Owning & Operating

How do I register my boat and get a fishing license?

Boats do not need to be registered in New Zealand. To find details on how to apply for a fishing license click here. For more information on NZ laws regarding Towing & Trailering click here.

What kind of maintenance do I need to perform on my boat?

There are a couple of boat maintenance procedures you will need to perform to make sure your boat stays in shape for many seasons to come. Our boat maintenance section includes everything from outboard motor care, and checklists for review on what to maintain for top performance and reliability.

What is the best place to store my boat?

A key component of recreational boating is the question of where to keep your boat when you’re not using it. Budget, convenience and availability play into the equation and should be part of any boat comparison process and pre-purchase family discussion. There are a couple of options you may want to consider. You won’t find a less-expensive way to keep a boat than storing it on a trailer in your driveway or backyard. Another alternative for smaller boats is rack storage, or dry stacks. A typical rack storage facility keeps your boat in a covered shed filled with trailer-like cradles. For owners of larger boats, and owners of small boats who crave convenience, a marina slip is the best way to go. Find your nearest marina using our marina locator. To find your closest ramp, see our comprehensive ramp locator tool. For a list of boat storage facilities, view our boat storage directory listings

What are the advantages of storing my boat at a marina?

For owners of larger boats, and owners of small boats who crave convenience, a boat marina slip is the best way to go. You drive your family and gear to the marina, load the boat, cast off the lines and go. Rates vary marina to marina, but typically you’ll be charged according to the length of your boat or the length of the slip. Boat marinas often have showers and bathrooms and offer many service options. The best marinas offer connections for electricity, wash down water, telephone, Internet and TV at the dock. Find your nearest marina using our marina locator.

How do I find a marina in my area?

Our boat marina locator has a huge database of information about parking facilities, directions and types of launch ramps. This is a great way to check out what each NZ marina operator has to offer you.

What are the things I need to consider when trailering a boat for the first time?

If you’ve never trailered a boat, there are several things you need to consider. First is the towing capacity of your car, truck or SUV. You can find this information in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Generally, small family sedans under 2000cc engine capacity are not suitable for towing, although a small, aluminium fishing boat may not present a problem provided you have appropriate towing equipment installed on the car. A recommendation as a guide from New Zealand Transport Agency is that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed ¾ of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and then only if the tow vehicle’s brakes are in excellent condition. For more considerations please visit our Towing & Trailering page

For complete guide please visit NZTA’s guide to safe loading and towing for light vehicles

Are you ready to buy a boat?

Visit our Ready to Buy Checklist and answer the questions to find out if you’re ready!

Are New Zealand Boats built to a standard?

Yes, most of NZ’s leading boat builders subscribe to the CPC standard which is administered by the NZ Marine Industry Association and endorsed by New Zealand Coastguard.

What is the CPC programme?

If you’re buying a trailer boat it pays to look for the Compliance Plate Certification Plate (CPC). Most of New Zealand’s leading boat builders subscribe to this building standard which is administered by the NZ Marine Industry Association and endorsed by New Zealand Coastguard.
Only NZ manufactured aluminium or fibreglass boats between 3.5 and 8.5m and built in an approved manufacturing environment may carry a CPC plate. A comprehensive record of compliance is kept for every boat which also undergoes a sea trial. Standards are maintained by regular visits by an independent auditor to each manufacturer. With a CPC you can rest assured you are buying with confidence.

How can I tell if bad weather is on the way?

Weather changes generally come from the west so scan the sky with your weather eye, especially to the west. A sudden drop in temperature and change in the wind (increasing winds and/or seas) often means that a storm is near. If you have a barometer on your boat check it every two to three hours. A rapid drop in pressure means a storm is approaching. Visit our section on Weather and Tides to find reliable marine forecasts. It’s important to remember that a large proportion of accidents involving small vessels are weather related. If in doubt, don’t go out and always check the weather forecast.

If bad weather is coming and I am out on the water how do I prepare?

Firstly, you should always check the weather forecast so that you do not find yourself in this situation. Click here for reliable weather forecasts Follow the procedures below to prepare for bad weather.

Reduce speed and proceed with caution
Make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket
Close all hatches and ports.
Head for the nearest shore that is safe to approach and duck into the lee of land.
Put the bow into the wind and take waves at about a 40-45 degree angle.
Watch for other boats and floating debris.
Pump out bilges and keep dry.
Change to a full fuel tank.
If there is lightning, unplug electrical equipment and keep away from ungrounded metal objects.
Secure loose items that could be tossed about.
Keep everyone low in the boat and near the centreline.

What do I do if I get stuck in bad weather?

Meet with the crew and your guests to explain the situation and reassure them. Make sure that they know what to do, and what not to do, when the extreme weather arrives. Explain such things as keeping low in the boat, not moving around excessively and not going out on deck unless necessary. Give them all an assignment to keep them occupied and keep their minds off the situation.
Determine position of storm, wind direction, speed and estimate time to your location.
Secure all hatches; close all ports and windows. (Keep the water on the outside)
Pump bilges dry and repeat as required. This helps eliminate “free water affect.” (Sloshing of water in the bilge as the boat rolls which can effect stability)
Secure all loose gear above decks and below. Put away small items and lash down larger ones. Anything you want to have when the storm passes must be secured.
Break out life jackets and foul weather gear and exercise your authority as skipper by requiring them to be worn by everyone on board. Do this before the weather gets bad, don’t wait too long.
Ready emergency equipment that you may need such as hand pumps, bailers, first aide kit, sound signalling device, etc.
Get a good fix of your position and plot it on your chart. Make note of the time, your heading and speed.
Make plans to alter course to sheltered waters if possible.
Continue to monitor channel 16 on your VHF radio for updates to severe forecasts.
For extremely severe weather, break out your abandon ship procedures and review them.
Make sure the life raft is ready to be deployed.
Make sure emergency food and water are in the life raft.
Rig jack lines and/or lifelines and require anyone who must go on deck to wear a safety harness.
Make ready your sea anchor or drogue if needed.
Turn on navigation lights.
Keep away from metal objects.
Change to a full fuel tank if possible.
Keep a sharp lookout for floating debris and other boats.
If you have a choice, do not operate the boat from the flybridge.

What about being environmentally responsible?

For information on clean and green boating click here.

What tips can you offer to reduce my fuel consumption?

Slower speeds on the water will reduce fuel consumption
The proper use of trim tabs reduce drag, especially while accelerating up to planing speeds.
Minimize the amount of time that you idle at the dock.
Minimize the use of onboard generators.
Use dock-side electrical power in lieu of generators.
Have a float plan so you know exactly where you’re going.
Make sure the hull is clean.
Don’t under-power your boat. It’s important you have enough motor to handle the load.
Check your propeller. If your boat is slow “out of the hole” or lacks top-end speed, you might have the wrong propeller.
A well-tuned engine uses less fuel.
Use the grade of gasoline specified by the engine manufacturer.

For more tips on how to protect our marine environment, see our section on clean green boating.