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It may not have been the flashest boat at the boat show, but a lot of boaties are "downsizing" at the moment, reckons Zego sports boat builder Grant Greenbury.
Tucked in between the super yachts at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, the 3m Zego was winning more than its fair share of attention at the final day of the International Boat Show yesterday.
Mr Greenbury began building and selling the boats at Waipu 10 years ago, but has become more serious in the past couple of years.
The Zego reaches a top speed of 60km/h and can be used for activities including fishing, surf-riding and diving. The price is about $14,000.
"Compared with some of the boats here, it's an affordable way to get on to the water and a lot of people are downsizing these days so they don't have to worry about maintenance and a crew," Greenbury said.
The boat show has attracted more than 20,000 visitors for the first time, with an estimated $100 million changing hands.
And judging by some of the equipment on display, some people are not content with just the boat - they need all the accessories. Boaties could buy a portable jetty from one company while another, Air Berth, was selling a hydraulic system to lift a boat out of the water for storage.
"Basically, it's a dry dock system," said Paul Johnson from Air Berth. "It lifts the boat out of the water in 90 seconds. Come back a year later and it's still there. You might say it's perfect for those Aucklanders who buy a boat and never use it."
Peter Busfield, executive director of the Marine Industry Association, said exhibitors had been stunned by the amount of business they had done.
"We've exceeded the number of visitors yet again and when you consider there's no candy floss or kid's rides - it's all about the boats - then we're doing something right."
