS CAT FROM STRYDA
One of the more interesting new boats at the Auckland On Water Show was the Stryda 600C, an amphibious powercat featuring the newly released Orion S25 amphibious leg system. The 6.0m Stryda is designed by Stinson Yacht Design and powered by a Honda
250. With a 2.5m beam it is easily trailerable, yet with the new Orion amphibious system, it can be easily driven on land. The system features brakes, limited slip traction control and uses a 37hp Briggs & Stratton engine. www.strydamarine.com
TM
www.seaforce.co.nz 30 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
DB122
FIBREGLASS PONTOON
NEWS
COBALT FOCUSES ON NEW AUSTRALIAN GROWTH STRATEGY One of the world’s most successful family boat manufacturers, Cobalt based in Kansas in the USA, has partnered with a new distributor to grow its presence and dealer network in Australia. Cobalt Australia, owned by Brett Thurley, will oversee the branding, marketing, dealer appointments and boat show strategy for Cobalt Australia wide effective immediately. For Cobalt Australia’s managing director Brett Thurley representing Cobalt is a natural fit having owned three of the prestige boats
Cobalt R 30 himself over the years. The immediate expansion will be the creation of the Cobalt Boats of Queensland retail dealership at Gold Coast City Marina creating a purpose build new Cobalt indoor showroom to showcase the new 2017 models. The new Queensland dealership will be on the waterfront and has on-water demonstration, dry storage and in-water berthing facilities at the marina, said Thurley. Cobalt has been represented in Australia by Dennis and Tracey Souvleris at JD’s Boat
Shed for many years and they are familiar to many Cobalt owners and will continue to grow their business in the NSW market, said Thurley. Cobalt Boats of Queensland will be marketing the full range of Cobalt vessels which stretches from 20 to 40 feet. There will be family runabouts, cuddy cabin cruisers as well as wake surf boats along with a new outboard runabout range debuting in 2017. Cobalt Australia, Ph: +61 (0)7 55194 019, E: brett@cobaltqld.com.au
Comfort on board Air Conditioning Wide range of air-conditioning systems for super yachts, pleasure and commercial boats.
Isotherm Fridges and Freezers Offering an extensive range of fridges, freezers, drawer and built-in models. Isotemp Boilers also available.
Marine Sunroof Customised roof systems to meet a wide range of customer demand in size and design.
All systems are covered by Webasto’s world-wide warranty.
Australia FreeCall: 1800 244 494
New Zealand FreeCall: 0800 493 227
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NEWS
Riviera Festival of Boating Wins Prestigious Award The 2016 Riviera Festival of Boating has been formally acknowledged for excellence as Queensland’s Best Corporate Event. This year’s festival of fun and learning was the largest and most comprehensive ever staged at the home of Riviera on Australia’s Gold Coast, attracting over 1000 registrants from around Australia and the world. In accepting the 2016 Best Corporate Event accolade on behalf of the 500-strong Riviera team, Brand and Communications Director Stephen Milne said the 2016 Festival truly reflected the ethos of excellence that flows through every aspect of Riviera – Australia’s favourite and most-awarded builder of luxury motor yachts.
“Across four fantastic days, our very talented team and our experienced facilitators this year hosted over 110 educational workshops on land and on water, a number of special social events, fully narrated factory tours via the Riviera Express train ride and a spectacular red-carpet showcase of worldclass luxury motor yachts on the undercover Riviera Marina. “It is extremely gratifying that the Festival has been recognised as something genuinely special not just by our global Riviera Family of owners … but now by the Australian events industry as well.” The 2016 Festival’s hands-on workshops spanned all aspects of boating – from
32 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
weather forecasting and routine maintenance to offshore seamanship and advanced navigation, and placed a special emphasis on safety. The spectacular Saturday evening redcarpet marina party, gala dinner and show – Viva Las Riviera – transformed part of the Riviera factory into a magnificent ballroom for almost 600 guests. Mr Milne said work has now begun in earnest for the 2017 Festival of Boating from 25-28 May at Riviera’s world-class Coomera facility. Register for the 2017 Festival of Boating on the Riviera website at http://bit.ly/2017FestivalofBoating
NEWS
33RD RUNNING OF NZ’S GREATEST SKI RACE
The 2016 Yamaha Rollo’s Marine Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic will mark the 33rd running of this iconic event held annually on the Waikato River. This year’s event takes place on the 2nd – 4th of December and is shaping up to once again be bigger and better than ever. Not only is the competition heating up the organisers hope that the date a bit closer to summer means a warm weekend on the banks of the river. The main race for the weekend is a 82km flat out sprint, which is a
huge challenge for both man and machine. This year the race will see up to a 10 Open Class boats including 12 time race winner and last years champs “Warlord”, 2015 race winner and course record holder “Messiah” as well as other past winners. There is even rumours of a top Australian boat possibly coming to join the party. All of these open class boats are all capable of 100 plus mile per hour speeds. A large contingent of Australian competitors are flying in from
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across the ditch especially for the race as it becomes increasingly popular with the Aussies. One of the highlights of the weekend will be the battle between Mark Cromie in his Turbine Power Jet boat “Kwik Kiwi” and the Offshore Superboat Pro Floors Racing. Cromie finnally bet his long standing record time last year with 2 sub 7 minute runs over the 20km course to set an impressive record of 13:32. He will be looking to once again better than time. www.skirace.co.nz
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WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 33
NEWS
First Maritimo S70 sold to Kiwi Buyer The sleek, new Maritimo S70 sedan cruiser, revealed for the first time at the recent Sydney International Boat Show, came into being after the buyer of the first of the model travelled the world studying a variety of brands at international boat shows. The New Zealand businessman, who is nearing retirement, was originally leaning towards a large displacement cruiser in the Nordhaven or Fleming style and even considered building a one-off boat to their specification in New Zealand. “The boat we fell in love with was the Maritimo M65,” he said. “ The stunning kitchen, saloon and master cabin and bathroom impressed my wife and I and a quick trip out into large seas off the Gold Coast supported our belief
that the M65 could go anywhere we wanted on the Australian coastline, throughout the Pacific and around New Zealand. “The issue was we did not want a flybridge cruiser, but Maritimo were quick to offer to design and build a sport cabriolet version of the M65 and they presented a plan to us in 3D that had us sold.” The couple plans to spend a year cruising the coastline around Australia before taking the boat back home to New Zealand after they take possession early next year. Maritimo’s Australasian Sales Manager Ormonde Britton said the buyer started discussions with Maritimo’s New Zealand representative Don Senior about 15 months ago and the concept of the S70 sedan
New DuraLED 50LP from Hella DuraLED 50LP lamps are an extremely powerful source of white light and offer a safe, energy efficient and reliable alternative to incandescent and fluorescent lighting within an easy to install, s u r f a c e m o u n t design. These high tech, low profile lamps are available in two light patterns, Spread and Wide Spread, to suit a variety of applications including engine rooms, storage lockers, lazarettes and other heavy duty applications where reliability can not be compromised. Each lamp is completely sealed, UV,
impact and shock resistant ensuring an ultra-long service life. MultivoltTM circuitry provides constant illumination and circuit protection from 9-33V DC, even under severe voltage fluctuations. DuraLED 50LP lamps also carry ISO Ignition Protection approval for safe and certified installation when lamps are located near flammable gas sources. Hella marine DuraLED 50LP lamps offer energy efficiency, unmatched durability and are supported with a 5-year warranty for a total ‘fit and forget’ solution and complete peace of mind. www.hellamarine.com
34 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
stemmed from there. Britton said the buyer of S70 hull number one spent a lot of time sea trialling the M61 and the M65 and he ‘loved the design of the S58’. Maritimo’s Marketing and International Sales Manager, Greg Haines, said the M65 had been a runaway success for the company with twelve vessels now sold to buyers throughout Australia and as further afield as New Zealand, Texas, Florida, France and Singapore. The new S70 will have four cabins and three bathrooms and an exceptionally large saloon and helm area. The first boat will probably be powered by 900hp Scania motors, but a final decision is yet to be made. www.maritimo.com.au
Propspeed is now DIY.
Oceanmax, the developers and distributors of Propspeed, have released Propspeed into the New Zealand and Australian retail market in the form of their new DIY kits. The Propspeed DIY kits come in two sizes: 500ml and 200ml kits. Each kit comes with Propclean and Propprep wipes for the surface preparation, Etching Primer components, stirring stick, Clear Coat, and a double sided application guide. Propspeed is a very technical product, and care must be taken when applying it yourself. For best results, Oceanmax highly recommends using an approved Propspeed applicator who has been professionally trained. If you do wish to do it yourself, it is suggest you visit the Propspeed website, www.propspeed.com and watch the comprehensive application video.
NEW AZIMUT 50. REINVENTING THE LUXURY YACHT. A 17 SQ M FLYBRIDGE THAT AMPLIFIES YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE. A SPACIOUS, FUNCTIONAL SALON FOR BOUNDLESS COMFORT. A FULL-BEAM OWNER’S SUITE TO BATHE YOUR PRIVACY IN NATURAL LIGHT.
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WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 35
INDUSTRY MOVERS & SHAKERS
Rayglass Boats scoops Platinum Award
Rayglass Boats CEO, Dave Larsen (left), receives his Club Marine Australasian Platinum Dealer of the Year award from Club Marine CEO, Simon McLean.
Top New Zealand boatbuilder, Rayglass Boats, has been awarded the Club Marine Australasian Platinum Dealer of the Year award. It is the first time the award, for exemplary customer service and outstanding support, has been won by a Kiwi company. “This is a great honour for Rayglass and New Zealand,” says the Rayglass CEO Dave Larsen, “especially given the comparative size of the boating industry in Australia. “We’re excited that a New Zealand-based business has received this award and are pleased to help raise Club Marine’s profile in our expanding and exciting market,” said Larsen. Club Marine’s Platinum Dealer Program recognises a select group of dealers as leaders within the marine industry, with Platinum Dealership the highest level of recognition a dealer can receive from Club Marine. www.rayglass.co.nz
FI-GLASS COMES TO FISH CITY ALBANY Fish City Albany has announced that it will retail the popular Fi-Glass Boats brand from its North Auckland retail store. The arrival of the Christchurch manufactured fibreglass brand will compliment the existing aluminium craft already stocked by Fish City Albany in the popular FC Boats and McLay Boats ranges. “It is a natural progression for us to take on a leading New Zealand manufacturerd brand like Fi-Glass. It will make us a one stop shop for either aluminium or fibreglass boats, hunting or fishing needs, we have it all,” says Fish City Albany Managing Director, Mike Graham. Fish City Albany will become the sole FiGlass dealer on Auckland’s Northshore. www.fishcityalbany.co.nz
CHAPARRAL TEAMS UP WITH WANAKA MARINE Chaparral Boats has appointed long established South Island dealer, Wanaka Marine as the New Zealand representative for its range of U.S built sports boats. Chaparral offers 40 different models ranging from, 5.5m entry level bow riders up to 10m diesel sports cruisers, with everything in between. Wanaka Marine recently took delivery of a Chaparral 250 Suncoast outboard for use on Lake Wanaka by a local customer. Now in their 53rd year, Chaparral have an enviable reputation worldwide for innovation. They offer bow riders in outboard, jet and stern drives of various sizes and deck options, and have just announced the world’s first saltwater surf boats that incorporate the Malibu Surf Gate wake surfing system. The first stock boats have been ordered and are due to arrive before Christmas. www.chaparralboats.com or Wanaka Marine Ph +64 03 443-9062
GULFLAND TO DISTRIBUTE CSB HUNTSMAN A small sign at the recent AOWS was the first indication that Whangaparaoa based, Gulfland Marine, had signed a deal to distribute CSB Huntsman Boats on Auckland’s North Shore. Built in Christchurch, CSB Huntsman Boats have not had significant representation on Auckland’s North Shore and the new venture with the very aggressive Craig Lewis and Gulfland Marine should see that all change. “We are very excited about taking on one of the countries most progressive fibreglass brands, that I see complimenting out existing
aluminium Stabicraft range”, says Lewis. With a number of totally new models planned for 2017 release, CSB Huntsman is also one of the more proactive grp brands, with a commitment to grow their portfolio in the future. Gulfland Marine also recently appointed industry stalwart, Craig Archer to assist in sales and the workshop. Gulfland Marine joins East Tamaki based Woodbine Marine as the only Auckland outlets for CSB Huntsman boats. www.gulflandmarine.co.nz
36 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Every Whitehaven starts with you.
Your decisions in life are what define you and your boat should be no exception. Whitehaven Motor Yachts are Australian designed for the toughest conditions and boast exceptional offshore sea-keeping capabilities with finishings that rival the finest of super yachts. Why accept a production line brand when a Whitehaven affords you an opportunity to customise and reflect your individual boating lifestyle. The Whitehaven 6000 Flybridge sets a new benchmark in bespoke luxury. Compare for yourself and see which Whitehaven from our range should be part of your journey – you deserve it.
wmy.com.au
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COUPE6000 WHITEHAVEN MOTOR YACHTS Keith Hanson 0418 767 681 Hans Stolz 0407 672 673
SUNBRIDGE6000 QUEENSLAND Brisbane - Spirit Marine Lee Randall 0423 373 255
QUEENSLAND Gold Coast - AMT Marine Andy Taylor 0424 581 589
FLYBRIDGE6000 NEW SOUTH WALES Empire Boat Sales Jason Ash 02 9457 9011
VICTORIA Pier 35 Boat Sales Terry Ryan - 0422 66 212
CONVERTIBLE6600 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Martin Box Marine Jamie Dodd 0418 819 181
NEW ZEALAND Laurie Collins Marine Wayne Baston 0274 502 654
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 37
POWER ON
The Broadbill Gladiator 8m is the first to have JPO fitted in NZ.
Mercury Joystick Piloting Maximum movement with minimum effort. Mercury Marine’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards (JPO) is a sophisticated joystick control system for large outboard rigs, with two, three or even four engines. There is more to this system than just joystick control, as Mercury has integrated it with SmartCraft, VesselView and DTS technology. Joystick Piloting has several key features, such as Skyhook digital anchor, enhanced docking control mode, auto trim, and waypoint sequencing. PPB had the opportunity recently to try out the system on the transom of a Broadbill Gladiator 8, the first boat in New Zealand to have JPO installed. When you first see the JPO, you can’t see there is anything different to a standard twin rig setup and it’s not until you start doing slow speed manoeuvering, such as docking that you can appreciate how this system works. When Warren Hay owner of Warren Hay Marine and Broadbill Boats, decided to build his ultimate trailerable fishing boat, he
immediately looked at the JPO system. This required some consultation with Mercury Marine and in fact, Warren says that after talking with Mercury, he went back and made the necessary changes to the hull to more suit the engines. This meant getting the beam to length ratio just right and even the distance between the motors had to be perfect to make sure the JPO worked as efficiently as possible. “The benefits are huge, not only for launching and retrieving the boat or coming into a docking position but also when fishing”, says Warren. He adds that there are two parts to the JPO system. Firstly the joystick piloting which is ideal when chasing a fish in reverse or turning on a marlin. ”The boat is so manoeuvrable it takes the thinking away from you by simply turning the knob the way you want to go and the engines do the rest. It’s that easy”. Warren is also very impressed with the Skyhook option, which uses GPS technology
38 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
to maintain your boat’s position and heading. This allows you to put the boat in a stationary position, such as over a deep reef jigging for kinghie and the boat holds itself with no need for anyone at the helm. “We have tested the skyhook in 15 knots of wind with 7 knots of current on Whangarei Harbour and the boat never moved”, says Warren. It is amazing to see the two engines working in cooperation with the GPS to hold a position. They work independently, dropping in and out of gear, turning every which way and basically thinking for themselves. There are two different functions on the remote. One allows you to be aggressive and you can hear and feel the engines going in and out of gear. This is used when there is a swell and the wind is up and the currents are against you. Then there is the docking mode which is a lot less aggressive and is also great when your fishing in calmer water with little current or wind to move the boat around. As soon
The JPO is available for dual, triple or quad installations of for 250 - 400hp Verado outboards.
Left: Twist the joystick and you can position the boat where you want it. Right: The engines work independently, dropping in and out of gear, turning every which way and basically thinking for themselves.
as you touch the throttle or the joystick, the JPO will come out of Skyhook. There is also a manual override switch. Another benefit he says is when they are soft baiting in shallows, the Skyhook allows you to stay in one spot enabling you to cast into reefs, without the worry of drifting onto the rocks. With your approved chart plotter, you can enter a predetermined route that the vessel will follow and will turn automatically to the next point. It also uses a built-in digital compass to maintain the vessel course and the heading can be adjusted by 1° if you move the joystick left or right or 10° if you twist the joystick. Being NMEA 2000 compliant, the JPO is also linked into the autopilot, trim tabs and the Raymarine MFD. “Docking is just incredible and again it takes
all the thinking away from the driver”, says Warren. When you have an 8m hardtop boat with twin outboards that you need to bring alongside a marina or onto the trailer, all with a strong current and wind happening at the same time, it can be a daunting task, especially for an inexperienced skipper. With the Mercury JPO, that worry has all gone. Side-to-side and diagonal moves plus 360 “on a dime” rotation take the stress out the docking equation. This is all done with a gentle nudge of the joystick. Maximum manoeuvrability with minimum effort. The JPO is available for dual, triple or quad installations of 250, 300, 350 and 400hp Verado outboards. Joystick piloting systems are compatible with SmartCraft Digital,
which are standard on all Verado product. Throttle & Shift (DTS), as well as electronic/ hydraulic power steering provide “all day” control and confidence - cruising, docking, everything. Warren is now a strong advocate for JPO and says it has made his fishing especially, so much less stressful. We loved it, especially docking back at Marsden Cove Marina with a stiff breeze and then driving the boat to the trailer. JPO is definitely something to it needs consider if you have a pair of Verados on your boat. The system cannot be retro fitted to existing Verado’s, it needs to be a full specific JPO package. They are worth every cent of the extra cost. www.mercurymarine.com.au
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ELECTRONIC NEWS
FUSION LAUNCHES STEREOACTIVE
Simrad Go9 Xse With Radar Capability The Simrad GO9 XSE is the latest addition to the popular GO Series systems. Packed full of features, it has intuitive, multi-touch controls that smartphone and tablet users will instantly find familiar and easy to use. Boaters can view charts, add waypoints and see key information on a large 9-inch screen. Additionally, the GO9 XSE is fully compatible with Simrad Broadband 3G/4G radar systems and features an internal 10 Hz GPS receiver, StructureScan HD and CHIRP Sonar for fish finding, autopilot integration for precision control, engine data monitoring, full audio entertainment connectivity with SonicHub2, built-in wireless connectivity, and Simrad’s TripIntelTM trip computer. The Cruise Charting page combines crucial navigation data and charts into one easy-to-read display, while new TripIntel technology tracks and displays the key information needed to plan a safe and enjoyable day on the water. Fuel range overlaid on charts, current and future tide levels, and a detailed history of previous trips – including the route taken and how the boat performed – are all provided by TripIntel functionality. The Simrad GO9 XSE also connects to NMEA 2000 compatible equipment aboard vessels with either outboard or inboard engines to show fuel flow, fluid level, speed, heading and water temperature. A wide range of cartography options is available, including C-MAP, Navionics and more. The new Simrad GO9 XSE is available in various configurations ranging from $1,899 AUD RRP/ $2069 NZD RRP without transducer, and up to $2,049 AUD RRP/ $2239 NZD RRP with the TotalScan transducer. www.simrad-yachting.com 40 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Fusion, a worldwide leader in lifestyle entertainment, has introduced, Stereoactive, the world’s first purpose-built portable watersports stereo. With built-in Bluetooth audio streaming, AM/FM radio with weather band available in the U.S. and USB audio playback, Stereoactive is packed with features. Engineered in New Zealand, the new compact system is designed for the challenges of life on the water and tuned to deliver crystal clear audio that enhances any activity. Featuring the unique Puck-It mount system, users can easily and securely attach the stereo to any paddleboard, kayak, canoe, boat or even hot tub. To keep valuables safe from the elements, Fusion has also incorporated the Activesafe which, when combined with Stereoactive, will securely house any smartphone, vehicle keys, bank cards or loose change. Whether standing on a paddleboard or rowing a canoe, Stereoactive is controlled with easy to press, scalloped buttons which are adjustable with the touch of a finger or the tap of a paddle. The high-grade rubber over-moulded keypad is engineered to take a paddling. The Puck locking mechanism securely fixes Stereoactive in place, even in the event of capsizing. In the unlikely event that it does become detached from the Puck mount, both Stereoactive and Activesafe float, keeping the stereo and valuables safe from the depths below. Stereoactive is capable of streaming audio via Bluetooth from any popular music service such as Pandora or Spotify, from a compatible A2DP Bluetooth enabled device or playing music with the built-in AM/FM tuner. The unit also contains a waterproof cavity designed to provide secure housing for a low profile USB for MP3 playback, while keeping the flash drive waterproof and IPx7 safe. Audio playback over USB is available for Apple lighting products and AOA 2.0 Android phones so users can just plug and play. Engineered to distribute quality audio for a more personalised listing experience, the 2.5” custom designed directional speakers matched with the passive radiator and Class D amplifier has been designed to deliver audio efficiently and powerfully through the 40 Watt speaker system. A flat mounting surface has been positioned perfectly to allow for the mounting of a Garmin Virb or other third party action camera. With a long-life battery, Stereoactive will keep the music playing for up to 20 hours and the type-A USB port also provides playback and charging for Apple iPhone lightening connector products and Android AOA devices. www.stereoactive.com
MEGARAY OFFER SEARCHLIGHT SOLUTIONS
WASSP Delivers Wireless Naval Solution New Zealand based manufacturer of Multibeam technology WASSP Ltd has recently delivered three rapid-deploy WASSP Wireless systems to the Royal New Zealand Navy. The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) identified that the Obstacle Avoidance Sonar (OAS) that was fitted to the RNZN Multi Role Vessel Canterbury was outdated and needed replacing. Studies by the MoD had indicated that obstacle avoidance capability for both floating and fixed obstacles A review of the concept of operation provided an alternative solution that more clearly reflected the practical requirement for obstacle avoidance and safe ship navigation in particular scenarios. The MoD selected the Obstacle Avoidance requirement for the Protector fleet to be provided using Rigid Hull Inflatable (RHIB) mounted multibeam sonar technology. To meet the capability need, WASSP Ltd, an ENL Group company, offered three semi-self-contained rapid-deploy multi-beam systems based on their new DRX platform. Combined with wireless link technology, it allows RHIB’s to be deployed from larger surface vessels to map seafloor topography and assimilate sub-surface data and provide a rapid area assessment that is wirelessly transmitted back to the “mothership” in a real-time 3D animation. The result is the delivery of real-time underwater situational awareness to the ships bridge and its decision makers. www.wassp.com
NEW SIMRAD
AUTOPILOT RANGE
Designed for powerboats and sport-fishing vessels, the new Simrad autopilot range features increased accuracy, easier commissioning, simple integration via NMEA 2000® networking, as well as adding Continuum Steering to the entire line of Simrad autopilots — a new technology that delivers even more responsive and reliable steering. Powered by the NAC-2 (up to 35-foot vessels) or NAC-3 (over 35foot vessels) autopilot computer, which can drive inboard and
Megaray is a manufacturer of long range searchlight solutions for all military and non-military surveillance, reconnaissance, sniper suppression, border illumination, crowd control and search and rescue. Now available in New Zealand through Coventry Marine, Megaray searchlights can illuminate more than 2.4km up to 5km respectively. To achieve these distances the Megaray uses a patented complex Galilean telescopic optical lens system producing a uniform collimated beam on the target. Megaray searchlights allow for illumination several kilometres away using visible light. It’s one of a kind optical system provides uniform lighting of a target and it’s surroundings. The unit can be operated by remote switches or software. Megaray searchlights will not interfere with any radio communications or any interference from electronic or electro-mechanical devices due to the shielding provided which restricts electromagnetic induction. Models have been designed for use on several platforms including vessel mounted units. Models include the popular renowned handheld unit being the Megaray MR175MK2 (pictured). The Megaray range of models includes the MR175MK2, MR2175ST, MR2175EM, MR2300, MR3300 and MR4300. Coventry Marine, Glen Urquhart, Ph +64 21 989008, glen@coventry.co.nz
outboard engines, this new range of autopilot products is a significant development for Simrad. The AP44 Autopilot Controller is a 4.1-inch colour display with rotary dial and button controls, and modern glass-helm styling. The controller offers easy access to Automated Turn Patterns, No Drift Steering, Depth Contour Tracking and other advanced pilot features. A perfect replacement for legacy systems, the AP44 can be connected with a chart plotter to enable waypoint and route navigation – in addition to full autopilot control from compatible multifunction displays. The IS42 colour instrument display easily integrates with NSS evo2 and NSO evo2 multifunction displays and glass helm systems. The IS42 can function as an instrument display or as a standalone autopilot controller — when paired with the OP12 — aboard smaller vessels. View wind, speed, depth, engine data, autopilot status and more at a glance, or add the optional OP12 wired remote to take full control of the autopilot system. www.simrad-yachting.com WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 41
RACING NEWS
GRAEME HORNE 1946-2016
TO FINISH FIRST, FIRST YOU HAVE TO FINISH The sport of offshore racing lost a legend recently with the passing of Graeme Horne. Graeme had a passion for the sport unlike most and it took him to the very top in New Zealand. No matter how many setbacks he had and he had plenty, he always bounced back and over the years had done have his fair share of winning. He won the New Zealand championship on four occasions, and was awarded the UIM Medal, an honour not easily bestowed and a fitting recognition of his dedication to the sport he so loved, but that also proved so tragic for him. He raced in Australia and America and competed in numerous world championships. Right up until his untimely departure from the racing scene, no one had done more for the sport than Horne. No one can match his record of wins and championship wins.
His offshore racing career started with a twin rigged ski boat called Eliminator, which in the 78-79 season he used to compete in both ski racing and offshore. However, after his first race at Manukau with ace mechanic Ted Taiatini, he was hooked and ski racing was quickly forgotten. But if he wanted to win he needed something better than he had and that meant running a catamaran. In 1980 he purchased a Cougar 23 from Roger Wood and renamed it EIT Mover, the first of his boats to carry the name and the start of a long relationship with Bill Borrie and his company. He and ace mechanic Bob Menzies were unquestionably one of the most dominant forces in offshore racing for many seasons, recording back to back championship wins.
42 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
GOING BIGGER But Horne wanted something bigger and he approached boat builder Keith Eade to build him a new boat. Again called EIT, this 26 cat with the very latest engines was as good as you could get and a hull built using the latest material technology. That was Horne; he wanted the best he could get. It didn’t matter the cost. At the time Ross Tebbs was giving Horne a hard time with his cat RitePine and I can remember in the 1984 season Tebbs beat him four races in a row, but Horne still managed to pick up the championship that year. Consistency was what it was all about and with Bob Menzies preparing the boat that went without saying. They were a formidable team. When it was announced that the World Champs would be held in Auckland in 1986, Horne decided to go big and had Eade build him another cat, this time, a Robson 32 powered by triple Mercury 2.5EFI outboards for Class 2. While the triple rig was successful on the local circuit, when it came to the world champs he was up against the dominant inboards and the triple outboards just didn’t cut it. Their days were numbered
and Horne new it. Horne had run the triple rig in the Pacific 1000 in Australia and was getting a liking for having a go at the Australians, especially Bill Barry-Cotter and Steve Ackrie. The 1986 Worlds also announced the arrival of Jesse James and with that the local scene took on another whole new dimension. Jesse James was a twin inboard engine catamaran, the fastest, most successful Class 2 boat of its era and was brought to NZ by Ross Tebbs. The inboard cats proved too quick and the world championship Horne had so longed for slipped away. Horne quickly realised that to win he needed to change to inboards, so after a lot of work with guys like Wynn Brooks and Tony Banks, EIT Mover, was reborn with twin inboard power and launched in early 1990. He admitted after, that if he had known then, what he knew after the repower, he would have built a new boat. The outboards to inboards transformation were never as successful as Horne had hoped for. A new rival appeared on the scene in the form of Peter Turner with Sleepyhead, another twin inboard powered cat and for many seasons these two and Jesse James fought out every race. They were the boats the public came to see and Horne loved the adulation when he won. He was also always gracious in defeat. THE ARRIVAL OF THE COUGAR However, it still wasn’t enough and in 1995 he went big and bought a Cougar 40 cat from Europe painted it red and renamed it Fleetlease. Not to be left behind, Turner brought in a 40ft Skater and again the sport
was dominated by these two going head to head at every race. Unfortunately for Horne, it was Sleepyhead that did most of the winning. While Horne had had Bob Menzies in his outboard days, Turner had Muddy McGrath and that was one of the most important winning factors in Sleepyhead’s success. And then along came the 1996 season and Horne offered an American racing friend the steering job in Fleetlease for the Auckland race in March. Fate struck a tragic blow when during the race, the boat rode up on a ferry wake and flipped. Horne suffered severe head trauma and was in a coma for many weeks in the hospital. His racing career was at an end and the sport lost an icon. However, during those years Horne lived life to the fullest. In 1992 when asked by journalist Geoff Green, what motivated him to spend so much money and time on a sport that can be so hard on machinery and the human body. Graeme said “Race people live life with capital letters and in italics, They are super interesting people and fun to be around. It is for much as the social aspect as for the sporting challenge. I guess offshore racing is in my blood. It’s my sport”. And that summed up his passion and dedication for offshore racing. In offshore racing circles, Graeme was a giant. He will never be forgotten and I am sure that right now he is sitting somewhere with old racing mates like Roger Wood and Graeme Sutherland, talking about the old times. Rest in peace my old mate, and keep those props turning wherever you are. – Barry Thompson
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CRUISING MATTERS
By Laurie Cranfield
R E V E F t h Nig – Cruising at Night
SLEEP TIGHT With our Auckland friends Kevin and Diane O’Sullivan aboard we’re cruising around the stunning southern mainland region of Greece known as the Peloponnisos. The first thing one morning I ask Diane if she’s slept well and she answers with a laugh, “yes I had several good periods of sleep”. This is a good point to ponder - there’s nothing as great as sleeping on a boat right? Well maybe! Firstly very few anchorages are perfectly calm, in fact over here even many of the marinas and harbours have some surge. So you’ve got constant movement to some degree and this causes various noises such as creaking hulls, groaning anchor rodes, rattling cupboards, cans rolling in the fridge, the sound of the sea outside the open porthole, the occasional wavelet on the hull and in most places fishing boats and ferries moving around during the night making exhaust noise and small wakes. Add to the mix wavelets lapping against the dinghy moored astern or with some boats wavelets lapping against the chines. Fresh water is circulated to the sink taps by a 12-volt electric pump which makes a humming noise every time any tap or head is used as well as periodically for a few seconds even when not used. Sinks make gurgling noises as the boat moves with surges. In most anchorages, we use a GPS anchor position alarm to warn of movement from our original anchored position. It’s quite normal for a boat to move around a bit with wind changes so the anchor alarm is yet another noise to add to the list. In the Med, we can often hear distant tavernas playing music until the early hours as well as traffic noise, particularly motor scooters with their loud exhausts.
So light sleepers beware - Diane is spot on with her assessment that what you get is a series of short sleeps.
NIGHT PASSAGES With about nine hours cruising ahead to reach our next destination we decided on a night cruise, always a bit of fun and made much easier having a yachtsman of Kevin’s experience aboard to share the watches. So what’s so special about night cruising? The first issue is safety and nobody goes on deck after dark without a lifejacket with a strobe light attached and someone watching
them, as it can be extremely difficult to locate a person overboard at night. We check the emergency grab-bag, placing it in the cockpit for quick access and rig two highpowered spotlights in case they’re needed. The navigation lights haven’t been used for several weeks so while it’s still daylight we check they are still operating. While it’s easy to leave your current familiar location in darkness, it’s not so easy to arrive at a strange location by night, so we choose to leave at 2100 hours to arrive in daylight at 0600. Navigation is made easy by setting
44 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
up a series of waypoints on our chart plotter. To break up the long period of darkness we have a late dinner underway and although we enjoy a wine or two with dinner when Envoy is safely anchored, we become a dry ship cruising at night. During the night we share coffee and cookies during changes of the watch. In the daytime, it’s easy to see the courses of approaching vessels and take avoiding action in plenty of time, but at night we plot their courses on radar to determine if a course change is required to maintain a conservative, safe distance of at least half a mile. We also check the area ahead of us every 15 minutes with binoculars for any small unlit vessels not appearing on radar. It’s important to conserve your night vision by having very dim or no interior lighting (Envoy has red interior lights for night cruising) as if you inadvertently shine a bright light in your eyes it takes about 30 minutes of darkness for good night vision to return. Then you can see lights 1/40th as intense as you are accustomed to seeing, your eyes having adapted to a level of light millions of times lower than during daytime. Of course the radar and plotter’s brilliance along with all other instrument lights must be adjusted to a very low level. We enjoy a smooth, uneventful and enjoyable trip under a full moon with Kevin and I standing hourly watches with some rest in between. Along the way we see several fishing boats, including some with no navigation lights, one yacht and several large ships at safe distances away. It’s always a great experience watching the first glimmers of light emerge from total darkness as you gradually identify more and more features of the coastline and finally witness a glorious sunrise.
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S T R A I G H T F R O M T H E G A L L E Y with Derek the Chef
www.facebook.com/derekthechef
ARMY BAY UFO SMOKED KAHAWAI & ASPARAGUS PIE KAHAWAI Known as kahawai in New Zealand and as the Eastern Australian salmon in Australia, it has a dark bluish-green body, indistinct rows of spots forming narrow irregular bands on upper sides. These fish typically weigh between 1 and 2.5 kg with some reaching a weight of 6 kg. Kahawai is the traditional maori name which when translated means “brave” or “strong” (kaha) water (wai). This in reference to the kahawi’s tendency to jump and fight when caught. In New Zealand it is often caught in abundance at river mouths and is a highly popular sports fish that is widely regarded to “punch above its weight” in terms of challenge to land. The kahawai is often associated with the white fronted tern, as the bird often congregates above the bait balls associated with a shoal of kahawai hunting. As such the tern is colloquially known as the “kahawai bird” YOU WILL NEED This recipe while very simple to make is a great way of using up left over smoked fish, of any type. I use snapper & kahawai mainly, I smoke the fish in my UFO cooker using a mixture of Pohutakawa and Manuka chip .
PREP TIME:15 MINS COOK TIME:25-30 MINS SERVES:4 TO MAKE THE WHITE SAUCE: 50g butter ½ cup flour ½ tsp mustard powder a pinch nutmeg 2 cups milk (More if sauce thickens to much) Small bunch parsley leaves chopped. 2x tbsp lemon juice Lemon zest Salt and ground black pepper Makes 3-4 cups To make the White Sauce, melt the butter in a pot and when it begins to foam add the flour. Stir over heat for about a minute. Add mustard powder. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring until a thick, smooth sauce is produced. Season to taste. Sauce thickens as it cools. Stir lemon juice Zest & parsley through White Sauce. Quickly fry together the celery and onion (without colour) until tender then add to the white sauce. Stir to combine. Pour about half the sauce into a shallow baking dish. Cover with smoked fish, prawn meat, celery,
CHEFS TIP: Serve with garden fresh salad greens in summer or hot vegetables in winter as this is IMHO the ultimate seafood comfort dish.
onion and hard-boiled eggs. Pour over rest of sauce. Cover with a layer of mashed potato, sprinkle with Panko Bread crumb. Bake at 220°C for 25-30 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and potato is golden on top. FISH PIE: 1x tbsp finely chopped parsley leaves 500g boneless fish, Shredded 1x cup prawns (shelled) Substitute: Mussels, Scallops, lightly smoked 2-3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 3-4 Asparagus stalks cut into 2cm lengths and par boiled (substitute Frozen peas or canned asparagus well drained) 1x Stalk celery ½ Brown onion diced 4 cups mashed potato, seasoned with grated cheese and salt & pepper 1x Cup Panko bread crumbs. PSSSSST Thanks to Oceanz Seafood Silverdale for the Freshly Smoked Fish and prawns used in this recipe.
WHAT TO DRINK WITH YOUR SMOKED FISH PIE:
Pegasus Bay Estate Sauvignon Semillon 2013 The vines, which are almost 30 years old, were grown on a series of north facing gradually descending terraces in stony, free draining soil. The semillon was harvested in May, by which time it had achieved optimal physiological ripeness. Impressions of passionfruit, melon, greengage and gooseberry abound in the aroma and flavour. These are supported by savoury hints of roast capsicum and aubergine. It is rich and concentrated in the mouth but retains a tight-knit, refined structure with a zesty, dry, crisp finish. While ready to drink on release it should develop a range of additional fascinating nuances with careful cellaring. 46 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
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WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 47 Sportcraft placed for Printing.indd 130
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BOAT REVIEW
Chaparral 210 SunCoast
48 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
&
ski fish
Chaparral’s 210 SunCoast is more than
a simple racey bowrider / deckboat with the sole purpose of being a water sport boat, it is also one that has the right attributes to be suitable for fishing.
Powered by a 200-hp outboard, the Chaparral 210 SunCoast hit a top speed of 47.8 mph.
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The forward facing seats offer generous leg room. An optional filler cushion turns the entire area into a sun pad. Below: U-shaped cockpit seats end abaft the helm to starboard and the reversible observer’s seat to port.
increments. While the sporty and stylish layouts are very similar, especially in the bow sections, the bigger the model, the more space. While Chaparral rate the 250 for outboard from 250-300hp, the 230 goes from 225hp - 250hp and the 210 150hp - 200hp. Single outboard only, no sterndrive option.
D
ECKBOATS or as we would refer to them in this part of the world, bowriders, are seeing a surge in the market, especially with what is now being offered from the US based brands. Chaparral created the 210 SunCoast for boaters who want a premium bowrider that can be configured to perform a variety of on-water activities
at a reasonable price. Outboard power helps her accomplish the mission because it provides more cockpit space. Chaparral produces a broad range of boats in seven different designer series. The Suncoast has three models, the 210, the smallest of the trio, the 230 and the 250. All three carry the same 2.62m and each model is increased in 600mm
50 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
SPEED THRILLS With a 200-hp Mercury Verado, the Chaparral 210 SunCoast ran a top speed of 41.5 knots at 6100 rpm. She burned around 80 lph, giving us a range of 85 nm. Our best cruise came at 3500 rpm, where she ran 19.2 knots and burned 17 lph, giving us a range of 190nm. With a half tank of fuel and two people onboard, we had a test weight of 1,685 kg. The 210 SunCoast planned in 3.4 seconds and took another 1.5 seconds to hit 20 mph and we reached 30 mph in 7.3 seconds. Under hard acceleration, we experienced minimal bow rise with no loss of visibility from a seated position. The 210 SunCoast leant into turns with 12-deg of bank and felt comfortable. We had flat conditions on test day so we ran through our wakes and noted a slight hull slap, but otherwise, the 210 SunCoast felt solid and held her course.
BOAT REVIEW
Chaparral 210 SunCoast
The swim platform is designed so that passengers can walk across the front and extends to the back of the engine on each side.
SEATING With any bowrider, the main feature is accommodating guests and the 210 SunCoast is rated for ten passengers. Let’s start with the bow. There are twin forwardfacing lounges and because Chaparral carried the beam so far forward, these seats do not meet at the bow. Instead, a step to the foredeck divides the two. Between the bolsters there’s almost 2m, so the bow seating feels open with plenty of room for a beach bag or other personal gear. In the 210 SunCoast’s cockpit, the seats wrap nearly all the way around, interrupted only by the walk through to the transom. An optional sidemount pedestal table can be installed so passengers can enjoy a snack. Forward to port, the co-pilot can sit facing forward or aft by lifting and placing the seatback in the desired position. The helm seat slides fore and aft but doesn’t swivel. The aft facing seats at the stern will be popular for fishing or for watching watersports. The bottom cushions lift up to reveal storage and access to the battery switches. Beneath the cushions, the deck is finished in non-skid so it can serve doubleduty as a step. An optional stereo remote was in the starboard gunwale.
THE HELM Our 210 SunCoast’s helm had multifunction gauges with digital readouts on each side of an optional Garmin 741XS GPS chart plotter. The steering wheel has a comfortable leather grip, with the rocker switches all having easy to read labels and icons. Earth tones help to eliminate glare on the panel and a dark vinyl brow caps the graphite console in a contrast of colours that give the dash an upscale appeal. Ahead of the reversible port seat, the console opens and owners can add an optional head with pump-out. When seated on the toilet, there is just enough height not to have to duck your head and there was storage space for items such as the bow filler cushion. Other amenities include a premium sound system with four speakers and USB jacks. THE SWIM PLATFORM Chaparral designed the 210 SunCoast’s swim platform with full walk-around space. On most boats in this class, the area ahead of the engine is blocked off. On the 210 SunCoast, there’s room to walk on the flexi-teak decking. Additionally, the platforms extend all the way aft and are even with the back of the outboard motor, which facilitates entering and exiting the boat. A boarding ladder stores in a locker
to starboard. The 210 SunCoast lends itself well to beaching and Chaparral places the forward beach ladder and the anchor in the same compartment in the bow. The ladder is a four-step model and the foredeck has a non-skid finish for safer reboarding. We liked that the bow is notched to accommodate the ladder supports and the anchor rode. The flushmounted navigation light flips up when needed. There is in-deck storage between the helm and co-pilot’s seats, with a large carry-on cooler on the port side and a built-in cooler in the centre of the back seat. The aft seat base has full-beam storage and a dedicated spot for the optional water toy inflator. OBSERVATIONS Of course, the major feature of the 210 SunCoast is that she is outboard-powered. Importantly, she is not just a made-over sterndrive, but rather she was designed from the start to be an outboard boat. This is evident when we see the large port and starboard swim platforms that are about as big as practical, and provide good staging areas for towing sports. She has a slightly higher freeboard than some bow riders and she has Chaparral’s signature style and finish. WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 51
BOAT REVIEW
Chaparral 210 SunCoast
There is storage in the helm console. Note the door that closes off the bow.
Storage or a place for the head, the port compartment has surprisingly good sitting headroom.
With an electric outboard and casting seat, the forward space can be utilised for fishing.
Great storage in the cockpit sole for the wakeboards and rods.
Chaparral stores the beach ladder and anchor in the same bow compartment, a smart idea.
CHAPARRAL 210 SUNCOAST SPECIFICATIONS Designer Chaparral Manufacturer Chaparral Material GRP Type Bowrider LOA 6.35 m Beam 2.59 m Deadrise 18 degrees Hull Config Deep V Engine Capacity 150-200 hp Engine Mercury 200 Verado Power Options Outboard only Fuel Capacity 189 litres
Trailer Coyote Alloy Price As Tested $NZ 115,000 Packages from $NZ 105,000 Contact Australia: Chaparral Australia, Ph +61 03 939 76977 E: dani@chaparralaustralia.com www.chaparralaustralia.com.au New Zealand: Wanaka Marine, Ph +64 03 443 9062, E: sales@wanakamarine.co.nz, www.wanakamarine.co.nz
Performance Figures // Mercury 200 Verado RPM
KNOTS
L/H
L / NM
Range
700 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500 6100
3.0 5.2 7.0 19.2 27.2 34.8 41.5
1.13 4.54 10.9 17 32.5 57.9 79.8
0.4 0.9 1.6 0.9 1.2 1.7 2.0
440 190 100 190 140 100 85
(NM)
Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity.
CROSSOVER BOATS: DELIVERING THE PERFECT WAKE Crossover boats are designed to give you the ability to ski, wake or surf and deliver the perfect wake for the task. Those multi-purpose boats are limited to just a few manufacturers in the world and we look at four of the biggest; Mastercraft, Tige, Nautique and Malibu.
Although crossover boats are the newest breed of inboard, they’ve grown to practically dominate the market. The reason? Most people want a boat that can do everything, and they don’t want to compromise unless the boat buyer is a hard-core sportspecific enthusiast. Building a boat with such versatility doesn’t just happen overnight: Crossovers have slowly evolved over the past three decades – and they’re still evolving. Crossovers are more family and creaturecomfort oriented than traditional ski boats. They usually offer all of the features and options of a wakeboard boat, but they also have the ability to produce an excellent ski wake. They’re mostly V-drives, which offer better cockpit layouts for space, storage and seating. They offer towers and multiple removable pylon towing positions for the best flexibility. The big change in the hulls is how they each treat the bottom and the tricks they use to alter the wake. Traditionally the water runs off the transom reasonably in line with the hull shape. This can be modified with rebalancing the boat and redirecting the water flow. If you don’t have the luxury of a dedicated inboard ski or wake boat, then the most common way to adjust the wake is to put in
removable fat sacks. Just fill them with water and bring the chines of the boat down by adding an extreme a mount of weight. It works well and means you can go fishing on Saturday and then load a couple of fat sacks in on Sunday and the kids can go wakeboarding. However, if you are a little more serious, then you need to invest in a crossover boat. All the top brands (most are built in the US) are available locally and you might be surprised as to just how many dedicated ski, wake and crossover boats get sold. Mastercraft, Nautique and Malibu are certainly market leaders, but there is also other brands such as Supreme and Tige that are distributed down under. Each manufacturer goes about achieving the variable wake patterns a little differently. Mastercraft call their system Gen2 Surf System, Malibu has Surf Gate & Power Wedge and Nautique market theirs as Surf System & Waveplate. All do the same job in providing the perfect wake for the desired discipline, but they all do it a little differently. If there is one thing they all have in common, it’s highly advanced electronics, which take all the guesswork out of wake control.
Mastercraft XT23 LENGTH: 7.11M | BEAM: 2.59M | FUEL CAPACITY: 208 LITRES | SEATS: 11 Designed to be a do-it-all crossover without compromise, the new XT23 will anchor MasterCraft’s new XT line of boats targeting the sweet spot between the company’s entry-level NXT line and its award-winning, premium X series. Embracing the idea that endless possibilities result in endless fun, the XT23’s intuitive digital dashboard interface instantly dials in the size and shape of the wake for any sport on the water: wakeboarding, waterskiing, wakesurfing, towsports or tubing. Equipped with MasterCraft’s Gen 2 Surf System and 2,600 lbs of built-in ballast, the XT23 can be loaded up with a quiver of gear and up to sixteen friends for an actionpacked day on the water. The hull on the XT23 has been specifically redesigned to create more interior depth resulting in a spacious lounge, a surplus of storage and more room for families. The comfortable yet durable rotocast seats provide perfect vantage points to take in all the wake-focused action and the boat’s oversized sunpad serves as a relaxing gathering spot. New for 2017, the entire boat can be outfitted in MasterCraft’s new
optional “Cool Feel” vinyl that remains cool to the touch even after extended exposure to direct sunlight. Also new for 2017, XT23 owners can choose from a wider selection of engine options. The XT23 comes standard with Ilmor’s multi-port injection 5000 MPI V8 model (5.7L) with the option to upgrade to the 7000 MPI V8 version (7.4L). For those who prefer gasoline direct injection, Ilmor has introduced the new 5500 GDI V8 model (5.3L) along with the bolder 6000 GDI V8 model (6.0L). All of these power plants provide impressive horsepower and responsive handling, simply push down on the throttle to tow in with a grin. The new XT23 is the first MasterCraft boat to debut more than a dozen upgrades that
MASTERCRAFT GEN2 SURF SYSTEM Mastercraft’s Gen2 Surf System, lets you tune the wave exactly the way you want it, producing four distinct zones and a custom ride for every surf style, rider size and skill level. The Gen2 Surf System consists of the boat, the ballast system (including tanks, plumbing and placement), software to control it all and a wake shaping device beneath the transom that sculpts the wave. Our touchscreen controlled surf system is
are offered on the company’s 2017 models. Head-turning new hiplines, a functionally redesigned dashboard, bejeweling new aluminium billet and a broadened palette of gel coat and flake patterns are but a few of the new signature stylings making their debut on the XT23. Completely customisable from bow to stern, the XT23 will be the first MasterCraft that includes a choice of now customs towers - either the ZFT4 or ZFT7 Power Tower - available in countless configurations of colours, speaker layouts and vertical storage options. The XT23 will also be the first MasterCraft to offer the new Dockstar Handling System, an innovative flanking rudder system that makes manoeuvring in tight spots and crowded marinas a breeze.
super easy to use. The ballast tanks are filled once and that’s it—the boat does the math and dials in the perfect wave every time. No moving people around. No emptying and refilling tanks. The Gen 2 Shaping Device is an evolution of the surf componentry that was introduced in 2009 by Mastercraft. It is custom matched to each boat model to enhance the water displacement from each side of the hull.
Sport Nautique GS20 LENGTH: 6.10M | BEAM: 2.54M | FUEL CAPACITY: 147.6 LITRES | SEATS: 12
Nautique recently introduced their latest crossover model, the first-ever Super Air Nautique GS20. Multi-sport performance has become a speciality in this all-new 20-foot boat that blends award-winning designs from the industry-leading G-series and Ski Nautique 200. The Super Air Nautique GS20 features a hull designed to optimise the wake and wave under running conditions for wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and waterskiing. Distinct characteristics taken from the Ski Nautique 200 begin at the bow transforming into features of the award-winning G-series at the transom. New technology in the Nautique Configurable Running Surface (NCRS) has been developed for flawless performance at every speed and user setting. This groundbreaking new hull design creates an awesome wakeboard wake and surf wave, utilising 839kgs of sub-floor internal ballast and the Nautique Surf System. Waterskiers can select the Slalom Ski profile, with the new NCRS Ski Assist feature to automatically optimise settings at their desired speed. The Super Air Nautique GS20 styling is truly unique, with aggressive, three-dimensional hull features and an artful interior design that explore a new concept of space in a twentyfoot boat. The GS20 features Nautique’s latest technological advancements including the allnew Nautique awareness camera, along with premium sound from JL Audio. www.nautiquenz.co.nz.
NAUTIQUE SURF SYSTEM With new technology for 2016, the Nautique Surf System is available on all Super Air Nautique Series boats giving surfers more control than ever before to fine tune their perfect wave. Nautique’s new Surf Select puts control of the wave into the hands of the surfer with the Nautique Surf Switch for one-touch transfers exactly when the surfer desires. For total customisation, the Nautique Surf Select app for the Pebble Watch features the ability to fine tune the Zero Off Speed
Control, NSS, NCRS, stereo volume and track while allowing surfers to transfer the wave instantly or at a three-second countdown. Nautique Surf Select is the only system on the market with positive feedback from the helm displayed right on your watch keeping your current settings in view at all times. The NSS is an integrated system that utilises Nautique’s Waveplate, to allow surfers the ability to create a wave on either side of the boat instantly without the need to offload ballast or people. With 3x
faster deployment for 2016, the Waveplate extends outward and down from the transom intercepting and redirecting the flow of water to clean up the opposite wake and form a surf wave like no other boat. This not only gives you the ability to form a wave on either side instantly but also allows for wave customisation with variable intensity settings that adjust wave steepness and shape by controlling exactly how much the plate is engaged. Controlling the NSS is the simple press of a button. Integrated into the Nautique LINC system, users have the ability to customise their settings on the fly and save them in a personalised profile that stores and automatically engage your preferred speed, ballast settings, and Waveplate position. The NSS uses the Waveplate technology to manipulate the waveform without the need to move people and ballast from side to side. This is done by redirecting the flow of water coming off the boat instead of having to change the position of the boat’s hull surface to create the desired flow to get the wave shape you want. This not only gives you the ability to form a wave on either side instantly but also allows for wave customisation with variable intensity settings that adjust wave steepness and shape by controlling exactly how much the plate is engaged.
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Malibu Wakesetter 20 VTX LENGTH: 6.0M | BEAM: 2.5M | FUEL CAPACITY: 144 LITRES | SEATS: 11
Malibu has had the Wakesetter 20 VTX in its lineup for years, but this year its designers did more than hit the refresh button on an already successful model; they created a new, compact multi-trick pony that can go from wakeboarding to wakesurfing to slaloming without missing a beat. Malibu’s Wakesetter 20 VTX is the company’s luxury multisport boat with a hull that compromises as well as any inboard on the water. If you’re looking for a wakeboard boat that can still pull recreational slalom in the Malibu line, the 20VTX is ideal. The VTX can pull anything from slalom to wakeboarding to surfing, and it’s all thanks to the Cut Diamond hull, which has a wake
when you want it and flattens out when you don’t. The new-for-2015 dash was incorporated into the VTX for 2016. This boat inspired the entire dash redesign with the first iteration of the anodised finish, but it didn’t get the massive 12-inch touchscreen and the 7-inch secondary screen until this year. Rider profiles within the touchscreen really pull their weight on the VTX, because you can hit a button to set a profile for speed, ballast, wake-shaping and surf characteristics, then hit another button and completely reconfigure the boat for another sport. The driver enjoys a new bucket seat that features an optional electrically powered
adjustable-height seat pedestal. Opt for the Sport Package to get the multifunction rotary switch, which makes it really easy to tweak your settings while underway. Surf Gate has a decent amount of push with this hull, and when you add in the Power Wedge, you’ve got a winning combination for a decent wave despite the boat’s small footprint. An Indmar Monsoon 410, is the standard engine, producing 350hp. The engine generates a lot of torque and when you are hauling 1600 kgs of ballast plus 11 people, this is more important than its estimated maximum horsepower.
MALIBU SURF GATE & POWER WEDGE Malibu has always been innovative and one of the market leaders in their field. In 1993, they introduced the power wedge, in 2012 the Surf Gate and 2015 went a step further with the bigger, hydraulic Power Wedge II hydrofoil and the dual-touchscreen Command Center. Their Surf Band wrist remote, even allows you to control every aspect of your wakes and waves while you ride them. The Power Wedge II hydrofoil—now with hydraulic actuators—is another evolutionary leap and compared with the original Power Wedge, the bigger, more versatile, hydraulic Power Wedge II features a larger foil, with a 21% surface area increase, equating to an additional 300 pounds of ballast, for a total of 1,500 pounds of wake-creating water displacement. Now wakesurfing is making waves all its own, and Malibu’s answer is ‘Surf Gate’. Unlike wakeboarding or waterskiing, in which the rider is physically towed behind the boat, once a wake surfer is towed into position, he or she can release the tow rope and follow the boat simply by riding its wake – the wave itself provides sufficient ongoing propulsion. However, the ideal surfing wake has its own unique characteristics – and that’s where Surf Gate comes in. The actual system comprises two plates hinged on either side of the transom. The
tops of the plates are about level with the boarding platform and slightly recessed into each side of it. Unlike the Power Wedge, which hinges vertically down, the Surf Gate plates swing laterally outward on hydraulic rams, changing the direction and shape of the flow of water from along the sides of the boat. Because a surfer rides on one side of the wake, the wake needs to be ‘adjustable’ to either side of the boat to suit left-footforward or right-foot-forward surfers. Surf Gate neatly, efficiently and quickly does this as the plates on each side can be deployed individually. It’s also a five-second operation to change the boat to suit left or right surfers – far faster and easier than mucking
around with ballast tanks or moving crew members around in the boat. This system can be used in conjunction with a Power Wedge and ballast tanks to give an unmatched level of control over the shape and size of the wake, all tuned via a simple touchscreen at the helm. Simplifying things even further, Surf Gate comes with factory presets for each form of watersport and different skill levels. Once a rider has Surf Gate, with more experience, countless additional pre-sets can be added. Then, with the press of a button, any desired setting can be retrieved and the tanks, Power Wedge and Surf Gate automatically re-set accordingly.
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www.ultralonfoam.com WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 59
Tige RZR LENGTH: 6.1M | BEAM: 2.39M | FUEL CAPACITY: 144 LITRES | SEATS: 12
The New ‘2017’ RZR offers Tige’s tradition of innovation, versatility and quality. Designed with both towing and performance in mind, the 20-footer is easy to tow and an absolute blast to ride. Tige’s seating is deep and comfortable, creating a higher seat, as an extra margin of safety for little ones and a drier ride for all. Tige’s unique Transom Activity Center’s full-width seating offers convenience when getting ready to ride or lounging after your sets. Storage compartments below stow away smaller items, ropes and iced-down beverages. The RZR,s helm was designed with ActiveTouch Electronic Command Center and Livorsi electronic throttle with shift by wire, so you can always keep focus on the activities at hand. The low profile dash provides an automotive feel with ultimate visibility.
The Tige RZR has been highly calculated to give you a turnkey experience with 1,600 lbs of ballast as a standard feature. The Surf + Wake XL ballast throws the right size wave and wake for every rider regardless of the number of passengers. The Convex V Hull is curved up toward the transom with a continuous rocker similar to that of a wakeboard or surfboard. The combination of its Convex V-hull design and TAPS 2 wake plate provides Tigé’s new RZR with maximum versatility. Simply drop the TAPS plate and you’ve got a ski boat; fill the XL ballast , raise the TAPS and you’ve got a wakeboard boat. Or if surfing’s your thing then the RZR is for you , with Tige’s all new TAPS 3 surf system as a standard feature it allows you to change from side to side without the need to empty and fill each side . Simply fill all the XL Ballast then select which side you want to surf and let the TAPS 3 Surf system do the work for
you. The new TAPS 3 also comes standard with a waterproof remote control for the rider to wear around their wrist so they have total control over the shape of the wave and which side they want to surf . Even better, with the new TigéTouch digital dash, all of the RZR’s multisport potential will literally be at your fingertips. The RZR also comes with a new tower for 2017 . The new Alpha E2 tower is controlled electronically making pack up a breeze simply hit the button to raise or lower it. New board racks and LED lights top off this new innovative design. Power is provided from a 6.2 litre Indmar 400 Raptor engine. With unique colour options, materials, and details, you can create your own signature style. Mix and match standard and vivid metal flake gelcoat options with vinyl selections to keep it classic, or take your shot at being on the cutting edge.
TIGE TAP 3 SURF SYSTEM The all-new TAPS 3 Surf System with the Surf Link remote changes the way you wakesurf. In tandem with the Convex V Hull, TAPS 3’s list-enhancement capabilities results in a quick, clean, powerful transfer and a surf wave. The power to adapt to your ideal ride is in the palm of your hand with the Surf Link remote. To transfer, you just press the
center button and you’re on the other side in no time. It all started back in 1995 with the development of the original TAPS (Tige Adjustable Performance System) technology and the Convex V Hull, making Tige the first inboard to give you full wake control and trim capability. The center plate, the original TAPS system, gives you precise control over the running
attitude, planing, and maneuverability, as well as wake shape control for wakeboarding and waterskiing. When you’re ready to surf, all three TAPS plates will get in on the action to perfectly form the most powerful surf wave on either side of the boat. As your onboard driving and riding assistant, Auto TAPS is preconfigured to predict driving conditions.
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BOAT REVIEW
Rae Line 185 Bow Rider
Sporty Kiwi By Freddy Foote
62 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
The Rae Line 185 Bow Rider underway on Auckland harbour.
Rae Line, built in Kaiapoi north of Christchurch is one of the countries quiet achieving brands. With a number of models in production, we sent Freddy Foote to test their 185 bow rider outboard model.
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BOAT REVIEW
Rae Line 185 Bow Rider
Plenty of comfort in the bow for the kids.
I
’ll admit, I didn’t know too much about the Rae Line brand, but it has, in fact, being around since 1992. It was established by Peter Rae as a gel coat and fibreglass repair shop, however, a number of years later, the company ramped up its manufacturing capabilities and began building boats. In 1998, through ties in the US and New Zealand’s & Australia’s Sea Ray dealer Sports Marine, Rae Line was approached by boat building giant Sea Ray to manufacture two models of Sea Ray’s sport boat range, then known as the 180BR and 180OB. Sea Ray had identified Rae Line as a quality boat builder with sound procedures and the ability to expand. This was the first time for Sea Ray to allow its boats to be built under license and was a huge contract for Rae Line – quite a big thing for a small kiwi boat building company. The first Sea Ray was manufactured on New Zealand soil in August 1999. This first boat was sent back to Sea Ray in the US for inspection, as Sea Ray is renowned worldwide as being a leader in quality control it was important for both companies that this quality level be maintained. In March 2006, the boat building contract with Sea Ray was reviewed and it was decided for the expansion of both companies that Rae Line would re-brand
and re-market its Sea Ray boats as Rae Line. This new contract allowed Rae Line to expand further into markets such as Canada, Korea, South America and Europe. Expanding into Europe came with a new set of challenges, namely in getting CE (European Conformity) approval for all its models that were to be shipped to Europe. This was a long and extensive process requiring rigorous testing of test boats to ensure they were built to the highest standard. With gaining CE Certification for the 180,
64 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
185 and 186 models, it was not long before dealer agreements had been signed and the first boats were on their way to the UK and Europe. FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT With its heritage stemming from the earlier Sea Ray models, the 185 Bow Rider has become one of the company’s most popular models. Storage is plentiful throughout the Rae Line 185 and is one of the most prominent features I observed during our test day. You’ll find a lockable
Clip in carpet is a feature throughout and can easily be removed.
glove box in front of the port side passenger seat and on both sides of the cockpit gunwales, there are full-length side shelves that would be big enough to fit water skis. The bow seating area is very conventional, yet well appointed. Backrests provide extra comfort for passengers, with a cup holder on either side, as well as a handrail for passengers. Under the seat squabs, there is further storage space as well as a small anchor locker forward. Beneath the cockpit floor aft, there is a large under the floor locker for wet storage, which is big enough to accommodate water skis. There is further storage under the port side king/queen seats and also under the aft bench seat. The seating configuration is open and optional. You can opt for the single helm seat and king/ queen seats opposite, or have two pedestals or two king/queens. I liked this option, as the port side seating adding further storage space. You can never have too much storage! Aft, there is a full-width bench seat that could easily accommodate three adults or four kids. On the port side of the boarding platform, there is a telescopic boarding ladder, complete with grab rail to aid re-entering the boat and in the middle of the transom is a stainless steel ski arch. If you are planning to tow an aggressive slalom skier, it is advisable to get this mounted right through to the cockpit sole. There is a clip-on cover for the open bow area when not in use, or coming home in rough seas, plus a removable carpet that covers the entire cockpit section. The carpet is very easy to install
The layout is all about passenger comfort.
Standard power comes in the form of a Mercury 150hp four-stroke outboard.
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BOAT REVIEW
Stylish, practical and very user friendly.
Rae Line 185 Bow Rider
Right: There are plenty of appointments throughout.
Right: A sizeable glove box in front of the passenger seat.
and remove, meaning you can take it out of the boat to dry and the end of the day’s activities on the water. OUTBOARD POWER Our Rae Line 185 came fitted with the standard 150hp Mercury Four-Stroke outboard. As you would expect, the 150hp Mercury four-stroke provided more than enough power. The punch out of the hole is excellent and it is certainly a good little ski boat for the family. Our test day was the boat’s maiden voyage and the boat still needed a little bit of fine-tuning to achieve its optimal performance. We managed 41.7 knots @ 5000rpm, not quite being able to reach 5500rpm on the digital display. We predict that with hitting the maximum rpm, the boat should achieve 46 knots. The boat was easy to trim and is up on the plane at around 2000rpm. Wide-open throttle and the boat is stable and not too flighty but is quite sensitive to trim. Blasting up and down the harbour during
our photo shoot, we found a comfortable cruise speed of around 26 knots @ 3500rpm. Surprisingly, the Rae Line 185 can be fitted with a 200hp Mercury twostroke EFI outboard, which would make it an absolute rocket. However, I thought the 150hp four-stroke was a good match, and you could power it with as little as an 115hp, and it would still perform well. However, keep in mind that the 185 has seating for as many as nine passengers, so horsepower is needed to accommodate that extra weight. A 100L under floor fuel tank comes as standard, meaning that with the four strokes excellent economy, you’re going to have plenty of range. The same hull is also available in a stern drive configuration, fitted with a 190hp Mercruiser. At the helm, the seating position is excellent. The bucket seat is very comfortable, adjustable and allows you sit down snuggly below the windshield, protected from the wind. The throttle is within easy reach, and a Raymarine A9 MFD provided all of the
engine instruments. Below is a Fusion stereo system, which links to two speakers in the cockpit sides behind the helm seat and opposite. Performance on our test day was good. Auckland’s upper harbour was mainly flat and perfect for boating. This is a family boat, so in all reality, you’re going to head out on the water when the weather is perfect, however, should the weather turn on your return trip, the 185 will handle the conditions. Overall, I loved the 185 Bow Rider. The finish is superb, and the functionality is great. It would be the ideal first boat for a family who wants to enjoy a day on the water with comfort and style. What’s more, the boat looks great. As tested, this rig is $NZ68,215 which is quite good value for money, considering the high level or finish and amount of gear and features that it had installed. However, if that’s slightly outside of your budget, then boat, motor and trailer packages start from $NZ54,900.
RAE LINE 185 BOW RIDER Model & Model Rae Line 185 Bowrider Outboard Priced from $NZ54,900. Price as tested $NZ68,215 Type Bowrider Construction GRP LOA 5.49m Beam 2.29m Deadrise 19 degree Trailerable weight 1070 kg Test Power Mercury 150hp 4S Propeller 14 x19’ S/S
Power options Outboard/Sterndrive HP Range 150-200hp Fuel capacity 100L Trailer Multi roller Boat Supplied by Sports Marine www.sportsmarine.co.nz Contact Rae Line Boats www.raeline.com
Performance Figures // 150hp Mercury four-stroke RPM 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
Knots 3.9 4.5 7.5 15.5 21.0 26.0 30.5 35.6 41.7
The Rae Line 185 is an ideal first boat for a family who wants to enjoy a day on the water with comfort and style.
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Kevin Green renamed Topaz as Aurora and smashed the Cook Strait speed record.
THE MACKAY LEGACY 68 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
If you wanted to win offshore powerboat races in the 1970s, you needed a big monohull and no one did them better than Jim Mackay. Until the advent of the catamaran, his boats proved the benchmark and surprisingly almost all survive to this day.
When offshore powerboat racing started in 1964, there were no dedicated race boats. The first Auckland powerboat races were held in April 1964 with two events, that attracted close to 100 entrants in either the inshore Epiglass 40 or the gruelling Atlantic 100. Both events drew a hugely diverse range of boats from 4m runabouts to a 12m launch. As this was the first ever offshore powerboat race in the country, there were no purpose-built offshore race boats on the scene yet. There were plenty of ‘hot’ ski boats such as Bill Coughey’s Aquila, a 17ft 10in Carl Augustin design, powered by an 185hp Bel Air (GM) that eventually won the Atlantic 100 speed section. In the Epiglass 40, the 17ft Wiseman kitset boat powered by twin Johnson 75s crossed under the Harbour Bridge for an average 33.06mph, only to be disqualified for removing an engine cowling before the race was completed. The second boat, Eddie McGoram’s Rhapsody, powered by a Corvette, which was used for ski racing, failed to convince the race committee that he had de-tuned his engine for the event, which was not technically open to racing boats. The first two places in the Epiglass 40 then went to 15ft 6” fibreglass Turbocraft’s, powered by 200hp Crusader inboards and Hamilton jet units.
How times have changed. Back then they were strict on the rules and it took some years before ‘race boats’ were allowed even to enter the ‘race’. The Atlantic 100 and Epiglass 40 continued for many years and were joined by pure speed based races around the country, such as Lake Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington and Taupo. With so much interest in the sport and more importantly the speed sections, it was inevitable that someone would come up with a truly dedicated offshore boat. One of the first was Ivan Boyce’s 19ft Tara Too, a Rex Henry designed monohull powered by a 427cuin Chev. A top speed of around 70mph made it the fastest boat on the circuit. To get around the rules and make it a ‘family’ boat, it was fitted with rowlocks and carried fishing rods. Tara Too had set the benchmark and by the late 1960s, more specialist offshore race boats started to appear. Boats like Trevor Burnand’s Kitten, Bill Stevenson’s Mystic Miss, Hamilton Jet’s, Jetmark and Jack Gallagher’s Hi Jack. Production boat builders, Fi Glass and Plylite, started to field standard hulls, such as Lightnings, Sidewinders and Panthers, with twin outboards and custom decks.
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 69
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This very blurred image from the NZ Herald in 1972 is one of the few images of Jim Mackay’s first offshore race boat, Fury, which ended up burning and sinking on Auckland Harbour.
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THE MACKAY ERA While a lot of attention was being given to the glamour boats in the sport, an Auckland boat builder, Jim Mackay was quietly doing his own thing and unbeknown to him at the time, was about to turn the offshore racing scene in New Zealand on its head. Outboard boats were certainly the norm and while Tara Too, Jetmark and others were struggling with the reliability of the marinised big block Chev engines, others were embarking on the multiple outboard setups. Mystic Miss was the first with triple Mercury outboards and this was followed in later years by boats like Clipper Commander and Miss Comsec. Mackay however, turned up for the 1972 season with Fury, a 19ft boat of his own design, powered by a 5.7 litre Chev inboard through a Casale V-drive. Stern drives were not part of the racing scene back then. It was now all about speed and the sport was starting to take on a whole new persona. Mackay had served his apprenticeship at Bailey’s in Auckland before starting his own business building everything from rowing skiffs, surf boats and yachts to launches. His earliest success came at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when Earle Wells and Helmer Pedersen won a gold medal for New Zealand in the Flying Dutchman sailing dinghy class in a cold moulded wood veneer boat built by Mackay. OLD CROW IS BORN Unfortunately, ‘Fury’ caught fire and sank off Rakino Island before it had been proven, but Spencer Black had noticed the meticulous workmanship and approached Mackay to build him a new hull. Black showed him a picture of a USA Cigarette offshore racing boat and asked him if he could build something similar. The result was the first Mackay 8.23m ‘Old Crow’ and the real start of the Mackay offshore racing dynasty. Mackay-built boats won the NZOPBA championship for five years from 1974 to 1978. Mackay crewed for Black in 1974, but there was a difference of opinion over the need for trim tabs. Mackay believed his hulls did not need them and built a new boat, ‘Topaz’ to prove his point. Black ran the boat first as Old Crow and then under the Camel Filter branding before it was sold to Brian Crouch and raced as Cossack Vodka. It continued racing with great success under the new ownership until Crouch sold the boat to Harry Svirskis and Bill Russell. Called Brut 33, it never retained its winning status and in the late 90s was sold to Nic Phelps. Phelps never did a lot with the boat and after running a marathon, retired the boat from racing. It is still under his ownership, somewhere in West Auckland and in need of a total restoration. TOPAZ SMOKES THEM ‘Topaz’, launched in 1974, bearing ‘Fury’s former 147 race number, was very similar to ‘Old Crow’: an 8.23m 23 deg deep-V plywood hull, glassed inside and out, and using a Casale marathon V-drive and a tunnel-rammed 7.4L Chev. There were differences in the
strakes, and new material technology allowed ‘Topaz’ to be lighter than ‘Old Crow’. However, the first season was dogged by niggling breakdowns. In 1975, with new race number 156, and with engine builder Jim Carlisle, the team dominated and won the championship. Jim Mackay became the only New Zealander to design, build and race a boat to a championship win. Mackay sold ‘Topaz’ in 1976 along with the parts to build an 8.1L Chev engine, to Roger Wood. Wood campaigned the boat as ‘Paul Jones Bourbon’ and later as ‘Stars and Stripes’, on the North and South Island circuits until the early 1980s, after which he joined the catamaran revolution. Auckland engine builder Kevin Green next bought the hull, renaming her ‘Aurora’ and continuing to race in the offshore series. Meanwhile the Cook Strait and return record, known as the ‘BP Straits Cup’, captured his imagination as a true test for his engine building ability. He built a 7.9L Chevrolet with an [exotic for the time] Kinsler fuel injection system. After two attempts he and his crew of Des Deacon and Ned Rowe took the BP Straits Trophy with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and two seconds at an average speed of 69.6 miles per hour. Green sold ‘Aurora’ to Auckland marine engine-building legend Peter ‘Mudguard’ McGrath. Although he was heavily involved in Peter Turner’s ‘Sleepyhead’ offshore racing team, McGrath still used ‘Aurora’ for the odd
Jim Mackay built Topaz to beat Black’s Old Crow and was very successful.
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Not a Mackay, but the first dedicated offshore race boat in New Zealand.
offshore race, poker runs and even fishing. The last time he raced it in the original V-drive form was in the late 80s Auckland to Tutukaka (and return) marathon. ‘Aurora’ with its deep-V was in its element. McGrath filled the ballast tank up and put his foot down, outpacing the cats in the rough water. Unfortunately, an ill-placed finish line at Kaipara Harbour sent ‘Aurora’ into the wharf at speed, necessitating a rebuild. McGrath had grown tired of the impractical aspects of the V-drive and experimented first with a Karma surface drive (which proved excellent in a straight line, but diabolical when trying to turn), then with a sterndrive. His final make-over comprised a supercharged 8.4L Chevrolet with a MerCruiser leg. McGrath was disappointed with the stern leg, noting that the V-drive had lifted the bow better. By the early 2000s, McGrath was rigging Australian Bill Barrie-Cotter’s Maritimo
offshore racing team and moved to Australia, regretfully putting ‘Aurora’ on the market. Mike Cameron purchased ‘Aurora’ to acquire the engine and leg for his copy of the Manville Brother’s ‘Musketeer. A boat that he successfully raced in the Classic Class of the offshore series. LET THE REBUILD BEGIN Things looked grim for the famous old boat. The bare hull and rusty trailer were sold to a Hamilton buyer. Her deck was removed with the intention of converting the hull to a center-console fishing boat, with a Detroit diesel engine. However, the white knight of the story arrived in the form of Ian Reeves of Rotorua, a very successful veteran waterski and offshore racer. Reeves had purchased a new 5.8m Mackay hull around 1975, named it ‘Pathfinder’, and has raced it ever since. It is the only Mackay hull that has had one owner it’s entire racing
Pall Mall was built to compete on the marathon scene in the South Island and calmer offshore races.
72 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
life. Reeves, along with enthusiasts like Charlie Savage and Danny Pearse set about doing a full restoration job on ‘Topaz’. The original V-drive was traced and purchased and Reeves used his considerable knowledge to change a few details; a shorter propeller strut in a more forward position, power steering, a mid-mounted turning fin and trim tabs were fitted, since unlike Jim Mackay, Reeves liked them. The boat, aptly renamed Topaz was back racing in the Classic Class almost 40 years after it was first launched and is still as competitive as ever, albeit in the Classic Class. A Gale Banks twin turbocharged 8.2L Chevrolet now powers her to a top speed of 80 mph. Mackay is delighted with the quality of the ‘Topaz’ restoration, describing her as magnificent, and ‘better than new’. ‘Topaz’ is indeed a credit to Mackay and her subsequent owners and restorers.
Last raced as Vantage, the 7m Mackay started live as Bay of Plenty Real Estate and is now owned by Jim Mackay’s son Owen.
The 21ft ‘short’ Pathfinder is still on the scene today and still owned by Ian Reeves.
The original Viko races today as Outlaw, under the capable hands of Grant Valder.
The Manville Brother’s Viko was the third and last Mackay 27 to be raced.
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Topaz as it looks today, all fresh and in race trim, doing what it does best.
MANVILLE’S VIKO While Horace and Tom Manville seemed like an unlikely team to handle the rigours of offshore racing, they certainly made their mark with Mckay’s third and last 27 footer. A fourth hull was built but never finished as a race boat. They arrived on the racing scene almost without notice and showed that they had what was needed to win races. Powered by twin Fords with Mercury TRS legs, ‘Viko’ went on to be a very successful boat in the late 1970s. Sometime in the early 1980s it changed hands and was sold to Ken Clarkson, who renamed it ‘Confederate’ and repowered it with a big block Chev. Some years later after being used primarily as a pleasure boat, it was sold to Steve Crittendon, who also renamed it (Outlaw) and repowered it with an 800hp Chev, with a Bravo Sportmaster leg. He also added a portofino stern. In 2009 Derek Waldon purchased the boat, left the name, but again repowered with a supercharged 502ci Chev. Finally, it ended up in the hands of Grant Valder, who also left the name on the side, but went for the more reliable 525hp Mercruiser package. Valder and Outlaw have been very active participants in the Classic Class for the past few seasons.
BOP TO VANTAGE While MacKay had an enviable reputation for his big boats (at that time there was a 27ft and 500cuin limit on race boats entering any PBRO events) he also was very successful with three smaller versions. Black was still campaigning Old Crow when he got Mackay to build him a 21ft low profile boat he named Pall Mall. Powered by a 454cuin Chev this was destined for ski racing and also some of the calmer offshore races. It was sold on to John Butterfield who ran it for a few seasons on the South Island marathon circuit. Also a 21 footer (6.5m) Pathfinder, a reasonably flat bottom speed racer, was designed for the calmer races around the country, but had higher sides and a deeper vee. Designed and built for Ho Gray, the story goes that when Gray turned up with his trailer at Mackay’s North Shore yard, he winched the boat on and found the trailer was about 50cm too long. A quick check found that MacKay had built the boat a frame shorter than Gray wanted. Gray decided not to accept delivery and MacKay then created a second version, this time at the requested length of 7m (23ft). As already mentioned Ian Reeves purchased the ‘shorter’ version and has owned and raced
74 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
it ever since in both ski racing and offshore. Gray eventually took delivery of his boat and named it, ‘Bay of Plenty Real Estate’ and later Schick Super 11. Powered by a single 454cuin Chev, running through a vee-drive, it proved a great boat for many years and in it’s later racing career competed as Vantage Aluminium, with new owner Mitch Plaw. Sue Oliver brought the boat in 1985 and since then it has gone through a number of owners, none of whom have ever had it back on the water. However, all that is going to change, with a fully restored ‘Bay of Plenty Real Estate’ due back on the racing scene in Classic Class in 2017. Now owned by Jim Mackay’s son, Owen Mackay, the hull has been completely refurbished, repainted, reupholstered and work is being done on a Mercruiser engine/ drive package. Owen Mckay, like his father, is a world renowned yacht builder and says that current work dictates that he can’t commit as much time as he would like to get the boat finished to race. He has plans to see this truly ‘classic’ boat back in the water sometime next year. Along with Topaz, Pathfinder and Viko (Outlaw) it seems that the Mackay legacy will continue for many years to come.
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BOAT REVIEW
49 Alaska Sedan
Best of both worlds
76 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Since Leigh-Smith Yachts sold their first Alaska into Australia in 2003, the Leigh-Smith family have been near wholly responsible for over 90 boats being built in the 40-series alone with hull #94 due in early 2017. Barry Thompson went to the Gold Coast to check it out the 49 Alaska Sedan, their latest model.
The longer running surface of the hull has made the boat more efficient and better in both fuel economy and performance. WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 77
BOAT REVIEW
49 Alaska Sedan
The interior is fully custom built, which means that you can tailor the interior to your requirements.
T
HE new 49 Alaska Sedan is a semitraditional coastal cruiser that is going to be right at home cruising the Pittwater, Moreton Bay, Bay of Islands or Hauraki Gulf. The Alaska Range are equally comfortable in these surrounds but also excel as coastal cruisers for those extended runs and the explorers amongst us. Ryan Leigh-Smith, Director of Leigh-Smith Yachts, builders of the Alaska range, says he often refers to the Alaska 40- Series range as being the modern Moreton Bay Cruiser. “They slot into that genre and have all the aspects and looks of a Moreton Bay Cruiser, but with the agility and performance provided by the bigger engines. The 49 Alaska follows the existing 43 Alaska (13.11m) and 47 Alaska (14.33m) and is soon to be joined by a 55 Alaska, 59 Alaska and a 62 Alaska. All boats are available in either sedan or flybridge, but in recent years it has been the sedan versions that have proven the most popular by a ratio for nearly 2:1. “There is a definite appeal with the sedan range and we feel that our boats have found a stable place in the market, with sales over the last few years been extremely steady”, says Ryan.
The master cabin amidships has an island queen sized berth with an ensuite.
The accommodation forward sees a central double that pulls apart to make two singles.
Aft is the third cabin with twin 6’2” singles under the wheelhouse.
78 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
BIGGER & BETTER The new 49 Alaska Sedan is a transition from the popular 47 Alaska Sedan and while it retains the same beam and profile, it is longer
There is access both sides of the central island to the boarding platform.
overall. The main dividing style changes are around the helm position and the internal layout. There is now a third cabin in under the pilothouse, which is a big step up from the 47 Alaska that has only two. This has been achieved by moving the engine room bulkhead aft and raising the area under the galley and helm area. A further benefit of the change is that the 49 Alaska has a big C shape drop lounge in the saloon area, which provides a distinct separation between the saloon and pilothouse. “We felt the pilothouse with the galley around the helm was better for longer range cruising. It works well and is very practical,” says Ryan. He adds that the while the galley is well forward of the saloon, the aft area is still adequately serviced with facilities for a fridge/freezer, hot and cold water, bbq and icemaker. The stern area remains unchanged and is the same as the 47 Alaska. “We feel we have this just about perfect now and couldn’t see any need to change what seems to work so well. It’s practical and efficient and our clients seem to like it”, says Ryan. IMPROVED PERFORMANCE The running surface of the hull of the 49
Alaska is 1.5 longer than the 47 Alaska and it has made the boat more efficient and better in both fuel economy and performance. Engine options for the 49 Alaska sedan are Cummins QSB6.7, 440hp, 480hp and 550hp with shaft drives. Powered by a pair of 480hp Cummins QSB6.7 engines, the 49 Alaska at wide open throttles is faster than the 47 Alaska. The longrange cruise speed of around 10 knots has seen a drop in fuel burn and overall better fuel economy and high speed at most rpm. The 49 Alaska is also better trimmed with the repositioning of the engines. Push the throttles right down and the 49 Alaska Sedan will hit 22 knots plus, for a range of 260nm. You only have to bring that back to a more leisurely 10 knots and the range jumps to around 550 nm. Considering that you would probably spend a lot of your time cruising at an even more sedate speed as you explore the bays of the Hauraki Gulf, Whitsundays or Pittwater you could extend that to more than 1000nm. Very economical boating! THREE CABINS – SLEEP SIX The interior is fully custom built with no internal liner, which means that you can tailor the interior to your requirements
as the build uses every square millimetre of the spaces. High gloss timber with soft fabric accents are used throughout and as Ryan points out the boats are built to a premium standard while maintaining a very competitive price bracket, it’s important to offer true value to our clientele. “Anything is possible and you can certainly up-spec your Alaska to the most elite standard of fit and finish with our in-house design team, it’s all up to the buyer and what they want. “Traditionally we have got a level of finish and fit out that we are happy with and while each boat is an evolving product, there is not a lot that has changed in the new model”, says Ryan. African Cherry timbers are used throughout the interior of the first 49 Alaska Sedan, but you have multiple options as to the wood used. The 49 Alaska is a three cabin yacht with amidships queen sized stateroom, convertible double/ V-twin VIP cabin forward and a twin king single cabin aft. The accommodation forward sees a conventional V-Berth configuration offering 2 x king singles that with the insert of a filler cushion make up a huge queen/king bed. Like the rest of the 49 Alaska, your accommodation layout is entirely dictated by what you want. A day head separates the cabins, with the master cabin amidships with a spacious island queen sized berth with an ensuite. This has a full-size shower, Tecma quiet flush head, large vanity with raised bowl and teak and holly sole. This is not quite a private full beam master, due to the stairs from the wheelhouse above, but it is plenty big enough. Aft is the third cabin with twin 6’2” singles under the wheelhouse. This is the extra cabin gained due to the hull extension and aft bulkhead replacement. I was surprised just how much space is offered in here and it still has full height sitting headroom. All cabins provide plenty of storage lockers and drawers and can be serviced with individual air conditioning. Port lights provide extra ventilation and light. SALOON CHANGES With the extra metre of space gained over the 47 Alaska, the layout of the 49 Alaska has taken on a whole new look. Whereas the 47 had a port side galley running down the full length of the saloon, the 49 now has a full forward lounge and galley space. The separation between the aft saloon and forward galley and helm is noticeable but seamless. Overhead lockers are high enough so they don’t impede on sightlines from anywhere inside. Aft is an entertainment area to starboard, complete with a pop-up 40” TV, and a U-shape lounger and high-low dining table opposite. This can also be converted to yet WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 79
BOAT REVIEW another accommodation space. The galley is divided with a fridge/freezer with Corian bench tops and overhead lockers to starboard and the main galley and prep area to port. A large L shape Corian bench top has a two-burner induction cooktop with overhead ventilation and all the usual cupboards and storage space beneath. There’s also an FP dish drawer, induction microwave and deep recess drawers with soft close catches by Blum. A triple helm seat has dual access, from either the saloon or sliding bulwark stainless doors either side. These also provide excellent cross-flow ventilation and make going forward a lot quicker than having to go back via the cockpit. Our 49 Alaska came with a reasonably standard electronics and equipment package, which included bow and stern thrusters, BEP switchboards, electronic controls, chain counter winch, auto pilot, 48-mile radar, Fusion entertainment system and Raymarine 15 Hybrid Touch. TRADITIONAL COCKPIT The cockpit remains virtually unchanged from the 47 Alaska and is designed for entertaining, be it cocktails in the evening or breakfast in the morning. Central is a large fixed table with an aft lounger, with fridge and Corian benchtop to starboard and a recessed sink unit and ice maker to port. The overhead roof extends right to the transom and there are acrylic side doors to stop any breeze coming down the bulwarks into the cockpit. You can also add further soft clears around the cockpit for extra protection. There is access both sides of the central island to the boarding platform, where there’s also another sink unit, fresh water and great storage areas for fishing tackle, fenders and ropes.
49 Alaska Sedan
The galley is divided with a fridge/freezer to starboard and the main galley and prep area to port.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS So who’s buying the Alaska 49? While you might expect it to be the more senior owner, recent sales have all been to buyers with young families looking for a comfortable and practical cruiser that ticks all the boxes while still offering value. It’s also a boat that provides the performance of a sports boat, but with the spaciousness and comfort of a traditional trawler. Best of both worlds really.
The helm also has sliding bulwark stainless doors either side.
ALASKA 49 SEDAN SPECIFICATIONS Generator Onan 9 kVA Thrusters SidePower Davit Crane ADC Anchor Winch Muir Underwater Lights Aqualuma MFD Raymarine 15 Hybrid Touch Ent System Fusion Base Price of Boat $AU1.15m Price As Tested $AU1.20m Contact Leigh-Smith Yachts, Ph +61 (07) 5577 9200, E:sales@LSYachts.com.au, www.LSYachts.com.au
Performance Figures // 2 x Cummins 480 QSB RPM KNOTS L / H L / NM Range (NM)
600 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3320
4.7 6.1 7.2 8.1 8.8 9.8 10.4 11.2 12.6 15.8 17.8 19.5 21.1 22.0
6 8 13 20 30 40 60 80 90 100 115 135 165 190
1.3 1.4 1.9 2.5 3.5 4.2 5.8 7.2 7.2 6.4 6.5 7.0 7.9 8.7
1700 1600 1200 920 650 540 390 320 320 360 350 320 290 260
A L A S K A 4 9 S E D A N - G E N E RA L A R RA N G E M E N T
Year Launched 2016 Designer Leigh-Smith Yachts Interior Designer Leigh-Smith Yachts Builder DHS Yacht Co LOA 16.0m Beam 4.25m Draft 0.96m Displ (Dry) 21 tonne Max Speed 22.0 knots + Construction GRP Fuel Cap 2560 litres Water Cap 800 litres Engines Make 2 x Cummins 480 QSB Drive Train Shafts Propellers 4 ld Bronze
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INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS : COMFORT & FUNCTION
82 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Lifejackets to boats are like seat belts to cars. Everyone should wear one. But unfortunately, they don’t. The new styles of inflatable life jackets bring comfort and function to a whole new level that may see all that change this summer.
Inflatable lifejackets come in many colours, styles and brands. In the late sixties a German, Jost Bernhardt, tested the BS 8, an inconspicuous and somewhat invisible lifejacket designed for inland waterway sailing.
In New Zealand, you must carry a correctly sized, serviceable life jacket / PFD for each person on board a pleasure boat. This is a legal requirement, and this rule applies to all vessels, including tenders and larger craft. Some bylaws go further than maritime rules, making the wearing of lifejackets compulsory for all on board small craft. When it comes to wearing a lifejacket it’s not just about how effective and efficient it is, but also comfort. The design of life jackets has come a long way from the ill-fitting, uncomfortable, bulky ones we had to wear in the 60s and 70s. Some of today’s new breed of, form fitting lifejackets are so comfortable and stylish they are somewhat of a fashion statement, that you may never want to take off. Well maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but they are a whole lot better than what we all wore 20-30 years ago.
There are some jackets available on the market that while they pass the safety regulations, they don’t pass the comfort test. They may be cheap, but the downside is no one on board will want to wear them and they also take up a lot of storage space. This is very common on commercial boats, where the operator will have the required number of lifejackets on board for the passengers he has. Yes, they will probably do the job and save your life, but thankfully they will only be used in an emergency situation. FROM CORK TO KAPOK If you were boating in the 60s and 70s, you would remember the kapok jackets with the soft fabric straps. They worked, but they were not something that we all wanted to wear unless we had to. The most ancient examples of primitive life jackets can be traced back to inflated
bladders of animal skins or hollow, sealed gourds, for support when crossing deep streams and rivers. This progressed to purpose-designed buoyant safety devices consisting of simple blocks of wood or cork used by Norwegian seamen. Personal flotation devices were not part of the equipment issued to naval sailors until the early 19th century, for example at the Napoleonic Battle of Trafalgar. It was not until lifesaving services were formed that the personal safety of boat crews heading out in generally horrific sea conditions was addressed. The modern life jacket is credited to one Captain Ward, a Royal National Lifeboat Institution inspector in the United Kingdom, who created a cork vest in 1854 to be worn by lifeboat crews for both weather protection and buoyancy. The rigid cork material eventually came to be supplanted by pouches containing
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 83
Sospenders started manufacturing inflatable lifejackets in 1987 and is now owned by Stearn.
DB137
watertight cells filled with kapok. These soft cells were much more flexible and comfortable to wear compared with devices utilising hard cork pieces. Foam eventually supplanted kapok because of its inherently buoyant quality. One of the world leaders in life jacket design and development has been the Kiwi company Hutchwilco. Started in 1894, as ship chandlers, they are the oldest continuous lifejacket manufacturer in the world and not only are they still manufacturing in New Zealand, they are the only local manufacturer. In the 1940s they produced their first lifejacket or as it was called then a life preserver, of canvas and cork, state of the art for the time and– surprisingly enough – they called it The Hutchwilco.
84 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
LET THERE BE AIR However, perhaps the most exciting ‘new’ development in lifejacket designs was the inflatable life jacket, something that we now take for granted and accounts for the bulk of all lifejacket sales in New Zealand and probably the world. Surprisingly they are not a new invention. In 1900, French electrical engineer, Gustave Trouvé, patented a wearable battery-powered lifejacket. It incorporated small, rubberinsulated maritime electric batteries not only to inflate the jacket but also to power a light to transmit and receive SOS messages and to launch a distress flare. In the late sixties a German, Jost Bernhardt, tested what was then his latest invention, the BS 8, an inconspicuous and somewhat invisible lifejacket designed for inland waterway sailing. In preparing its introduction to the market, he could not have expected the extent of opportunity, which would be later presented. Success was based primarily on the BS 8’s discreet quality. Everyone from the population of hobby sailors desired comfort and convenience, a quality that a clumsy, obstructive lifejacket could not provide. At this point, however, Bernhardt was not thinking of the still relatively small population of hobby skippers. His concern was directed toward those who only took to the water involuntarily, in other words, those who earned their daily wages through hard work as sailors. The Insurance Association for Domestic Shipping was alarmed by high accident figures and fatalities amongst sailors in inland waters. One reason for these poor statistics was a lack of understanding in
This progressed to purpose-designed buoyant safety devices consisting of simple blocks of wood or cork used by Norwegian seamen.
Hutchwilco Limited is a proudly New Zealand owned and operated manufacturer and distributor of quality Marine Safety Equipment, Recreational and Performance Water Sports Products and Boating Accessories. Hutchwilco has been in the marine business since 1894 and are New Zealand’s leading marine safety equipment distributor of:
DB141
lifejacket safety. Most types, until then, were impractical, to say the least, often getting in the way while one was working. When the working day was over, seamen never wore a lifejacket on land. The awkwardness of a clumsy lifejacket presented too much room for ridicule. However, misfortune never sleeps, and the consequence was that each year the Insurance Association had an increasing number of widows to look after. This situation prompted Bernhardt to produce the BS 8. An inflatable lifejacket, the heart of its design was the Secumatic 8, an automatic inflator. The safety mechanism can best be described by its watersensitive element. The news of this safety element, coupled with the ease of use and the comfort of wearing a virtually unnoticeable personal flotation device quickly spread. The still small sailing community became enthusiastic about this new offer. The new design provided an alternative to the average bulky life vests. This enthusiasm has not diminished today, even amongst the generations of lifejackets that have followed. The modern version of the RS8 is now available through Secumar and is part of their Secufit range of inflatable jackets. The Inflatable jacket never really got much traction in the recreational boat market until around the late 1980s. From its humble beginnings in a barn in Meridian, Idaho, Sospenders has manufactured inflatable lifejackets since 1987. Now owned by Stearn, the company were instrumental in the approval and recognition process back in the 1990’s of the Type V inflatable PFD. A very basic, simple inflatable jacket they became hugely popular for their comfort and ease of wearing, something that until then lifejackets did not have a good reputation for. Stormy Seas inflatable lifejackets came onto the market around 1995 and they were followed a couple of years later by Mustang Survival. Since the first Float Coat introduced in 1967, Mustang Survival has been one of the market leaders in the inflatable life jacket industry. In 1998 Hutchwilco, New Zealand’s leading marine safety equipment manufacturer joined the inflatable boat market with the 150N and the 170N, a design of inflatable jackets that until now has remained unchanged. Offering twice the buoyancy of a conventional foam lifejacket they are available in adults and child’s size, with crutch straps and in manual or automatic inflation. Since Hutchwilco first introduced them, many thousands have been sold.
| Inflatable Life Jackets | Life Jackets | Buoyancy Vests | EPIRBS | First Aid Kits | Flares | Survival Suits | Rescue Equipemnt | Harnesses | Liferafts | PLB’S
WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 85
Hutchwilco’s latest release is the 150N Super Comfort Series, a life jacket designed to be so comfortable you will forget that you have it on. Compare that to the 1950s kapok filled option alongside!
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86 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Swedish company, Baltic, offer a huge range of inflatable jackets, such as this Argus Woman.
GER145309
The fundamental difference between the 150N and the 170N is the 170N has a new style cover with soft neoprene neck and mesh back for improved comfort and fit. It also comes with an integral crotch strap with storage pouch. Hutchwilco’s latest release is the 150N Super Comfort Series, a life jacket designed to be so comfortable you will forget that you have it on. Just like a life jacket should be! The all new 150N Super Comfort series is multi-fit (one size fits all adults), has a burst zip closure, contoured super comfort design, stainless steel buckle adjustment system and quality 50mm webbing. Survitecgroup market the popular RFD range of life jackets, amongst them their Cyclone 150N and the Crewfit 150N. The RFD range of life jackets and buoyancy aids now includes their all-new F3 models based on fit, form and function. Redesigned collars, bigger buckles, extra reflective tape and internal webbing are just some of the new features. Included in their range are more specific models to suit YNZ, MSA NZ compliant and SOLAS approved for commercial and recreational use, including RFD Cyclone, XM Quickfit, Mullion SOLAS & Crewsaver Crewfit inflatable models. Baltic from Sweden is another major supplier to the inflatable life jacket market with an extensive range that caters for all areas of boating. Their Race range is designed for active sailing and especially to be comfortable to wear for long periods. All life jackets in the Racing category are available with an integrated spray hood and light to comply with the current international yacht racing regulations. They also offer a Comfort range with control inspection windows to check the status of the inflation mechanism easily. The Allround Series are versatile life jackets that can be used in almost all circumstances. All models are equipped with a fleece collar, detachable crutch strap and on most models, you have the option of either the buckle or integrated safety harness. There are many other brands of inflatable lifejacket on the market, but considering your life could depend on the device working correctly, it’s recommended you purchase a recognised brand. Cheap imitations could prove to be a fatal purchase!
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Cast away your worries
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WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 87
Left & Right: Automatic inflation relies mostly on a dissolvable bobbin that has a spring/ pin arrangement that punches the CO2 canister for inflation
The RFD range of lifejackets and buoyancy aids now includes their allnew F3 models based on fit, form and function.
HOW DO THEY WORK Automatic inflation relies mostly on a dissolvable bobbin that has a spring/ pin arrangement. The water dissolves the bobbin and the spring powered pin punches the CO2 canister for inflation. There is a matter of maintenance for this, considering the marine environment that the life jacket is put in, as well as its subsequent storage. Many see this complication of spring/pin as the weak link in the system. This is the reason that EVERY automatic has a manual cord and oral tube. Many manufacturers have a C02 cylinder that does not fully inflate the air bladder, so the oral tube allows you to top up the bladder. The latest generation of self-triggering inflation devices responds to water pressure when submerged and incorporates an actuator known as a ‘hydrostatic release’. Regardless of whether manually or automatically triggered, a pin punctures the cartridge/canister and the CO2 gas escapes into the sealed air chamber. However, there is a chance that these water pressure activated inflation devices do not inflate the life jacket if a person is wearing waterproof clothing and falls into the water face-down. In these cases, the buoyancy of the clothing holds a person on the water surface, which prevents the hydrostatic release. As a result, a person can drown although wearing a fully functional life jacket.
The Secumar Golf-150 is constructed of robust nylon fabric, with a very light compact design.
To be on the safe side, a pill-activated inflation device is preferred. A small pill that dissolves on water contact is the safest option, as it also works in shallow waters where a hydrostatic activator fails. This type of jacket is called an ‘automatic’. AUTOMATIC VS. MANUAL Automatic is supposed to inflate on contact with water - and it takes green water, not just spray, to make it inflate. An automatic inflation type V could save your life if you were knocked unconscious while going overboard. An automatic inflatable could also inflate inconveniently if you plunge through a wave while on the bow or any other time you get water dumped on you. The manual inflatable requires you to be conscious and aware of what you are doing to pull the release for the cylinder. This is the most reliable of the two inflatables and requires less servicing. You may want an inflatable life jacket with a harness if you are working on deck, sailing
88 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
offshore or just simply wish to stay attached to your vessel because you are singlehanded or are in rough weather. Finally, before you go boating this summer take the time to check your life jacket. If you have never activated it, then chances are it might still be okay, but the biggest problem is the gas cylinder will not inflate when you need it to. This can be caused by excessive corrosion and rust around the cylinder. The cylinder can only be used once so check that the green or red clip is in place and that the cylinder does not have a hole pierced in the top. If it does, replace it. New cylinders are not expensive. If you want to make sure the inflatable bladders don’t have a leak, then use the oral inflator and blow them up and check them 24 hours later to see if there is any loss of pressure. If the bladders are deflated, then take the jacket to a recognised service centre and have it professionally repaired. Inflatable life jackets which were once an expensive addition to your boating safety equipment are now considered normal kit to have aboard and can cost no more than $NZ100. They have redefined how we wear and use life jackets and should be standard aboard every boat. Just remember to get your kids to leave them in the boat when the jump off at the beach. They may find them so comfortable that they will forget they have them on!
Camouflage colours are popular with duck hunters.
In 1998 Hutchwilco joined the inflatable boat market with the 150N and the 170N, a design of inflatable jackets that until now has remained unchanged.
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WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 89
BOAT REVIEW
Hatteras 45 Express
90 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
cruise or fish Text by Capt Steve of boatest.com
With the Cabo line morphing more and more into its sister company Hatteras, it was only a matter of time before we started to see models come out that reflected the best of both brands. Now the wait is over with the new 45 Express and Express Sportfish.
The new Hatteras 45 Express is a combination of the Hatteras and Cabo design teams that may be a harbinger of new things to come from Hatteras. WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 91
Back in the cockpit, the deck is reinforced to accommodate a fishing chair or a teak leaning post in the center.
T
HE TWO MODELS are basically the same as each other with added features that turn the dedicated cruiser into a dual-purpose cruiser/fishing machine worth drooling over. And both are offered in single or double stateroom layouts. Let’s take a look and see how the combination works. We’ve long been advocates of the benefits of using a sportfish for cruising. These offshore performers are just the ticket for providing a safe transport back to protected waters when the weather turns snotty, or even to keep going when it took an all day cruise just to get to the fishing grounds. Now what would happen if we took the qualities of an express cruiser and morphed it into a sportfish? Even better, what if we offered both versions separately? We’d have the newest offerings from Hatteras, that’s what. With the marriage of Hatteras and Cabo fully consummated, the offspring are naturally showing classic characteristics of both parents. The most recent of which is the 45, available in both Express and Express Sportfish versions. Both offer a wide open helm deck, a spacious cockpit that can entertain one day and fish hard the next, and below choose from either a single or double stateroom layout.
How Did this Happen?
Most know the story, but for those who do not, it bears repeating since it has such a happy ending. Hatteras, a company with a long-standing reputation for building
BOAT REVIEW
Hatteras 45 Express
quality cruisers, was owned by Brunswick. In 2006, Brunswick became even bigger with the purchase of Cabo, well known for its express fishboats. Not surprisingly, Brunswick’s first order of business was to consolidate the two into the Hatteras facility in New Bern, North Carolina. With Cabo out of the California desert, the two began building boats side by side. Things went well, but economics being what they are, Brunswick was forced to reduce staff and shop for a buyer. Ultimately, one stepped forward and in 2013, the combined Hatteras/Cabo line was sold to Versa Capital Management’s subsidiary, Navis HCY Acquisition LLC. With the ink dry on the Navis deal, Cabo moved to the back burner of production while Hatteras continued to grow both the GT line and motor yachts. Fast forward to today, and with a void in the marketplace, Hatteras decided that it needed to offer a mid-size boat for those trading up from other brands as well as trading down from existing Hatteras. Out came the famed Cabo 44 plans, a bit of a dusting off at the drafting table, some tweaking to inject some “Hat” DNA and out comes the 45 Express and 45 Express Sportfish.
Same Features Between the Two
Obviously these two models come from the same mould and share some, if not a lot, of the same characteristics. Let’s take a look at what they have in common, starting with the living spaces. With both boats being virtually the same hull, they naturally share the same measurements. Both have a LOA of 13.59
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m, a beam of 5.03 m, a draft of 1.22 m and the same empty weight of 22,543 kg. They both come with the same power, a pair of 705-hp Cat C-12A diesel engines, and both have the same options for other power choices, most popular being a pair of 1150-hp Cat C18s. Hatteras reports that these engines will push the 45 to over 40 knots. As a rule, 30 knots is considered the holy grail of any sport fishing yacht, so yeah, that should do it. Fuel capacity is 3,028 L)and that feeds both the mains and the 17 kW generator. Both hold 379 L of fresh water and 163 L of waste. Moving to the lower deck accommodations, both boats are identical. The well-equipped galley is immediately to starboard. The head is located just forward. To port is a large L-shaped settee wrapping around a minimalist teak pedestal table. Fully forward is the master stateroom with an elevated island berth, allowing access from both sides. A variety of wood finishes are complemented with a teak and holly sole to highlight the entire area. Two layouts are offered, depending on whether the 45 will be used more as a couples cruiser or as an overnighter for four people. By eliminating some of the settee, a separate cabin can be added to port that features a pair of over/under berths in an enclosed stateroom. Moving up to the helm deck, the 45s have a moulded deckhouse with an integral hardtop. As expected, the helm is mounted in the center of the deck with a single operator’s seat, providing an
With the two-stateroom layout, this doubleberth cabin is added and takes up a small portion of the port side settee.
The layout of both versions are largely the same, but subtle differences will creep in as we get task specific.
elevated vantage point for good visibility. A pod style helm had minimal impact on the space provided by the helm deck. Choose from a fibreglass console or highgloss teak. Both have Palm Beach styled controllers to the sides. A polished metal switch panel has each switch’s function etched in. Engine displays are just ahead. Hatteras isn’t married to any one electronics provider, so owners are free to choose from their favorite and plenty of open real estate in the panel will easily accommodate large flush-mount displays. To the sides are the ancillaries such as autopilot, VHF, etc… A massive L-shaped settee wraps around the entire port side and at the forward end provides an aft-facing lounge. To starboard is an observer’s seat, allowing for a companion to take part in the navigation. Both the helm and observer’s seats are fully adjustable, high-end Stidd brand. An engine room access hatch is located in the center of the deck. The deck is enclosed on three sides with windows seamlessly blending into the sides and the stylish fibreglass hardtop. The open aft section can be closed off with Isinglass for three-season comfort. Fresh air is forced into the enclosed deck through opening side windows that happen to be hinged from the rear to scoop air into the deck while underway, and an overhead hatch. Otherwise, opt for the reverse-cycle AC system to maintain climate control. Most notable, however, is the massive single piece windshield providing a view ahead without the encumbrances of a center window frame that serves as
nothing more than an overhead support. Without the burden of heavy weight above, this is the biggest advantage. The panoramic view is enhanced by a feature noticeable by only the most ardent Cabo spotters… the slight downward slope to the foredeck that is hardly offset by the mild bowrise in cruise configuration.
Open Space Cockpit
The cockpit is accessed by an offset walkthrough, slightly to starboard with three steps leading from the upper to the lower. There’s plenty of open space, allowing this deck to be used for a multitude of purposes, some of which will be specific in the Express Sportfish version. All decks are teak. A second engine room access is through a hatch in the centre of the lower step. An elevated bench seat provides an excellent vantage point to the cockpit for observing either the fishing action or simply being in a relaxed position while still being part of the party. This also provides an excellent place to relax while watching the wake shrinking in the distance.
The raised forward deck area offers plenty of weather protection.
The differences Between the Two…
Now when it comes time to convert the 45 Express to the 45 Express Sportfish, some additions make it task specific, but still a capable cruiser. For this reason, we can see how the Express Sportfish version may just be the more popular choice. It can fish as well as cruise, while the Express version is more geared to cruising only. Certainly the first, and most obvious addition to the 45 Express Sportfish model
A tower added to the Express Sportfish model is the most easily distinguished difference between the two models. WWW.BOAT M AGS.C O M 93
BOAT REVIEW
The helm allows for a fair amount of options. Seen here are two versions, one is a fiberglass console, the other is varnished teak.
is the tower. It mounts into the foredeck and cockpit caprails placing no burden on the hardtop. Ladders to both sides of the cockpit lead to an elevated operating station allowing a view of the water from a long way off. Additionally, there are six rocket launcher-style rod holders across the back, just over the cockpit and outriggers, increasing the spread presented to the fish. Back in the cockpit, the deck is reinforced to accommodate a fishing chair or a teak leaning post in the center. Either will become the focal point of any fishing
Hatteras 45 Express
An island berth makes up the forward master stateroom. Storage is abundant throughout. Natural light is overhead.
expedition. To the starboard side, a rigging station also includes an electric grill for preparing the fresh catch for the dinner table. Under the deck is a pair of insulated fishboxes. In the transom is a molded-in 211.98 L livewell.
Observations
If there was ever a “best of both worlds” boat, then the Hatteras 45 Series is certainly a representative example. Whether the interests lie in offshore cruising or fishing, this yacht can be rigged either way. In fact, the Express Sportfish version can easily do
both, seamlessly transitioning from one to the other with little more than a hose down to facilitate the changeover. These models also represent the company’s forward thinking in taking an existing model, and making it better by combining the best of two of yachting’s powerhouses into one exquisite boat. The result is a true Hatteras that brings the builder back into the realm of offering a sub 50-footer, something it hasn’t done since the late 90s, and places the brand back within reach of a whole separate demographic of boaters and buyers.
In the cruising version, the 45 Express is a hard hitting performance cruiser that has the solid build and handling of an offshore-targeted yacht.
HATTERAS 45 EXPRESS SPECIFICATIONS Boat Design Name Hatteras 45 Express Year Launched 2016 Designer Hatteras Builder Hatteras LOA 13.59m Beam 5.03m Draft 1.22m Displ (Dry) 22543 kg Max Speed 39.1 knots Cruise Speed 29.9 knots Construction GRP Water Cap 379 litres
Engines Make 2 x Caterpillar C-18 Acert @ 1136hp Drive Train Shaft Generator Onan MFD Owners Choice Base Price of Boat $AU POA Contact Game & Leisure Boats Pty Ltd Runaway Bay Marina, Runaway Bay QLD Australia (07) 55775 811, Email sales@gandlb.com.au www.gandlb.com.au
Performance Figures // 2 x Caterpillar C-18 Acert @ 1136hp RPM
KNOTS
LPH (BOTH)
650 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2350
8.4 10.4 15.3 21.5 29.9 34.6 38.2 39.1
30.28 83.28 143.85 219.55 272.55 359.61 423.96 446.68
Range (NM)
730 330 280 240 290 240 220 220
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AN EVER CHANGING LANDSCAPE FOR KIWI BUILT BOATS The New Zealand boat building industry has undergone considerable changes in recent years, more since the GFC. A country once with a strong presence in the superyacht market, especially sailing yachts, it has re-established itself completely at the other end of the market. In the early 2000’s New Zealand was high up on the super yacht builders list, with yards such as Alloy Yachts, Sensation Yachts, Fitzroy, McMullen and Wing and Yachting Developments busy building boats for the world market. However, even before the GFC, the superyacht industry was struggling and today all that remains are a couple of key players, namely, Yachting Developments and McMullen & Wing. It is the trailer boat sector however, that is now dominating the new build market, with a boom in the aluminium boat sector. Production launches, yachts and cruisers in the 10m to 15m category, are almost non-existent, with most new GRP production boats of this size imported.
96 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Tristram Boats are one of the busiest grp trailer boat builders in the country and enjoy strong local and export sales.
SUPER YACHTS SLOW Auckland-based Yachting Developments recently launched, Cygnus Montanus, a 33.5m Frers carbon fibre sailing yacht and are well into construction of a 38.7m Michael Peters sportsfisher, destined for a 2017 delivery. Ian Cook, MD for YDL says, “We have established ourselves in somewhat of a niche market, by specialising in carbon fibre construction and adapting racing yacht technology for the superyacht market”. Cook indicates that the level of enquiry is extremely strong right now, especially in the refit market, an area of expertise that YDL is well respected for. He says that with around 50% of the costs of a new build being labour, they can still be competitive with international builders. From their new facilities in Hobsonville, they have the capacity to build to around 60m. Across town, McMullen and Wing saw their last superyacht new build launched earlier this year, a $NZ60 million, 50m “Diamond Series” designed by Gregory C Marshall. The yacht’s sister ship, and their only other super yacht in the past few years, the 45m Big Fish, was built by McMullen & Wing in 2010 and spent time exploring the Arctic Circle. Managing Director, David Porter also reports a strong level of interest in both new builds and refits. Currently, the company is into a major refit on the awardwinning VvS1, an expedition-style luxury motor yacht, also designed by Gregory C. Marshall.
Rayglass’s Protector range is still hugely popular and sales are strong, especially internationally.
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McMullen and Wing saw their last superyacht new build launched earlier this year, a $NZ60 million, 50m “Diamond Series” designed by Gregory C Marshall.
DEMISE OF SEMI PRODUCTION Builders such as Salthouse Marine, Formula Boats, Genesis Marine and Next Generation Boats for a while enjoyed both a buoyant local and export economy, but since the GFC that has all stopped. While Salthouse Marine and Genesis Marine went into liquidation a few years back, Formula Boats owners decided to pay all their bills and close the shop rather than try and carry on in a depressed market. Next Generation Boats, run by Dean Salthouse was one of the last of the semiproduction builders to close their Auckland operation when two years ago he shipped his moulds to Taiwan to be built. There have been no production sailing boats built in New Zealand for many years, with all sales derived from imported brands. While all the previously mentioned brands were strictly semi-custom, the last remaining
full production GRP 10m plus model was the 40ft, Rayglass 4000. Before ceasing production in 2006, over 50, 4000s were built. However, that has all changed, with a new Legend 3500 full production model released at the Auckland On Water Boat Show (Sept 2016). David Larsen, CEO of Rayglass Boats says that the economy of scale just didn’t work for the 4000 in the end, as for the number being sold they got too expensive to build in the existing production style. “When we stopped making the 4000 we knew we would one day need to replace it, but never realised that it would take ten years”. He adds that the design and layout of the new full production Rayglass Legend 3500– only equipment and upholstery options will be available – was very much owner driven,
The 17m Roger Hill designed foiling cat ‘Voodoo’ recently made a non-stop trip from NZ to Fiji in 50 hours and had previously made a similar voyage to Australia showing how efficiently a foiling power cat can be.
98 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
with discussions with existing Rayglass owners having a lot to do with the finished layout and style of the boat. “It was our customer base wanting something bigger than our Legend 2800, that got the whole project started and with over 20 boats sold even before the first one was launched, they have indeed embraced the new concept”, says Larsen. He points out that this is a brand new boat from the keel up and as they have full control of every aspect of the build, from the moulding of the hulls to the final fit out, they can keep a handle on costs. The first Legend 3500 was launched at the Auckland On Water Boat Show in September and the company hope to have five in the water by the end of the year. Production from 2017 should be 1.5 to 2 boat every six weeks.
Scott Robson Design has an 80ft custom alloy power catamaran under construction for a Kiwi owner.
CUSTOM BUILDERS STEADY Custom boat building is alive and well in New Zealand, with a recent survey done by the Marine Industry Association indicating over 40 new boats in build. These vary from 10m one-off designs to monohulls and catamarans more than 20m from some of the leading Kiwi designers. Elite Marine Design currently has four custom designed motor yachts ranging in size from 13.5-18m in length under construction at
various yards around New Zealand. Covering a broad spectrum of styles from sport fisher to semi-displacement cruisers, this design office has been kept busy over the past few years catering for clients after something unique and personalised. Principal designer, Bill Upfold has established an enviable reputation for producing artistically pleasing and efficient high-end vessels mainly for the domestic market with a loyal following.
“Over the past few years post the GFC I have seen a steady increase in discerning customers taking up the custom design and build option to a point that we are currently keeping 4-5 local yards busy building our designs. With several proposals out for pricing and the economy steadily improving, the future looks very healthy for us,� says Upfold. Roger Hill (Roger Hill Yacht Design Ltd), reports that 2016 has been one of the
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The Finlay 8000 Hardtop is typical of the style of aluminium boat that is currently very popular with Kiwi buyers.
Elite Marine Design currently has four custom designed motor yachts under construction. This 20m Highlander was one of the most recent launchings.
busiest periods they have had in the last 20 years. Design projects underway at various stages include a pair of 18m foiling power cats, a 17m alloy ferry cat, a 12m alloy work boat cat, a 14m composite flybridge planing cat, a 13.5m alloy/composite displacement cat, an 18m composite open deck sports cat, and an 11.2m composite production cat. These projects are under construction in NZ, China, England, Brazil, and S.A. “Enquiry levels are high and there are several more projects pending when time and resources become available to make a start”, says Hill. The 17m foiling cat ‘Voodoo’ recently made a non-stop trip from NZ to Fiji in 50 hours and had previously made a similar voyage to Australia showing how efficiently a foiling power cat can cross oceans at high speed
and demonstrates very well the sea keeping ability and comfort that can be achieved. Hill says that the yacht design and boat building industry in NZ is reasonably buoyant and the future outlook seems to be looking good for this trend to continue. While Roger Hill Yacht Design specialise in power cats and Elite Marine Design in monohulls, South Island designer Scott Robson plays in both mediums. He has been kept busy in the last few years by ICON Custom Boats, who have built a range of aluminium powercats and monohulls for the local market. Currently, he has an 80ft custom alloy power catamaran under construction for a Kiwi owner. It is designed for offshore game fishing with large lower fishing cockpits with a raise and lower platform across the tunnel
100 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
between the hulls allowing the fisherman to be at water level. “We have also designed a 19m powercat, being built as a new fibreglass production model for one of the largest motor yacht builders in Asia”, says Robson. He adds that right now his design boards are busy, with plenty of new projects. These include both commercial and leisure boats, from 6.5m through to over 25m in both alloy and grp. TRAILER BOATS BOOMING The New Zealand trailer boat industry is more active than all other markets in the marine industry, with around 5500 new boats sold from either local builders or imported. The industry has also seen a growth in exports, with many of the larger
Salthouse Next Generation Boats are now being built in Taiwan.
Buccaneer Boats were one of the few grp trailerboat builders to release a brand new model in 2015.
manufacturers reporting as much as 50% of everything they build going overseas. New Zealand has established an enviable reputation for quality aluminium boats, especially when it comes to hardtops and pontoon style boats. Currently, there are over 70 alloy boat builders in New Zealand, building trailer boats from 4m jet boats to 10m offshore hardtops. It is unquestionably the 5.5m to 7.5m alloy cabin and hardtop market that is seeing the greatest growth and also the highest concentration of manufacturers. Aluminium boat building is not localised, with builders throughout the country. This has spawned an alloy boat boom, with many of the smaller brands main sales being concentrated in their local area. The larger builders enjoy sales throughout the country, via a dealer network and excellent exports. Australia and the Pacific Islands are the most active export markets. The fibreglass trailer boat market, once the mainstay of the industry has dwindled to a few, although those that are left are building boats to the highest quality. One such company is Tristram Boats in Hamilton that produce a range of boats to an exceptionally high standard. Lance Fink, CEO of Tristram Boats doesn’t compromise on quality and it shows. “Export and local sales are strong and the company is enjoying one of its best years ever”, says Fink. In 2017 they are releasing an entirely new 10m Tristram, which, Fink says will set new standards for boating excellence. Rayglass Boats have also reported their best year ever and other brands such as Haines Hunter, CSB Huntsman, Fi Glass and Buccaneer are also running to near maximum production capacity. For many the summer rush has started early. Unlike the aluminium boat builders, new model releases from the grp builders have been few in recent years, apart from Buccaneer Boats that bucked the system with two new models in 2015. Overall, the New Zealand boat building industry is in good spirits and with a buoyant local economy, dropping interest rates and an improving dollar, the future ahead looks bright. WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 101
BOAT REVIEW
SACS Strider 13
Striving for
Perfection By Barry Thompson
The Strider 13 Open, is the perfect RIB for a sporty owner looking for a highperformance boat with lots of space for outdoor life. 102 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Founded in 1990 in Milan, the epicentre of Italian design, SACS focuses on the production of luxury rigid inflatable boats, which are supremely elegant design icons, fashioned by Italian craftsmen. The Strider 13 is one of eleven models produced by the company and one of its most popular.
I
first heard about the SACS RIBs from my son, who was telling me about a 19m SACS RIB they had as a tender on the superyacht he was working on at the time. After a little research, I also found that that particular model (and now an even bigger 20m) is based on a hull designed by Kiwi, Steve Schmidt of Naiad Boats. While the 19m & 20m have an alloy hull, all the rest of the range, designed by Christian Grande are based on grp hulls. I knew that SACS would be showing at the Sydney International Boat Show, so I was keen to have a closer look at this world renowned range of luxury tenders and sports boats. My first impression was wow! They look even better in the flesh than do on the glossy brochure. They exude Italian style, craftsmanship and a flair for being a little different. These are not just basic RIBs, they are RIBs with passion and flair, and are being brought by clients who demand quality and don’t mind paying for it.
Okay, so you may think that the $AU710,000 price tag on the Strider 13 I reviewed is a bit up there – they can be brought for $AU550,000 with twin outboards – but once you spend some time aboard the boat and look at all aspects of the layout and fit out, you can see why. Way beyond my pay bracket, but it seems not for some. Colin Wilcox Sales Manager for SACS Marine Australia says that since they introduced the first SACS RIB to the Australian market 18 months ago, they have sold 13 boats and had more on order. “This has certainly happened quicker than we thought and those sales have been right across the range, from the Sport 700, through to the Strider 13”, says Colin. While based in Sydney, SACS Australia has recently appointed a dealer in Queensland and looking to add another in Perth plus expanding into New Zealand.
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You can toss it around like a small runabout and it will handle big seas with ease.
BOAT REVIEW
SACS Strider 13
At the rear of the seating console is the small galley with hot and cold water.
CUSTOM CREATIONS The easiest way to describe the Strider 13 is to take the words directly from the SACS brochure - Irresistible, the Strider 13 Open is the perfect RIB for a sporty owner looking for a high-performance boat with lots of space for outdoor life. The Strider 13 is also perfectly suited as a chase boat or tender to a large yacht. Whatever the use, the unmatched size of the cockpit, sundeck and swim platform are perfect for day trips with plenty of friends! The console is the most outstanding stylistic element and it catches the eye with its Italian style and aggressive look. - I couldn’t have said it better myself. Every boat is available with a lot of customisation, which was very evident on the Strider 13 I reviewed. The owner went for wider side decks and short bulwarks aft, which compromised the
There’s a small head compartment inside the console.
accommodation space in the cabin. But, as the owner only ever intends to use the boat as a day cruiser that wasn’t an issue. The Strider 13 has an extensive standard package. This includes an anchor windlass with a stainless anchor, teak interior, head and shower, Zulag Isotta steering wheel, twin bolster armchair seats with stand-up cushion, cockpit bar with handrails, sink and teak chopping board and a 65 l Inox drawer fridge. There is also a massive teak cockpit table, a cockpit shower, a full set of cushions in closed cell foam and integrated stern platform and teak decking. Standard colours are a white hull, white deck with silver and graphite accents, with grey rubbing strakes on the tubes and ivory cushions. If you want to personalise the boat, you can customise the hull and deck with a metallic paint finish, change the tubes to ivory, grey or black and go for
104 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
a different wood interior finishing, with whitened oak or Canaletto walnut. The choice is yours. While talking about options, SACS offer plenty for all their boats from elegant lighting, generators, hydraulic stern platform and air conditioning and electronics packages. SPACIOUS CABIN The high-quality interior finish is evident from the exotic timbers to the tap fittings. Every aspect of the SACS 13 is about style, Italian style, with innovative and trend-setting elements that make you look beyond this being simply another big RIB. In saying that, SACS have also produced a boat that is extremely practical, with a performance to match. Every aspect of the Strider 13 looks good and they all work. The cabin is surprisingly large with a
This has to be one of the sexiest hardtops on the market
The Strider 13’s cockpit is all about relaxing and enjoying your day on the water.
single central berth or twin squabs, that can double as a U-shape lounge. There is massive storage space beneath the berths and access also to the bow thruster. The full walk-in head/shower compartment features a rain shower overhead and a raised stainless bowl on a composite vanity. Timber options inside are your choice, with Teak offered as standard. ENTERTAIN ME As this is a boat that I predict a vast majority of the time will be spent outside,
a big part of the design has focused on comfort and entertaining. The foredeck, for example, is available with sun pads over the 10mm solid teak decks and there are moulded steps leading over the tubes at the bow. All the anchoring system is hidden away in the hull, below the tubes. Wide side decks lead into a cockpit that invites you to stay and relax with afternoon cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The ergonomically designed carbon fibre helm is surrounded by every conceivable dial, switch and control, with the
centrepiece being the Raymarine E120 Hybrid Touch MFD. The twin bolster seats are outstandingly comfortable and great when either seated or standing to drive. A very cool extra available with the Strider 13 is the stylish grp hardtop, which with the solid perspex screen offers awesome protection from the wind, rain and the sun. Side clears are available also. At the rear of the seating console is the small galley with hot and cold water, fridge/ freezer (icemaker optional) and the choice of a bbq plate, two burner hob or a cutting board. The Strider 13’s cockpit is all about relaxing and enjoying your day on the water. This is not a fishing boat and there are no rod holders, bait boards or rod racks. It does, however, provide a U-shape settee that can accommodate 8-10 people around the large fold-out timber table and have the protection of a disappearing sun canopy, which shades both the rear seating area and the airbed on the stern. With the sterndrive model you get a 1.5m transom extension, which obviously with a multi-outboard arrangement disappears. However, there is a compromise, as the engine bay can be transformed into another small cabin with twin single berths. Or maybe just another copious storage space.
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 105
BOAT REVIEW
SACS Strider 13
The foredeck is available with sun pads over the 10mm solid teak decks.
The cabin is surprisingly large with a single central berth or twin squabs, that can double as a U-shape lounge.
The ergonomically designed carbon fibre helm is surrounded by every conceivable dial, switch and control,
PERFECT PERFORMER I picked up the Strider 13 at The Spit and after some playing around in the calm waters of the harbour we headed out through Sydney Heads. The usual long deep swells were there and as I pushed the Strider into the head sea and towards the horizon, I could understand why these boats have such an excellent reputation. Big and heavy (over 6.5 tonnes) RIBs, make excellent sea boats and the Strider 13 is no exception. A little trim in and the deep vee hull settles in a comfortable cruising attitude, with a very smooth, dry ride. Turning the boat back towards the harbour and I found I wanted to punch the throttles all the way and go as fast as I could‌.the ride was that good. I loved the positive, yet light to touch steering,
which meant I could toss the big Strider 13 around like a small runabout. Flat out, with the pair of Mercury Diesel 4.2s, the speedo showed close to 39 knots. There are a number of engine options for both outboard or sterndrive available for the Strider 13. These include twin or triple 300-350hp outboard packages and twin Mercury or Volvo diesel or petrol sterndrives. SACS philosophy is to offer its clients a versatile boat that combines the performance of the best RIBs with all the features needed to enjoy a day on the water at its best. They are also all about unique designs, quality and innovation, something that the Strider 13 has in abundance.
There are moulded steps leading over the tubes at the bow.
SACS STRIDER 13 Year Launched 2016 Designer Christian Grande Interior Designer Christian Grande Builder SACS Marine LOA 13.35m LOH 11.98m Beam 3.83m Draft 0.80m Displ (Dry 6.5 tonne Max Speed 39 knots Construction GRP/Hypalon Fuel Cap 1000 litres Water Cap 170 litres
Engines Make 2 x Mercury Diesel 4.2 @ 370hp Drive Train Bravo X Propellers Duoprop Generator Kohler 15.5kw Thrusters Craftmaster 8hp Anchor Winch Lewmar Underwater Lights Aqualuma MFD Raymarine E120 Hybrid Touch Ent System Fusion Base Price of Boat $AU600,000 (stern drive) $AU550,000 (twin outboards) Price As Tested $AU710,000
106 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Performance Figures // 2 x Mercury Diesel 4.2 @ 370hp RPM
Knots
L/H
L / NM
Range (NM)
1000 1500 2000
5.1 8.7 14.3
5.7 14.4 33.4
1.2 1.7 2.4
750 520 370
2500 3000 3500 3800
20.0 27.5 34.2 38.6
52 73.2 113.4 154.6
2.6 2.7 3.4 4.1
340 330 260 210
Contact SACS Marine , Ph +61 (02) 8318 0222, info@sacsmarine.com.au, www.sacsmarine.com.au
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 107
Heading into Milford Sound
CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE
South Island There’s nothing more invigorating for me, than cruising out of a harbour on a sunny day, with a backdrop of clear blue sea and sky. And, I’ve done plenty of that over the years, having owned boats of numerous styles and sizes for more than a couple of decades. Some journeys are memorable for the high-jinks, fun and laughter of crew, some for the narrowly avoided disasters, some for the rough ride, and some for the endless summer days. But, recently, I needed more of a challenge in my love affair with the sea. I wanted to face my fears and push my limits as a skipper. I wanted to experience the demands of some of the roughest transits in the world, in some of its remotest places. Circumnavigating the South Island and exploring Fiordland, like Cook did in the Endeavour, was the adventure I craved - albeit in a little more comfort! BY GRAEME ROSE
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 109
Milford Sound
George Sound
Bernie, Geoff and Graeme fishing for dinner in Blanket Bay, Doubtful Sound
I bought my Princess 65 motor launch in the South of France three-and-a-half years ago and, prior to shipping it back to New Zealand, took it for a cruise in the Mediterranean. It’s the biggest boat I’ve ever owned, and my first experience of parking was in Monaco when the Grand Prix was in full swing. Nudging in between superyachts, to squeeze into our designated berth, was one of those sweaty-palm moments I’ll never forget. But, I digress, that first cruise in the Med’ saw us caught by the Mistral, that strong, cool, north-westerly wind that blows from Southern France into the Gulf of Lion in the northern Mediterranean. We were heading from Monaco to Corsica some 50 nautical miles off shore, well out of land sight, when it struck. We were thrown around by a short, steep chop of about 3-4 metres. It was uncomfortable, and a little frightening for the crew (they have some famously exaggerated stories to tell over a glass of wine), but it taught me what the Princess could handle and gave me confidence in it as a very sea-worthy, stable, strong, and powerful boat. Cruising from Havelock to Tasman, down the West Coast and into Fiordland, then across to Stewart Island, around to Otago, then
Akaroa and back to home base in Havelock would be a challenge, but being careful with the weather and being well prepared, I felt confident enough to give it a go! Still, best laid plans can go awry. A piece of critical equipment fails under strain, an engine fault develops, electronics miss a beat… I had to consider every foreseeable contingency and have a backup plan. I created a folder with all relevant information from routes, prevailing winds, currents and fuel consumption to an inventory of all spare parts, manuals and radio contacts. I spoke with anyone and everyone who had knowledge of cruising in various areas, particularly down the West Coast, Fiordland and Stewart Island. It took months of planning, and I spoke with some of NZ’s saltiest sailors and fishermen who are alive with knowledge of the sea and its moods in the south. DEPARTING HAVELOCK With a weather window arriving right on the time we had hoped to depart, we set off from Havelock on 12 February, 2016. We topped up the water, double checked all systems and sounded the horn as we cruised out with a light northerly wind, clear skies and a flat
110 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
sea. However, there was a lot of debris in the water following rain and high tides. We had a brief altercation with a log off Admiralty Bay, luckily it did no damage but it was a reminder to expect the unexpected. Our first night was spent anchored in Mutton Cove, just south of Separation Pont in Golden Bay. It was a beautiful, calm evening and after a swim in the clear, tepid water, a venison pie and a nightcap, we settled for the night. We didn’t foresee that we would be driven from the area by inconsiderate, noisy neighbours! Their ‘party’ went on all night. None of us could sleep and so at 5am we upped anchor and headed towards Westport. Our neighbours didn’t care if we stayed or left, they were baby seals crying for their mothers who were out hunting for food. WESPORT CROSSING I had spoken to the harbourmaster at Westport after reading many scary reports, and watching You Tube clips of treacherous crossings of its infamous bar. Shipwrecks and near breeching are common there, and I have to admit I was nervous at the prospect of the crossing, but refuelling in Westport was a necessity. So after rounding Farewell Spit just as the sun was rising on 13 February, we
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Exploring George Sound
headed south in a gentle 1-2 metre northwest swell. I had planned this leg to arrive at the optimum time for crossing the Westport bar – when the tide is full. On arrival, I felt a leap in my heart as I saw the bar was flat, with just a slight swell from the south. We refuelled, rafting alongside a fishing boat full of some very helpful guys, and made the decision to make the most of the rare weather and continue South past those iconic landmarks of Greymouth, Hokitika and Jackson’s Bay. Leaving Westport at 4pm, with three on board, we ran shifts with two crew up at all times, rotating throughout the night 2 hours down and 4 hours up. At 6am day broke with mainly clear skies. We passed two tuna boats during the night that were also enjoying the lazy, rolling sea. It was just 47 nautical miles to Milford – Deep Water Basin, so I called Maritime Radio with our trip report. I was pinching myself to be so close to Fiordland and even the knowledge that the port rev counter was flickering didn’t take the shine off our anticipation. MILFORD SOUND 9am on day three we entered Milford Sound. Having only visited Milford once in my late teens, arriving by sea in my own boat 40
years later was a very magical and emotional moment. Having completed 460 nautical miles so far in this adventure, we arrived at exactly the same time as a cruise liner was leaving. After giving way (naturally), we cruised in on the black, bottomless water of the fiord, the sheer cliffs reaching to and beyond the clouds. Yes, they are fiords even though they are named sounds – a misnomer along the road of history that was never corrected on the maps. The Fiords of Fiordland were carved by glaciers over 100,000 years ago and the water is black for two reasons – firstly the thundering, cascading water that seems to be a constant, due to the extremely high rainfall (7 metres per year), is the colour of tea, being fresh, but tainted by the bracken. The fresh water sits on top of the salt, sometimes up to 3 or more metres deep. Secondly the fiords are very deep – 421 metres in Doubtful Sound – the deepest of the lot. Ancient rainforests still cling to the rocky cliffs between the waterfalls and this place is eerie in that it has a peaceful, age-old serenity that has been untouched by man. It is at once beautiful and spectacular and daunting and foreboding in its majesty. We partied well that night, feasting on crayfish given to us from the
112 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
local fishermen and hearing stories about our arrival, and how the captain of the cruise liner announced to the passengers to check out our boat saying, “We never get ginpalaces in Milford”! We collapsed into bed for a well-earned sleep. As I was drifting off, I recalled a scary occurrence we had when entering Milford Sound earlier in the day. We thought we would try to catch a fish on the way in. The sea was lumpy, we were in 30m of water, then suddenly the depth sounder dropped to 10m then 4 then 2 it was an oh *** moment and I went into neutral, bracing myself to hit rock… seconds went by… nothing! A miracle, an escape from near disaster – the relief was sweet. I now know that the fresh water that sits on top of the salt water can create false readings that catch out the uninitiated with a moment of terror. GEORGE & CHARLES SOUND I left the boat – Capraia – in Milford Sound on 15 February, until I returned with my wife Angela and our first crew of friends at the end of February. Six of us arrived with all our gear and food only to find the house batteries were dead. Not a good start with no lights, no power, no bilge pumps, no refrigeration. With Milford living up to its
Angela and Graeme in Acherron Passage
Doubtful Sound
record rainfall claims, everything was damp. Thanks to the main engine batteries being isolated from the house batteries, the main engines and generator started and within a few hours our batteries were recharged and we were again warm, dry and ‘ship shape’. We cruised out the next day with perfect weather and mirror sea. First stop was George Sound, where the pristine air was filled with birdsong and the forest floor was a thick bouncy carpet of moss. After lunch, we decided to head to Charles Sound, but we didn’t realise we were enjoying the calm
before the storm! Out at sea the swell rose to 4-5metres with a 1-2m chop on top. We slowed from our normal cruise speed of 20 knots down to 12. I was at about 90% of my comfort level, so any worsening of conditions would have meant returning to Milford. Not surprisingly, the crew became strangely quiet during this leg, and my grip on the wheel tightened somewhat. This was the first time since the Mediterranean that we had experienced such rough sea conditions, but as we continued south our nerves settled and the boat performed
beautifully. We were, however, all relieved to arrive in Charles Sound and we found a lovely place to anchor in a small cove behind Elanor Island. The sea in Charles Sound was flat and the weather good – such a contrast to the cruise south. A couple of idyllic days were spent exploring this area of cliffs and waterfalls, islands and forests. We went diving and, surprisingly, once through the tea coloured fresh water, we were swimming in crystal clear ocean looking up to the sun through what seemed like a sparkling light brown topaz. Hunting,
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sacsmarine.com.au | info@sacsmarine.com.au | (02) 8318 0222
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 113
Graeme and Gary’s Dusky Sound haul
fishing, sunbathing and a few G&Ts (actually lots!) were all included in those stress-free calm days. DOUBTFUL SOUND With water-supplies low, and a couple of the waterfall water hoses inoperable, we needed to head to the semi-civilisation of Doubtful Sound. The sea was calm and after being joined by a full escort of dolphins, and a fantastic cruise through Thompson Sound, past Seymour Island, we arrived in Deep Bay. With water tanks full, the next few days were spent exploring this untouched, remote part of the world. No Wi-Fi, no cell-phone coverage and no modern distractions, except for a good book when one tired from the input of so much overwhelming natural beauty. Eventually we had to return to civilisation and we all helicoptered out from Doubtful Sound to Te Anau and on to our homes, leaving the boat well anchored thanks to the help and knowledge of the locals.
We returned to Doubtful Sound on 9 April, along with our next crew, after travelling across the foggy Wilmot Pass. This time, arriving to a very ship-shape “Capraia”. DUSKY SOUND Heavy rain and a sleepless, stormy night dampened the first couple of days but cruising into Dusky Sound after nosing our bow into a massive waterfall on Archeron Passage was invigorating. We were in famous Captain Cook territory – where he spent two months in 1773 recovering and repairing the Endeavour after exploring Antarctic waters. Cook charted the Sound, set up a workshop and an observatory and, allegedly, brewed NZs first beer. Narrow channels, rocks, reefs, and a plethora of little islands all made boating precarious, and we often mused on how those early sailors managed without all of the modern navigating tools. Like those who came before us, we traded – for us it was wine for crayfish from a passing fishing boat, which we enjoyed with our
114 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
guests who after a week’s exploration and discovery were flying out by helicopter the next morning, before another crew arrived. Unfortunately, our new crew were met with heavy rain, incessant sand-flies and more than our fair share of wind, which kept us holed up for a time. We took the opportunity to do odd jobs on the boat and give it a good clean inside. On Sunday, 17 April, we finally awoke to a big blue sky and sun. We headed off to explore the remains of Henry’s House on Pigeon Island. Henry was the caretaker of NZ’s first island wildlife sanctuary (1894) and we found the remains of his house and the Kakapo and Kiwi enclosure where he temporarily kept birds, before relocating them to safety on Resolution Island. This part of New Zealand is so full of history and intrigue and hardship and friendships, that I cannot do it justice in this small story. Suffice to say, that we met amazing, adventurous people undertaking similar journeys and were welcomed by fishermen and locals of the area. We did everything from dancing on
Scott getting the shot in Acheron Passage
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the deck in the moonlight, to banqueting at Preservation Lodge in Kisbee, to getting blown off our feet at Puysegur Lighthouse. The only real challenge we had on this leg was finding water – which sounds ironic given the rainfall – but, with a brave crewman who scaled a rock face, coupled with his ingenuity, a hose and a handy waterfall, we were soon showering again.
p. +64 9 448 5900 f. +64 9 448 5911 e. info@sopac.co.nz
www.sopac.co.nz DB156
STEWART ISLAND With time moving on, and the draw back to civilisation and the necessity of work calling, we had to move, Stewart Island being the next port of call. There was a small weather window coming, before a week long forecast of gale force winds, so we decided to bolt. When we nosed out past Puysegur Point we were met with a 4m swell and a confused sea near the lighthouse, which was uncomfortable but expected. Leaving Puysegur the wind was at around 25 knots westerly with a large breaking sea on the nose (so much for a recently cleaned boat), and about 3 miles off shore we turned left and increased speed gradually to 20 knots. With a following swell of 3-5 metres, the bow went through blue water only twice, and despite the strengthening westerly we made unbelievable time to arrive in Oban only four hours later! After weeks on the boat, Stewart Island was an oasis – the quaint, tidy little town and famous pub lured us into village life and we had a wonderful time touring the island and making new friends. After a
41c William Pickering Dr | Albany, Auckland
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Dead calm in Charles Sound
few days R&R and yet another change of crew, our wives flew home from Stewart Island and the two remaining crew and I set off across Foveaux Strait to Bluff. On arrival, we refuelled and watered and prepared for the next day leg to Dunedin. OTAGO Leaving Bluff at 5am it was still very dark, so we navigated out of the harbour by radar and GPS. Once southwest of Dog Island we turned left towards Long Point on a calm but overcast day. As we neared Dunedin we got permission from the Otago Harbour control to enter, but somehow we missed a bit of vital information, that a huge freighter was coming out of the channel at the same time! Its captain gave us a long sound on his horn (it was a proper telling off!) and squeezed us tight to the land. Still, that was the only glitch on this leg of our journey so all was going well.
Preservation Inlet
All crew on watch during a rough transit to Charles Sound
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AKAROA After catching up with family, refuelling and shopping, we set off for Akaroa on 3 May. A beautiful clear day and flat sea saw us cruising along at speed when, far off-shore, in what seemed like the middle of the ocean, we came across a friend’s fishing boat. The fishermen gave us fresh fish and some friendly banter; you certainly couldn’t starve circumnavigating the South Island. We arrived in Akaroa on the same day at 4pm and went out for dinner with family and friends. With a couple of new crew joining us, we fuelled up again, finished off a few odd jobs and left Akaroa for the last leg back to Havelock. Leaving around 5pm on May 5, we cruised through the night at 9 knots with the crew taking shifts. The sea was lumpy and uncomfortable so daybreak was a welcome sight. Despite the sea conditions we had made good progress and we were just past Cape Campbell by 7am. We increased speed to 20 knots, passed The Brothers then Cape Jackson with flat sea and a beautiful day. It was a very special and surreal feeling entering Perlorus Sound. I was relieved, and quite emotional, to be so close to completing the circumnavigation I had dreamed of and prepared so meticulously for. ARRIVING HOME We arrived at Havelock at 3pm and I backed Capraia into her berth for the first time since 12 February. We tied up with many “whoop, whoops and yee hars!” and toasted the voyage with a very large, cold glass of Marlborough Savy - or three! What a feeling – happy, proud, excited, stunned, sad in some respects that it was over, but with a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. I had ticked the box, beaten my fears and self-doubt. I had grown and matured as a skipper. I felt more capable and confident but, more than ever, respectful of Mother Nature. Looking back, I have the utmost regard for all of the crew who joined me on this circumnavigation. Everyone contributed in every way possible, and all played a vital part in its success. This was a truly amazing adventure that I will never forget!
For sale $985,000
NEW TO THE MARKET...
Princess 65-2000 Motor Launch • 20.5m (67 feet) • British built production boat • Planing hull • Beautiful condition • Regularly maintained • $200,000 spent in last 3 years on improvements & maintenance • Powered by twin MAN 1050 HP • 3.5m Highfield rib with 40HP Yamaha 4 stroke
For more info go to http://capraia.bolder.co.nz or contact owner, Graeme Rose Ph 021 338 031 or contact your preferred boat broker WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 117
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The extensive range of Hella marine LED lights.
Ten things to consider when purchasing LED lighting Everyone knows the benefits of LED lighting compared to traditional incandescent bulb based lighting. It is well published that LED Luminaires are some 90% more efficient and offer up to 25 time’s longer life span. So the decision to change from incandescent to LED technology is an easy one. However comparing LED based lighting to halogen lamps is like comparing apples and oranges. If you are looking at upgrading or building new with LED lighting there is usually a substantial cost involved so you want to make sure you select the best lamps for your purpose and that they provide the best value and return on investment. This means they should last as long as promised and provide the light performance desired. So it is important to compare apples with apples as they say. Here are the 10 most important things to consider when deciding to invest in LED lighting.
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01
Example of suggested lumen comparisons
LIGHT OUTPUT Unlike traditional incandescent lamps or halogen lamps where the amount of power a lamp uses (wattage) is usually a pretty fair indication for how bright it will be. LED technology and LED light output has increased dramatically over the last few years. As a result there are large differences between LED Luminaires in light performance for the power consumed (lumens per watt). Lumens are a common measurement used to describe the amount of light a lamp produces. This measurement is too often based on the LED’s manufactured rating (Raw Lumens) therefore it can be misleading and not the actual measure of useful light
emitted by a LED lamp. Factors such as the power used to drive the lamp, thermal losses and optic and lens losses as light rays travel through the lens all contribute to a possible 20-50% decrease of the light lumens emitted by the LED. Good optic skills, circuit design and material selection are required to minimise internal lumen losses. Another more accurate measurement of actual light output is lux. Quality lighting manufacturers, using state of the art photometric equipment, are able to provide
accurate lux or candela charts so consumers get a fair representation of the expected Luminaire performance. Lux and candela ratings refer to the actual light intensity from the lamp at given distances and direction. This way you know what light levels to expect when designing your lighting layout. Other aspects to consider when reviewing luminaire performance include beam angle, and evenness of illumination, as well as colour temperature and colour rendering which we cover in later sections.
Example of a spread lens design.
Based on manufacturers listed Lumen’s and power consumption. Example of a narrower spot lens design.
02
BEAM ANGLE
If you stare directly into a LED luminaire, chances are it will appear bright and dazzle you. In fact looking directly at some of the high power LED chips for extended periods can be hazardous to the eye. Hella marine LED lamps use efficient lens and optic designs to reduce glare and eye strain while still projecting the light in an evenly distributed pattern. For example down lights will often have a wide spread optic to fill a room and by overlapping the wide spread beams from several Luminaires shadows are reduced. Alternatively other lamps like spotlights or courtesy lighting may be designed to focus or direct the light in a specific direction to achieve a specific effect.
03
POWER CONSUMPTION
As mentioned earlier, LED lamps can save up to 90% of power compared to traditional incandescent lamps. It is a common misconception that all 4W LED lamps produce the same light performance. A well designed 3 watt LED lamp could produce more light than a 4 watt lamp. Much of the performance greatly depends on the LED used and as mentioned earlier the quality of the optic, thermal management and electronic. As LED technology is steadily advancing manufacturers have been able to produce LEDs with a much greater lumen per watt performance. This means lamps are getting brighter and your power consumption from lighting is reducing. So efficacy, which is the measurement of lumens per watt, is an important consideration. If possible try and compare the lumens per watt to get an accurate measurement of what percentage of power is being used to effectively generate light. The more lumens per watt the more efficient the lamp is, meaning less power is being used to generate the equivalent amount of light. WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 119
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COLOUR TEMPERATURE (KELVINS) AND RENDERING INDEX (CRI) When white LED lighting first became available it quickly gained a reputation for creating cold or blue colour tones. As technology has developed LED colour temperatures have advanced and today LED Luminaires are available in a wide range of colours temperatures, from similar to natural day light or the warm tungsten glow of
traditional incandescent lamps. Think about what feel you want on your vessel. Cooler white colours (5000K) usually suit white gel-coat boats and exteriors while lush upholstery or varnished timbers look and feel better with a warmer (3000K) light. As LED technology continues to advance so does the colour rendering ability of LED’s.
The higher the CRI rating the better and truer colour reproduction you will get of various objects. For example sunlight has the highest CRI rating of 100. LED lamps with a CRI rating of 80 or higher will reproduce the colour scheme of the interior with good accuracy.
06
Rust quickly forms on nonmarine grade materials.
05
04
THERMAL MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
Maritime environments are very harsh, salty, high humidity and coupled with strong UV. Lamps manufactured using low grade, corrosive metals or poorly coated alloys soon degrade and rust. This can cause unsightly rust stains on the vessel and blemish the appearance of the lamp. Eventually the housing and sealing systems will break down allowing moisture to enter the lamp. Once this happens it’s only a matter of time until the electronics fail. Most consumers will have purchased and experienced products made from plastic materials that deteriorate, fade and become brittle very quickly when exposed to the sun. Continuous exposure to UV can also cause
LED lamps to become brittle and crack which eventually enables water or moisture inside. Hella marine products are manufactured using high quality, corrosion resistant materials that have been tested and proven to be extremely durable in the marine environment. For exterior and high impact areas Hella marine has introduced Grilamid as the material of choice and are now using a revolutionary new ceramic polymer with outstanding thermal performance. Less metal also means less weight: Lamps with thermally conductive plastic are up to 60% lighter than comparable metal bodied lamps.
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The notion that LED lamps run cool is only when comparing to incandescent lamps that are too hot to safely touch after operating for a short period. The fact is the LEDs and the electronics inside a lamp do heat up and if not cooled effectively will affect the light performance and the expected life span of the lamp. A very hot running LED Luminaire can also cause issues when interacting with the surrounding materials, particularly in recessed lamps, that prevents the heat to dissipate. High power LED lamps do generate heat so the lamp needs to be designed to efficiently transport this heat away from the LED itself. LEDs that overheat, meaning the junction temperature of the LED rises above a set threshold, will permanently degrade, significantly reducing their luminous efficacy.
BOSTON WHALER 315 CONQUEST Powered by twin Mercury 250HP Verado Supercharged 4-stroke engines, standard boat, no trailer Rugged sophistication, cutting-edge convenience and incredible functionality combine in the Boston Whaler 315 Conquest, a boat designed for both hardcore saltwater anglers and those who favor all-day cruising. A full front glass windshield with open sides and a sheet glass enclosure provide a clear, unobstructed view from the helm, while an insulated livewell/cooler, large bait-prep area and storage, and dual in-deck fishboxes ensure anglers have everything they need to get on the fish. The 315 Conquest’s cabin features a skylight over the galley and a mid-berth with ample space for bringing along extra family members or friends. A new convertible portside lounge seat opens up the options for riding in comfort, flipping smoothly to face forward or aft. Master the offshore and enjoy the onboard with the Boston Whaler 315 Conquest. Boston Whaler “The unsinkable legend”
$449,000
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CARVER C43 The C43 Coupe boasts a broad, single-level salon with 6-feet, 8-inches of headroom, which becomes part of a seamless indoor/outdoor living space when the glass cockpit doors are open. It also features two spacious staterooms, each with 6-feet, 6-inches of headroom, a well-appointed galley, a private owners’ head with separate stall shower, and a separate day-guest head. • Twin Cummins 6.7L 380HP Shaft Drive Diesel Engines • Joystick Docking Control • 7.0kW Diesel Generator • Air Conditioning / Heating • 2-cabin / 2-head layout • Single Level living w/aft galley • Bi-fold lockable doors • Raymarine 12" Chartplotter / Fishfinder • Factory Warranty / Local After Sales Support
$899,000
DB154
IN STOCK NOW To many features to list, for full details call us now.
www.sportsmarine.co.nz 279 Ti Rakau Drive East Tamaki Auckland (09) 274 9918 507 Moorhouse Avenue Waltham Christchurch (03) 379 9208
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Examples of different LED manufacturers and methods of sealing lamps. IP30 (Open)
07
IP54 (Partially Sealed)
IP67 (Completely Sealed)
SEALING (IP RATING) As LEDs are electronic devices it is important to protect them from moisture and other contaminants that will degrade or harm the lamp. In a marine environment this is even more important as the chance of getting water, condensation or salt spray around the lamp is highly likely even in interior applications. All commercial and leisure Hella marine LED
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is an increasingly relevant safety concern.
lamps are at least IP 67 rated, meaning the same luminaire can be fitted to both the interior and exterior on your vessel, in either wet or dry conditions. With the same fully sealed LED light fitted both on the interior and exterior, a consistent lighting scheme can be kept and the vessel can be safely cleaned or water blasted without fear of water ingress into the lamps.
08
ELECTRO MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is an increasingly relevant safety concern, especially for many emergency and industrial applications. As electronic devices such as LED lamps become more common, so does the risk of unintended electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can have adverse
effects on other sensitive devices such as radios or communication equipment. Hella marine has introduced a new RFCommSafe range of products, developed in recognition that some radio communication equipment can self-tune to be very sensitive in remote locations.
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In these situations the limits prescribed by regulatory requirements and as defined in international standards such as EN 60945, IEC 61547, EN 55015 (CISPR 15) standards may not be sufficient to ensure there is no interference with very sensitive radio communication equipment.
09
New NaviLED 360 Anchor Lamps are extremely efficient drawing less than 1W and offer unmatched reliability in the harsh marine environment.
WARRANTY
Hella HypaLUME LED Floodlight comes with a 5 year warranty
• • • • • • • • •
NEW !
2NM Internationally approved Low power consumption (<1W) MultivoltTM 9-33V DC Completely sealed IP67 Ultra long service life Variety of mounting options Range of pole lengths Made in New Zealand 5 year warranty
LED
Fixed, Fold Down and Plug-in base options
Depending on the brand of LED lamp purchased you can expect between a 12 month and 7 year warranty and this commitment of the manufacturer will be an indication of the confidence a manufacturer places in the long-term durability of their product. Buy from a trusted brand which has a reputation to stand behind their products All Hella marine LED lamps have a 5 year warranty with the exception of the NaviLED Tri-colour Anchor lamp which carries a 7 year warranty.
67 9-33V IP COMPLETELY
MULTIVOLT TM
SEALED
NZ 5 YR MADE IN
10 COST
Obviously cost is an important consideration when making a purchase decision. Quality LED lamps are usually more expensive than incandescent lamps and there are price differences between LED lamps as well. As explained, there are vast differences as to the material choices and construction methods and standards a manufacturer designs to. It is important to not only consider the initial expense but the life time cost of the lamp or your vessel. The power saving and longer life span usually well off-sets the initial price paid over the life-time of the LED lamp. How well a LED lamp is designed, engineered and made will determine the eventual life span. Consider the total cost of purchase, maintenance and efficiency, repair and replacement costs when purchasing your next LED product. Astute purchasers prefer to pay for a quality lamp with increased output, efficiency, light patterns and a 5 year warranty.
For more information on Hella marine’s extensive range of LED lighting go to: www.hellamarine.com
CORROSION PROOF HOUSING
WARRANTY
technology World leading LED ltra reliable u Power saving and See the full range of ultra reliable LED navigation lamps.
www.hellamarine.com info@hellamarine.com +64 9 577 0000 www.hellamarine.com
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The dedicated nature of our range of marine publications delivers a highly targeted audience to our advertisers – Offering your products and brand a receptive audience.
WHY ADVERTISE IN NEW ZEALAND'S AND AUSTRALIA'S NUMBER 1 POWER BOAT MAGAZINE TARGETED – if your market is power boats – this is the publication for you – every reader is reading your message because they are interested in power boats ! LONGEVITY – our publications are available for months – your message is out there for the same period. QUALITY - both the publication and our world leading editorial team offer the best in power boat presentation and reading WEB SUPPORT – In addition to the printed version – each edition is also availably digitally on the web – further exposing your company and products to the world - indefinitely. PROVEN – We know for a fact that boats and boating products are sold from our printed and digital versions, our advertisers tell us !!!
Don’t miss your opportunity to reach your target market, call Doug Dukeson +64 (0) 9 428 2328 or Alex Ram +64 (0) 9 428 7277 Australian Advertising: Peter Rhodes: +61 (0) 3 8786 8993
DB093
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Aqualuma is the only LED underwater light manufacturer in the world whose lights have the ability to be serviced while your boat remains in the water.
LIGHTING down under
Barry Thompson looks at underwater lights and what’s available for today’s trailer boat, cruiser or superyacht owner.
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Underwater lights such as these from Lumitec, have become very popular on trailer boats and not only look cool at night but attract fish, especially squid.
GENERATION 4 LED UNDERWATER LIGHTS
THRU-HULL SERIES
6
12
18
AQUALUMA.COM Designed and Manufactured in Australia
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Since Underwater Lights introduced one of the first recognised underwater lights for the recreational boating market in 1991, the market has expanded with over a dozen international manufacturers. Deep Sea released its first recreational underwater lights in 2003 and UK-based company Ocean LED and Australian based Aqualuma released its first underwater lights in 2005 and helped kickstart the evolution of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for marine use. All four are market leaders in this very competitive field. Other leading brand names now include Quick, Lumitec, Bluefin, Perko, Cantalupi and Sea Vision. Underwater lights are, as the name suggests, lights that work underwater so obviously they should be installed below the waterline for optimum heat dissipation and lighting effect. The light source for virtually all underwater lights today is LED, a rapidly developing technology in lighting. LED is the most common type of light on the market and far more energy efficient than any other form of lighting, including halogen, xenon metal halide and plasma which are used on larger yachts and superyachts. LEDs are shock and vibration resistant and have a life expectancy of more than 50,000 hours. LED manufacturer CREE claims a life of 100,000+ hours on its lights, but most manufacturers of underwater lights limit this to 40,000 hours due to the operational conditions.
MOUNTING OPTIONS Underwater Lights can be mounted in a number of ways, from thru-hull and surface mount to attaching them to trim tabs or separate L-shaped bracket A thru-hull fitting is mounted literally through the hull of a boat. A hole is drilled and the light fitting slides into that hole and is fixed internally. Aqualuma is the only LED underwater light manufacturer in the world whose lights have the ability to be serviced while your boat remains in the water. Care and maintenance of underwater lights are simply a matter of cleaning the lens on a regular basis if you want to maintain the best light projection. Cleaning is easy and can be done with a soft cloth or soft scrubbing brush. Cleaning is important as if you don’t clean
your lights, they may get a build-up of marine growth such as algae or barnacles that will affect the light projection. However, simply using the lights is one of the best ways to keep away barnacles and the like, as the heat generated from the lights will help prevent marine growth. POWER & COLOUR New generation LED lights are very lean on power usage. For example, the Aqualuma 1 Series uses less than 0.2A @ 12V and less than 0.1A @ 24V. The more powerful 12 Series uses less than 1.2A @ 12V and less than 0.6A @ 24V. Most underwater lights are also polarity protected and polarity sensitive so you need to make sure you hook the right wires to the right power source, be it positive or negative.
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LIGHT HOUSINGS To contain a LED light in extreme conditions, particularly when the light is mounted underwater, requires a superior housing. The choice is either aluminium Desalination systems bronze, which is popular with some manufacturers, or an injection moulded transparent polymer, such as that used by Australian underwater light manufacturer Aqualuma. The material is ideal for underwater lights because it is immensely Pure water. Anytime, anywhere. With output from 32L to 293L per hour, our strong and is durable, lightweight, scratchdesalinators provide the freedom to explore. resistant and UV protected. Marine electronics The benefit of using polymer is that the housing will never corrode as there is no metal in contact with the water. Therefore, the lights do not need to be bonded to the boat’s sacrificial anode system. It is probably a good idea to antifoul the Engineered to deliver the best navigation systems exterior surfaces of the underwater lights Multifunction navigation, autopilots, radar, fishfinders, instruments, thermal cameras, VHF if they are not made from plastic. communications, satellite TV, marine cameras Aluminium bronze is a popular material for housings as it is one of the most robust metals underwater. Stainless steel is very good out of the water as its top layer oxidises, but underwater this does not occur and therefore it will corrode. Aluminium bronze has great resistance to salt water corrosion as well as having Australian great thermal characteristics to help keep Marine Wholesale Australian Marine Wholesale Australian Marine Wholesale The Boat Works, Unit 2 Building J Works, The Boat Unit 2 Building J TheAMW Boat Works, 1Unit 2 Building J 150530 A4 flyer.indd the light and LEDs cool. 1 Boat Works Drive, Coomera QLDWorks 4209 Drive, 1 Boat Coomera QLD 4209
Marine electronics
Compelling marine design and technology Superior electronics for every demanding marine application – inland fishing, coastal fishing, sailing and day cruising or larger powerboats.
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The brighter choice in LED lighting is Lumitec - underwater, down lights, flood, task, cockpit, courtesy, accent and rail lights in over 500 lighting configurations and 22 models.
P +61 7 5580 1511 P +61 7 5580 1511 P +61 7 5580 1511 E sales@amwholesale.com.au E sales@amwhole E sales@amwholesale.com.au 28/10/2015 5:50 pm W www.amwholesale.com.au W www.amwholes W www.amwholesale.com.au
Australian Marine Wholesale The Boat Works, Unit 2 Building J 1 Boat Works Drive, Coomera QLD 4209
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Australian Australian Australian Marine Marine Marine Wholesale Wholesale Wholesale The The Boat The Boat Works, Boat Works, Works, Unit Unit 2Unit Building 2 Building 2 Building JJ J 1 Boat 1 Boat 1Works Boat Works Works Drive, Drive, Drive, Coomera Coomera Coomera QLD QLD 4209 QLD 42094209
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28/10/2015 5:50 pm PP +61 +61 P7 +61 5580 7 5580 71511 5580 15111511 28/10/2015 5:50 pm EE sales@amwholesale.com.au sales@amwholesale.com.au E sales@amwholesale.com.au WW www.amwholesale.com.au www.amwholesale.com.au W www.amwholesale.com.au
There is no difference really between 12 or 24 volts, when it comes to the power strength and leading brands are usually dual voltage so they will accept either 12 or 24 volt systems. The light output and brightness is the same on either 12 or 24 volts. When it comes to colour, that is a personal choice and each colour has different benefits. Blue and green light have shorter wavelengths than white light, and can penetrate through the water more efficiently, making them look brighter. The human eye is more sensitive to blue and greens, which make the lights look brighter. The way light travels through the water is dependent on its colour temperature. Blue is the colour temperature that penetrates water further than any other colour, therefore this is one of the most popular colours. This is followed closely by green, which is great in fresh water. White LEDs are very bright as opposed to the dull yellow of halogen lights. BEAM COVERAGE There are a number of factors regulating how far the lights will shine out. The first is how big/bright the light is and secondly the colour used. Obviously, the clarity of the water has a lot to do with it also. In dirty water, a light may reach as little as 1m but in perfect conditions, the same lights may reach out beyond 30m. You can run with your LED lights on, which looks neat, as LEDs are a solid state light source, therefore are vibration proof. Most manufacturers’ lights are fitted with thermal cut out protection, so if the light does overheat it will turn itself off as a precaution. When looking at just how many lights to use, Ocean LED’s website sums it up by saying it’s like comparing one big stereo speaker or strategically placing six individual ones. Surround sound is the answer to clever sound and clever lighting design can be done by using more individual lights; it’s like surround lighting! If you are looking at the different brands and trying to see which has the brightest light, it’s not an easy question to answer. However, it’s not always about brightness. The real issue comes down to design, technology and size. So what are your options? There are many brands on the market today, it’s simply a matter of finding the right light that suits your needs.
Underwater lights work great for marina berths, such as these from Aqualuma.
Aqualumas QL 3 series blue GENIII is exceptionally lean on power usage.
AQUALUMA Designed and manufactured in Australia, Aqualuma offers five underwater lighting options starting with the 1 Series, a powerful and cost efficient light for smaller craft up to around 6.5m. Designed for tenders, ribs and smaller pleasure boats, the 1 Series is built from the same high-impact polymer material that Aqualuma has become famous for. Like all Aqualuma lights, the 1 Series is fully serviceable and upgradeable and without the need for haul out and only requires a 12 or 24 volt DC power source. The Gen 1V Series is available in 6 Series for boats 6m to 13m, the larger 12 Series designed for boats from 12m to 30m and the 18 Series intended to illuminate the world’s largest superyachts. This is also available as the Gen 1V Tri Series, which combines the brilliance of the blue and white with the body of the 12 and 18 Series and offers customers the choice of two colours (9 blue and 9 white LEDs) in the one housing. Aqualuma also offers the Luma-Vu, a hull mounted underwater camera, manufactured with Aqualuma’s corrosion-proof, injectionmoulded polymer housing. This highresolution colour CCTV camera is virtually bullet proof (and definitely shark proof!). Luma-Vu will connect to any video input. Other underwater products include the Dock Light. This has 12 high powered LED’s and new optics, with no metal parts in contact with the water and its leak-proof construction eliminates corrosion worries. There is also the Gen 4 FF12 Surface Mount light, which offers the ultimate performance where a surface mounted underwater light is the only option.All Aqualuma lights carry a six-year housing warranty with a three-year warranty on the internals. BLUEFIN LED Engineered and manufactured in England, the Bluefin LED range of underwater lights is extensive, with 15 models in either surface mount or thru hull style. Their lights are available in white, blue, green and RGBW colour changing options. All lights incorporate proprietary CAD optics to ensure maximum beam penetration and spread in the water. Bluefin LED`s unique range of surface
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mounted products comprise eight models, ranging from the Piranha P3, a light, small yet powerful underwater light producing 1300 fixture lumens. Compact & low profile design makes the Piranha P3 the perfect choice for all types of boats and is suitable for transom and side mounting on all hull types. For those interested in not being limited to only one colour, Bluefin LED offers the affordable P6CC colour change. It is extremely easy to install and operate. A simple on/off toggle is used to choose the colour of your choice. The new surface mounted Piranha P12, is the most powerful member of the proven Piranha range producing 5500 Fixture Lumens. Like all Bluefin LED underwater lights, it is an ultra compact low profile design and perfect for all types of boats as well as being suitable for transom and side mounting on hulls. The P12 offers a dual colour choice (BLUE/WHITE) as well as, blue, green or white. Top of the range is the Hammerhead H48 RGBW colour change LED underwater light, that produces up to 11,000 Fixture Lumens. This unique colour changing surface mount light is suitable for all hull types, constructed from billet AB2 marine grade Bronze these lights are built to last. When used with the DMX RGBW Controller, there are infinite colour options which can be strobed, dimmed or sequenced allowing you to pick the best colour to compliment your enviroment, suit your mood or create a custom party theme with the Sound to Music function that makes the lights beat to the your favorite music. The controller also gives remote control access to the lights via a smartphone or tablet. The DMX RGBW Control is compatible with all 48CC series colour change lights. There are three models in the standard ThruHull range, plus four in the interchangeable series. The interchangeable range offers a removable cartridge that can be serviced or upgraded from inside the hull, so no hauling out is required. Ultra Low profile bezels. Like all Bluefin LED underwater lights they are from constructed from billet AB2 marine grade bronze. (Bluefin LED has manufactured at L&B’s request the P3, P6N and P6 colour change in aluminium.. These are specifically designed for NZ alloy boat market)
Bluefin underwater lights are available in white, blue and green and RGBW colour changing options.
• Arriving irst quarter 2017 • Bow & Stern Thrusters • Ray Marine Electronics • 24 knots+ • 2 Cabins • Sheridan interiors
Model Alaska ft Sedan Price: . M
43, 45, 47, 49, 55, 57, 60 | Sedan or Flybridge www.LSYachts.com.au - 07 5577 9200 - sales@LSYachts.com. au Dean: 0408 758 887 | Ryan: 0408 758 886
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Blue and green light have shorter wavelengths than white light, and can penetrate through the water more efficiently, making them look brighter.
132 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
CANTALUPI The Italian company, Cantalupi call their underwater light range, Sealed and have 13 different models, mostly designed for the big boat market. The Sealed MY series introduces the widest and most innovative range of underwater lights for megayachts. All Sealed lights are serviceable from inside the yacht for a quick and easy inspection of the light body. Sealed MY lights have three barriers interposed between the hull and the inside of the yacht to ensure a perfect watertight protection in respect of the marine certifications. They are available in RGB+W with Bus multimedia control to offer a versatile and easy-to-use experience through a variety of standards and devices such as the last generation of smartphones and tablets. Constructed of 15mm tempered glass and aluminium, they are protected from the environment by a film of sprayed metallic paint. The light body has through allen screws and o-rings, for the perfect mechanical holding. Cantilupi also offers the MYA Adjustable lights with an innovative trim and lock system. This offers the ideal solution for any angled hulls up to a range of 50 deg for a perfect flush-mount welding all around the yacht.
The Sealed MYA are also available in RGB+W with Bus multimedia control to offer the most versatile and easy-to-use experience.” The Sealed FY is a very low profile stainless steel AISI 316L flush-mount light specifically designed for fibreglass hulls. All Sealed lights are serviceable from inside the yacht for a quick and easy inspection of the light body. LUMITEC SeaBlaze, Lumitec’s underwater lighting range offers amongst the highest lumens per dollar on the market. They are designed to run cooler, consume less power and last longer than other conventional LED underwater lighting technologies. There are four models in the SeaBlaze range, from the Mini LED through to the SeaBlazeX Spectrum. Depending on the model they are constructed in either bronze or anodised alloy. The SeaBlaze X Spectrum delivers full-colour underwater lights, with nearly infinite colour output options and user-selectable modes, easy surface-mount, two-wire hookup and no external control boxes. The diminutive SeaBlaze Mini packs a surprising punch! SeaBlaze Mini leverages many of the technologies utilised in the
SeaBlaze3. With an output of nearly 900 lumens†, there are perfect for smaller trailer boats, skiffs, or dinghies. SeaBlaze3 is available in four output options, including two colours and are completely self-contained with no external driver boxes to mount. The SeaBlazeX LED underwater light delivers a huge 4000 lumens and is completely surface mountable. Housing is bronze alloy with an underwater service life of more than 50 years. The circuitry is completely self-contained and tested to rigorous military standards for EMI, transient voltages, temperature extremes, and mechanical shock and vibration. It has a lower profile and smaller footprint than most other competitors LED underwater lights.
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 133
LUMISHORE At the heart of each Lumishore underwater light lays the compact, powerful Lumishore HICOB (High Intensity Chip On Board) 3rd Generation LED system. The Lumishore HICOB LED array produces the equivalent amount of light to earlier generation LED products but at one-third the size. The reduced size of Lumishore underwater lights allows for a fixture that is compact, yet without any compromise in optical power. The HICOB format makes use of the very latest ceramic substrate materials and flip chip technology to increase output efficiency. The HICOB array solution can be configured to many power levels over a range of wavelength colour combinations. Lumishore is a pioneer in the field of colour change LED technology. They manufacture a wide variety of innovative colour units, from single brilliant colours to fixtures that change colours to any wavelength in the visible spectrum. There are three models in the range; Ora, Supra and Eos . Lumishore’s ORA Series surface mount (SMX) are one of the world’s smallest interchangeable thru-hull units for small to medium size boats. Both models are compact and low profile and feature a focused 60° beam of light. The Supra Series provide ‘2-lights-in-1’ and is available in a surface mount with a 90° beam angle, and thru-hull standard fit and interchangeable models with the widest available beam angle of 110°. The EOS Series are colour changing surface mount LED lights that simply connect the EOS SMX Lumi-Hub to your DC power. You can have your sound-to-light entertainment by connecting your audio output to the EOS Mini Controller. They are available in standard fit thru-hull and interchangeable thru-hull, for no-haul servicing and easy upgrading in the future.
Ocean LED offers a wide range of single and multi-bulb LED underwater lights. OCEANLED OceanLED produces a very broad range of underwater lights suitable for trailer boats to superyachts and everything else in between. There are around 20 different models in the Sport Series, Extreme Trailer Series, Xtreme Pro Series, Allure Series and Pro Series. The Xtreme Trailer Series (XT16) are perfect to light up your wake, create incredible nighttime lighting effects and attract fish and bait. The Xtreme Trailer Series has a higher lumen output than previous models with a sleek bezel design and an incredibly robust body which is highly impact resistant. Exceptionally easy to install on the transom, hull, or above water on your T-top, engine brackets or cowling, under your gunnels, in your engine compartment, and even on your trailer or tailgate for night launching. The Extreme Pro S (XP4) has a higher lumen output than previous models with a sleek 316L stainless steel bezel design and a built-in driver, ultra low power draw, with no start-up current required and reverse polarity protection. The XP8 and XP16 are available in colour-change models which allow the user to cycle smoothly between red, green, blue and white and choose virtually any colour to display. The Pro Series HD Gen2 has the smallest hole cut-out for a thru hull light at only 1” and is 67% brighter than its predecessor. This has been achieved by exploiting the next generation of high definition LEDs from Cree. With 7,000-fixture lumen brightness and a (25mm) profile head, the 2010TH model is the ideal underwater light for transom mount applications and is suitable for all hull types up to and over 20m using 2-6 lights.
134 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Quick have two variants in their underwater light range, the Xyper and the new Challenger Series.
QUICK Quick have two variants in their underwater light range, the Xyper and the new Challenger Series. The Xyper is a 15w through hull grp unit that radiates a cool white light and output of 980 lumens. The new Challenger Series comes in four sizes, 15, 30, 45 and 60; that relate to their specific wattage power consumption. Constructed of stainless steel, the four through hull lights are available in either white or blue light output.
Perko introduces simple-to-install trim tab surface mount lights that have all the benefits of underwater illumination without drilling additional holes n the transom.
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PERKO Perko introduces simple-to-install trim tab surface mount lights that have all the benefits of underwater illumination without drilling additional holes in the transom. Mounting directly on trim tabs already in place, these LED lights require no further holes to be made below the waterline. Customisable, the beam of light can be adjusted by simply transitioning the trim tabs up and down. Available with blue or white LEDs, the energy-efficient trim tab surface mount lights produce less heat and use 1/10 the power of standard bulbs. With a 15-degree beam angle, the white version produces 75 lumens, 324 CP, while the blue supplies 27 lumens, 207 CP. Rated for a service life of 50,000 hours, the 12V, 7W lights feature a completely submersible, non-corrosive, moulded black polymer housing. They come with 2.5m of electrical cable, as well as removable brackets for horizontal or vertical installations. A mounting riser is included for lipped trim tabs.
The Quick lighting range is comprised of more than 200 lights and variations. There is a light to cover every need whether surface mount, recessed or mounted underwater.
Hutchwilco’s inexpensive underwater light is aimed at the smaller tinnie market.
Phone 09 273 9180 Fax 09 273 9185 Unit L 150 Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland www.tenob.co.nz www.marinedirect.co.nz info@tenob.co.nz WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 135
VOYAGE OF THE ENVOY - PART 36
Cruising south in the Ionian Sea Text & photos by Laurie & Diane Cranfield
Envoy seen from inside cave at Marathonisi Island in the Ionian Sea
136 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Lighthouse built by Turks after conquering Methoni fortress.
W
e’re in Corfu’s Gouvia Marina with our friend Chris aboard berthed next to a sturdy 18 m British wooden ketch called Acco, built in 1938. Boats like these are always much more interesting than their modern counterparts and Dave and Gwen Nicholson have owned her since 1968, spending the past 20 years or so living an alternative lifestyle aboard, mostly in Corfu. They’d just finished maintenance of the wooden masts and we’re able to observe the interesting process of re-stepping them using blocks and tackles plus plenty of eager volunteers. Leaving Gouvia Marina we cruise to nearby Kalami Bay and have our first swim of the season in the coolish 18c sea, since then swimming most days. There’s lots of interesting tavernas here where you can meet other cruisers, soak up some local atmosphere and enjoy an excellent cold draught Mythos (Greek beer) or three. The taverna and restaurant staff make you feel very welcome and nearly always provide free bar snacks, desserts or a round of drinks. Our first night at anchor with Chris aboard, results in a rare unplanned departure very early the following morning as an onshore wind shift repositions Envoy dangerously close to some mooring buoys which could foul our propeller or rudder. Other cruisers had often described a great anchorage called Two Rock Bay south of Parga on the mainland coast, so we decide to check it out. Here we can see the anchor drop on the sandy bottom 4m below as Envoy is surrounded by small fish eagerly attacking pieces of bread we throw into the water. We’re the only boat here and there are no buildings ashore so tranquility is complete – a far cry from the marina we’ve so recently left. There’s a gentle swell rolling into the bay so we deploy our paravanes and flopper stoppers for the first time this season reducing Envoy’s roll to a barely discernible level. This is a touch of paradise and we spend most of the following morning in our dinghy exploring the rocky shoreline and a sandy beach covered with
flotsam - days like this are what cruising’s all about. We’re going to spend the next night anchored off Lefkas marina and time our arrival at the Lefkas Canal swing bridge perfectly for the onthe-hour opening at 1800hrs. Only problem is there’s no one here to operate the bridge, so we carefully manoeuver in the shallow confined area for another hour when fortunately the operator shows up to let waiting vessels through. Cruising south to Argostoli, the port capital of Cephalonia, we anchor in the harbour seeing turtles pop their heads out of the water, take a look around and dive back to the depths. It’s a quaint town that suffered considerable damage during an earthquake in 1953 and was then largely rebuilt in its original Venetian style. For the first time we visit the island of Zakynthos and anchor one night off a great beach at Alykanas before going into Zakynthos harbour so that Envoy will be safe while we hire a car to explore the island. The berth costs a reasonable 35 Euros (about NZ$58) per night including power and water. Here we have a rare bad dining experience with poor quality and overpriced food costing 100 Euros (about NZ$167) for the three of us. To be fair this is partially our fault for not checking the price of the offmenu specials so that we end up paying 50 Euros (about NZ$83) for a small snapper that we’d throw back in New Zealand. After we make our complaints known they offer free meals for the following night, although get off lightly as we are moving on and can’t take up their offer. There’s a marine reserve on the south side of Zakynthos where turtles return to sandy beaches to nest and breed. Understandably boats are not allowed in most of this area but can anchor at nearby Ormos Keri where we spend two nights. Two miles off the anchorage the island of Marathonisi has numerous sea caves that we explore, taking our RHIB completely inside them as we wonder how many thousands of years WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 137
VOYAGE OF THE ENVOY - PART 36
Envoy in Corfu’s Gouvia Marina alongside rustic Acco.
it’s taken the pounding waves to carve them out of the rocky cliffs. From here it’s about 50 miles east to the Peloponnese coast where we ‘ll spend the next several weeks, so we break the journey about halfway at the remote and lonely Nisidhos Strofadhes Islands. Envoy is the only vessel here and the cruising guide says gales from any direction make the seas like a giant washing machine swirling around. Fortunately there’s no gale, but even the 15 knot wind makes an uncomfortable swell from the open sea, making our flopper-stoppers necessary. The islands are inhabited by a solitary monk who looks after the 13th century Ay Panayis Monastery, built like a fortress to withstand historic pirate attacks. We enjoy two days cruising to the mainland region of southern Greece known as the Peloponnisos (now there’s a spelling challenge) with 15 knot winds and up to 2m following seas so that Envoy races along at nearly 7 knots with our trusty Lugger engine ticking over at under 1,500rpm. AT THE PELOPONNISOS The Peloponnisos is the southernmost mainland area of Greece separated from the rest of Greece by the Corinth Canal. We cruised this area in 2012 but are happy to return to favorite spots and spend time at other places we missed. This area is quite sizeable being roughly 120 miles from the Ionian Sea in the west to the Aegean in the east while on the southern side are three peninsulas, each about 24 miles long, forming two large gulfs. The tips of these peninsulas are known as the “Cape Horns of the Med”, due to strong katabatic winds often descending from the 2,400 m inland mountains and the consequent rough seas encountered here. We anchor in Ormos Navarinou, a large sheltered natural harbour overlooked by the ruins of castles at each end, and where a famous sea battle took place in 1827 between combined fleets of 26 British, French and Russian ships against 78 Turkish, Egyptian, Tunisian and Algerian ships. The Turkish-led fleet was quickly decimated by superior tactics and gunnery with all but eight ships sunk and a loss of about 138 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
3,000 lives compared with only 181 Allied lives and no ships lost. This was the last battle fought entirely by sailing ships and the beginning of the end of Turkish domination of large areas of Greece. We spend a great morning walking up to and exploring the spectacular ruins of the Palaiokastro Castle, one of a string of castles along this once strategic coastline. In ancient times oar-propelled galleys would usually be beached or anchored in very shallow water during night time and as we look down on an ideal galley stopover area we try to imagine that scene thousands of years ago. The only problem here was a huge invasion of mosquitoes after dusk and although our insect screens protect us there are hundreds of dead mosquitoes littering our deck the next morning. Our next stop Methoni, has another spectacular castle, this time right down at sea level formerly protecting the strategic harbour. This castle and the one at Monemvasia to the east were two of the most important Venetian fortress towns as they protected the trade route from the Ionian to the Aegean, and for that reason were called “the eyes of the Republic”. KALAMATA AND THE HILLTOP FORTRESS OF MYSTRAS We move on to the village of Koroni, again dominated by a Venetian castle. It’s a facinating village to wander around with plenty of friendly locals to talk to and not over-spoiled by tourism. The water is superbly clear and we can easily see our anchor and chain 7m below with a few small fish swimming by. We enjoy exploring some historic churches and a monastery in the castle grounds built on the site of an ancient temple, its foundations and remnants of marble pillars still clearly visible. Spending one night anchored off the small village of Petalidhion we go ashore for dinner and notice ominous black clouds looming before dusk. Later we just get back to the boat in time before a 20 knot squall and heavy rain descends on us. This is no problem for Envoy but would have made a tough trip for the three of us in our smaller RHIB. From here it’s a short cruise to the marina at Kalamata, a large town
Envoy anchored in stunning Two Rock Bay, western Greece.
Fortified 13th century Ay Panayis monastery on isolated Nisidhos Strafados Island is home to one solitary monk.
Mistras Castle’s palace is undergoing extensive restoration
WWW.BOAT MA GS.C O M 139
VOYAGE OF THE ENVOY - PART 36
Fishermen repair the hull of their traditional boat
famous for olives from the region and where some 50,000 Greeks live and work. Here too is a hilltop castle but little remains and it’s not worth a visit. In more recent times when castles fell into disuse local inhabitants would very often remove stone blocks from castles to use in house construction. Here we rent a car and visit the World Heritage fortress of Mystras, near the town of Sparta, named after the legendary, militaristic Spartans who dominated this entire region for hundreds of years from around 850BC, although little remains to be seen from their time. We pass through the rugged and spectacular Langada gorge, about 50km long and climbing to 1,524m, where the Spartans are reputed to have left any children too weak or unfit for military service to die. The Mystras fortress was built much later in 1249 by the Frankish Principate of the area, William 11, although the Byzantines took it over soon afterwards and ownership passed back and forth between them and the Turks. The castle looks impregnable built upon the steep, craggy, natural fortress hilltop of Myzithra and in times of hostilities the villagers living outside the castle and farmers tending the fertile valley would move inside. We visit many castles like this and on hot days it’s exhausting enough walking up to them in shorts and t-shirts as we wonder how soldiers walked the same steep rocky paths laden with heavy weapons and armour while trying to avoid spears, arrows, stones and hot oil poured down on them by defenders. Like Koroni the site has churches dating from the 13th and 14th centuries still in use. Here Chris departs for further travels leaving us grateful for his excellent company and tremendous contribution to Envoy’s maintenance. ENVOY TECH-TALK We resolved to use our Yanmar 25hp auxiliary engine more this season as it’s easily overlooked and last season only had about two hours total use. All diesel engines need to be used regularly under load and brought up to full operating temperature. With such low power the Yanmar only pushes Envoy along at a sedate three knots, but not being in any hurry we’ve now completed several short bay-to-bay trips 140 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
Ormos Navarinou’s tumbling down castle
under the the Yanmar alone with its alternator charging the battery banks and powering the inverter. One of our two engine room ventilation blowers had failed and while in Kalamata we remove it, dismantle the motor and determine that one of the brushes is badly worn. Kalamata’s only chandler doesn’t have a replacement so I ask them to use their local knowledge to find an electrical shop to replace the faulty brush. “My friend you can’t repair these,” is the answer (in Greece conversations often start with the opening remark ‘my friend’). I say very politely, “my friend let me tell you that virtually every town of this size in the world has electrical repair shops that can replace brushes on electric motors so please help me by finding someone who services automotive starter motors and alternators.” A few days later the unit is repaired for 30 Euros (about NZ$50) and the chandler is delighted he now has someone to undertake electrical repairs. Our friend Chris is also known as MacGyver due to his technical skills and has been a huge help aboard Envoy during his visit undertaking both maintenance and improvement projects. He built a portable miniature bilge pump so we can more easily pump water out of the bilges below the water level that the main bilge pumps can not pump from. Although our bilges are mostly dry, some sea water and/or fresh water inevitably ends up there from spillages, rain and from the propeller shaft gland. He also built a system to pump fresh water from portable 25L water containers carried in our RHIB into Envoy’s water tanks. Although we have a water maker it’s very convenient to be able to get fresh water ashore in these containers and the pump saves lifting the heavy containers aboard for decanting. PMB’s next issue sees Envoy heading into the Aegean Sea and the mysterious island of Santorini. More current detail can be accessed from Envoy’s blog: www.envoyinthemed.blogspot.com
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Excellent Example of a Retro Ski Boat. Recently brought up from Queenstown, it has only seen salt water a couple of times in its life. Runs perfectly and Chrysler 115 engine starts everytime! Loaded with extras such as ski pole, covers, tape deck and speakers, Chrysler Guages and 2 x Chrysler tote tanks.. All origional. Comes with a Catalogue of Manuals
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144 PACIFIC POWERBOAT NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
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