After the debacle of the NZ share market collapse in October 1987, the marine industry had been in the doldrums for a while, but in the 1990s, it began to recover. This recovery was the result of many factors, including technological advancements in the development of more efficient engines, better navigation systems, and improved boat design and manufacturing processes. There was also the continuation of the recreational boating boom, fuelled by increased disposable income and greater leisure time among the New Zealand population.
New Zealand’s victory in the America’s Cup in 1995 brought significant attention and investment to the marine industry. Additionally, increased government support through grants, subsidies, and infrastructure investments assisted in fostering growth and innovation within the sector. All these factors combined to help the marine industry recover from the late 1980s downturn and thrive throughout the 1990s.
1990
Tristram Marine introduced its first small fibreglass powerboat, the 550 Deluxe Cabin, on Christmas Eve that year. It was an instant success, with a standard of fit and finish that set a new benchmark for New Zealand powerboats.
Tristram 550
Engines: Volvo Penta announced their all-new 7.4-litre petrol sterndrive package coupled with a DuoProp leg, Honda expanded their 4 stroke range to include 35 and 45 hp models, Mercury released a new 2.5 litre 200 HP fuel injected engine and Suzuki entered the horsepower stakes with a DT225 V6.
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft introduced an impressive six new models – the 480 Sport, 480 Cabin, 440 Sport, 540 Sport, 540 Cabin, and 720 Executive.
Buccaneer 480 Cabin
Gina Campbell raised the UIM Women’s World Water Speed Record to 235.6 km/h over the previous record set by Heather Spurle. A few months later Heather took it back with a speed of 271.68 km/h driving CRC Latimer Lodge.
As a result of the closure of PowerBoat Industries, the biggest-ever marine auction was held to sell the Bonito and Sea Nymph moulds.
PowerBoat Magazine reviewed the popular Christchurch-based Cresta Craft 5.1.
Cresta Craft 5.1
1991
PowerBoat Magazine reviewed the 70mph 1850 Bullet, this model was selling for $35,000 with a Johnson 150 included.
1850 Bullet
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced four new models – the 540 Executive, 605 Executive, 540 Fisherman, and 605 Fisherman.
Ramco released the Fisherman Pro.
Ramco Pro Fisherman
Haines Hunter NZ introduced the SF535, which soon proved to be arguably NZ’s biggest-selling powerboat of its size.
Fyran had a positive response at the 1991 New Zealand Boat Show, with a gate count of 54,000 attendees.
Lazercraft 560 Cuddy won the fishing boat of the year award at the New Zealand Boat Show.
Lazercraft 560 Cuddy
Peter Borland and Barry Thompson set a new mark of 1 hour 58 minutes for a trip from Auckland Harbour Bridge to Tryphena Wharf and return.
The Magnum 1800 was awarded the tow boat of the year.
Magnum 1800
The NZ Boat Show attracted 54,000 through the gate, a positive show despite a downturn in exhibitors.
The now-discontinued Rayglass 470 was released at the 1991 New Zealand Boat Show.
Rayglass 470
1992
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced two new models – the Billfisher 237 (the first of its walk-around Billfisher models) and the 720 Executive Hard Top.
Buccaneer Billfisher 237
The Superior 750 turned many heads at the New Zealand Boat Show.
Superior 750
CWF Hamilton Marine secured a $3 million contract with the Indian government to supply 30 of their Hamilton 401 waterjets.
The Craig Loomes designed Tournament 8m was launched – designed over width to gain the advantages of space, stability and seakeeping.
Mike Southward driving Shell True Blue Ladybug broke Peter Knight’s 11-year tenure on the Masport Cup.
Yamaha released their diesel-powered sterndrive package, an inline six-cylinder, 4.16-litre Toyota-based engine producing 250hp.
PowerBoat Magazine reviewed the Sea Force Intrepid – A GRP Boat built by Fibre Forces in Hamilton to take on the tinny market.
Seaforce Intrepid
MerCruiser took on Volvo’s DuoProp with the release of the twin prop 3 and Blackhawk sternlegs.
The Furuno Fishing Tournament was the biggest in New Zealand at the time, with 3000 fishermen all under one roof.
The Furuno Fishing Tournament
1993
CSB Huntsman Boats, builder of fibreglass powerboats in Christchurch, was founded by Geoff and Toni Robinson. The first models were the 525 Executive and 523 Sport.
CSB Huntsman 525 Executive
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced three new models – two more of its Billfisher series, the Billfisher 172 and the Billfisher 2008, and also the 540 Ltd Fisherman.
Tristram Marine introduced its 550 SS sport runabout, on the same hull as the 550 Deluxe Cabin. It too was an instant success, maintaining what has become Tristram Marine’s position at the pinnacle of New Zealand’s powerboat design and manufacturing prowess, with an unsurpassed standard of fit and finish – as well as design and performance.
Other big releases included: Ramco 5.5 Fisherman, Fi Glass Senator 5.5, Fyran 525, Reflex 710, Steadecraft V156, Hamilton Jet 151 & 152, Reflex Cobalt.
Rayglass released the 620 Legend – The first of the exciting Legend development programme.
Surtees Boats was founded when Neil Surtees decided to design and build himself an aluminium boat to use for fishing off the Whakatane Coast. When local people saw it, it wasn’t long before Neil had more orders than he could cope with.
The Sea Ray 180 was one of the most popular bowriders on the market and still is today on the second-hand market.
Sea Ray 180
Haines Hunter built their 100th SF535, in less than 15 months after the mould went into production.
The annual BP 100 NZ Powerboat Rally provided powerboat owners to have some fun in an organised atmosphere and to compete for great prizes.
BP Rally
141 boats entered the Hamilton Bridge to Bridge ski race and associated powerboat sprints, the biggest turnout in the event’s 10-year history.
Yamaha’s Waveblaster was a big step towards PWCs from the conventional stand-up pole jet-ski.
Yamaha Waveblaster
1994
Haines Hunter added another model to their Sport Fisherman range, the SF735 was available in both outboard or sterndrive options.
Haines Hunter SF735
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced three more new models – the 605 Elite, the 525 Elite XL, and the 525 Esprite XL.
Buccaneer 605 Elite
Other significant releases included: Seaforce Adventurer, 7m Tournament, Fyran 565, Fyran 565, and the Cresta Craft 5.5
OMC released their all-new 60-degree V4s, with the 115hp version the most compact on the market.
Graeme Horne and Tony Banks took the Auckland-Great Barrier-Auckland record with a time of 1hr 38min 2sec, in their Robson 32 catamaran, Fleetlease. A few months later Chris and Debbie Bartlett set a new record for a single outboard with a time of 2hr 12min 5.7sec in their 2.5 litre Mercury-powered Sonic 1900. The following year they reduced that to 1hr 40min 59 secs.
Reflex Boats and Suzuki outboards collaborated in a boat and motor package, with a Suzuki 85HP engine, the boat was on the water for just $25.000.
Reflex Suzuki
Roger Seymour broke the FI speed record with a two-way average of 202 km/h, only the second driver in New Zealand to better 200 km/h.
Lifejackets or personal flotation devices were made mandatory for anyone boating on the Waitemata or Manukau Harbours. You don’t have to wear them but there must be enough for all persons onboard.
The 1850 Bullet finished 1st and 3rd place, with a 1750 Bullet coming 2nd place in the biggest Bridge To Bridge ski race in the event’s 10-year history (with 141 boats entered).
Bridge 2 Bridge
1995
In just 8 years, McLay had become one of the big players in the Alloy Boat market – Launching the McLay 6m Sports – The pride of their fleet at the time.
McLay Sports 6m
Yamaha launched their first mid-range 4-stroke outboard, with the 50hp joining their established 8hp and 9.9hp models. This is the start of Yamaha’s commitment to develop an entire 4-stroke range alongside their existing 2-stroke.
Honda produced the world’s largest 4-stroke when they unveiled the 90hp, 1590cc, overhead cam, four-cylinder engine. Mercury released their 225 and 250 hp models with EFI.
Tristram Marine introduced the 521 Deluxe cabin
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced three more new models – the 470 Esprite XL, the 720 Elite XL, and the 720 Elite Hardtop XL.
Other new model releases included Rayglass 730, Leisurecraft 535 & 555, Steadecraft 545 Seville, Haines Hunter SF600LE, Ramco 6.5 Sportfisher, Ramco 7.9 Sportsman, Stabicraft 605, McLay 6.0HT, 6.3M & 6.5M Cruisers, Huntsman 525 Sport, Fyran 540 Venturer, Magnum 1850, Lazercraft 560 Sport GT.
Rayglass Boats suffered a devastating fire, which destroyed many of their moulds. Thanks to the support of the industry, and a dedicated team at Rayglass, the company was back in production within six weeks.
Gavin Childs GRP deck and Aluminium hull combo, the Lazercraft 560 Sport GT was a popular boat in its day and remains so today.
Lazercraft 560 Sport GT
New Zealand Offshore took on a whole new look when Peter Turner and Graeme Horne both imported UIM Class 1 boats. Both boats dominated offshore racing both in New Zealand and Australia for several years.
The 1995 New Zealand Boat Show attendance figures broke through the 53,000 barrier, the best since 1991 (54,200).
Kiwis took 1-2-3 in the World Jet Boat Championships in Canada with Ralph Brown and Neil Ross taking overall victory. A few weeks later a massive heart attack claimed the life of Brown.
Peter Turner smashed the Bay of Islands to Auckland speed record in his Class One catamaran Sleepyhead, with a time of 1hr 26mins 38secs for the 124 nautical mile trip.
1996
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced two more new models –the 485 Classic XL Wide Body and the 635 Esprite XL DC, a model that Propeller Magazine ran as a family and PowerBoat photo boat for over a decade.
Buccaneer 635 Esprite
Tristram Marine introduced the 521 SS sport runabout, built using the same hull mould as the very successful 521 Deluxe cabin introduced the previous year.
Haines Hunter introduced the SF 650, which replaced the SF600. The new SF650 had a little more deadrise for an even softer ride. It was very much an open-plan family day boat, although there were overnighting options such as a gas cooker and sink unit. The SF650 was an immediate success, with exceptional sales throughout the country.
Haines Hunter SF 650
One of the country’s best-known aluminium boat brands, Ramco, introduced two new-generation models – the 720 Explorer and the 600 Fishmaster.
Other new model releases for the year included Pi-Seas 5.9 and Huntsman 6000.
Barry Thompson and Doug Dukeson founded D&B Publishing Ltd and launched their new magazine, the bi-monthly New Zealand Propeller, the first issue being for June/July 1996. In the second issue, editor Barry Thompson began his editorial by saying “The response to our first issue was overwhelming …”. The rest, of course, is history!
Honda introduced its new 90hp 4-stroke outboard, which it touted as being the “biggest and best of both worlds”. It had four cylinders, four carburettors and 12 valves.
Ficht direct fuel injection was invented in the early 1980s during the Cold War by Wolfgang Heimberg, a young East German engineer. OMC’s first DI model was the 150hp 60-degree V6, released in 1996 for the 1997 model year. Its fuel consumption was 30% less, on average, than its previous carburetted version.
Suzuki released the 115 EFI, the first midrange outboard in the world to offer electronic fuel injection.
Mercury Marine announced the release of their first direct fuel injection outboards. Named DFI, the engine was not made readily available for a couple of years, when it was relaunched under the new name Optimax.
One of the hot boats Propeller Magazine reviewed in the ’90s was the Sonic 1900. It later became the choice of boat, for an offshore one-class category.
Sonic 1900
Graeme Horne suffered a horrific offshore racing accident and subsequent serious injury while competing in an offshore race on Auckland Harbour and did not return to racing.
1997
CPC, the New Zealand Trailerboat Compliance programme, was launched and immediately picked up by the major boat builders in the country. This was the first step by the Boating Industries Association (BIA) to bring in a form of ‘warrant of standard’ for boats.
Tristram Marine’s 661 Millennium Cuddy Cabin won the Trailerboat of the Show award at the Auckland Boat Show. It signalled that Tristram Marine was serious about building bigger and bigger trailer boats. Reinforcing this was the introduction of the Broadbill 691, a boat destined for the fishing and diving market.
Tristram 661 Millennium Cuddy Cabin
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced two more new models – the 550 Esprite XL and the 550 Classic XL Wide Body.
Rayglass Boats Ltd introduced the 650 Legend, which won the ‘Boat of The Show’ award at the NZ Boat Show. Back then, production was split 60%/40% in favour of sterndrives, with the most popular unit for this model being the 210 hp MerCruiser V6.
Aquapro – One of the largest inflatable boat manufacturers in NZ, produced 1300 boats every year (including small tenders). In 1997 released their 2301 workboat.
Aquapro 2301
This was perhaps the heyday for NZ ski boats. In the February/March 1997 issue of NZ Propeller magazine included a Buyer’s Guide to Ski Boats, which featured brands including Bullet, Cyclone, Magnum, Mirage, Obsession. Protech, Stealth, Sonic, and Viper.
1997 model releases also included Sea Nymph Hustler (revamp), Rayglass Protector 8.5, Protech R$1900, Haines Signature 520, Rayglass 850 and the Ramco 650.
Bayliner imported a good number of boats from the USA, including the popular Bayliner 1702 Capri.
Christchurch-based Reflex Products built quality well-priced boats. The brand is no longer boat building but there are many second-hand Reflex’s around, such as the Cobalt FX.
Reflex Cobalt FX
Barry Thompson reviewed the Marco 460 with the then Marco Boat’s Graham Ransom, 25 years after their last boat review when Graham owned Fyran.
Marco 460
The Suzuki DF60 and DF70 won the “NMMA Innovation Award” from the International Marine Trades Exhibit and Conference.
Engines: Yamaha built the Pro V Max, the world’s first production twin counter-rotating propeller outboard. Propeller Magazine ran a Yamaha Pro V MAX 150 on their Huntsman Dorado photo boat. Mercury offered a 300hp V6 for the petrol heads, the first shipment of OMC Ficht 150/175 hp engines arrived in the country, Honda’s BF130 was the biggest 4-stroke on the market and Suzuki’s new electronic fuel-injected 70hp four-stroke was a world first.
Yamaha Pro V MAX
Propeller Magazine successfully arranged several engine shootouts. It was a risk and time-consuming but received great readership. In the 90s alone, Propeller Magazine ran head-to-head shootouts on 225hp, 150hp, 90hp and 50hp engines.
Before anyone knew how dangerous White Island was, Propeller Magazine reviewed the Huntsman Dorado. We ran the boat from Whakatane to White Island, a great little boat that Propeller Magazine ran as photo boats for over 6 years.
CSB Hunstman Dorado
1998
Propeller Magazine ran the Fyran 600 Horizon powered by a 115 Suzuki as their photo boat.
Fyran 600 Horizon
Graeme Weller broke the 17-year-old unlimited racing runabout record held by Warwick Jones, when he scorched across Lake Karapiro at 133.58 mph, smashing the old record by nearly 10 mph.
In mid-1998 the most powerful 4-stroke outboard available in NZ was the newly released Honda 130hp, having an engine based on the Honda Accord, a 2.3-litre, in-line 4-cyl., 16-valve – Honda’s first outboard featuring direct fuel injection.
It was another big year for new model releases that included: The Fi Glass 5.85 Warrior, Haines Signature 550, Ramco Explorer 760 HT, Haines Hunter SR535, Tristram Aquapro RIBs, Stabi-craft 490 & 580, Magnum 1650, Huntsman Series 5000, Tristram Avant Grade 601, Buccaneer 525 & 605 Escapes, Buccaneer 720 & 635 Billfishers, Fyran 630 & 750 Pursuits, Marco GR500, Bonito 585 Sport, Bluewater 770 HT, Sea Nymph Hustler 640, Aqualite 601 & 645, and the Rayglass Cruisemaster.
Fi Glass 5.85 Warrior
Mercury Marine released the Mercury 300 Pro Max – The world’s most powerful production outboard.
OMC announced that in 1999 its outboard brands Evinrude and Johnson would be repositioned in the market, with Evinrude featuring the newer ‘premium technology’ Ficht direct injection, and Johnson staying with the older carburetted two-strokes.
Mercury Marine released what was then its most technically advanced outboards, featuring OptiMax direct fuel injection, manufactured under licence to Orbital Technologies of Perth, Western Australia.
1999
Following the success of the Pauanui poker run, Propeller Magazine kicked off their first Poker Run, with over 50 boats starting the 77 nautical mile ‘fun cruise’ around Auckland Harbour, it was a great event and several more followed.
Tristram Marine introduced the 581 Prima Cuddy Cabin, which replaced the 550. Also, at the NZ Boat Show at Auckland Showgrounds, the Tristram Millennium 661 took out the Trailerboat of the Show award.
Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd introduced two more new models – the 530 Esprite XL and the Billfisher 550. These brought the number of the company’s new-model releases to a total of 48 during the 23 years since it was founded in 1976 – making Buccaneer Pleasurecraft Ltd, in terms of the number of models offered, arguably NZ’s most prolific fibreglass boat manufacturing company.
Other notable new models released included the all-new Haines Hunter SF700, Seahouse 6.6HT, Steadecraft 600, Fyran 680/750 Horizon, Reflex 515 Chianti, Bonito 640 RIB, Marco 530, Bonito 485, Cresta Craft 520, Campion Explorer 21, Seaforce Discovery 645, McLay 520/620, Ramco Getaway 500, Stabicraft 650 HT and 580XC, Scorpion 530, Offshore Seeka 7.2, Primal Caprice 65 and Proline Straitrunner.
Yamaha announced its latest advancement in two-stroke engine technology – an entirely new 2.6-litre V6 engine featuring its high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) system, in which injection pressure is at 4.84MPa, considerably higher than the Evinrude E-TEC’s 730kPa and the Mercury OptiMax’s 625kPa.
Yamaha set an outboard fuel economy world record, achieving 58.45 nautical miles on 4.546 litres (1 imperial gallon) of fuel. Travelling on a 1.7 km course around the Orakei Basin, Auckland, they used a Yamaha F4A four-stroke and covered 108.262 km.
Rayglass Boats was named the official supplier of boats for the America’s Cup 2000. The $1.8 million deal comprised 25 boats, (nine 8.5m Protector RIBs and 16 Rayglass Legends) to be used by umpires and judges as well as for patrol duties.
Due to the increase in demand for their boats, Tristram Boats built an impressive new showroom and factory in Te Rapa, Hamilton.
By the end of this decade, imported trailerable powerboats, primarily from the USA, had made substantial inroads into the New Zealand market. One of the leading importers was Sports Marine Ltd, importer of Sea Ray boats. Sports Marine in NZ had premises in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
