Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Buyers flock to Auckland On Water Boat Show

by Sail-World.com on 30 Sep 2015
Maritimo M65 at 2015 Auckland On Water Boat Show Marine Industry Association .
Boats, big and small, and all the relevant accompaniments – engines or sails, anchors and winches, dinghies and navigation equipment – have been selling at a rate of knots at this year’s Auckland On Water Boat Show.

The four day event – New Zealand’s largest on-water boat show – wrapped up Sunday, 27 September with orders signed for multi-million dollar luxury motor yachts, an array of sailing yachts and many more trailer powerboats, tenders and dinghies, small sailing yachts, kayaks, paddleboards and jetskis. In addition, companies selling marine chandlery, electronics, engines, associated services and other water sports equipment have reported strong sales and much interest from show visitors.

One of Australia’s premier motor yacht builders, Maritimo, returned as a show exhibitor this year for the first time in six years. Company founder Bill Barry-Cotter has been impressed with the show overall.

“It’s gone really well and we’ve had a good response for the three Maritimo models we have on show,” says Mr Barry-Cotter. “We signed an order for a new M65 here at the show and have at least three more customers interested in our 65ft luxury, long distance cruising motor yacht.”


Ormonde Britton, from Maritimo Gold Coast, says he’s been impressed with the level of genuine inquiry at the Auckland show. “From recent Australian boat shows, five new Maritimos will soon be on their way to across the Tasman to New Zealand owners, so this is an important market for us,” says Mr Britton.

Dominic Lowe, from yacht distributor Windcraft, sees great value in the Auckland On Water Boat Show for his business.

“Windcraft has been in New Zealand for 11 years and our continued presence at this show has helped build trust in our brand and the brands we represent – German-made Hanse, Moody and Dehler yachts,” Mr Lowe says. “This year we’ve appreciated the permission from new owners to be able to put on display three yachts that we sold here last year.”

The latest Hanse 515, priced at a touch under $500,000, was one of six yachts displayed by Windcraft. “We’ve seen huge interest in the Hanse models – people like the structural integrity of their design, their ease of use for short-handed sailing and the volume of accommodation on-board. Orders taken now will see the yachts delivered towards the end of summer.”


R Marine New Zealand’s Liam Power says he’s delighted with the very positive feedback about the Riviera models he had on show.

“There’s been very genuine interest all four days of the show with people coming back on another day for a second or third look,” says Mr Power. “We’re confident we’ll get positive results from this show and have some good leads to follow-up. Overall, I give this year’s Auckland On Water Boat Show ten out of ten – we couldn’t have asked for better weather, there have been some great displays with a lot of new model boats and marine equipment, and the show visitors have shown great confidence.”


The 24-27 September running of the Auckland On Water Boat Show represented the 17th annual edition of this show, formerly called the Auckland International Boat Show. Show CEO Michelle Khan pays tribute to the 200-plus exhibitors for helping create a really successful show in 2015.

“It’s wonderful to see so many enthusiastic boaties and keen fishers at the show,” says Ms Khan. “Feedback from show visitors includes comments about how much they value being able to go aboard boats in the marina, and the range of boats and marine equipment that you can see and buy all in one place. Someone even said to me a day at the boat show is a day in paradise. We totally agree!”

Peter Busfield, executive director of the New Zealand Marine Industry Association (NZ Marine) which owns and runs the show, adds: “The Auckland On Water Boat Show has solidified its position as a one-stop-shop for marine, safety and electronic equipment, diesel and petrol inboard and outboard engines, and trailer powerboats.

“It’s also interesting to get feedback on the number of people who have travelled to Auckland just for the show; many are here from the South Island, Australia and the Pacific Islands. This demonstrates how Auckland is seen by many as the hub of marine services and equipment supply in the South Pacific.”

Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTERJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Related Articles

Transat Paprec Day 18
48 Hours to Glory By Friday, the outcome of the Transat Paprec will be known. But who will have the final say? Who will seize the advantage, who will get stuck, who will claim an honorable finish, and who will be left disappointed?
Posted on 7 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games day 2
Heavy Rain Sets the Scene, But Racing Pushes On at Lake Garda Despite relentless rainfall, part of the day's race program went ahead as planned at the iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games, hosted by Circolo Surf Torbole.
Posted on 7 May
XR 41 Dominates Debut at MaiOR 2025
FORMULA X Takes First Place in ORC A&B The northern European offshore racing season launched in spectacular fashion at the Mai Offshore Regatta (MaiOR) from 2 to 4 May 2025, and the spotlight was firmly on X-Yachts' latest high- performance model - the XR 41.
Posted on 7 May
Smeg's 29 years of 18ft Skiff sponsorship success
It all began when a Trevor Barnabas-led team raced a skiff named Omega Smeg-2UE The Smeg Australia 18ft skiff sponsorship with the Australian 18 footers League began in 1996-97 and has continued harmoniously, with many great successes, over the following twenty nine seasons on Sydney Harbour.
Posted on 7 May
Canada Ocean Racing Acquires Foiling IMOCA
For Scott Shawyer's Vendée Globe Campaign Canada Ocean Racing is proud to announce the acquisition of a current generation foiling IMOCA 60 - formerly known as Groupe Dubreuil and originally 11th Hour Racing - Malama.
Posted on 7 May
Bulwarks and Bulldust – new Vodcast Show launches
Join us as we pan for the gold dust, whilst sifting out the bulldust. Bulwarks and Bulldust looks at the serious subjects from inside the world of boating, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. The show covers off everything from Off The Beach to Superyachts, Powerboats to Ocean Racing, and the marine industry itself
Posted on 6 May
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games day 1
Unexpected breeze delivers a spectacular opening day of racing on Lake Garda The iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games are officially under way in Torbole, Lake Garda, marking the second major event of the 2025 season for the U19/U17/U15 athletes of the iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Class.
Posted on 6 May
Transat Paprec Day 17
"An Atlantic Crossing with the Intensity of La Solitaire" They've proven that persistence pays off—even when faced with serious setbacks. Lola Billy and Corentin Horeau had to make a pit stop in Lisbon during the first week of the race to replace a damaged rudder.
Posted on 6 May
Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired.
Posted on 6 May
Triple amputee passes halfway point of challenge
Craid Wood is more determined than ever, despite troubles during Pacific crossing Despite experiencing a number of technical issues with his boat, Craig Wood is now halfway through his sail with well over 4000 nautical miles done. He is feeling positive about reaching the finish line at Osaka in Japan in just over a months' time.
Posted on 6 May