STABILITY & STRENGTH
The StabiX 240UCC (Ultra Centre Cab) is an extraordinary craft by any metric. But, before reporting on “DA’S BOY”, reviewed in this article, it is important to know a bit about the person and the company(s) behind this present-day amphibious boat.
StabiX is an independent company led by Stabicraft co-founder and director Paul Adams, a relentless innovator and champion of design-led thinking.
Retiring from Stabicraft after 33 years and not happy to just sit around at home, in 2020 Paul began collating an exclusive team to pioneer innovative concepts and sharp new technology. As a result, StabiX is now ground zero for durable amphibious boats that push the limits of what a boating experience can be. Out of the box thinking is the rule, not the exception.
With over 37 years of experience in the marine industry, Paul brings an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and design expertise to the table. As Managing Director at StabiX, he’s not just leading from the top—Paul is deeply involved in the day-to-day operations, working hands-on to drive production productivity, innovation, and growth. Whether it’s refining cutting-edge boat designs or fostering team collaboration, Paul is the visionary behind bringing a customer’s dream boat to life.
FORMED BY THE RUGGED ROARING FORTIES
Stabicraft’s legendary toughness is a consequence of the harsh and unforgiving environment in which it was formed. At the southern tip of New Zealand, 47 degrees below the equator, is the home of Stabicraft and StabiX. It’s also where you’ll find the ‘Roaring Forties’, the name given to the infamous gale force westerly winds found between latitudes 40 and 50 degrees South. The formidable seas resulting from these winds funnelling through the notorious Foveaux Strait, are more than a testing ground for the “Stabi” companies, they are the inspiration, foundation and validation of the companies’ constant reminder of what their boats need to be able to handle and a firm directive to design, engineer and build accordingly.
Stabicraft boats are built to last in the world’s harshest environments. They’ve been engineered for toughness with a rigid aluminium life ring, high-quality marine grade aluminium and rigorous weld quality. These unwavering characteristics have earned the brand a reputation as the ultimate 4×4 of the ocean, handling anything; a legacy now shared and carried on by StabiX.
StabiX is no newcomer to understanding the current amphibious market in building personalised amphibious solutions for clients. Sister company Stabicraft manufactured the 2100 Stabicraft Sealegs ST in conjunction with Sealegs between 2012 and 2018, producing numerous amphibious boats during that period. StabiX‘s individual amphibious journey commenced in 2021 with the 240UCC model, the same model in this review, and one of StabiX’s most popular units to this day.
The current range now consists of seven models between the 205SC (Super Cab) and the 290UC (Ultra Cab). The market is both local and international with a growing customer base in both marketplaces.
ON LAND AND ON THE WATER IN THE STABIX 240UCC:
Early April, after three days of stormy, wet weather and strong E/NE winds, I met Julian Parkes, the owner of “DA’S BOY”, and we headed out from his home base in historic Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore greeted by a brilliantly sunny autumn day, accompanied by moderate 10 to 12 knot SW winds.
Now, over the years I’ve seen lots of trailer boats parked in driveways or in the backyards of residential homes all over New Zealand, but for some reason, an amphibious boat, wedged into a tight alcove in front of a bygone villa in an old leafy suburb seemed somewhat incongruous at first glance.
However, after introducing myself, I loaded my kit bag on board and then witnessed Julian dexterously manoeuvre “DA’S BOY” from its cubby hole beside his garage onto the road in front of his place, less than 200 metres from Cheltenham Beach. Even though amphibious boats are becoming much more common in New Zealand, it was still quite a hoot to see the StabiX 240UCC parked in front of the petrol bowser before heading back down the short avenue to the beach.
It had been many years since I’d been out on a Stabicraft boat and the first time ever on a StabiX, so I was quite looking forward to the experience. Appreciating full well the stability and implicit unsinkability of these craft, I was curious to see how the amphibious ‘version’ compared. The previous two- day NE storm had subsided overnight, replaced with a moderate SW wind, creating a lumpy sea, with a short chop in the Rangitoto Channel – perfect test conditions as far as I was concerned.
As we headed towards Rangitoto Island with a following sea and, passing ‘Rangi Light’ I questioned Julian about the boat and his reasons for buying this particular boat. After all, as mentioned in my article in last month’s issue of the magazine, there are now 17 different amphibious craft manufacturers in New Zealand and between them, they offer nearly 75 various models. Talk about spoiled for choice!
Turns out that Julian had done his homework. First off, he is a knowledgeable seaman having a lot of experience in his home country, England, as well as a number of years sailing in Sydney, Australia, before settling in Devonport several years ago with his wife and young children. In addition to his home in Devonport, the family have a bach in Hahei, on the west coast of the Coromandal Peninsula and they wanted to be able to use their boat in Auckland as well as at their bach but didn’t want to be trailering a boat back and forth. Solution? The StabiX 240UCC. In effect, what it came down to was a combination of safety, stability, practicality and convenience. In Julian’s mind the basic StabiX 240UCC offered what he needed and by adding a number of extras (see list below) he got exactly the craft he wanted. This isn’t just a ‘day’ boat to go out for a bit of fishing or an offshore picnic, it is also a commuter vessel operating between Devonport and Hahei, the sea distance between the two of some 75 NM depending upon conditions. Oh, and by the way, the west coast of the Coromandal Peninsula can be pretty damned challenging even with careful route planing and a judicious eye out for any changes to the weather. Not that Julian ever wants to be caught out in the really rough stuff, but as he semi- jokingly said to me: “These boats are built to handle the ‘roaring forties’, so for “DA’S BOY”, it’s almost like a summer holiday up here”.
But back to our day out in the Hauraki Gulf. Finding a sheltered bay at Rangitoto Island, cutting the 300 HP Mercury Verado outboard, and while idly drifting, I investigated this StabiX 240UCC’s features.
THE EXTERIOR:
This is a 24’ (7.31m) boat with an Ultra Centre Cabin (UCC) and an 8.4’ (2.55m) beam, meaning that you get all the suitability of a cabin boat in addition to relatively wide, walk-around decks leading forward.
In addition, you will have noticed that the 240UCC has a forward sloping windshield and, for good reason. An overhanging pilot window helps shade the interior, reduces nighttime reflections and increases interior volume in addition to more efficiently deflecting waves coming over the bow or shedding rain in heavy downpours. Whatever water that isn’t naturally shed, is wiped clean by the twin Roca windscreen wipers. But the really big advantage to this windshield design is that it makes lots more room on your dash as well as making the cabin feel much larger. So, more space and headroom as well as better visibility in all conditions.
The hull is constructed from 6mm marine grade aluminium, with the decks being 4mm thick and incorporating StabiX’s intrinsic, foam filled arrow pontoons – allowing the boat to stay level and afloat when filled with water.
Up forward there is a discretely covered hatch housing the anchor winch. All very neat and tidy with little risk of catching or stubbing a toe while utilising the bow for fishing or as a dive platform from the port ‘shelf ’, primarily there should a Minn Kota type unit need to be installed.
The stern of the boat is as utilitarian as you can get.
One of the many clever features I noticed during our afternoon out was the easy to flip down/flip up and secure port and starboard boarding ladders which, when in the up and locked position contribute to secure ‘cages’ aft when fishing off the stern of the boat. Others include six StabiX alloy cleats, wing style coamings, U-DEK flooring and coamings, HDPE heavy duty coaming fenders and a total of 22 various rod holders.
Needless to say, when looking at the exterior, it is impossible to ignore the Anura Amphibious
System. All Anura Systems (currently six of them) are engineered for intuitive operation and smooth transitions while maintaining the craft’s original handling characteristics, both on water and on land. The Anura Systems are available in both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH) configurations. “DA’S BOY’ is fitted with the petrol 40HP V TWIN Briggs & Stratton ICE engine.
Overall, the military/quasi commercial grade design of this StabiX, coupled with a 300 horsepower Mercury outboard and Anura wheel system makes this one of the most versatile boats in the world. Military look – means business!
That’s basically the outside, but what about the inside?
THE INTERIOR AND COCKPIT:
My initial impression was one of security without feeling cramped. There is a lot going on in the cabin and cockpit of the 240UCC, but you get the impression that everything on board is there for a reason and that there are few frills. While Julian has fitted quite a few extras, particular to his needs, such as the Garmin GMR Fantom 18” Radar, Garmin SS175L/HW through hull 1 kw transducer, 50W Flexi Solar Panel and Sionyx low light camera, the rest of the fittings are pretty much standard StabiX 240UCC items, including ViewTech Bow Camera linked to the Garmin HDS Display. Notables are the twin stern bilge pumps, port side push button overboard hand wash, 60L live bait tank in portside coaming, heavy duty towing eye, dual drawer transom bait station which also houses the Anura ICE unit, and the list goes on. As mentioned previously, there is an abundance of rod holders conveniently located and easy to reach, along with two 360° swivel holders on the U-DEK covered gunwale coamings, which match the ‘teak like’ look of the cockpit floor and foredeck.
The forward, twin berth cabin with a removeable centre squab is roomy enough to sleep two adults comfortably. When the sectional squabs are flipped up while voyaging, they help contain items up forward while providing ample foot and leg room for driver and passenger sitting in the extremely comfortable, Scandinavian Seat Suspension chairs. Under the port seat, is located a Dometic Fridge and drawer. Behind both chairs are aft facing passenger seats. Storage abounds, both under the cabin sole and alongside and beneath the port and starboard gunwales.
The helm station is well thought out both ergonomically and aesthetically, with a comfortable driving position, helped by the seat’s flip up bolster providing back support should you wish to drive the boat standing. The helm itself, as well as the controls for the outboard and Anura System, is intuitively functional and I found everything very easy to quickly learn about and use.
The only thing I personally found odd was the lack of a toilet of any sort. When I asked Julian about this, he told me that he felt one was unnecessary and that, from his experience, they smelt. Although there is room and a space for a toilet up forward, currently this area is being used for storage. After a bit of discussion, I mentioned to Julian that if he ever felt the need to install a toilet, he could easily fit a “Porta-Potty” type unit in the available space. But for now, it’s ‘bucket and chuck it’.
PERFORMANCE:
With years of “Stabi” experience to draw on, you are safe to assume that a StabiX is going to exhibit equal to or better performance. And, on test day, such was the case. Stability and strength were my first two impressions. Stability is a given when your brand name begins with ‘Stabi’. Strength is expected from this renowned boat builder. So, at this stage, I’m not going to bore you with a lot of hyperbole about the 240UCC’s performance but simply state that this craft lived up to and/or exceeded what I expected from it, with the ZipWake Trim Tabs and the outboard integrated steering providing easy trim and control of the craft.
This amphibious craft accomplishes exactly how it was designed and built to perform: Fiercely!
CONCLUSION:
2025 marks 38 years since Stabicraft pioneered aluminium chambered boats that focus on both form and function. They have maintained their position as market innovators and leaders, designing for the end-user and delivering a safe, strong, high- performing solution for recreational boating. ‘Stabi’s’, as they are affectionately known, are to be found in waters worldwide, adventuring with confidence. By extension, StabiX shares a similar passionate and dedicated world-wide staff, with a global dealership presence in New Zealand, Australia and North America.
With a small but highly experienced New Zealand team of 14, boasting an average of 15 years each in the marine industry, StabiX delivers an unmatched level of craftsmanship and collaboration. Their agility as a small team means that they are able to embrace special requests and bring truly personalised builds to life. Feedback matters, and StabiX takes pride in turning ideas into action. Each StabiX boat reflects its owner’s vision, with personalised fit-out options that make every build special and unique.
The focus on function has crafted the distinct “Stabi” design style known today – sharp, defiant lines that scream adventure. While by no means conventional, the style is certainly unique, almost ‘military like’ in its aggressive, and tough appearance. Enough said!
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 7.31m
Beam 2.55m
Deadrise 17 Degrees
Height on wheels 3.01m
Hull & Deck 6mm & 4mm
Maximum HP 350
Fuel Capacity 300L
Dry Hull Weight 2600kg
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/NM RANGE
1000 4.2 1.0 300
2000 6.85 1.6 187.5
3000 10.4 2.15 139.5
4000 20.5 1.58 190
5000 28.2 1.86 161
6000 35.8 2.53 118.5
