Auckland Boat Show 2012 Report + Pics

[Fogg 427]

 

Just back from a few hours mooching around the Auckland 2012 Boatshow which included a much-overdue coffee catch-up with Kim.Crew.Ogre to hear firsthand the story of how our very own proa-loving minimalist cruising advocate ended up with a 60ft skinny schooner.

 

Here’s Kim.Crew.Org in the pose he spent most of the show in (I think the grin is cos his lawyer just called to say the GCSB had stopped spying on his new superyacht):

 

 

Anyway, the theme for this year’s Auckland 2012 Boatshow report is imagination. Mainly because (as usual) I have minimal fact base to work from hence much of what follows is what I imagined I saw compared to previous years…

 

The 10am rush:

 

General Gear

 

I think it’s year 2 (or is that 3?) of the new layout centred around the new-ish Auckland Events Centre. And it’s swings and roundabouts, on the one hand the indoor exhibition is far better than the marquee setup that used to inhabit Te Wero island. From the land-side the whole boatshow looks and feels more polished than ever before as the exhibitors get used to their new environment.

 

But for my tastes, the water-side of the shows lacks the impact it used to have when it was tightly packed into the viaduct basin. These days it’s strung along a thin strip of stern-to berths and I imagine that there are far fewer yachts on display than in the old days. More of them later.

 

 

Gear

Knowing my Crew.org audience as well as I do, let’s cut straight to the important stuff and start off with some pretty girls (I certainly didn’t imagine these two):

 

For anyone interested, what’s going on here is a 50% promotion on some fishing gear which I know may be of some interest to some of you. I know, I know, it’s a bit of a stretch but it’s the excuse I needed for the pretty girls.

 

 

I might be imagining it but for me it seems to be the year of the Chinese outboard. Every few metres there seemed to be yet another display of 2 & 4 stroke hardware bearing names I’ve not seen in NZ before. Apparently much of this kit has been in production for 15-20yrs but only in NZ for 2-3 yrs. And not surprisingly the price lists appear to be close to 50% of what you’d pay for the equivalent familiar brands of Yammy, Mercury etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting to see this Chinese brand marketing itself as ‘American’…. apparently because it is now owned by a US parent but is still manufactured in China. OK then.

 

Anyone curious about the comparable quality of the Chinese products vs their more established counterparts, I suggest you tap KM, he’s a big advocate.

 

Talking of KM, here’s some anchor porn:

 

Which reminds me, my mission for today’s walkabout was to find:

 

1. Anything new & interesting - a bit of stuff

 

2. Any special boatshow deals - very little

 

3. Crew.org special deals - a couple

 

One recent topic of interest on the forums has been wet weather gear so I made a point of swinging by the clothing stands to ferret out anything of interest.

 

First off, if you visit the Musto stand and mention you’re from Crew.org you will get a sweeter deal, either a discount or a freebie, depending on what stock they have left. Worth a try.

 

 

 

 

One of the most interesting new things I found today may be of interest to you racing boys & gals. It’s a knee pad with a soft, flexible covering over the pad itself but upon impact it firms up. Apparently the same material used in police riot gear and suchlike. So if you spend much time kneeling on deck for winchwork or work with a violent crew, it gives you the benefit of good flexibility plus some protection. I imagine that’s worth a look:

 

 

Helly Hansen weren’t offering anything extra special for Crew.org-ers but already have some decent show discounts running:

 

 

For cruisers, some gear I’ve not seen before is a small, budget washing machine:

 

 

Kim.Crew.Ogre was so impressed that he bought one of these little units for $49 for his new 60 footer so when the goes family cruising his wife can wash his smalls (regularly).

 

 

I’d have been tempted too if they ran 12V but unfortunately they require 220V (hence an inverter).

 

Continuing the ‘slightly strange’ theme for gear here are a couple of other bits that caught my eye:

 

 

And I loved the look of these grinders:

 

 

Electronics

 

 

I haven’t done a big sweep of electronic gadgetry because unless I’m imagining it, this year’s selection is even larger and more bewildering than ever before. If you have a specific interest, you’ll obviously home in on that.

 

Having said that, handheld VHFs are always a favourite, so I stopped by the ICOM stand who confirmed they would offer a 15%(ish) discount to Crew.org-ers on a couple of their most popular handheld and base units. Go ask.

 

 

 

Lusty & Blundell were showcasing some of Raymarine’s latest wi-fi technology and sexy plasma screen displays:

 

 

 

I asked Absolut and Burnsco if they had any special boatshow deals but they couldn’t think of any on the spot. Mmmm.

 

 

 

Oh back to engines. If you’re looking to re-engine the boat and want something bigger than a 5hp Chinese outboard there are a couple of these little cuties on show (might be of interest to Wild Thing)?

 

 

OK, I think it’s time for some more pretty girls. What’2 the story with this one? Oh, yeah, apparently they are promoting some kind of anchor chain for KM:

 

 

OK, so I didn’t take that one. But hey.

 

Cockpit cushions. These nifty ratch-up things are going for a price beginning with a 2 (think it was $250-ish). But if you go along and say you are claiming the Crew.org discount they will be $200. I just made that up.

 

 

 

For the cruiser who thought they had everything but now realise they don’t have a curved ladder for climbing back into the inflatable, here you go:

 

 

Anti-fouling etc. Have you wondered what happened to Touch of Gloss paints since they disappeared from their shed at Gulf Harbour? They still exist but have now gone mobile. They do all the same stuff as before (and they’ll be giving AC it’s 2-yearly spray antifoul next month). Here’s helpful Sean:

 

 

Note that anyone (like me) who uses Micron 66, stand by, cos Micron 77 is on the way. Suggest you apply now to your bank for a 2nd mortgage.

 

A few more randoms from the various pavilion exhibitors…

 

Good old Coastguard make their point:

 

Paddleboards. A growing sport. I don’t get them but many people do.

 

Enertec display alternative power sources (they had a baby nuclear reactor in the corner):

 

More outboards. Big ones:

 

 

Dinghies:

 

 

Fast dinghies. In fact this PWC is as big as a small car but has the power of a Bugatti Veyron. I just made that up too.

 

 

And some fizz-nasties for KM:

 

 

On the water

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, time to head out onto the water. As I said in the intro, I imagine that there are even fewer yachts on display this year, which are obviously of most interest to you guys.

 

But before that, one launch that was of interest was this hybrid (I know that hybrid power sources have also been discussed a lot on the forums in recent time – mainly by stupid people). But anyway, here are some pics and specs in case these float your (hybrid) boat:

 

 

Back to yachts. Again, my imagination is running rife and I think that one of the few benefits of a strong kiwi dollar is manifesting itself in new boat prices. I am sure that I’ve never seen really decent 38ft new production yachts for around the $300k mark before:

 

 

 

 

OK, getting a bit bigger and more silly money now, that small print says $850k (but I have always loved the British Moody):

 

 

Something for the traditionalists:

 

And finally, the pioneer of modern production AWBs, Bavaria. I have to admit I was disappointed with their offering this year.

 

Not just because it was a meagre two boats but because of their appearance. Unless I am imagining, don’t these new model Bavs seem to have been hit really badly with the ugly stick?

 

 

 

You can’t tour the waterfront without acknowledging the Sealegs stand, which is one of the largest displays this year (I’m not imagining that).

 

 

You also have to acknowledge the epic success story that Sealegs has become, a great kiwi combination of engineering ingenuity and commercial drive. These guys are now exporting to about 50 countries (I think he said). And expanding into commercial useage such as fire service and other rescue craft to 3rd world countries in Asia that have dense waterfront habitation but limited road access. Very smart. Fantastic NZ story (take note pwederell)!

 

 

 

 

And finally, let’s finish as we started, namely with a pretty girl. This one was promoting top-notch fishing charters out of the Bay of Islands and invited me aboard for a beer & BBQ with the most tempting smile….. I nearly caved but alas I had to decline and race back home to write up this report for you misfits. Maybe tomorrow…

 

 

[Guest]

Excellent AC, really well done.................. unless I imagined it all.

 

 

And cause you've been so good I'm knot going to mention that Moody is actually German

[wheels 543]

Great stuff AC.

[Guest Saturday Night Special]

Excellent I now know that I have seen it all b4 the Harken stand looks to have nothing new on it from when I ran it so nothing changes

[Guest]

Also in the specials department, look up Jono at the Safety at Sea Stand.

And my beloved is impressed that i went to a boat show and bought a washing machine.

Thanks AC.

[wheels 543]

The washing machine looks similar to what we bought. Except ours has a spin dry unit. It is an awesome wee unit.

[Guest]

They had the one with the spin dryer as well.

[Guest]

Unreal AC. More Girls!

[Guest]

Nice work AC, good report. KM did well to get those promo girls for his chain display. Who would have thought a crusty old bugger like him would be able to pull that off?

[ab1974 1]

Great job AC. Heading along this weekend I think. Any deals on solar panels that anyone noticed?

[Guest]

Great work AC. I had a look around today and bought a pair of HH boots to do bow as I dont have any at a dirt cheap price and had a great time listening to Jono explain everything about life jackets and tithers. There are some great specials to be had, but its pretty much the same old same old unless you would like to sign up to sail on a weta in the next month

[ballystick 73]

Great report AC, I would like to know about the flexible solar panels that can be walked on, was there anything??

[Guest]

Saw them ,, there, can't remember which stand - anyone?

[OYSTR 1]

Those boats on the water, are you able to get on them for a nosey?

[Fogg 427]

Yup, you can visit most of the boats on the water (shoes off). Some of the bigger ones have 'by invitation/appointment only'signs but that normally means you can still get aboard if you don't look like a crack-head.

[OYSTR 1]

Cool, thanks. Got a family pass for Sunday.

[all fired up 6]

Did the Boat Show yesterday. Afew of the things that caught my attention.

- All the cheap chinese outboards. ( Wonder how reliable they will be?)

- Can get a CD loaded with all the NZ Charts. Then put them onto your IPad to use with the navigation Apps. I feel an iPad coming on.

- There are antifoul alternatives to Micron66 at half the price. My only questions is how long will the alternative last? I have an antifoul job coming on.

- Shop around for a EPIRB, the prices seem to vary for much the same functionality.

- Liked the look and feel of the Beau Marine Code Zero Furlers on the Doyles stand. Bit pricy tho.

a.f.u

[Fogg 427]

Talking of the Doyle stand, something I forgot to mention that caught my eye wasn't the sails but the custom matresses. Boat cushions for sleeping have been discussed here before and these might be worth a look - sorry, didn't catch prices tho.

 

[Clipper 343]

I see a harken stand there - does that kind of stand usualy have any boat show specials? I am after a few new blocks, is there any point in visiting them?

[Guest]

I saw the nav software and NZ charts for under $100, not bad.