New 2007 Challenger Boats

We don’t just build boats – we build lifestyles.

Challenger Boats – Fibreglass pleasure craft, a growing force in the fibreglass boat market producing a range of power boats from 5.5m to 7.2m. Located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, North Island New Zealand, Challenger Boats have been produced in this area for the past 11 years. Locally designed, produced and marketed the marque has proven its value against the goliaths of the marine industry in a highly competitive market.Te Puke’s Challenger Boats is a growing force in the fibreglass boat market, producing a range of cuddy cabin and hard top designs from 5.5m to 7.2m.


In this world you get what you pay for. And what you get with the Challenger range of trailer boats is pedigree design. Too often, boat builders, particularly small boat builders assume the mantle of designer, drawing their own hull shapes, relying on the adage that what looks right probably is right. That’s fine and in most cases the end product serves its purpose well. But it is not until you experience the ride and handling of a professionally designed hull of a Challenger that you begin to realise that hull design is a critical part of the boating equation.


When Challenger Boats decided to build boats eleven years ago, they went straight to Terry Read, Tauranga’s naval architect and requested a design that incorporated a strong hull that would slice through waves rather than pound across the top of them. They specified a strong hull capable of performing in typical East Coast Conditions. And that is exactly what they got. The design was initially based on the lines of the TR490 and TR600. It required a very strong and rigid lay-up that was engineered by High Modulous in polyester resin and resulted in a hull measuring 12mm in places.


The result was the popular Challenger 520 cuddy, the model that put Challenger Boats on the boating map and secured a future in the fiercely competitive trailer boat market. This model has been developed further and is now known as the Challenger 550.


Other cuddy cabin and hard top models followed and today Challenger Boats is on target to produce 75 boats across 6 models. The company is in good health and there are plans in progress to release new models next year.


We are concentrating on research and development with these current models, keeping up with market trends while not compromising the quality that Challenger boats are renowned for.


Currently new seating options have been developed for the Challenger 595 and 650 models with the 550 seating coming out shortly. The cabin liner of the Challenger 650 has just been modified so that a toilet can be installed if required. A hand basin has also been developed for the Challenger 650 and this option will be available for those who would like this feature installed on their Challenger.There will be other models of Challenger being marketed in the coming years as development proceeds.


We at Challenger are committed to providing our current and prospective customers with a quality product and are determined to go that extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. We can make your dreams come true!!!