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For those with holiday or retirement homes in many parts of New Zealand, shallow water access has been something of an ongoing problem. In some places, developers or councils have built marinas or deep access waterways so those with larger boats can moor them close to home.
In other places, owners have had to settle for trailer boats or keep their larger boat some (often quite considerable) distance away.
Even in those places where it is possible to moor the boat "out front" or close by, access in and out is often governed by the tides. This can lead to the frustrating situation where, when the day is fine, the tide is wrong and when the tide is right, the weather is wrong.
The team at Adventure Bay Motoryachts believe they have the ideal solution: their new 14.6m 4800 Express will feature twin Hamilton Waterjets and draw just 700mm.
According to Adventure Bay's managing director, John Winter, one of these shallow draft cruisers has already been ordered and will be arriving in New Zealand in the next few weeks.
"This classic express picnic boat with its tiny 2ft draft will allow all-tide boating in coastal canal-resorts like Pauanui with its shallow Tairua River access," he says. "The boat will be powered by twin 575hp D9 Volvos running through Christchurch's world-acclaimed Hamilton Waterjets with their Blue Arrow controls."
Winter says the new boat will be "the easiest boat in the world to dock" thanks to the Blue Arrow "Mouse Boat" docking system.
"These waterjets give sports car performance, turn tighter than IPS drives and there are no propellers and legs to damage if contact with the hard stuff does happen," he says.
"This Blue Arrow control is an un-sung Kiwi innovation. As a boat dealer, I would rate it higher than any other drive system for consumer benefits: using these units, with just two minutes training, a 10-year-old will be able to park our 48 footer!"
The new Adventure Bay 4800 Express is based on the company's Activa hull and is being built in E-glass composite. It will also feature a number of new innovations, including a wide sliding sunroof across the saloon, designed to create a "convertible" feeling.
The cruiser also has a quite different layout with the full beam master cabin sited amidships.
"Not only does this create a huge, spacious cabin," says Winter, "it also ensures a quiet night's sleep, with no more anchor chain rattling or chine slap to disturb the night.
"Anchor noise and all-night chine slap is a common problem when sleeping in the bow on fast boats and, by placing the master cabin amidships, we have removed this annoyance."
Winter also says that, by using the full beam of the boat for the cabin and by placing windows on either side, the master cabin has a very roomy feel."
"There's even a desk/make-up area with a view out to sea; this is a very roomy and quiet cabin with a big boat feel, in only a 50 footer."
In total, the 14.6 LOA cruiser has accommodation for nine, although three of these are in the saloon. The queen master cabin has an en suite and there is a double and two singles up for'ard, together with a second head.
The "pass through" galley is at the rear of the saloon and the raised internal dinette and adjacent helm station ensure good visibility both at rest and while under way.
Winter says the new "social" cockpit layout has been extensively thought out. "This is the great Kiwi entertainer's dream," he says. "There is built in seating and a generous dinette, a barbecue/wet bar area and a great swim platform that is perfect for fishing."
Winter also sees advantages from the waterjet drives beyond access to shallow, tidal waters.
"Imagine picnics where you can drop guests off on the beach in knee-deep water," he says. "Imagine anchoring for the night in the calm shallows where all the rest can't get to. "Imagine, no rolling and swinging into boats in the crowded deep-water part of the bay."
