Winning a contract to build two Navy boats is a real coup for Opua, their designer says.
Opua boatbuilder Northland Spars and Rigging won the roughly $1.5 million contract for two 9.2m multi-purpose boats, while Coastdesign's Alan Walker, also of Opua, did the design work.
The first of the rapid response boats to be completed was officially named Takapu (gannet) by Navy top brass in a ceremony at the Opua Cruising Club last Wednesday, following a dawn blessing by local iwi.
The twin-hulled aluminium boats have two Hamilton jets powered by 370hp Yanmar engines. They take a crew of six, weigh eight tonnes fully loaded, and are designed for a top speed of 27 knots.
What makes them unique is that they can be transported on an Air Force Hercules C-130, the HMNZS Canterbury, the Navy's offshore patrol vessels or a trailer.