Launched in June 2021, Skipperi currently has 15 Yamaha-powered Haines Hunter SF545s operating out of the Westhaven Marina and will look to bolster that fleet and establish a new base at Half Moon Bay.

Skipperi New Zealand CEO Alexander Rosenthal says the response in the first year of operation has been exceptional, with the popularity of the sharing service fast-tracking expansion.

“Our first year has been excellent, so much so that interest and demand have seen us open a second location at Half Moon Bay, as well as ordering another 20 boats,” says Rosenthal.

“Half Moon Bay is an obvious location for us to expand into. There is a high demand for the service from the eastern suburbs, and its proximity to the islands of the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf makes it a perfect location for a Skipperi base.”

“We’re also looking at more locations around Auckland and outside the region.”

Since its launch, Skipperi has seen subscribers book over 2200 trips out on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, culminating in just over 10,000 hours of boating on the water.

“The feedback from the subscribers has been excellent, and it has enabled people who might not have the time or the means to own a boat outright to get into boating.”

“Add to that, the performance and reliability of the Yamaha/Haines Hunter package has been great, providing a safe and reliable boating platform for our subscribers.”

Pricing for a Skipperi subscription starts at $310 per month for weekday usage to $529 a month for use across a full week with reservation durations of 7.5 hours to 24-hour periods.

Skipperi is adding another 20 boats to its fleet and opening a new base at Half Moon Bay.  

Skipperi takes care of the boats’ maintenance, equipment, insurance and boat availability. Most Skipperi boaters are experienced skippers; however, as part of the subscription, online courses are provided through the Coast Guard’s boating education platform. Practical boat training is also included in the subscription for both beginners and more knowledgeable boaters.

Having a base at half Moon Bay, Skipperi clients are much closer to the good fishing grounds as well as the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

The Skipperi fleet of Haines Hunters is kitted out with life jackets for passengers of all ages and other necessary safety equipment.

Skipperi has begun taking new subscribers for Half Moon Bay, with the first boats expected to be operational in August 2022. For more information, go to www.skipperi.nz