Auckland On Water Boat Show gets huge exhibitor support

by Kate Gordon-Smith on 29 Jul 2015 Big and small, motor and sail, dozens of boats of all sizes will grace Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour during September’s Auckland On Water Boat Show.

With more than 20 Kiwi trailer boat manufacturers and retailers, and over 70 large sailing yachts and motor launches, the unique mix of boats alongside a huge array of the latest inboard and outboard engines, marine electronics, fishing gear, kayaks, jetskis and safety equipment is what sets New Zealand’s largest on-water boat show running 24 to 27 September apart from all others.

Michelle Khan, CEO of the Auckland On Water Boat Show CEO, says: “We’ve had tremendous support from our exhibitors this year, and the show is going to be jam-packed with all kinds and sizes of dinghies and inflatables, alloy and composite trailer boats, New Zealand-made and imported launches and yachts, as well marine-oriented products and services. We’ve created a new kayak and jetski fishing zone on level three of the Viaduct Events Centre and are confirming participants in a fishing area in pavilion three.”

Being able to go aboard the larger craft like the new Coastguard rescue vessel, Lion, or the recently-imported game fishing boat, Charlie, moored on the specially-built marina is a key feature of the show, says Ms Khan.

“We’ve got an array of local companies showcasing their craftsmanship and design including Papakura, Auckland-based Scott Lane Boat Builders with their latest custom-build, the 13m Elite sedan called Vantage, Tauranga’s Pachoud Yachts with a recently completed 20m power-cat, and Hawke’s Bay boatbuilders Dickey Boats are launching their new 17.6m Long Range Cruiser (LRC). Commissioned by a customer in bare aluminium, this vessel is at the show for people to see before it heads offshore to Fiji, America and the Caribbean. Among the LRC’s many features are its efficient running – one tank of fuel can take the LRC a third of the way around the world – and its self-righting hull.”

Several offshore marques like Sun Odyssey sailing yachts from Orakei Yacht Sales and motor yachts from Maritimo and Riviera will also feature, as well as more than 20 of New Zealand’s award-winning trailer boat manufacturers and retailers include White Pointer, Fyran on the Rogers Boatshop site, Stabicraft via the Gulfland Marine team, Senator from Auckland Marine, Surtees from Fishing Boats NZ, Tristram Marine, Seacraft’s Haines Hunter and Southern Boats and Lazercraft from Family Boats. Export success story Sealegs International will again demonstrate their award-winning amphibious technology.

A greater array of fishing gear is on show this year with game fishing poles from Tenob, seats and retrofit fish tank holders from Hi-Tech Plastics, and dive and fishing gear from West Shell Fishing, as well as the stunningly hand-crafted Maven fishing rods.

ENL showcases their latest Furuno TZ Touch 2 with a built-in, dual-frequency fish finder. Its proprietary RezBoost technology produces fish targets and images 4-8 times sharper than a conventional fish finder.

“Show visitors can also see the latest technology from Raymarine from Lusty and Blundell, Garmin from Nav Station, and BEP’s Mastervolt,” says Ms Khan.

Tickets for this year’s Auckland On Water Boat Show go on sale online via iTicket on 1 August, with show visitors who buy their tickets online going in the draw to win one of eight prize packages each worth at least $1,000. Two prize packages will be drawn each day of the show and the choices for the winners include:
• A Mercury 3.3hp 2-stroke outboard engine (RRP $1,256)
• A Coastguard Education family package: 4 x Day Skipper online course, 4 x Maritime VHF Radio Operator Certificate online course, call sign, 2 x Hutchwilco lifejackets (RRP $1,091)
• A Dometic Waeco CFX40 40-litre fridge-freezer and Dometic vacuum sealer (RRP $1,750)
• From ENL, a Furuno GP1870F chart-plotter/sounder (RRP $1,000+)
• Fusion Entertainment UD-750 marine stereo (RRP $1,000)
• Hempel paint voucher (value $1,000)
• Hutchwilco lifejacket and safety pack (RRP $1,000+)
• Barz Optics sunglasses for the family (RRP $1,000)

More information is available on the show’s website www.auckland-boatshow.com with regular updates on the show’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube pages.