With our first sample of the relatively new Herley Boats brand, we head out in the striking Elite 8m and find clever design mated with some premium features makes for a comfortable and dynamic cruiser that’s up for anything.
There’s a lot to be said for simplicity, especially on the water. And that is very much a core principal behind both the Herley boats product as well as their supply chain.
After years of frustration buying, building and using boats that had the final details missing or use of cheap quality materials, Nick Herd grew tired of water pooling in unnecessary places and awkward helm positions. He knew he could do better and from there Herley Boats was born. Since then the brand has developed some very innovative craft, including an electric catamaran to showcase future marine tech.
Nick began his career as a boat builder and from there moved to marine design and then into production and project management at major trailer boat and shipyards around New Zealand. His ground up level of experience is what has lead to the design and production of the vessels offered by Herley Boats.
A big part of what make Herley boast great, say Eurocity Marine sales and service executive, Tom Forbes is the team’s agility and design philosophy.
The glass house is also impressive benefitting from a full width, single piece bonded windshield. The angled screen is certainly not the cheapest solution for a boat manufacturer to incorporate, but one that delivers a very contemporary feel to the overall design. The Elite 8m looks both sporty yet elegant at the same time. The opening side windows are also well positioned for the skipper to have better visibility during game fishing.
The fish won’t be outrunning the twin Honda XXXXHP on this model and even in a bit of chop the sharp entrance plumb bow trailing to a shallow deadrise stern gives both exceptional seakeeping and stability at rest. It makes very light work of the conditions off Napier’s harbour.
It doesn’t look like one, but the Elite 8 is built like a small ship rather than a large boats and that does afford class leading strength and weight distribution, including a forward collision bulkhead and sealed self draining cockpit. The Elite 8m is an extremely capable long range fishing platform and you can specify high capacity fuel tanks options, offering ranges of over 700km. As well single and twin petrol outboard options for higher 40+ knot speeds and joystick controlled precision vessel movement.
“It navigates swell beautifully and it can be very dynamic when you want it to be.” Tom confirms,
That focus on keeping things simple permeates the business strategy as well, and Herley Boats have appointed EuroCity Marine as their sole exclusive dealer in New Zealand. For a boat of this calibre, that more direct supply chain ensures less complicated and ultimately improved experience for clients. Tom and the EuroCity marine team integrate closely with Herley Boats and live and breathe the product range.
