Special feature: Make boating easy with Skipperi
3 min read
Skipperi’s monthly boat sharing service was officially launched in Auckland in June this year
With summer just around the corner, it’s time to gear up for long days, warm water, and sunshine. And to take the hassle out of planning a day out on the water is the new boat sharing service Skipperi.
Officially launched in Auckland in June this year, with the blessing from local Māori iwi, Skipperi was first established in Finland and now has 300 boats in service throughout Scandinavia. Closer to home, they have eight Haines Hunter SF545 boats, each powered with a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard, with another seven soon to be added to its New Zealand fleet.
Skipperi New Zealand CEO Alexander Rosenthal said the team asked the boating community the boat brand they would trust when venturing out on the water.
“According to our feedback, the Haines Hunter SF545 is the perfect match for our users to explore the Hauraki Gulf, a brand that Kiwi boaties trust.”
Denis Kendall from Haines Hunter adds, “At Haines Hunter, we are passionate about the quality of our boats and their performance on the water. We are pleased to be working with Skipperi on this exciting new venture and having more Kiwis enjoying boating in a Haines Hunter.”
Providing Skipperi clients trust and confidence in their boating, and long-time partners of Haines Hunter, Yamaha Motor NZ is the exclusive outboard power behind the Skipperi fleet.
“Yamaha is an original partner of Skipperi, having provided outboards for the fleet in Europe, and we’re excited to partner with Yamaha here in New Zealand too. There’s a reason they’re New Zealand’s most trusted marine engine.”
Kiwis love the outdoors, and they love boating, says Alex, adding that the initial uptake to the service has been “exceptional”.
“We already have the first handful of boats fully subscribed. The rest of the boats will roll out over the coming months, with the full fleet of 15 boats on the water by the start of summer.”
Fun, safe boating community
With a focus on creating a safer boating community, Skipperi and Coastguard NZ have created an educational programme around equipping Kiwis, who may not necessarily have had boating experience, with the required skills and qualifications to enjoy a day on the water, safely.
Online courses are provided through Coastguard’s boating education platform along with practical training on the boats, which is also included in the subscription for beginners and more knowledgeable boaters alike.
The boats are also kitted out with six life jackets onboard, in addition to other necessary safety equipment.
“Approximately 20% of Skipperi boaters are beginners, and we at Skipperi want to make our service an easy and safe way for you to experience your boating hobby,” said Rosenthal.
With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, Rosenthal says the team is taking all precautions to ensure subscribers continue to have a safe experience.
“We follow Government guidelines around COVID-19 regulations with QR codes for contact tracing, bubble rules, and cleaning utensils onboard.”
With subscriptions starting from $279 per month, Kiwis can start boating in November from Westhaven, Auckland. The monthly subscriptions give users access to boats for weekday usage; for a full week, users pay $499 a month.
Reservation durations are from 7.5 hours to 24-hour periods. With assistance from Auckland council agency, Panuku Development – the Skipperi Auckland fleet will operate out of Z Pier in Westhaven Marina, with Skipperi NZ looking to expand the operation into other centres around New Zealand.
Find out more on skipperi.nz
