Whakatane’s Extreme Boats took out the coveted Boat of the Show Supreme Award with its 645 Centre Console at this year’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. The company was also awarded top spot in the Specialist Fishing Boat up to 7m category, while its 745 Walk Around received the gong for the Specialist Fishing Boat up to 8m.

Boat of the show Supreme Winner and Specialist Fishing Boat up to 7m
Extreme 645 Centre Console

Boat of the show Launch Winner Admiral 10m Sports Cruiser

Other award winners were a mix of traditional, first-timers, imported and local vessels. Hamilton-based Admiral Boats, for example, was triumphant in the Boat of the Show: Launch category, with its stylish Admiral 10m Sport Cruiser, while the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 795 Series 2 received the All-purpose Family Boat up to 8m award.

Boat of the show All Purpose Family Boat up to 8m Merry Fisher 795 Series 2

As always, competition was fierce in all divisions – but more so this year given the record number of new entrants from alloy boatbuilders. First-time exhibitor, Machina came away with the Boat of the Show: All Purpose Family Boat up to 6m, with its Machina 551. Whangarei’s Offshore Boats took the Boat of the Show: All Purpose Family Boat up to 7m for its very stylish Offshore 650 Hard Top.

Purecraft’s 800 HT took the honours in the All-purpose Family Boat Open section, with Best New Model going to the Innovision 707 Explorer. Innovision made it two from two with its 585 Explorer taking out the Specialist Fishing Boat up to 6m.

In the Altus Innovation awards, the CTEK CS Free was judged best in the International section, with the local honours going to BEP for its Smart Battery Hub.

Steve McLay, builder of McLay Boats was the 2021 Hall of Fame inductee – and well-deserved too.

           
Boat of the show Specialist Fishing Boat up to 6m Innovision 585 Explorer (left)
Boat of the show Specialist Fishing Boat up to 8m Extreme 745 Walk Around (right)

           
Boat of the show All Purpose Family Boat up to 6m Machina 551 (left)
Boat of the show All Purpose Family Boat up to 7m Offshore 650 Hard Top (right)

           
Boat of the show All Purpose Family Boat Open Purekraft 800HT (left)
Boat of the show Best New Model Innovision 707 Explorer (right)