Article by Scott Thomas
As the acclaimed New Zealand aluminium boat manufacturer unveils two new models for 2024, Scott Thomas looks at Stabicraft’s thirst for innovation.
Long revered among Kiwi boaties, the name Stabicraft has also been steadily gaining a strong reputation across the ditch in recent years. The aluminium boat manufacturer added two new boats to its extensive line up for this year’s boat show season. The 2350 Supercab and 2050 Treker are the latest evolution in the New Zealand brand’s range – and if customer feedback and response from recent boat shows across New Zealand and Australia are any indication – it’s a strong year ahead for Stabicraft.
What makes a Stabi?
Let’s take a quick look at what sets this boat apart from the rest. Stabicraft makes rigid-hulled, aluminium-chambered boats. The design, similar to a rigid-hull inflatable, only far more sturdy, offers the best of both worlds with stability and soft riding.
The “pontoon” offers the stability, while the deep hull deadrise slices through the waves. The combination makes for a safe and effective design. Stabicraft has continued to update the hull design over the past 37 years, while maintaining the original concept and essence of the boats.
The design – like any good idea – has been replicated by others over the years. Yet Stabicraft remains a market leader.
The next evolution
Talking to Nautilus Marine Magazine about the latest releases, Stabicraft’s GlobalMarketing Manager Daniel Upperton says the reaction from recent boat shows has been fantastic. “We’re in the envious position of scrambling to find more capacity to build more 2350 Supercabs, the dealer and customer demand has been incredible since its global release in May.” he says. “The 2050 Treker was released at the Seattle Boat Show in January this year and so far the dealer uptake has been great. We’ll get more of a gauge now that the US summer has kicked into gear and are excited to have held ourAustralian launch at the Sydney InternationalBoat Show,” he says.
We asked Upperton what trends Stabicraft is seeing right now in regard to boat size and buyer preference. “Our smaller boats are still ticking over nicely, for the more budget-conscious buyer. Mid-range vessels are slower but larger boats are also still moving well,” he says. “The introduction of the 2350 Supercab has certainly supercharged buyers interests with demand now pushing lead times out to the end of 2024.”
Formula for success
According to Upperton, Stabicraft’s success and longevity in a competitive market comes down to innovation. “Innovation is a critical part to Stabi’s success, we’re never sitting still watching the market. We’re constantly refining, designing and innovating as market demands naturally shift, especially with the exponential rise of technology,” he says. “A phrase we commonly use is: ‘Stabicraft has been at war with the status-quo since 1987’.”
So, is there a typical Stabicraft customer and has that changed over the years? Upperton says Stabicraft actually has a variety of core customers. “These range from older couples downsizing from a larger boat to something more manageable to a young family with kids who want to do a bit of fishing and water sports,” he says. “We naturally have the more hardcore fishermen who have been staple customers since our inception but we’re finding a growing customer base in the less confident fishermen too, people who are looking for a safe and reliable vessel they know is easy to operate.”
Latest Models
Stabicraft’s latest two models – the 2050 Treker and 2350 Superb – continue the brand’s story of innovative and functional fishing and family boats with a long list of features and new improvements. Let’s take a closer look at the 2050 Treker and 2350 Supercab.
2050 Treker
The 2050 Treker is built on the same hull as the 2050 Super Cab and features a modular configuration. The design, according to Stabicraft, will appeal to its North American customers, while offering new features for Australian and New Zealand boaties. The optional fully enclosed canvas system turns the Treker from an open warm-weather boat to something that’s fully protected and perfect for cold weather.
The bimini provides sun shade in warmer climates. The hull and size would make a great offshore or bay boat for Australia and New Zealand and also offers a perfect set up for the big freshwater lakes in America. It has all the mod cons for fishing or family comfort. The large cockpit and walk-through design allows access to the bow area for fishing. There’s also plenty of storage space, whether for fishing gear or tow sport equipment. “As we introduce the 2050 Treker to boating enthusiasts worldwide, we are confident that it will set new standards in aesthetics, performance, and ergonomics,” says Upperton. “There was an opportunity for Stabicraft to design and manufacture a vessel in this size that lifts an entire marine category to a place where form and function become synonymous.”
The 2050 Treker has a maximum horsepower of 200hp, measures 7.9m and weighs 1549kg (tow weight). This makes it a highly versatile boat that can be safely towed and used for fishing and family fun across a range of locations and conditions.
2350 Supercab
Stabicraft’s new 2350 Supercab now features 40 per cent more usable cabin volume than its predecessor. As a 7m+ boat, it is perfect for offshore fishing, and according to Stabicraft, this hull has been put to the test on the local patch commonly called “Hell’s Gate”.
Stabicraft dealers are reporting the new hull is one of the best ever produced and performs well on close chop, rolling swell and following seas.
The larger cabin volume is due to the wider beam stretching out to the maximum legal towing width in Australasia. Plus, Stabicraft has reconfigured the cabin, with more space, more storage options, drink holders and underfloor storage. Other new features on the 2350 include a larger 400l fuel capacity, higher 350hp rating, and more. The 2350 Supercab debuts a new hull, which has increased the keel angle and tapered the forward sealed chambers upwards, giving a finer entry. The 2350 is available in several packages. The Adventure package starts with all the essentials, while the Sportfish offers the most popular features in this big, hard-top boat. Finally, the Profish has all the bells and whistles. The 2350 Supercab accommodates eight passengers, has a maximum horsepower of 350hp and weighs 3000kg (tow weight). “We’re absolutely rapt with the response from our dealer group,” says Upperton. “It’s one thing for the team at Stabicraft to know they have a winning combination, but to have confirmation from the guys on the coal face makes the 2350 Supercab a really exciting launch for us.”
Visit stabicraft.com
The August-September issue of Nautilus Marine Magazine is out now.
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