Getting ready for summer at Quayside
The Countdown To Summer Is On
There’s something about the first few decent spring days that gets every boatie thinking about summer.
Longer evenings, warmer weekends and more time on the water aren’t too far away, which means things are starting to get busy around Quayside. Boats are coming out for annual maintenance, repairs and upgrades, while others are getting ready for longer summer adventures.
We’ve also had some particularly interesting projects on the go lately, so in this issue we thought we’d share a few of them, along with the latest news from around the yard.
Here’s to a great summer on the water.
– Ari & the Quayside Team
Catching Up With Salanjo: Smooth Sailing and Clean Hulls at Quayside
Finding a yard equipped to handle the wide beam of a modern catamaran can be a challenge. But here at Quayside Boatyard, it’s what we do best.
This month, we had the pleasure of hauling out the beautiful catamaran Salanjo onto our Warkworth hardstand. Her owner brought her in for a much-needed hull cleanout, tackling the inevitable buildup of barnacles and marine growth to get her cruising speeds and fuel efficiency back to their peak.
Our purpose-built multihull facilities are designed exactly for wide-beam vessels like Salanjo, ensuring a safe, stress-free lift out of the water so the real work can begin.
Taking Shape: Custom Carbon Fibre Hardtop
Here’s a neat project the Quayside team has been working on over recent months: a custom carbon fibre cockpit hardtop for a 72ft Dubois yacht. (The yacht is currently in Kumeu undergoing a full rebuild… we were brought in to fabricate the new hardtop as part of the project).
It’s a great example of the composite work we can take on.
As well as fibreglass and carbon fibre repairs, we can build new components (like this) from scratch, including hatches, panels, mouldings and custom modifications. It’s very much hands-on craftsmanship, with each stage carefully shaped, laid up and finished to create a component specifically designed for the boat.
Completion isn’t too far away, and we’re looking forward to seeing the finished hardtop sitting on the Dubois. We’ll share the photos when everything is in place!
Kotuku Returns To Quayside
Earlier this year we had the pleasure of hauling out Kotuku, an impressive 70ft high-performance cruising catamaran, ahead of her passage to Vanuatu. She’s now back at Quayside for some further work, including repairs and the construction of a new daggerboard.
Kotuku is a pretty special boat. Built in Auckland, she features a rotating carbon wing mast and asymmetric foils. Designed for serious offshore cruising, she’s also earned a strong record racing in New Zealand’s multihull fleet. It’s great to have her back in the yard.
ROT REPAIR JOB TBC
<Ari to send images and bullet points>
New Lifejacket Rule This Summer
From 9 October 2026, everyone on board a recreational craft 6 metres or under will need to wear a properly fitted lifejacket while underway. The new rule will apply nationwide, replacing the current mix of regional requirements.
What You Need To Know
Everyone on board must wear a lifejacket while underway.
It applies to recreational craft 6 metres or under.
The skipper is responsible for ensuring everyone is wearing an appropriate lifejacket.
Now’s a good time to check your lifejackets are in good condition, correctly sized and meet an approved standard. Read more about the new lifejacket rules at Maritime NZ.
Planning Some Work On The Boat?
It’s shaping up to be a busy summer at Quayside, with the yard already heavily booked over the coming months. If you’ve got maintenance, repairs or a bigger project in mind for later in the season or early next year, it’s worth talking to us sooner rather than later. We can discuss what you’re planning and look at when we may be able to fit it in.