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Plain sailing for the $250,000 Surtees prize boat

A life on the ocean waves awaits 2019 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show winner, Eden Waddington who received his $250,000 Surtees Yahama 750 Game Fisher boat on Wednesday. The Christchurch father-to-be was hand-delivered his grand prize by the Surtees team who travelled down the country; leaving Kawerau and then on to Rotorua, Taupo, Taihape, Levin, Mana Bay Marina, Picton, and finally, Waikawa Bay Wharf.

Retrieving the boat was easy with the Balex Boat Loader and towing was smooth with the Hosking trailer which Eden also gets to keep. "The water was very calm for the first two­ thirds of the trip but became quite choppy with waves reaching 3 meters, nothing a Surtees couldn't handle. We filled 5401 Water ballast, to give us more weight to  punch through those waves. The Yamaha Helm Master also did its bit and the two 150HP outboards brought us safely to the other side of the Cook Strait," says Surtees Marketing Executive, Isabell Zitzelsberger.

"Eden was very excited and grateful. He brought his dad, grandad and even his French Bulldog, Doug, along to the handover,"

Eden was overwhelmed with all the cool gadgets on the boat - Two 12-inch Garmin sounders and radar, Ocean Blue Outriggers and Flood Lights from Hella Marine. He plans to spend his summer in the Marlborough Sounds on his new boat with his family. "I can't wait to share this boat with my family and friends we will have the most amazing time!

Thank you to Hutchwilco Boat Show, Yamaha, Surtees and everyone who made this come together. What a prize a $250,000 boat. I am definitely going to enjoy it," says Eden.

Whether it is weekends away or serious fishing expeditions, the 750 Game Fisher is the ultimate adventure boat with the perfect balance of cabin and fishing space. Equipped with twin counter rotating Yamaha 150 fly-by-wire four-stroke outboards, it is the  first boat in New Zealand to have the Yamaha Helm Master control fitted. Other impressive features include the SeaDek, Fusion Sound System and safety equipment from Ocean Signal and Hutchwilco.

 You can also watch the full video here