KEY POINTS:
Aucklander David Smith is a man with a passion for multihull boats. So much so that he has organised the 2007 New Zealand Multihull Boat Show.
There will be more than $10 million worth of state-of-the-art multihulls on show at the Viaduct Harbour next Sunday, February 18.
The boats range from big cruising cats to small sleek racers using two hulls or three.
The show runs from 9am to 4pm on piers 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17, and it is free.
Smith says the aim is simple. "We want to get our message through to those sailors convinced that one hull is sufficient, by demonstrating the switch from single to multihull boating has heaps of advantages they can experience."
He believes the show will attract interest from across the marine spectrum, showing powerboaters an alternative and giving those who just want to sail fast an idea of what is available.
As well as doing the marine equivalent of tyre-kicking, visitors to the show will be able to talk to some of the top designers in the business. Also there will be plenty of New Zealand Multihull Club members who are of the same mindset as Smith and are keen to talk up the different craft on show.
For those not into sailing but still keen on speed, room and stability, there will be some big power cats in the water, including the new Voyager from Australia which comes with a price tag of $59,000 (plus GST).
Smith again: "Gone are the ugly boxes of yesteryear. The new generation power cats are sleek, extremely seaworthy and also economical."
Designers at the show to talk about their creations include Schionning and Seawind from Australia and leading New Zealanders Malcolm Tenant, Derek Kelsall, Roger Hill and Tim Clissold.
Tennant has an international reputation and is best-known here as designer of the Great Barrier Express. Kelsall goes back to the beginning of multihull sailing in this country. Hill is well-known as the designer of sailing and power catamarans and Clissold designed X-Factor and many other innovative craft.
The boats on display include the 17.5 Barker catamaran Sundreamer; McMoggy, by Schionning, a bridge cat which won the Coastal Classic with the crew having a barbecue; the 15m tri Impreza; the fast new 10m Catabatic; the 10m Tennant-designed Manic; Tigre, a new 8.5m from Given; Penelope, a new 8.5m by Clissold; sisterships Tarantella and Wizzard, also Clissold designs; a new Fusion 40 bridge deck cat available in kitset or sail away; the 9m racer Exodus; Isis a luxury charter cat and Helvetica, a F31 folding trimaran designed by US-based New Zealander Ian Farrier which has had a $100,000 refit.
Boatbuilders taking part in the open day include Denis Bettany with his new Fusion bridge decker, Eric Knight from Whangarei with a 10m displacement Prowler cat which cruises at 17 to 19 knots powered by two 60hp outboards and Kelvin Travers with his range of custom composite cats.
Suppliers supporting the exercise include Nordic Marketing which imports hardware from Selden Mast/Furlex and Rutgerson Marin from Sweden and Andersen Winches from Denmark. Also there will be ATL Composites, a leading supplier of epoxy resins to the New Zealand marketplace.
A reminder from Smith: There is a no-shoes policy for boat visitors. The show is organised by club volunteers who will run a sausage sizzle, so don't bring lunch.
