Fish out of water at boat show

The Piper Sport plane was a popular addition to more orthodox exhibits at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. Photo / Sarah Ivey

It may have looked like a fish out of water, but the talk of Auckland's annual Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show was an aircraft.

Of more than 30,000 people who attended the four-day show at the ASB Showgrounds, many had their eyes on a nifty little Piper Sport plane exhibited next to a range of MasterCraft leisure boats.

Anton Meier of Hamilton-based Aerosport Aviation, the New Zealand agent for both Piper and MasterCraft, said the plane was a natural fit for a boat show.

"It has a propeller and a rudder, and it goes over water," he said, although one or two wags had asked where they could put their fishing rod holders.

He said that at $169,000 plus GST, the Piper was evidence that aviation had become a lot more affordable.

"What used to be completely out of reach for people is now in the same category as a nice boat or car."

Mr Meier said he had been flat out answering show inquiries, including boat owners considering buying a Piper to commute between Auckland and coastal resorts on Coromandel's east coast.

For $20 in fuel, they could fly the distance in half an hour, instead of taking four hours in a car.

Although the aircraft has yet to be fitted with floats to land in the water, he hoped these would be developed once the Piper company completed a company takeover.