My wife, Jane, and I are lucky enough to spend much of our time at our house in a beautiful, relatively secluded, bay in the Marlborough Sounds, with beach access at our doorstep.
We recently came to the sobering realisation that we are aging to the point that we may not always want to go through having to involve a tractor, dinghy trailer, dinghy, boat and a boat trailer; all of which required washing down and storage; just to retain our passion for boating.
We resolved to go amphibious to future proof our fishing orientated lifestyle, and to equip us better for overnight cruising. We attended the Hutch Wilco Boat Show in May last year with the aim of purchasing a “wheelie”. The Boat Show was the ideal forum to assess options up close and talk with the experts. We were certain that we wanted the S35 Anura wheel system, we knew we wanted a boat that was around 7.5 metres, and that it needed to have certain features, but we were unsettled on the brand. Then we came across the Osprey boats stand, with a blue 750 Hard Top that had all the features we wanted, including a roomy cabin beautifully set up for cruising and an equally roomy cockpit that was a fisherman’s dream. Sadly it was not an amphibious boat! We happened to mention that to Malcolm, Matt and Hamish from Osprey Boats and they all lit up with sly smiles! “We have just taken our first order for one set up with the Anura wheel system” was the retort. They very soon had two orders!
That meeting set up the project that resulted in the best Christmas present we have ever bought ourselves! We have ended up with an amphibious boat option that is all we could ever have dreamed of or wanted – the envy of most that see her.
Right from the onset it was evident that we had picked an amazing boat builder to work with. The young, passionate, team approach each boat build project as an interactive partnership. Right from the start we knew that what we were going to get was what we specifically wanted. Malcolm and Matt not only responded to a constant stream of questions and suggestions as if it was exciting and normal at the same time, but also catered for our excitement and passion with regular build update photos to go in the photo album I bore unsuspecting people with when I get them cornered!
Whilst two days at the boat show in Auckland gave the opportunity to select all the key build components and the motor and wheel systems that suited us best, we still were welcomed for three visits during the build process of the boat. None of these visits was wasted as Osprey go out of their way to achieve what I think of as “mass customisation”. Instrument layouts, appliances, power outlets internally and around the cockpit, grab rails, internal and external lighting, washdown facilities, fishing station – all were tailored to what we wanted to the point that “Cobalt” is definitely OUR boat and we have experienced complete ownership of her since the first plates were rolled and welded.
The boat is incredibly stable, but still pleasingly fast in a wide range of sea conditions and the 350 HP Helm Master equipped Yamaha 4 stroke is quiet and surprisingly fuel efficient. Osprey have done an admirable job of integrating the 750HT with the Anura S35, 4-wheel drive, wheel system – to the point that there is little to evidence that it is amphibious when it is on the water. The front wheel is out of sight from within the boat, tucked under a tasteful protective bow platform, and the rear wheels (together with side deployed boarding ladders, simply form safety barriers around the fishing platform at the stern. All control systems are beautifully integrated to the point where getting the most out of a very well specified and equipped boat is a breeze.
Now all we are waiting for cafes set up to specifically accommodate amphibious boats around the Marlborough Sounds and there will be no more to wish for. We have everything else. Well done, Osprey!