Auckland-based Rayglass Boats started business over 20 years ago and is one of the top fibreglass boat manufacturers in the country, dedicated to safety and quality production and regularly winning ‘best boat’ awards at various boat shows.
Tony Hembrow returned from Australia to set up Rayglass, aiming at the top end of the fibreglass market. Four years later the company won their first major award at the Auckland Boat Show. In 1995 an electrical fault caused a major fire, burning their factory to the ground, but the company stayed afloat, and two years later a huge new factory and showroom opened in Pakuranga, and subsequently Mt Wellington. Spreading its wings overseas, Rayglass now exports boats to over 17 countries, turning out around 400 hulls a year.
Such success attracted interest from US giant Brunswick Corporation, the world’s largest recreational boat builder, whose brands include Bayliner, Sea Ray, Hatteras, Boston Whaler, Maxum and Trophy, all sold through an international network of about 2300 dealers and distributors. Brunswick bought 49% of Rayglass in 2003 and completed the purchase of the remaining 51% in 2007, with Hembrow remaining in the key managerial role.
Construction
Rayglass tries to keep construction as simple and strong as possible, and uses a fully-moulded-liner system. Only three main moulds are used in the construction of each boat, and these also serve to stiffen and support the hull. This means fewer things to pop out, fewer rattles and, once the system is set up, easier assembly. The one-piece cockpit liner is also easier to clean after a day’s fishing.
The aim was to make these boats ‘unsinkable’, and since 1993 Rayglass has incorporated RPF endurothane foam into the hulls. This expanding foam is injected at 1000psi pressure into all the hull cavities not used for storage. The foam bonds with the fibreglass, and as well as making the boat positively buoyant, improves rigidity and reduces noise. This gives a massive amount of reserve buoyancy – around 4.5 tonnes by rough measurement.
The bilge, drainage and under-floor holds are designed to act as ballast tanks in case of swamping, so the hull floats upright, keeping the batteries clear of flooding. With 23 degrees of deadrise, this boat is firmly in the ‘deep V’ bracket. It has two planing strakes per side and flats on the chines. Four full-length timber stringers are glass encapsulated, and there are three full bulkheads. A brass keel-strip is standard, and each hull is built to survey specifications.
Power and performance
Rayglass sales manager Dave Larsen and I met at Westhaven Marina in the middle of Auckland City to take the boat for a run. The Legend 2150 is rated for outboards in the 130-300hp range. The test boat was fitted with a 200hp Mercury Optimax with a 19” Revolution 4 prop, about the middle of the suggested power range. I gave it a quick squirt in flat water in Auckland’s Rangitoto Channel and achieved 80kph (43.5 knots) at 5200rpm; within the ‘book’ top-end rev range of 5000-5750 and obviously a reasonable prop match-up.
The wind slowly picked up from a pleasant 10 knots of sou’west to over 15 knots, and with wind against tide, the sea conditions developed into a typical short, steep chop of about half-a-metre in the standard high-current areas.
The test boat cut through the chop nicely with no pounding, and wind-heel was easily adjusted using the Lenco trim-tab system, which Rayglass fits as standard near the outside edges of the hull for maximum effect. I found the hydraulic steering a bit heavier than expected, but still not bad — and to be fair, a 200hp outboard is a big unit. A power-assist could always be fitted.
As the wind picked up we started to take a little spray when quartering into it, and there was a bit of leakage through the canopy zips, something that could be easily sorted out, no doubt. Visibility was good through the curved, 5mm toughened-glass ‘screen when seated. Standing was OK too, although the rake of the canopy had the clears a bit ‘in-your-face’.
Overall, an excellent ride, and no vices in the handling.
Anchoring
The bow layout is nicely designed. A permanently-mounted Manson Plough anchor sits recessed into a bow sprit with a protective plate to prevent chain damage to the foredeck. Tie-off cleats are fitted to either side.
Under the domed hatch (with neat recessed hinges) a Maxwell 500 capstan is fitted with a reasonable-sized well beneath. The freespool lock handle also fits under the hatch in a clip. There is a foot switch to run the capstan mounted in a handy (or should that be footy?) spot under the forward squab for those working the anchor while standing in the bow hatchway. Lifting the squab also exposes a working platform with a non-skid finish to stand on. A second anchor control is at the helm, as is a thermal overload switch.
The pathway around the cabin sides features non-skid panels moulded into the deck and offers a second way of accessing the bow.
Layout
The fore-cabin will sleep two adults comfortably with the berth infill fitted. It is lined down to the level of the berths, and features an electric flush toilet under a hinged top between the forward berths, with a privacy cover for the spacious cabin entry. It even has a recessed toilet roll holder. 
The step-down drains into the bilge sump. Stowage is provided in two large side pockets. The padded faces of these form back rests for those sitting in the cabin. Further stowage is under the berths.
The wiring and steering in the helm console can be accessed through a hatch in the cabin. A cabin light, Pioneer sound system and Icom VHF are fitted in the cabin, with the latter’s hand-mike clipped on the side of the companionway (where it can be reached from the helm) and with waterproof speakers out in the cockpit.
The dash has two recessed trays in the passenger’s side and a grab rail around the rear edge of the ‘screen, supplemented by two more on the bulkhead. Stowage lockers are fitted into the sidewalls just behind the cabin bulkhead.
The console unit is a nice integrated design with flush-mounted switching, dial instrumentation, Raymarine chartplotter and sounder, and controls for the Lenco trim-tabs. The engine was controlled by a ‘fly-by-wire’ Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS), certainly a big improvement on the clunky old cable systems of years gone by.
Seating consists of big, comfortable, upholstered king-and-queen units. They open from the rear and are large enough to take eight dive tanks each side. Recesses are built into these units to take a fire extinguisher and EPIRB. Smart hardwood footrests are fitted. The rocket launcher that supports the canopy, aerials, cockpit spot light and riding light can be folded down for easier garage stowage.
A dome-down marine-carpet mat covers the deck at the helm position and stops short of the potentially messy cockpit region, where a non-skid pattern moulded into the deck gives reasonable footing, but is easier to clean. Deck lighting is fitted.
Centrally in the cockpit deck are two underfloor holds, which also drain to the bilge sump, where the water is removed via two 800gph Rule bilge pumps, one of which has a float switch (the deck drains to the same place from the cockpit corners). These holds can be plumbed as live-bait tanks if required.
Recessed side mouldings in the cockpit, with rubber boots, can take eight-foot poles, rods etc.
A good piece of design is evident in the tall, narrow sink unit built into the centre of the transom wall. It runs salt water with a foot pump (a 75-litre freshwater system can be fitted) and tilts forward to expose the dual battery system, well up above deck level. Also fitted in here are the isolation switches, fuel filter, oil tank and a 200-litre stainless fuel tank.
Transom lockers are fitted at each side of the central unit. A fuel port is fitted in the rear transom top; spillage drains to the outside of the hull. The centre transom also mounts a ski pole, which doubles as a mount for a bait-station.
Other deck furniture includes recessed stern cleats and grab rails for the two boarding platforms on the stern. Access to these is made easier by a modest drop in the transom height, and the passenger side is fitted with a stainless fold-down boarding ladder.
There is a lot fitted into this boat, yet a reasonable sort of working cockpit is still provided.
Fishability
For a 23° hull, this boat is stable, due partly to its beam, hull weight and wide chines. The cockpit will fish two to four people, although the height of the bait-station – with the big engine sticking out behind it – will hinder those with shorter rods working fish from one side of the cockpit to the other. A keen fisho without kids might consider lowering the pole some, or, given that it is an optional extra, leaving it off and fitting an aftermarket bait-station to suit.
There are four stainless steel through-gunwale rod holders fitted (these drain to the bilge), another four on the back of the bait-station, and storage for six more rods up in the rocket launcher.
Although there is no toe recess, the insets in the sides of the cockpit give you somewhere to lock your knees under. The sides of the cabin have extra bracing built in to fit outriggers, and if gamefishing from this boat, the slight drop-downs in the transom (especially the one on the helm side) make useful spots to park the angler’s bum while chasing forward.
Trailering
The Legend 2150 is carried on a Hoskings tandem-axle, cradle A-frame trailer. Suspension is zinc-protected leaf springs. Wheel hubs are galvanised and the hull is carried on six pairs of wobble rollers per side. Other fittings include: hydraulic brakes; a dual coupling; dual-ratio manual winch; wind-down jockey wheel; submersible lights; and guide poles at the rear. Rayglass gave a tow weight for the rig of 1850kg.
All in all
This is a good looking, very well designed and well-performed rig. The attention to detail is notable and high-quality fittings are used, but it is the things that are not immediately obvious that may be the most important – namely substantial construction, in-hull foam injection (giving a very high degree of reserve buoyancy) and a design that has it floating upright if swamped, keeping the all-important batteries well above any water. A good fish and dive machine, and one of the great all-rounders.
