Take a whole day for this year's Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show

by 2011 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show on 25 Apr 2011 The organiser of this year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show is advising visitors to ensure they allow enough time to experience all of the attractions and activities that will be on display.

'I would strongly recommend that people allow as much of the day as they can,' says Dave Gibbs, the show’s general manager. 'We have a huge range of things for people to see and do this year, more than ever before.

'There will, of course, be all of the new boats, engines, marine electronics, accessories and fishing gear on display, much for the very first time.

'But that is just the start. We will have three pools, two inside and one out; a new activity area that will really appeal to kids and their families; zappy life-like miniature offshore and grand prix boats; a really cool Kiwi designed and built submarine (again being unveiled for the very first time at the show); and an incredible, never-seen-before display celebrating 50 years of jet boating in New Zealand and around the world.

'There will also be yachting, surf-life saving, windsurfing and gamefishing simulators for people to have a go on.'

For those into fishing, Dave Gibbs says the big news is that the Top Catch Ask the Experts team will be unveiling a new revolution in softbaiting.

'This includes some very clever new products that will be released for the first time at the show,' he says. 'The team will also be holding regular seminars on this new breakthrough -- and on several other aspects of fishing, too.'

Also in the always-popular Hauraki Fishing Hall, visitors will have a chance to win a Heletranz heli-fishing trip, catch up with the Fisherchicks and take advantage of some hot show-only specials in what is undoubtedly New Zealand’s largest fishing supermarket.

Visitors to the show will also be able to go in the draw to win a newly-released Extreme 540 Sportsfisher, complete with Yamaha 70hp four-stroke outboard, Raymarine GPS/sounder and VHF, a Hutchwilco safety pack and loads of other extras.

A $3000 Viking Kayak package will also be given away each day of the show.

New attractions:

Dave Gibbs says he expects both the new Q-Sub and the Hamilton Jet Experience to be particularly popular.

'Both of these are true never-seen-before attractions,' he says. 'Both showcase Kiwi ingenuity at its very best and both will be very, very cool.'

The Q-Sub, which has been designed and built by Auckland inventor Hugh Fulton, is a remarkable machine. It can carry two people down to a depth of over 120 metres or do more than 20 knots on the surface.

It weighs less than 3.5 tonnes (including its trailer!), has batteries capable of being fully recharged in less that 30 minutes and features 11 electric motors and two 150hp surface engines.

The Q-Sub will make its first public appearance at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show on the morning of May 12.

The Hamilton Jet Experience, which will dominate Hall 6, will be a unique celebration of 50 years of jet boats and the jet units that make them special.

The stand-out star of the Experience will be the beautifully restored Aurora, a 1955 20-foot (6.1 metre) jet cruiser.

Almost certainly the first jet boat in the North Island, Aurora was powered with a Mk II Ford Zephyr block, using triple carburettors, a home-marinised exhaust and a cunningly-crafted heat exchanger system that used copper tube inside a large hose pipe.

Visitors will also be able to win a once-in-a-lifetime ride in Aruora on the Monday following the show.

Also on display will be the original Jet 50: built in 1958 and used on the famous Colorado River; the Jet 33 (the sea-going version of New Zealand's most popular jet boat during the 1970s); the Jet 73 Mexico (a very popular racing boat during the 1970s and a favourite of the Sultan of Brunei) and a mysterious old Hamilton Jet boat recently discovered in Auckland…

The Hamilton Jet Experience will also include a wonderful pictorial history of jet boats in incredible situations. Rare video footage of some of the jet boats’ ground-breaking expeditions up many of the world’s most famous rivers will also be shown on large plasma screens.

Discover Boating

For those wanting to find out more about boating, fishing and other watersports, the Discover Boating Centre will again be a must see.

A non-stop programme of displays, demonstrations and helpful free advice will take place in and around the large Hutchwilco Pool.

This will include paddleboard, breath-holding and surf-lifesaving demonstrations; tips on soft baiting and other fishing techniques with Bruce Duncan and Adam Clancey; fish filleting and cooking demos and the chance to ride the Yachting New Zealand sailing simulator.

Visitors will also be able to find out what that marine weather forecast really means with Metservice weather ambassador, Bob McDavitt.


New action area

Another new feature for this year’s show is the new Youthtown Aqua Fun Zone. This will feature a heated pool designed to showcase swimming and survival skills, especially for children.

There will also be a number of entertaining demonstrations on and in the pool, including the Auckland Canoe Club’s exhilarating series of Eskimo rolls and other manoeuvres.

This new area will also be packed full of exciting interactive activities for children of all ages. There is a great 3D surf rescue boat simulator, a windsurf simulator and even the chance to find out what it’s like to hike out on a sailing trapeze! There will also be several fun games for the children to play. These include the Auckland Council’s Great Drain Game and Surf Life Saving’s IRB Rescue Challenge.

There will also be action aplenty in the new 50-metre arena pool with a fleet of incredible remotely-controlled miniature powerboats. Amazingly quick, these lifelike versions of real offshore and grand prix hydroplane racers will zip around the pool at breath-taking speeds, providing a wonderful spectacle for the whole family.

Derek the Chef will again be cooking up a storm throughout the show, the popular Premiere Boat Fair will again display the best second hand boats for sale and visitors will again be able to see all the latest boats and marine equipment from around New Zealand and the world.

The show is on at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane Auckland from Thursday May 12 until Sunday, May 15.

The show is open from 10am until 6pm daily with a single late night on Friday, May 13, until 9pm.

Admission is just $18 for adults and children 13 and under get in free, provided they are accompanied by a paying adult.


The 2011 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland
May 12-15. Open 10am-6pm daily & late night Friday until 9pm.
Admission: $18. Children 13 and under free

More at www.boatshow.co.nz