Boat show's a dream for City of Sails

Tristin Dickey (left) and Marijke Zwaagman, from Dickey Boats, prepare one of the firm's craft for the boat show. Photo / Greg Bowker

Kiwis tired of getting their fancy boat shoes wet when launching the dinghy down the boatramp, or those who envisage driving to Waiheke for the day, are in luck.

New Zealand firm Sealegs is premiering its largest amphibious boat yet, at this week's On Water Boat Show.

The 11m-long vessel can carry 6500kg, has a "military grade" all-wheel-drive amphibious system and can reach speeds of 40-plus knots on water or 12km/h on land.

The NZX-listed company's chief executive, David Wright, said the boat would set buyers back between $800,000 and $1.5 million, depending on specifications.

The Auckland On Water Boat Show runs from today to Sunday, at a purpose-built, temporary marina alongside the Viaduct Events Centre.

Thousands of people are expected to check out the show, which will display everything boat-related - meaning tens of millions of dollars' worth of yachts, launches, trailer boats, kayaks, paddleboards, jetskis, marine electronics, safety equipment, engines, specialist marine paints and more.

Launching at the show will be Lola - a custom-built luxury power cat made by 28-year-old Tauranga business Pachoud Yachts.

The boat, worth about $2 million, was designed by Auckland's Roger Hill.

Lola weighs 40 tonnes, is 20m long and carries two support vehicles.

For those after a slightly more humble vessel, Invercargill company Stabicraft Boats, New Zealand's largest exporter of aluminium trailer boats, will have new models on display at the show.

The company was established in a backstreet workshop in Invercargill in 1987, but now it has a factory there that produces about 600 of the boats each year. It has a staff of 70.

The craft range in price from about $15,000 to $120,000.

Boat show tickets are available through iTicket. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm today to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.