New Zealand Small Ship Cruises

New Zealand cruise ships seen from an aerial view sailing in the water among bright green islands with rocky shores.

The Best Way to Cruise New Zealand

The island nation of New Zealand, with endless bays, fjords and coastline, is perfectly suited to exploration by small ship. See more of this unforgettable land than the average traveler while aboard a New Zealand small ship cruise. Expedition ships carrying around 100 guests include your guides, gear and activities. Flexible routes allow for optimal wildlife encounters, and naturalist guides ensure you’re getting the most of every minute. Can’t decide which island to see? Cruise them both. It’s efficient & you’ll unpack just once as your captain sails you efficiently to each location.

We offer the largest selection of New Zealand small ship cruises available. Find popular routes such as Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Doubtful Sound, Bay of Islands and Napier, all done with the special twist of ease and adventure that’s a hallmark of adventure cruising. Look for our New Zealand cruises aboard everything from high-tech expedition ships to more intimate vessels that are off the radar of most travelers. Soak up vast scenery, legendary hospitality and unique Maori culture while exploring the adventure capital of the world on a small ship cruise around New Zealand.

On a 13-day cruise aboard 120-guest Coral Adventurer, explore New Zealand's eastern and southern coastline, accessing remote sounds, volcanic islands and marine reserves, including Stewart Island. A 9-day itinerary focuses entirely on New Zealand's South Island sounds and fiords.

Cruise New Zealand's verdant coastline on 102-guest Nat Geo Orion for Maori history and culture, celebrated wines, pristine beaches, ancient rainforest and jaw-dropping fjords.

Follow in the wake of Captain Cook on this cruise between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. Board 102-guest Nat Geo Orion for an itinerary full of native cultures, historic sites and stunning nature.

Come aboard 154-guest Douglas Mawson to discover the rugged beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Subantarctic Islands. Travel through a seabird- and penguin-rich zone with special forests, sea-lion-inhabited beaches, and glacier-carved Fiordland.

Experience one of the most historic sectors of the deep polar South in comfort on this exploratory expedition aboard the Douglas Mawson. Sail from Hobart to Dunedin with visits along the Subantarctic Islands plus remote Western or Eastern Antarctica.

A man stands alone on the bow of a small New Zealand cruise ship seen with green trees and mirrored water

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Cruises to New Zealand with AdventureSmith

Ready to experience the near-tangible magic of these incredible islands? AdventureSmith Explorations offers the largest selection of New Zealand small ship cruises. Let our experienced team guide you to best plan, book and enjoy your New Zealand cruise. Why book with us?

Personalized Service

Work with one dedicated U.S.-based specialist to purchase & prepare for your New Zealand cruise.

Authentically Small

Truly small. All our ships are under 150 guests for the ultimate access & off-ship adventure.

Trusted Cruise Experts

Our relationships with reputable ship operators result in tried & trusted New Zealand cruises.

Active, Guided Itineraries

Our New Zealand cruises include guided hiking, skiff rides, kayaking & township visits.

a bright red Maori mask depicting a face with black paint

New Zealand Cruises 2024 & 2025

The New Zealand cruise experience in 2024 & 2025 feels like stepping back in time to a less-visited Aoteoroa. Explore remote shorelines roads can’t reach. And enjoy the famed hospitality of local Kiwis who love welcoming travelers to their unique islands and pristine landscapes.

Aboard small ship New Zealand cruises, small group sizes and onboard guides ensure personalized attention, while flexible schedules enhance opportunities for wildlife viewing, learning about the Maori culture and natural interaction with locals.

If you want to see New Zealand, there’s no better way than by small ship.

Exclusive Access, Unique Wildlife

Sail aboard a ship and you’ll see why the local Maori called New Zealand the “land of the long white cloud.” White clouds often hang over the dramatic mountain ranges, and there’s no better view than at being at sea. Diverse landscapes ranging from alpine mountains and sandy beaches to subtropical forests mean travelers never tire of views from the ship’s bow.

Hike along famous tracks, kayak in calm scenic fjords and reach remote offshore islands full of wildlife. Don’t miss the famed kiwi bird, the mischievous alpine parrot, the kea, or the multiple species of penguins.

green kea bird seen among green hillsides on a new zealand cruise

Cruises Around New Zealand Only

Focus just on this island nation with our selection of New Zealand only cruises. A New Zealand South Island cruise with AdventureSmith visits not only the iconic Milford Sound, but the more remote reaches of the greater Fiordland National Park. Quickly leave the day boats behind to explore New Zealand fjords and coastlines in true AdventureSmith style—away from ports and into the wilderness.

To go farther on a New Zealand South Island cruise, look for Stewart Island, Dunedin and even Abel Tasman on your route. On the North Island, highlights include the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Gisborne and Napier, among many other lesser-known coastline gems. Many of our islands combine both islands into comprehensive east coast explorations. And luxury New Zealand cruises can offer exclusive experiences like helicopter flightseeing.

Include Antarctica

Another unique way of cruising New Zealand is to embark or disembark here on an Antarctica cruise itinerary. You’ll explore a far less visited region of Antarctica including the Ross Sea and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Islands like the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. On these routes you’ll spend way more time below the Polar Circle than an average Antarctica itinerary as well as be able to continue your travels in New Zealand. New Zealand Antarctica cruises embark from either Dunedin or Bluff, the country’s “most southerly” town.

When Should You Cruise New Zealand?

The most popular time to cruise New Zealand is during November through April, when temperatures are warmer and rainfall is less. Since New Zealand is an island in the South Pacific, with miles of ocean in every direction, a maritime climate prevails bringing warm summer months (Dec-March) and mild winters.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

New Zealand Cruise Ships

New Zealand small ship cruises provide travelers an expedition that is simply incomparable to travel by land or on larger vessels. AdventureSmith has New Zealand’s largest selection of small ships offering cruises to New Zealand. From family-friendly and educational to activity-focused ships, there is something for everyone, it just depends on how you want to experience New Zealand by ship.

We reserve only the best ships, providing unparalleled access to remote wilderness areas as well as the highest level of safety and comfort. Enjoy active exploration on naturalist-led shore hikes, skiff excursions, glass-bottom boat rides, sea kayaking and even snorkeling and fishing on select small ship cruises around New Zealand. Our New Zealand cruise experts will work with you to find the perfect boat for your interests.

The 120-guest Coral Adventurer Australian expedition ship offers a wine cellar, open galley, private balconies and efficient ship-to-shore operations.

102-guest National Geographic Orion is one of the most sophisticated vessel in its class. Small ship cruises aboard the Orion offer a luxurious exploration of Chile, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

Book onto this brand new expedition ship—launching in 2025—to enjoy adventure-ready, sustainable, comfortable and cutting-edge design. Expect skilled and knowledgeable guides who share the same passion for exploration as the ship's namesake.

New Zealand Cruise Deals

For budget-conscious travelers, sticking to cruises around New Zealand only will keep costs lower due to shorter itineraries. But value can be found on longer routes as well. We can help you find the latest discounts, explain the ins-and-outs of the landscape and help you secure a cruise to Zealand at the best rate. We recommend that you plan ahead to take advantage of early-booking discounts, but we’re here to help those researching last-minute New Zealand cruises save as well. Our team can help you narrow down all the New Zealand cruise deals and identify which itinerary is the best fit for you. Let us help you plan right from the start so that you get the best discount to fit your ideal cruise.

Save up to 25% per person when you book your select 2025-2026 Australia or New Zealand cruise.

Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more on a variety of 2024 or 2025 National Geographic expeditions worldwide.

Save up to 25% per person when you book your select 2025-26 season departure of the below-linked Australia and New Zealand cruises aboard Douglas Mawson.

Offer valid on new bookings only, subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers. See all Antarctica cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures.

  • Subantarctic Discovery Cruise
  • Coastal Tasmania: Untamed Wilderness

Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more on select 2024 and 2025 departures of the below-linked National Geographic expeditions.

Offer valid on new bookings only, for a limited time upon availability and may be combined with other select offers. Applicable on voyage fares only, not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from the standard policy. See all  small ship cruise deals  for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures.

  • Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness
  • Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia
  • Prince William Sound Cruise & Rail Adventure
  • Great Bear Rainforest Cruise: The Land of the Spirit Bear
  • A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii
  • Wild Alaska Escape: Juneau & Ketchikan
  • Wild Alaska Escape: Sitka & Juneau
  • Northwest Passage: Greenland to Alaska
  • High Arctic Archipelago: Canada & Greenland
  • Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands & Iceland
  • Norway’s Fjords & Arctic Svalbard
  • Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard & The Northern Fjords Cruise
  • National Geographic Land of the Ice Bears
  • Svalbard in Spring: Polar Bears, Arctic Light & Epic Ice
  • South Greenland Exploration Cruise: Fjords, Waterfalls & Fishing Villages
  • Svalbard, Iceland & Greenland’s East Coast Cruise
  • A Circumnavigation of Iceland
  • Wild Iceland Escape
  • Iceland & Greenland: Edge of the Arctic Cruise
  • Iceland’s Wild West Coast to East Greenland Cruise
  • Baja California: Among The Great Whales
  • Baja California: A Remarkable Journey
  • Baja California Discovery: Exploring Mexico’s Gulf of California
  • A Southern Migration: From The Channel Islands to Baja California
  • Wild California Escape: Channel Islands National Park
  • Baja California Holiday Voyage: A Living Sea & Desert Isles
  • The Canadian Maritimes & Newfoundland
  • Fabled Lands of the North: Greenland to Newfoundland
  • Panama & Colombia: Exploring The Caribbean Coast
  • Sailing the Caribbean Aboard Sea Cloud
  • National Geographic Exploring Galapagos: One Week Sailing the Islands
  • National Geographic Galapagos by Catamaran: An Intimate Voyage
  • National Geographic Wild Galapagos Escape Cruise
  • Best of Chilean Patagonia: Fjords, Glaciers & Torres del Paine
  • Patagonia: Chilean Fjords & Argentina’s Staten Island
  • Southern Patagonia: Glaciers, Fjords & Wildlife Cruise
  • Costa Rica & The Panama Canal
  • Croatia Under Sail: Dubrovnik, Split & Zadar Aboard the Sea Cloud Fleet
  • Mediterranean Gems: Southern Italy & Sicily Aboard Sea Cloud
  • Sailing the Greek Isles Aboard Sea Cloud
  • Under Sail: Greece & The Dalmatian Coast Aboard Sea Cloud
  • Scotland’s Highlands & Islands
  • Ancient Polynesia: Tuamotu & Marquesas Islands Cruise
  • Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring The Society & Tuamotu Islands
  • Rites & Relics: Fiji Firewalking, Vanuatu Volcanoes & Beyond
  • Fiji & Tahiti Adventure: Vibrant Reefs & Cultural History
  • Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine & History
  • Exploring British Columbia & The San Juan Islands
  • National Geographic Upper Amazon Cruise
  • Vietnam & Cambodia: Along the Mekong River, Including Angkor & Saigon
  • Exploring Costa Rica’s National Parks & Preserves: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa & Rincon de la Vieja
  • National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia & The Falklands
  • National Geographic The White Continent
  • National Geographic South Georgia & The Falklands
  • Antarctica & Patagonia: Legendary Ice & Epic Fjords
  • Coastal New Zealand: Scenic Fjords, Māori History & Abundant Wildlife
  • Southern Odyssey: New Zealand & The Sub-Antarctic Islands
  • Roots of the Pacific: Exploring New Zealand & Melanesia
  • Exploring Indonesia: Bali, Raja Ampat & Papua New Guinea
  • Jewels of The Java Sea: An Exploration Between Bali & Singapore

Cruises to New Zealand & Its Neighbors

Need assistance narrowing down the New Zealand cruises? Want to explore more of the Pacific Islands or neighboring Australia and Antarctica by small ship? Seeking a luxury cruise to New Zealand fjords? Or New Zealand cruise packages that do it all? Our experts are just a phone call or email away to assist. Contact us to receive a personalized recommendation on the best New Zealand cruises for your travel style, budget and timing needs. Still want to research yourself? Filter through all the itineraries by region or destination on our Trip Finder .

Contact Us - New Zealand Small Ship Cruises

Travel is best planned one-on-one, and we’re here to help you with your specific needs.

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Whether you are searching for a top quality open dingy, a centre console or a cuddy cab then Smartwave Boats have the right boat for you. Smartwave’s unique design profiles and double skin construction are world renowned for their stability, when moving or stationary, and they’re incredibly quiet running.

For fishing, water-skiing or just getting out on the water – you deserve a Smartwave.

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Huia is possibly one of the best know examples of a traditional Carvel constructed timber vessel by one of New Zealand's best yacht designers. Athol Burns designed strong sea worthy vessels with a reputation second to none. Her current owner…

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Affinity has been operating as a charter boat business for more than 30 years within the Marlborough Sound and down into Fiordland during the winter seasons, and is being sold including her Fiordland Doc Concession. She can accommodate twenty overnight…

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Designed and crafted by the renown Bob Salthouse in kauri Lady Allison has benefitted from a series of caring owners over the years.  With upgraded systems and only 530 hours since rebuild on the reputable D Series 6 cylinder Ford,…

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Two of these attractive grp launches were built by Spencer Marine- this is the builder’s own boat.  With a very well-appointed interior, late model electronics and three double cabins, “Yogi” is a comfortable, spacious and economical cruiser.  Proven in West…

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With sales pending across a number of our launch, yacht and commercial listings we seek additional vessels to sell. If there are two signs you want on your vessel  FOR SALE and SOLD please either call Garry Phillips on 027 548 0253 or one of our Brokers in Wellington , Picton , Nelson or Christchurch to list your boat with Nelson’s Largest Boat Brokerage NZ BOAT SALES

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We are proud to offer a comprehensive, world renowned range of catamarans and monohulls to the NZ Market. Brands include Seawind, Corsair Trimarans, Allures, Sunpower, Alva, Longreach, SeaKing and Garcia along with Maritimo Motoryachts in the South Island of NZ – in conjunction with The Motor Yacht Centre.

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Experience Milford Sound / Piopiotahi up close and personal

Our small group tours offer the most intimate wildlife and scenery experience, with custom built boats designed for an immersive viewing experience., see this captivating part of new zealand from the water, air, road or milford track., the best way to see the magnificent milford sound ____________.


Cruise

NZ$145

Our 2-hour cruise takes in the best of Milford Sound and beyond, sailing out into the breathtaking Tasman Sea. Our boats are purpose-built for navigating near the shoreline to get you as close as possible to your incredible surroundings. Plus, with room on board for no more than 75 and spacious open deck viewing, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views when wildlife such as seals, rare Fiordland crested penguins or pods of dolphins when they make an appearance.

Along the journey, our informative guides point out Milford Sound’s scenic highlights, such as Lady Bowen Falls (dropping 160 meters down to the sea), Sinbad Gully (a classic example of a hanging valley). Snowcapped Mount Pembroke, and the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak itself, towering 1692 meters above sea level.

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Escape the crowds and experience the beauty of Milford Sound in its true isolation and grandeur with this two-hour cruise. Spot wildlife like seals and dolphins!

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Milford Sound Cruise & Milford Track

Walk part of the Milford Track and take a 2-hour cruise – a way to see both the ‘finest walk in the world’ and enjoy the fiord from sea level, including the picturesque Mitre Peak.

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Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Flight

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Discover the beauty of the area from unforgettable perspectives – the waters of Milford Sound, and from the air on a scenic helicopter flight over the Fiordland National Park.

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Discover the beauty of the area from three unforgettable perspectives – Milford Road, the waters of Milford Sound, and in the air on a scenic flight over the Fiordland National Park.

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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise & Walk from Te Anau

Experience one of the world’s finest alpine drives to Milford Sound in a small group tour, including scenic stops, walks and guided nature commentary, followed by a stunning 2-hour cruise.

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Milford Sound Coach & Cruise from Queenstown

Take a day trip from Queenstown on one of the world’s finest alpine drives to Milford Sound in a small group tour, including scenic stops and guided commentary, followed by a stunning 2-hour cruise.

Why choose Mitre Peak Cruises? ____________

SEE IT FROM EVERY PERSPECTIVE We offer four unbeatable ways to discover the beauty of one of the worlds most scenic locations: via the Milford Road on a scenic coach tour there and back, from the air either in a plane or helicopter, walking the Milford Track, or from the water on our famous cruises. (Please note, different packages area available out of different locations.)

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Milford Sound's Premiere Tour Company ____________

a very dark water

"Absolutely loved the tour and the driver was super knowledgeable. Podge gave us enough time to take pictures and didn't feel rushed at all. We had amazing weather and everything ran very smoothly and efficient. Great experience and would recommend to anyone."

"The trip to Milford Sound was an amazing experience, not only the destination, but the whole journey, with excellent commentary from our guide on the luxurious coach. Weather forecast was 10 degrees with rain, which I was worried about, but it was still awesome and beautiful, just needed warm clothes. We’re going to try your Mt Cook trip next time we come to Queenstown."

"We had the most amazing time on the cruise. The sights were breathtaking, really cool to be able to get up close to the waterfalls and learn more about the sounds. Crew member Abbey was wonderful. Super friendly and helpful to everyone on board. This was an experience never to be forgotten for sure."

"The cruise was fantastic - helped of course by the scenery and the great, sunny weather. Another plus was the boat size - small enough to feel cozy and not overcrowded with people, allowing the crew to offer a more personalised experience. This leads me to the second highlight: Abby was great, very kind and caring to our kids (7 and 4 years old) - she even brought them a colouring kit to keep them entertained during the journey, when they wanted to sit and eat something."

"We traveled with Trips and Tramps from te anau and we cannot recommend them more highly. We had a fantastic guide in Geoff who was born in manapouri and knew the area extremely well. The trip along the road, thru the homer tunnel and to the sound was well organized and run. The boat trip went in close to the magnificent cliffs of the sound and was small enough that everyone on board got great views of the waterfalls, seals and flora. The waterfalls were impressive. A great day out."

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Starting Small- Buyers Guide to under 4m

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Barry Thompson looks at the smallest trailer boats on the market, their advantages and how you can accessorise them. Plus there’s a listing of over 75 different models up to around 4m from manufacturers both in New Zealand and Australia.                                             

Bigger is not always better – when it comes to boats, anyway. Smaller boats have a lot of advantages over their larger counterparts. Okay, so a bigger boat means more comfort more storage and probably more prestige, but small boats also have several distinct advantages over larger boats.

Small boats are every bit as seaworthy as larger vessels, albeit in the environment they are designed for. In other words, small boats are designed for calm to moderate water conditions and to be used close to shore. While the hull constructions may vary, generally they are all fine, just some are better than others. Aluminium boats for example differ from 1.2mm hull thickness through to 4mm. Heavy bottom sections are certainly strong and stiff, but make the boat heavier. The same size boat with a 2mm hull bottom will be lighter and due to the construction technique in some cases just as stiff. More than the boat, it’s the ability of the skipper that determines whether a vessel survives in rough seas.

Small boats also allow you to access areas that a bigger trailer boat may not be able to enter such as up rivers and close in to coastal areas. A small boat allows you to not only reach fish in remote areas where they are less molested; it also is subtle enough that you are not so apparent when you approach a big fish. It presents much less of a presence in the water because it’s small and light. That means fewer disturbances in the water. Everything has to be right to catch a trophy size snapper, but it begins with being as inconspicuous as possible.”

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Then there is the stowability factor. 3-4m boats even on a trailer don’t take up a lot of space so there is usually a space at home somewhere for them. You don’t need to go to the expense of a braked trailer or fancy road covers. Mega stores such as Supercheap, The Warehouse or FCB all have cheap covers that only require a few bungy cords to hold them in place. Towing is also not an issue as just about any small car with more than a 1.2L engine will be capable of towing your rig. If you are like me and do a lot of beach launching then a small Fergie 28 tractor or a quad bike is all you need.’

One of the advantages of a trailer boat under 4m is they are easy to launch and retrieve. You don’t need a lot of water either way and they are light enough to handle easily on your own.

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Affordability

Boats under 4m are much more affordable, both in the purchase price and the running costs. Today you can buy a 3.5m-4m open ‘dinghy’ on a trailer and complete with a small outboard for under $NZ12000……and cheaper. We recently ran a story on the new FC 390 from Fish City and as a total package, including a 15hp outboard and trailer had a retail of $NZ11995.

Besides the initial price tag, smaller vessels are less expensive to equip than larger boats. Firstly there is the outboard, which depending on the size of your boat will vary from 8hp to around 25hp. We recently ran a series of 30hp outboard tests on the open FC430 and recorded speeds around 45km/h, plenty for a boat of this size. A 3.5-4.0m tinnie, ‘plastic’ or fiberglass boat will suffice with 25hp and speeds around 30-40 km/h should be possible. This gives you enough speed and low down performance to tow the kids on water toys.

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Engine Choice

Even when you run a small outboard flat out, you’re hardly going to make the local gas station owner rich. Max use for a 25hp would be around 9-12L/h for a two-stroke, a 15hp as little as 6-8L/h and a 9.9hp down at 3-5L/h. The question also arises as to whether to go four-stroke or two-stroke, electric start or manual. If you are buying to a price, then I would certainly go for a manual, tiller-steer two-stroke. Four-strokes are still a lot more expensive than two-strokes and while there is no question about the fuel saving and the fact that you are helping to ‘save the planet’ with lower emissions, plus they are quieter, you need to consider if the extra cost is really worth it.

Two-strokes tend to be a lot lighter than 4-strokes so there is a question of portability if you don’t intend leaving the outboard on the transom when the boat’s not in use. What’s nice about some of the really small outboards is that they come with a built-in fuel tank, but for most, a single 25L tote tank is all you need for a day’s boating.

Hugh Stewart, Technical Adviser at Yamaha Marine, says that they have done a lot of research in recent years as to the fuel burn on small engines. Based on their own two-stroke engines, Hugh says that an 8hp will burn a maximum of 3.6L/h, a 9.9hp, 6.9L/h, a 15hp 7.7L/h and a 25hp, 12L/h. That’s all at wide open throttle.

Their study also indicates that given an average day’s boating, with all the highs and lows in the rpm range, an 8hp two-stroke averages about 1.4L/h, the 9.9hp, 2.7L/h, the 15hp, 3.1L/h and the 25hp 4.8L/h. Based on a standard 25L tote tank that’s a lot of boating before you run dry.

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Adding on the Extras

Although you’ve got a small boat, there’s no reason why you can’t run a few extra features to make your boating experience that much better.

Fishfinders – If you are into fishing then there are plenty of really neat and reasonably inexpensive fish finders that are ideal for small boats. You have the choice of either colour or black and white and some, despite their compact size, come with GPS and plotting capability. Most can be bracket mounted which is essential as open boats under 4m don’t come with a dash, unless it’s a centre console model. Depending on your seating layout you can mount them off the side of the hull or even set up the bracket base on the bench seat, as long as it is placed so that you can easily read the display when you’re driving. If you are happy with a small 3-5” – 4” screen size then some options to consider are the Lowrance X4, Garmin Echo 100, Eagle Cuda 300 and the Humminbird 346.

Ice Bin – Another good addition is a small ice bin (esky for Aussies or chillybin for Kiwis) to keep the bait or your catch. Totally portable, they can be stowed anywhere on the boat that’s convenient at the time. When you’re going out on your own they make a good additional forward ballast option to better balance the boat when you’re sitting in the aft corner with a tiller steer outboard. There are plenty of inexpensive units on the market and they also make good cutting boards and handy bait prep stations. Options include Engel, Hi Tech Plastics, Icey Tek, Yeti, Coleman and IceKool.

Seating – Again, this depends on your boat, but if you have the choice I would recommend the twin swivelling seat arrangement as found in the FC390. They’re great if you are into your fishing, especially with two people, and they balance the boat nicely as well. Full width bench seats tend to take up a lot more space than really required, so a couple of bucket seats certainly opens up the working deck area and they’re safer, too, as you can walk around them instead of having to step over them.

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Capstan – You might also be surprised at the capstans that are available for small boats, even those under 4m. As we get older we like our creature comforts and even having a capstan to take the load off bringing the anchor tackle in can be a nice extra to have. Examples are the Kiwi-made Easywinch that weighs just 3.5kg, the Quick Tumbler from Italy, the compact Seawinch and the robust Maxwell Anchormax. The downside is that you will need to carry a small battery to operate the capstan and also find somewhere to put it. As the battery will probably not be connected to the outboard (unless it is electric start), make sure you have it fully charged before you go out as they do drain a lot of battery power when being used.

Your anchor tackle can be quite light and advice from one of New Zealand’s leading anchor tackle suppliers, Chains, Ropes & Anchors, is that as a rough guide your anchor should be 1-1.5 kg of anchor weight to every metre of the boat. A 4m lightweight tinnie should have at least a 4kg anchor and if your boat is heavier, such as the same size but in GRP or polyethylene, then they suggest something heavier, around 6kg. However, if you’re only fishing in shallow water, don’t anchor overnight and don’t anchor in anything over 10 knots of breeze then just about anything will do the job. Grapnels are good for reefs and rocky bottoms, ploughs for sand and mud and a concrete block if you really want to save money!

Rod Holders – Make sure there are plenty already built into the side decks as you don’t want to have them flopping around in the boat. They not only get in the way but they can be easily broken, especially the new soft tip lightweight rods. I saw a 3.5m tinnie recently that had a rocket launcher bolted onto the transom that carried four rods out of the way and yet still within easy reach.

There are also some good glue-on brackets that can be fitted along the side under the gunnel if you have the space.

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Safety Equipment – No matter what size boat you have, you should still have the necessary safety equipment on board. In a boat less than 4m, putting your safety equipment somewhere can sometimes be a problem so look for a sturdy waterproof bag in which to stow the gear. The bag can be taken out of the boat when not required. As a minimum you should have a VHF or cellphone (in a waterproof cover), some flares, a torch and enough life jackets for everyone on board.

If your budget can stretch to it, then a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) should also be on your list. One example is the FastFind 220 GPS PLB from McMurdo, which can be carried either on board or better off in a handy belt pouch.

PLBs sell for around $NZ600 – $NZ700, but may well be the best investment you can make. We hear too many times of people lost at sea in open dinghies or lost overboard and never found.

Stabilisers – One of the issues with small tinnies can be stability at rest. I have myself been in a situation where someone stood up in a 3m tinnie we were fishing from and tipped us over. The results were we lost all our tackle, half a dozen snapper and a tray of ‘cans’. We were fortunate that we were very close to shore and managed to refloat the boat and row home. Fortunately, we did get the cans back later!

Today there are some interesting options to prevent such an occurrence.  One example is the Australian made Airofloat stabilisers, that are inflatable tubes for small boats. These are permanently attached to the side of the hull. Then there is the Kiwi made, rotational moulded plastic Dolphin Aqualiser. These increase the beam of the boat by using a simple add-on device that can be retracted when not in use.

Mounting Brackets – Perhaps one of the more innovative accessories in recent years has been the advent of the universal mounting solution, developed initially in 2007 by Wanaka based Tallon.

Tallon Sockets are strong enough to take loads up to 600kg so there is no chance of that bottle of drink or dive bottle landing on your foot. Based on a simple receiver system you can add just about anything to the boat from simple hooks, drink and rod holders to your fishfinder or GPS.

Railblaza is another Kiwi company that offers a similar product but has based its mounting system on a rail. Both systems work extremely well and hold your small items secure.

You can run your boat really basic, with no frills, or you can ‘bling’ it to the max. Whatever you do, the end result is much the same, it’s just at what comfort level that is.

Check out the listing later in this feature where we have identified over 75 different open dinghies and centre console boats under about 4 metres. There are four fibreglass and seven polyethylene models, and all the rest are aluminium.

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2012 BUYERS GUIDE TO OPEN BOATS UNDER 4M

All measurements are in metres

420 SC4.251.7GRP
4x2SS422.5/2.5 mm
4x2XL423/2.5 mm
3.1 Trooper3.11.723/2.5 mm
3.6 Trooper3.61.723/2.5 mm
3.6 Sport3.91.723/2.5 mm
3003.031.013/2.5 mm
3803.921.733/2.5 mm
3903.91.834/3 mm
103.131.361.6 mm
123.541.521.6 mm
133.851.551.6 mm
385 Dinghy3.851.82.0 mm
144.361.752.0 mm
164.91.742.0 mm
Smartliner 3603.61.521.6 mm
Smartliner 40041.771.6 mm
Smartliner 4504.51.942.0 mm
4104.11.874/3mm
3.43.41.653/2.5 mm
 
44.21.754/3 mm
 
2102.11.3Polyethylene
3403.41.56Polyethylene
340 Sport3.41.56Polyethylene
3703.71.5Polyethylene
3903.91.76Polyethylene
3603.61.823/2.5 mm
C3903.91.923/2.5mm
3.23.21.464/3 mm
3.83.81.63/2.5 mm
380E Osprette41.683/2.5 mm
380S Osprette41.683/2.5 mm
3.0 Tuff Tender31.4Polyethylene
4.10 Challenger4.11.85Polyethylene
250 Explorer2.521.351.60 mm
300 Punt3.11.141.20 mm
310 Dart3.211.411.35 mm
320 Explorer3.241.321.60 mm
340 Cartopper3.511.251.20 mm
350 Dart3.641.491.60 mm
350 Explorer3.581.451.60 mm
360 Punt3.61.141.20 mm
370 Dart3.81.581.60 mm
370 Explorer3.751.51.60 mm
370 Cartopper3.761.451.60 mm
390 Explorer3.851.791.60 mm
400 Dart41.691.60 mm
400 Explorer Trophy4.051.871.60 mm
400 Hornet4.011.732/1.6 mm
400 Hornet Trophy4.011.762/1.6 mm
305 Punt3.051.111.20 mm
310 Water Rat3.211.412.00 mm
345 Jabiru3.481.531.60 mm
355 Gull3.61.481.60 mm
355 Punt3.551.141.20 mm
375 Snipe3.81.581.60 mm
385 Jabiru3.851.732.00 mm
385 Big Boy3.91.852.00 mm
385 Jabiru Pro3.851.732.00 mm
2702.71.652.5/2.0 mm
3603.61.653/2.0 mm
40041.653/2.0 mm
2502.51.25GRP
3103.11.48GRP
3603.651.55GRP
259 Dinghy2.591.453/2.0 mm
349 Dinghy3.491.573./2.5 mm
309 Stinga3,211.411.60 mm
319 Seasprite3.191.391.35 mm
359 Seasprite3.551.451.60 mm
369 Seasprite3.751.621.60 mm
379 Seasprite3.851.751.60 mm
399 Seasprite3.951.751.60 mm
IS 4004.121.793/4 mm
IS CC 4004.121.793/4 mm
2.82.81.452.5/2.5 mm
3.53.51.72.5/2.5 mm
3.83.8 2.5/2.5 mm

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Smugglers cram three times as many people on Channel migrant boats

People smugglers are cramming three times as many Channel migrants into each small boat as they did three years ago, crossing figures reveal.

The arrival on Monday of 206 migrants, packed into three flimsy dinghies, took the total intercepted by Border Force this month to 2,391 people in 44 boats.

That means the average number of migrants per boat in August is 54, compared with below 20 when crossings started to rise steeply in 2021.

In 2022, the record year for arrivals, smugglers placed an average of 41 people in each boat. So far this year, 19,294 migrants have arrived in 372 boats, equivalent to 51 people in each vessel.

Officials have blamed the overcrowding for an apparent increase in deaths not only by migrants drowning but also by being crushed on the overloaded boats. There have been at least 25 deaths in the Channel this year.

The tragedies have raised concerns that people smuggling gangs are taking bigger risks with flimsier and more dangerous dinghies as crackdowns by border agencies and law enforcement have limited their supplies of boats and equipment.

Gangs are fighting over fewer small boats , which has led to rival loads of migrants being allocated to a single dinghy, often made from cheaper materials because of a pan-European crackdown on supplies.

More dinghies, outboard motors and lifebelts are being intercepted by border officials and police because of increased UK-EU co-operation to try to cut off supplies of equipment.

On July 28, a woman died aboard a small boat carrying more than 70 migrants after it got into difficulty crossing the Channel.

The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Premar) described it as evidence of a “new phenomenon” in which people are dying at sea not by drowning but because of illness or a crush. The woman was found unconscious after rescue vessels had transferred people to safety from the boat.

It followed the death of another woman 10 days earlier in an overloaded dinghy carrying 86 migrants.

The migrants at first refused to be helped by the French rescue vessel but, at around 1am the next day, they called for assistance after five people fell into the water.

After they were picked up and rescuers transferred the remaining migrants on to the French navy vessel Cormoran, a woman was discovered unconscious in the dinghy. She was brought on board the Cormoran but attempts to resuscitate her failed.

Crossings up 10pc on last year

The total of migrants crossing so far this year of 19,294 is a 10 per cent increase on the figure recorded over the same period last year, which was 17,620. But it is 10 per cent down on 2022, when 21,344 crossings were recorded in the same period.

The largest number of crossings in a single day since the Labour Government took power was on Aug 11, when 703 people were recorded as arriving in the UK in 11 boats – suggesting an average of 64 people per boat.

The Home Office said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.

“The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit.”

The Home Office is recruiting a Border Security Commander who will work with European partners to target the people-smuggling gangs behind the crossings.

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles - and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.

Migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel last week in Dover after being intercepted on a small boat in the Channel

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Sicily yacht capsize: kiwis on board luxury boat that sank.

This handout frame grab taken and released from a video footage provided by Italian Coastguard, shows a Coast Guard boat with Italian fireboats and an Italian fire brigade helicopter search for six others missing after recovering a victim due to a sailboat sank off the coast of Porticello, nosthwestern of Sicily Island, on August 19, 2024. One person was killed and rescuers were searching for six others missing after a luxury superyacht called "The Bayesian" with 22 people aboard majority of those were British, sank during a sudden storm off the coast of Italy's Sicily, officials said, on August 19, 2024. (Photo by Handout / ITALIAN COASTGUARD / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Italian Coastguard " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

An Italian fire brigade helicopter and Coastguard boats are searching for six people missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Porticello, in Sicily, on August 19, 2024. Photo: AFP / Italian Coastguard

Two New Zealanders were on board a luxury yacht that has sunk off the Sicilian capital Palermo in Italy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says.

One person died and six people are missing.

Ayla Ronald, a New Zealander working in London as a lawyer survived the capsizing, her father Lin Ronald has confirmed.

MFAT has also confirmed a second New Zealander was on board.

However, a spokesperson said there was no reason to believe the New Zealanders are among the missing.

The embassy in Rome was providing consular assistance.

The missing include UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter.

Lin Ronald told RNZ his daughter was alive and well, but shaken.

His daughter has been working in London at one of the UK's top law firms, Clifford Chance.

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He confirmed Wall Street Journal reports she had worked on Lynch's long-running fraud case in the US over the sale of his company to Hewlett Packard.

The yacht trip was to celebrate Lynch's legal win in the wake of serious charges, including fraud.

Regarding the yacht sinking, Lin Ronald said it was "a very unusual very rapid incident which is very sad for all involved".

Mike Lynch and Ayla Ronald

Mike Lynch and Ayla Ronald. Photo: AFP / Clifford Chance

The luxury yacht was struck by an unexpectedly violent storm and sank off Sicily early on Monday (local time).

The British-flagged Bayesian , a 56-metre-long sailboat, was carrying 22 people and was anchored just off shore near the port of Porticello when it was hit by ferocious weather, the Italian coast guard said in a statement.

Eyewitnesses said the yacht vanished quickly beneath the waves shortly before dawn. Fifteen people escaped before it went down, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who owned the boat, and a one-year-old girl.

The names of the dead and missing were not immediately released, but a person familiar with the rescue operation confirmed that Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were not accounted for.

Salvatore Cocina, head of the Civil Protection in Sicily said Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance were also among the missing people.

Italian media said the dead man was the yacht's onboard chef.

The Italian coast guard said the missing had British, American and Canadian nationalities. Survivors said the trip had been organised by Lynch for his work colleagues.

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coast guard official in the Sicilian capital Palermo told Reuters.

The captain of a nearby boat told Reuters that when the winds surged, he had turned on the engine to keep control of his vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian , which had been anchored alongside him.

"We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," Karsten Borner told journalists. The other boat "went flat on the water, and then down," he added.

He said his crew then found some of the survivors on a life raft - including a baby girl and her mother - and took them on board before the coast guard picked them up.

Divers inspect wreck

The coast guard said divers were inspecting the wreck of the Bayesian , which was lying at a depth of 49 metres.

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation to look into what had gone wrong.

Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said.

"The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," said meteorologist Luca Mercalli.

"We can't say that this is all due to global warming but we can say that it has an amplifying effect," he told Reuters.

The Bayesian was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 and was last refitted in 2020. Its 75-metre mast is the tallest aluminium mast in the world, Perini said on its website.

The Bayesian - owned by missing UK tech entrepreneur

The Bayesian which is owned by UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm. Photo: VesselFinder

The shipspotting.com website said the boat was owned by a firm called Revtom Limited. Lynch's wife Bacares is named as the sole shareholder of the firm on company documents.

The yacht's name would resonate with Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on Bayesian theory.

The ship won a string of awards for its design and can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and a crew of 10, according to online specialist yacht sites.

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking app Vesselfinder.

Lynch defeated US fraud charges

Lynch spent more than a decade building Britain's biggest software company and then almost as long again fighting fraud charges related to its multi-billion pound sale.

Lynch founded Autonomy from his ground-breaking research at Cambridge University in 1996, and was lauded by shareholders, scientists and politicians when he sold it to Hewlett-Packard for $US11 billion ($NZ18b) 15 years later.

But in late 2012, HP stunned Wall Street and the City of London by alleging a massive accounting scandal at the business, and writing off $8.8b of its value.

Lynch, known for an abrasive intellectual charm, said HP did not know what it was doing with Autonomy, which searched and organised data using patented algorithms based on a mathematics developed in the 18th century by Reverend Thomas Bayes.

He spent the next 12 years in courts trying to clear his name, locked in some of the biggest legal battles in corporate history.

Italian Carabinieri patrol the port as the search continues for six passengers missing from a sailboat that sank off the coast of Porticello, north-western Sicily, on 19 August 2024. One person was killed and rescuers were searching for six others missing after a luxury superyacht

Italian Carabinieri patrol the port as the search continues for six passengers missing from a sailboat that sank off the coast of Porticello, north-western Sicily continues. Photo: AFP

HP pursued Lynch in London's High Court for $5b. It won most of its case in 2022 and is still awaiting the award of damages.

The judge found that Lynch and another colleague had fraudulently concealed a "fire sale" of hardware and engaged in convoluted reselling schemes to mask a shortfall in sales of Autonomy's software, the business HP coveted.

US authorities filed criminal charges including wire fraud and conspiracy against Lynch and sought his extradition.

The British government came under pressure from Lynch's supporters to block the application. If found guilty, Lynch could have faced decades in jail.

But the appeals failed, and Lynch took the stand in San Francisco in his own defence, where he denied wrongdoing and told jurors that HP had botched the integration of Autonomy.

He was acquitted on all charges and freed after a year under house arrest. Lynch said he was "elated".

"I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field," he said.

A Coast Guard boat and an Italian fireboat search for people missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Porticello, northwestern Sicily, on 19 August 2024.

A Coast Guard boat and an Italian fireboat search for people missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Porticello, northwestern Sicily, on 19 August 2024. Photo: AFP / ANSA / Igor Petyx

A person familiar with the rescue effort said Lynch and his wife, Angela Bacares, were on the 56-metre long British-registered Bayesian sailboat when it was struck by an unexpectedly violent storm and sank off the Sicilian capital Palermo early on Monday.

The yacht was owned by Lynch's family and had 22 people on board when it sank just before sunrise.

Lynch was born in 1965 and was raised in Chelmsford near London where his mother was a nurse and his father a fireman. He said his parents instilled in him an appreciation of the value of education.

At Cambridge University, he studied physics, mathematics and biochemistry, and went on to research signal processing for his doctorate. His thesis is still one of the most widely consulted in the university's library, reports have said.

In 1996, Lynch founded Autonomy which searched and organised complex data such as emails, phones calls and video.

Lynch, who has a herd of rare breed cattle on his estate in Suffolk, East England, used some of the proceeds of the sale of Autonomy to set up venture capital firm Invoke.

It was a major backer of Darktrace, a British cyber security company that US firm Thoma Bravo agreed to buy for $5.32 billion in cash in April.

Reuters/ RNZ

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    The luxury yacht was struck by an unexpectedly violent storm and sank off Sicily early on Monday (local time). The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-metre-long sailboat, was carrying 22 people and was anchored just off shore near the port of Porticello when it was hit by ferocious weather, the Italian coast guard said in a statement.. Eyewitnesses said the yacht vanished quickly beneath the waves ...