Power Boating Guide

Power boating presents the definitive in instant getaways. Hop in your powerboat, turn the key and push the throttle, and you're effortlessly cruising the waterways. You can explore it in a pleasure boat, play on it with a waterskiing and wakeboarding boat, rocket across it in a high-performance boat, catch Blue Marlin, and pamper yourself on it in a yacht or splash your way to fun and excitement on a personal watercraft or jet boat. Whatever your pleasure, there is a powerboat and power boating activity waiting for you.

Sports/Speed Boating

Sports boating is recreational, weekend powerboating, usually for a single day but not excluding overnight stays. Common pleasure boating activities include diving, cruising, touring, towing for recreational watersports such as tubing and basic waterskiing/wakeboarding and casual fishing. Pleasure boat styles include runabouts with small cabins or open-bow areas, deck boats and small cruisers. Typical powered by outboard motors in the 20hp to 100hp and fall in the $1,000 - $60,000 price range. Look at some Maxum boats as an example

Fishing Boats

A New Zealand national pastime needs a boat to suite its needs, fishing boats tend be built for durability over luxury and are equipped with all the electronics you could need to find that elusive shoal of fish. These boats are often aluminum hulled pontoons, great for getting out and doing some deep sea or costal fishing. You will look to spend around $30 000 to $60 000 for a decent fishing powerboat with 100hp – 200hp. Look at some Ramco boats here as an example

Cruising / Touring Boats

The ultimate in power boating, yachting involves offshore or inland cruising, often for extended trips, entertaining and even living aboard large vessels with multiple cabins and deluxe accommodations. These are the ultimate in luxury and features and make great platforms for extended diving tours. Look to spend from $30,000 to $200,000 for the luxury of having a home away from home. Look at some Bayliner boats here as an example

High Performance

High-performance boating involves boats most often capable of running 100 kmp/h or more. Activities include high-speed offshore cruising, rallies and offshore racing. Found on inland and offshore waterways, high-performance boats include V-bottoms, stepped V-bottoms and catamarans. These are normally specialized craft and require a high degree of skill and technical knowledge to use, look to spend six figures. You could always look at Jet boating for cheaper thrills.

Skiing/Wakeboarding

Skiing and wakeboarding boats are made to tow a water-skier on one or two skis or a rider on a wakeboard. Dedicated ski boats generally create low, flat wakes, which are ideal for skiing, and dedicated wakeboard boats create large, steep wakes, which are ideal for boarding. Ski and wakeboard boats are generally offered with direct-drive or V-drive engines. Decent boats will run you at least $20,000 and more for specialized models. Jetskis can be used for towing and are somewhat more reasonable but less versatile.