BUSINESS CLASS ON THE WATER
If you’re seeking a less expensive option to an Airbus H130 Executive helicopter to get you from Waiheke Island to downtown Auckland, you may want to consider the Purekraft Rova 29 Amphibious.
Back in July, I spent a few hours out on the Hauraki Gulf on Purekraft’s new, purpose-designed Rova 29 Amphibious on one of those spectacular, Auckland winter days that we don’t often experience, but when we do, they are stunning. So, what’s this boat all about? In a nutshell, it is a privately owned ‘commuter boat’, designed and built to the discriminating owners’ wishes, who wanted to be able to get back and forth between their property on Waiheke Island and downtown Auckland 24/7, if necessary, without the hassle and time-consuming process of using the regular ferries that run between the island and downtown. Commuter boat it may be, but this is a “Business Class” craft without being ostentatious. Designed to allow the owners not only convenient and fast passage (it tops out at 44 knots in good conditions), but also to allow them to work while on route between destinations. We’ll get to how it’s kitted out in order to achieve this goal, but for now (for any cinephiles out there), think of the ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ film that came out back in 2011. If you know the film, you’ll understand what I’m getting at. If you don’t, watch it, it’s worthwhile.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND
“Prevail”, a Rova 29, is a collaboration between four parties – Hall Marine Design, Purekraft Boats, Anura Amphibious Systems and, of course, the owners. The former two entities share design and production facilities located in sunny Papamoa, New Zealand. Here, against the backdrop of stunning landscapes and pristine waters, it is easy to understand the inspiration that drives these two companies, and which has led them to become industry leaders in marine innovation and design. Rova 29 by Purekraft is a range of new amphibious boats, with “Prevail” being the first.
Recently unveiled, the Rova 29 is the flagship of the new Rova line-up. Designed and built entirely in-house, the Rova 29 redefines what’s possible in amphibious boating. With a length overall (LOA) of 9.9 metres, it is powered by twin Yamaha 300 outboards featuring full Helm Master EX integration for unmatched control and maneuverability. A state-of-the-art electronics suite pushes the boundaries of onboard technology. The first Rova 29 is likely to become somewhat unique simply because the owners of “Prevail” had a number of specific requirements to suit their particular needs. This was to be a boat primarily for business commuting, but still eminently suitable for recreation. Were these objectives met? Read on and you be the judge.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ALWAYS COUNT
I had arranged with Jarrod, of Hall Marine Design (HMD) to meet him and his crew at the Browns Bay Coastguard boat ramp on Auckland’s North Shore, which was most convenient as I live in the area and, the Rova 29 being an amphibious craft, made getting aboard no more difficult than stepping aboard a bus – albeit “Prevail” being a different sort of ‘commuter’ conveyance.
At first glance, its sleek, sculpted lines and premium finishes evoke the elegance of a luxury motor yacht. But its actual distinction lies in its dual amphibious capability, seamlessly transitioning between land and sea to offer a level of freedom and convenience few vessels can match. Although the vessel was designed primarily for business commuting, as mentioned previously, it is also perfectly suited to recreational use.
Inside, the experience is exceptional, with every detail of the interior considered, from the ergonomically designed helm to the hand-stitched leather handrails and premium materials throughout. The spacious deck layout and refined fit-out create an ideal setting for both a professional aquatic office and relaxed cruising, as well as sophisticated entertaining.
THE UNDERWAY EXPERIENCE
Having enjoyed the benefits of transiting from land to sea on many other different amphibious craft, I fully expected that my time on the Rova 29 would be equally enjoyable. I was not disappointed, and I would go as far as to say that the ‘on land’ performance was unrivalled. The S45 Amphibious System, newly developed by Anura, performed smoothly and quietly. It is, after all, electric, as the owners did not need the range of an ICE engine, and they did not want the solitude of their beachfront home shattered with the noise of a diesel or petrol engine when ‘Prevail’ trundled down to the water, or came back ashore. The craft is not only quiet on land. With the cabin doors and windows closed, it is also incredibly quiet inside the boat.
The transformation of the craft from land to water was seamless, and in no time, wheels fully retracted, we were accelerating rapidly out into the Hauraki Gulf, the twin Yamaha 300’s pushing this large and somewhat heavy craft smoothly onto the plane. One interesting thing I noted as I glanced astern once up on the plane was that the stern wheels, when fully retracted, tuck into their own wheel wells, giving the boat a clean, clutter-free appearance. Obviously, the boat builder and engine supplier had worked out the perfect power units for this vessel. As in Goldilocks and the Three Bears; not to small, not too large – just right.
After Jarrod gave me a crash course on how to master the controls and understand the vast array of helm station instrumentation, he handed me the helm. More about the helm station when we get to exploring the interior of this craft. Teaser alert. It’s impressive.
Although this is a comparatively heavy boat for its size, it certainly didn’t seem like it was as substantial or as long as it actually is while you are sitting at the well-laid-out helm station. There is a clear line of sight not only forward, but also to port and starboard. Although at first glance the helm area may seem somewhat intimidating, one soon comes to appreciate that a lot of thought has gone into laying everything out in an ergonomic, instinctive and logical arrangement. Even for an old bugger like me, it didn’t take long to master this control centre.
Large and small Multi-functional Displays (MFDs) dominate the helm layout. They are easily accessible and provide a plethora of information relating to the boat’s functions. It is important
to note that on any amphibious craft, you are dealing with two systems: the boat and its engine(s) plus the amphibious drive system. Hence, there are more controls and instruments than on a non-amphibious boat. An analogy. If you’ve only ever driven an automatic automobile, and then you are confronted with a manual ‘stick shift’, it may take you a bit longer to learn how to drive the manual shift vehicle properly and instinctually. The same is true of an amphibious boat. And, in the case of “Prevail”, there are a lot more bells and whistles to absorb. But, harking back to my earlier comment, the helm is so well laid out that it doesn’t take one long to master it.
The ’Captain’s Helm Chair’ is extremely comfortable and fully adjustable, allowing an almost ‘fighter plane’ cockpit environment in which to smoothly operate this craft, no matter the weather or seaway. While the adjacent guest (co-pilot’s) seat is less elaborate, it proved more than comfortable and both have well-designed foot rests (one permanent, the other flips down), allowing comfortable seating while underway. Should you wish to stand in particularly rough seas, or for a better view forward in adverse conditions, the pilot seat has a flip-up/down seat bolster allowing for a comfortable stance with backrest support. The port chair’s back rest can be moved forward or aft in order to allow a bow view while underway, or when flipped the other way, gives you a back rest while sitting at the dining/work table. While sitting in the helm area, carefully noticing the fine details, you observe attention to detail everywhere. For example, all grab rails are finished with hand-stitched leather coverings, here and elsewhere throughout the boat. USB, wireless phone charging pads and electrical outlets abound. This, after all, is an office work space boat.
Behind the helm seat is a galley area, which initially appearing to be a bit Spartan, is actually equipped with everything you might expect in the galley of a bigger boat. Aft of the co-pilot chair is a large, combined dining/work table, ample enough to provide enough room for two people to use as a work station, while equally suitable as a dining, entertaining table.
When sitting on either of the two helm seats, a glance below to port reveals a spacious, double berth forward cabin, more than suitable for overnighting, whether on business or enjoying a relaxing weekend away. Not only is the forward cabin quite spacious, but as you enter this cabin, you will find a large (for a boat this size), full headroom electric toilet cabinet to starboard. Comfort and convenience reign aboard this craft. Moving aft towards the spacious cockpit, folding double doors provide easy access to the exterior of the boat, and a careful scrutiny of the cockpit reveals a host of carefully thought-out, functional details. The list is long, but a few that caught my attention were the cockpit side entry doors, both port and starboard, providing easy entry/exit on a marina berth, or climbing aboard (by means of a removable S/S ladder while up on its wheels), and the fold-down seat on the port side, aft of the cabin. But the one aspect, not to be ignored, is the superbly integrated electric drive Anura Amphibious System, shown here with housing cover removed. The housing, when not removed, provides a comfortable aft seat in front of the twin Yamaha 300 HP outboards.
The amphibious drive unit, in this case, Anura’s recently developed S45 system, is one of the neatest installations I have ever seen. Talking to Angus, one of Purekraft’s talented young technicians, I listened carefully as he explained that there had been a very close collaboration between Purekraft and Anura right from the get-go. From initial concept to final launch of the craft, the two companies worked closely together, figuring out and designing how everything would go together in order to ensure that the boat and amphibious system would work in flawless harmony. Angus further explained that one of the key things that everyone kept in mind during the design, build and installation was that there had to be easy access for repair and maintenance. I’ve owned and crewed on enough boats to appreciate why this simple ethos is so important.
I was curious as to why the Anura S45 Amphibious Electric System had been chosen. As is often the case, it was pretty simple. After a great deal of research into available amphibious systems, Jarrod approached Darren at Anura to discuss whether or not the S45 System would be suitable for a boat the size and weight of the Rova 29. Cutting a long story short, the answer was yes, as the electric S45 system (which, by the way, is available in either a diesel or petrol engine option if so desired) provided everything Jarrod wanted and needed. In brief, the S45 unit was ideal for Jarrod’s unique application, offering a compact solution, both size and weight-wise, weighing in at only 600kg. In summary, it was the smallest and lightest system currently on the market to carry the maximum weight required. Anything heavier and larger would not function as effectively, and even then, the S45 system was near the maximum upper limit of its capabilities. Once decided that the S45 unit was going to be used, both PureKraft’s and Anura’s designers and engineers worked in close collaboration from start to finish to ensure that every aspect was taken into consideration, including actual installation, supervised by Anura technicians, as well as conducting final sea trials and training. Such was the success of the collaboration that when the S45 system was installed, everything fit like a glove.
As is typical with most amphibious craft, the Rova 29 has large, knobby tire stern wheels to port and starboard, while at the bow it was decided to fit dual wheels, which gave more design freedom for the boat builder, allowing a slight design advantage, as smaller twin wheels/tires could tuck in further when retracted, and not stick out as far when the boat was underway – advantageous in rough seas and large waves.
SUMMARY:
The Rova 29, as with every vessel bearing the Purekraft badge, is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence. They understand that it’s the little things that make the biggest difference, and the Rova 29 exemplifies this philosophy. A healthy obsession over every detail, from the sleek lines to the ergonomic layout of the cockpit, illustrates their dedication to perfection, ensuring that each Purekraft boat delivers an unparalleled on-the-water experience. From beach to open water, the Rova range stands alone: purpose- built, performance-driven, and engineered to lead. This is more than just a boat; it’s a bold statement in design, capability, and craftsmanship.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 10.5m
Beam 3.05m
Displacement 5000kg
Fuel Capacity 450 litres
Water Capacity 50 litres
Passengers 8
Engines 2 x Yamaha F300 V6 O/B
Amphibious System Anura S45 EOH
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS LPH
600 3 5.3
1500 7 17
2500 10.5 44
3500 20 70
4500 33 120
5500 40 204
6000 44 224
