With summer approaching and thousands of New Zealanders preparing to get back out on the water, boaties considering a new boat are being encouraged to look beyond style and performance and check how their boat has been built.
The CPC (Compliance Plate Certification) programme is a nationally recognised New Zealand boat-building programme endorsed by Coastguard NZ and NZ Marine, giving buyers confidence that their boat has been built to recognised, independently audited standards.
NZ Marine executive director Callum Gillespie says “Twenty-two of NZ’s top trailer powerboat builders are part of the programme, producing a range of fibreglass and aluminium boats, and RIBs. All manufacturers building to the CPC standard are also members of NZ Marine, so when you buy a CPC boat you not only have the backing of the manufacturer, but the NZ Marine Industry Association as well”.
Gillespie adds. “NZ Marine set a very high standard of quality for boat construction, and Coastguard New Zealand’s job is to make sure people are safe on the water. This programme sees those two organisations come together to ensure boats are high quality even before they are launched.”
The programme covers important aspects of boat construction and safety, including materials and structural design, fuel and electrical systems, bilge pumps and on-water performance. An independent surveyor audits CPC-approved manufacturers annually to ensure their boats meet the programme’s standards for both safety and workmanship.
That independent oversight is an important point of difference. Many compliance programmes focus on the design of a boat, whereas CPC also assesses the workmanship involved in building it.
For anyone considering buying a new boat ahead of the summer boating season, the CPC plate provides an easily identifiable sign that the boat has been built under this recognised programme. The programme brings together NZ Marine’s focus on quality boat building with Coastguard NZ’s commitment to safer boating, providing additional reassurance before a boat even hits the water.
CPC covers a range of New Zealand-built fibreglass and aluminium boats and RIBs.
All manufacturers participating in the programme are also members of the NZ Marine Industry Association. The programme also provides a two-year structural guarantee, offering another layer of confidence for purchasers.
As boaties prepare for another busy summer on New Zealand’s waterways, the message for prospective buyers is simple: look for the CPC plate. It is a visible sign that the boat has been built by a participating New Zealand manufacturer to recognised standards and subject to independent auditing.
Current NZ boat builders building to the CPC Standard:
- Buccaneer Boats
- DNA Boats
- Extreme Boats
- Fi-Glass Boats
- Fin Chaser Boats
- FREWZA Boats
- Haines Hunter
- Huntsman Boats
- Innovision Boats
- Kingfisher Boats
- Kiwikraft
- McLay Boats
- Marco Boats
- Machina Peritia
- Offshore Boats
- Rayglass Boats
- Salthouse Boatbuilders
- Seaforce Marine
- Smuggler Marine
- Southern Boats
- Stabicraft
- Tristram Boats
Find out more about the CPC programme and CPC-approved boat manufacturers at www.cpcstandard.com
