Purpose Built for SERIOUS ADVENTURE
There are boats that make a statement in a marina, and there are boats that quietly earn your respect once you’re on the water. ŌKAHU, the custom-built 10-metre Image Cruisemaster launched late in 2025, is firmly in the latter category. From the moment you step on board, it’s clear this is a vessel designed not for show, but for serious, practical, and safe adventure.
Named with respect to Kāi Tahu heritage (the local nomadic people who travelled extensively on land and sea), ŌKAHU reflects a centuries-old connection to Jackson Bay. The name itself is a nod to the traditional Māori association with the bay and its surrounding land.
DESIGN AND BUILD
To be fair, it is unfair to say ŌKAHU does not make
a visual statement; it is quite the opposite, especially when sitting on a triple-axle trailer and coupled with her Ford 8210 tow tractor. ŌKAHU also impresses with its clean, purposeful lines, and the 10-metre single-hull Cruisemaster carries traditional Image Boats design principles, functionality, and seaworthiness, refined with modern touches and equipment. In fact, being built to survey and equipment-wise, there are not many boxes left unchecked on the specification order sheet.
– Eight A4 pages to be precise!
Her bow entry and 17-degree hull are fine enough to cut through Jackson Bay’s often confused seas, while the hull’s volume aft ensures stability under load, whether that’s a full day of fishing gear, passengers, or provisions for overnight trips.
The build quality and level of craftsmanship are evident from the outset, with the first view of the full-length hardtop, which is not just cosmetic; it’s a practical feature that protects the crew from the unpredictable cooler elements and also provides shade during those long summer trips. Above are the solar panels, a 6-man life raft, EPIRB, radar, and night- vision camera, with plenty of room for storage of lighter equipment like paddleboards and a tender.
The working cockpit itself measures a huge 3150mm by 2525mm (internal) with the metre square head and shower in the fwd port corner. On the fwd starboard side of the cockpit was the aft deck helm, which is very handy when approaching cray pots and backing up on gamefish later in the season. The cockpit sole is entirely covered in UDEK, offering a great non-skid surface and warmth in the colder months. Underfoot, there is a cavernous 840-litre storage locker for dive tanks and equipment; just forward is the 1000-litre fuel tank. The workspace is roomy and functional, with everything you could possibly need on a charter – the generous toe recesses and 800mm-high coamings make for a great fishing position. The 4 electric reel power outlets for the Shimano Beastmaster electric reels and matching rods were far enough apart to keep lines from tangling most of the time…with the dual- hand wash pumps a nice accessory.
At the stern was the huge 1.4m wide bait station and tackle drawer, which also stored the 5 batteries, one for each engine and 3 house batteries. It is an easy step over to the caged transom (with a live-bait tank on the port side), with dive access on both sides of the impressive Suzuki 325hp outboards.
It is obvious ŌKAHU’s cockpit was designed with real use in mind. The space is uncluttered, with room to move around safely, making it equally suited for fishing, diving, or just enjoying the beautiful West Coast.
Storage is extensive and intelligently integrated along the gunwales, and below deck, it provides room for everything you need. These are not afterthoughts;
they reflect a builder who communicates with and understands what boat owners actually need day to day.
SALOON AND ACCOMMODATION
Stepping through the lockable wheelhouse door (with a sliding side window), the saloon of ŌKAHU is light-filled and airy. Large wrap-around windows (with sliding side windows on each side) provide panoramic views, which are invaluable in Jackson Bay, where our hosts Murray and Rachel Petrie explained that weather and wildlife are part of the cruising experience. The 6-foot standing helm, with bolster seat, is perfectly positioned in the saloon, allowing the skipper to operate comfortably while still interacting with crew or guests. All controls, electronics, and navigation instruments
are logically laid out and easy to reach, reflecting careful ergonomic consideration. Electronically,
for a coastal charter boat, there are not too many electronics that ŌKAHU does not have. From the twin Simrad NSS Evo3 MFDs (AIS / Starlink Enabled), with multiple transducers all linked to an iPad in the second cockpit helm, to the TimeZero 3D Mapping System, with which Murray is recording the local seafloor. All monitored by the Victron Battery management system and controlled by the extensive switch panel at the helm. Overhead is the Simrad VHF and Fusion head unit.
The galley is compact but functional, with sufficient bench space, pantry and cupboard storage, and appliance options for multi-day trips. This isn’t a decorative feature; it’s designed for people who actually cook aboard during extended journeys.
But everything is there: a fridge, an oven, and a 3-burner hob. which heated our morning tea, gourmet savouries very well. There is also a gas connection for a BBQ out on the bait board, which Murray kindly demonstrated to us with some freshly caught fish bites for our lunch.
There is storage within the cabin, found under the skipper’s feet and under the 2×2 dinette, which flips from dinette to forward-facing when travelling. (With the table lowered, this also makes another double berth.) More accommodation is found within the cabin with a Vee Double and two pipe bunks above. There is storage in the side pockets and under the bunks. (Fwd storage is replaced by the tunnel for the bow thruster). There is excellent headroom down below and good LED lighting from above. Also above is the foredeck access hatch, offering ventilation and access to the foredeck. Here we find the anchor, bow ladder, Savwinch 3000 drum winch, and the automatic Minn Kota 100-inch Trolling Motor, which we used all day long; it was great for holding us in position at fishing spots, keeping us facing out of the wind, saving fuel, and sheltering the fisherpeople. I gained a new appreciation for how useful these motors are. At one stage, our skipper, Murray, commented: “The Minn Kota drives the boat, I’m the deckhand”.
PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
Launching was a breeze with the impressive Ford 8210 Tractor unit, to make it even easier, as well as the Runva trailer winch, our clever skipper had made up a hydraulic ram to attach between the tractor and trailer, which extended to limit the distance the tractor needed to launch into the water – pure kiwi boating genius.
Underway, ŌKAHU feels confident and stable, although it was not a particularly rough day; 15 kms offshore, she handled the one-metre chop (12-knot wind) we encountered with ease. Powered by twin Suzuki 325HP four-stroke outboards, she demonstrated excellent manoeuvrability around Jackson Bay, with the bow thruster giving that added feeling of confidence. At cruising speeds, the boat is efficient; her sweet spot seemed to be at 3500rpm, travelling at approx. 19 knots, burning just 63 litres per hour. (Trolling at 6.0 knots at 1500rpm, she burns just 15.8 litres per hour).
The stability of her hull design, coupled with her balanced weight distribution, means passengers will remain comfortable during longer trips, and seasickness is less likely, a small but important consideration for charter guests, especially in open waters like Jackson Bay. With a WOT speed of 37.5 knots, she also has the ability to get up and get home if the weather turns to custard.
CONCLUSION
One of the most striking aspects of ŌKAHU is how the design respects its environment and heritage. The choice of name, the curved wave logo, and the thoughtful layout all contribute to a narrative that goes beyond engineering. This is a vessel that tells a story: about the waters it travels, the people it carries, and the culture it acknowledges. In an era when boats often feel generic, ŌKAHU has character, a sense of place, and a purpose that resonate deeply with anyone who spends time on Jackson Bay. We were among the lucky ones to experience the hospitality of Murray and Rachel and the beauty of Jackson Bay. Please see the Destination article in our March/ April 2026 issue.
ŌKAHU is more than a 10-metre cabin cruiser; she’s a carefully thought-out platform for adventure, safety, and enjoyment. Built and designed by Dean Wilkes and the Image Boats team in Invercargill, she embodies the Kiwi boating philosophy: practical, robust, and versatile. Whether you’re chasing fish, exploring coastal waters, or simply enjoying the natural coastlines, a vessel such as ŌKAHU delivers, and for those lucky enough to spend time aboard, she’s an unforgettable one.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 10.35m
Beam 3.05m
Power Options Outboard, Sterndrive, Jet
HP Range Twin 250-350hp
Fuel Capacity 750 Litres, 1000 Litre Option
Water Capacity 150 Litres, 200 Litre Option
Trailer Image Boats Alloy
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/H RANGE/NM
1000 4.4 8.8 500
2000 7.7 24 321
3000 11.5 53 217
4000 23 90 256
5000 32 140 229
6000 37.5 227 165
