Pimped-up local breaks award drought

Winner: The McLay 735S. Photo / Supplied

An alloy favourite has beaten the GRPs to the top gong at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show

A seven-metre aluminium boat from the small Otago town of Milton has become the first non-GRP boat to win the prestigious Boat of the Show: Overall Winner Award at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in eight years.

The McLay 735S, which also won the fiercely contested Aluminium Fishing Boat Open Award, was also only the second aluminium boat to win the Overall Winner title in the 11 years since the awards have been judged in their present, independent format.

The McLay was a clear winner in the coveted Overall Winner category, possibly thanks to its superb presentation. The hardtop, which was specially designed in conjunction with Mercury Marine to run stern drive engines and which features a walk-around cockpit, was cleverly lit from beneath and decorated with stunning graphics.

The awards, which were presented last Saturday at a gala evening, were also notable for another first: two boats receiving the same scores from the three judges. The Extreme 650 Game King and the Stabicraft 2150 Supercab created the awards' first tie and shared the Aluminium Fishing Boat Six to Seven Metres Award.

In the other aluminium fishing boat category (for boats under six metres), another Extreme model, the 570 Game King, beat a record field of nine entries to claim victory.

In the GRP fishing boat categories, the Smuggler Multisport 570 won the Under Six Metres Award, while the new Tristram 881 Offshore won the Open Award. In the All Purpose Open category, the Custom 800 by Dickey Boats also made history, becoming the first aluminium boat to win.

In other categories, the Buccaneer 685 Excess took out the All Purpose Six to Seven Metres; the Haines Signature 553C won the All Purpose Under Six Metres; the Ski Nautique 200 Open Bow won the Sports/Ski Boat, and the Rayglass Legend 4000 won the Boat of the Show: Launch Award.

Two new awards were presented this year: the Aquatech Most Innovative Local Product Award and the Aquatech Most Innovative Imported Product Award. The former went to the Rayglass Protector Pro-Jet (a six-metre inflatable boat built around a powerful PWC). The new Fusion MS-RA200 (a combination stereo and VHF designed to interface with iPods and other digital music media) won the international award. (However, as judge Peter Busfield, executive director of the Marine Industry Association, pointed out, the Fusion may have been built overseas, but it was developed and designed in Auckland.)

In the annual Quick Nautical Equipment Stand of the Show Awards, Yamaha's striking all-red display collected the Best Commercial Stand Award, while Timaru-based C.M. Trailer Equipment won the Best Small Stand Award for an unprecedented third time in a row. Stabicraft won the award for the Most Innovative Stand.

During the awards, long-time industry stalwart Greg Fenwick, marine manager at Yamaha Motor NZ Ltd, was inducted into the New Zealand Boat Show Hall of Fame.

Fenwick was recognised for his 37 years in the marine industry, during which time he has taken Yamaha from an almost unknown brand in the early-80s to the top-selling outboard brand today. In 1982, he was also instrumental in the creation of a gate prize at the show and has often contributed engines for prizes in the 28 years since.

Under his watch, Yamaha has also supported many marine events and teams, including offshore, thundercat and ski racing; the Boating Industry Training Organisation's Marine Trades Challenge and numerous Team New Zealand campaigns for the America's Cup.

The show also appears to have provided a strong fillip to a marine industry slowly emerging from the economic downturn of the last two years. Exhibitors spoken to at the end of the four-day show reported "more sales, more genuine inquiries and more certainty" than at last year's show.

Long-time major exhibitor Roger Arkell from Roger's Boatshop reported sales "up 20 per cent" over 2009, and a better level of inquiry.

Dave Larsen, general manager of Rayglass Boats, said Rayglass made more sales at the show than in 2009 and was buoyed by the level of interest in its Legend 4000 (the largest and most expensive boat at the show) and in its new Pro-Jet.

Other manufacturers also reported strong sales, with the most interest appearing to be in boats over six metres. Show organiser Dave Gibbs reckons the increased level of sales and inquiries proves Kiwis are still passionate about their boating, regardless of the economic climate.

"New Zealanders love their boating and fishing and it was great to see around 30,000 of them at the show, checking out the new models, enjoying the numerous attractions and buying everything from new armoury for their tackle boxes to luxurious 12-metre launches."