March News from HMBE – Big Saves, Big Events & Big Upgrades!
Ahoy, HMBE family! March has been nothing short of action-packed, and we’ve got some great stories to share. From a daring ocean rescue by Simon & Elise to an epic day at BBYC’s Open Day, it’s been a month full of adventure, community, and cutting-edge marine tech. Speaking of upgrades, we’ve just kitted out a serious game fisher with top-tier Garmin gear, and if you’re wondering whether corrosion is silently eating away at your boat, we’ve got an offer that might just save you some serious headaches.
We also took a trip to the Auckland Boat Show 2025, where we checked out the latest boats, marine tech, and even put a Seakeeper Gyro Stabilizer to the test—spoiler alert, we couldn’t tip it over! It was great catching up with familiar faces and seeing what’s new in the industry.
Read on for all the details – and as always, happy boating! 🚤⚓
– The Team at HMBE
Is Something Silently Eating Away At Your Boat?
Galvanic Testing and Why It Matters!
Galvanic testing is a simple check-up that helps us see if the different metals on your vessel are causing corrosion - and it gives you the chance to fix any issues before they turn into more costly repairs.
If you intend to slip your vessel, we’d recommend performing a Galvanic Test beforehand. This will highlight any unusual galvanic activity. Once the vessel is on a cradle, we can then assess the cause of the issue and take the steps necessary to correct it.
This usually involves checking the bonding system as well as the anode size, placement, and condition. After the vessel has returned to the water, we’ll conduct another Galvanic Test. This makes sure your pride and joy is within the acceptable limits of galvanic protection.
Stop Corrosion Before It Costs You
Take advantage of our special offer - just $450* incl. GST for a complete 3-part Galvanic Test on vessels up to 12m.
With this comprehensive service, you’ll know exactly what’s happening beneath the surface - no more guessing, no more unexpected damage. Larger vessels by appointment.
Book a Galvanic Test Today!
* Terms apply. Talk to one of our expert technicians to learn more about this offer.
HMBE at BBYC’s Big Day Out!
The Bucklands Beach Yacht Club Open Day is one of the biggest highlights on the local boating community calendar, and once again, the HMBE team was right amongst it!
There was plenty happening, with visitors like the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard and the Police Launch Deodar, not to mention the club’s Junior and Youth teams putting on an impressive sailing display.
The event also gave us the chance to showcase the latest marine electronics from Raymarine - thanks in part to their very cool Raymarine Demonstration Caravan! The interactive displays were a huge hit – with lots of visitors getting a hands-on experience with the equipment’s impressive capabilities.
(Sure, you can read about this tech in brochures, but there’s nothing quite like trying it out for yourself!)
Beyond the technology, the Open Day was a chance to catch up with our loyal customers - many of whom have become good friends - and to support BBYC, which does so much good work in our boating community.
We’re already looking forward to being part of it all again next year!
Auckland Boat Show Highlights
Like many local maritime fanatics, HMB Marine Electrical staff gravitated towards the 2025 Auckland Boat Show , 'A Festival on the Water' held at the Jellicoe Harbour next to the viaduct.
The event is a great chance for people to get close to the latest offerings from the best boat designers and boatbuilders in New Zealand and the world. It was also a place to see the latest trends and gadgets of the industry at large as well as the latest electronics for the modern vessel. Seeing the advancements in fishfinding and mapping along with connectablity is amazing, yet it is accessible and we can all have it on our boats.
We took the time to kick the tyres of a Sea legs as well as attempting to capsize a Wellcraft 27 that was demonstrating the Seakeeper Gyro Stabilizer. HMB Marine Electrical install this product for the supplier and it was very interesting to see one in operation and attempt to upset it, we couldn't. Call HMBE now to order one.
Many familiar faces are seen and it was good to catch up with our customers and suppliers a like and get the vibe.
To be able to examine so many different vessels in one location is quite enjoyable, particularly if you are in the market to buy. Having the ability to do comparisons across different ranges and type of boats and products is quite educational, and helps round the knowledge of a HMB Marine Electrical Technician.
And the weather played the game, it was superb.
Upgrade Complete: A Game Fisher’s Ultimate Tech Refresh
Riviera Refresh: Marine Tech Upgrade!
When you’re a keen game fisherman, it helps to have the right gear on board—especially when it comes to electronic equipment like chartplotters and fishfinders. This was the case for Marty McCullough and his Half Moon Bay Marina-based 51ft Riviera. For Marty and his family, the Riviera was still very much a source of fun and adventure, but it was getting to a stage where an electronics upgrade was needed.
Enter HMB Marine Electrical.
After many years of boat ownership, Marty had a good idea of the type of equipment he wanted and how he wanted to use it. He provided a brief to HMB Marine Electrical—first, to confirm his suggestions were fit for purpose, and second, to make sure the product was available in New Zealand.
“The guys at HMB Marine Electrical made the whole process easy. They made sure they had a thorough understanding of our boating requirements and used that knowledge to fine-tune the initial suggestions with specific models that had exactly the right spec,” says Marty.
“Their product knowledge was really impressive - not just of individual components, but also what was required to bring everything together into one efficient, reliable electronics system. Things we’d never think of.”
“In terms of the install, they were also first-class. Like most boat owners, we wanted it done ASAP, and they pushed as hard as they could to deliver within our timeframe. Just very responsive, easy to communicate with, and professional in every aspect.”
“When they were done, they gave us a full run down of how everything worked. And when we had one small hiccup they were on the phone helping us fix it within minutes.”
And the end result speaks for itself.
“All in all, we ended up with a new Garmin screen and radar, autopilot, sonar, and Starlink WiFi. And we couldn’t be happier. As a fisherman, the new fishfinder is a massive step up. I can actually see what’s below me - clearly picking out a tuna or marlin at 50 metres of depth, and seeing snapper and other species as clear as day too.”
"And when we can see there are no fish, we can simply motor off to a different spot. Now our only issue is that we don’t have any excuses for coming home empty-handed!”
Not Today, Waiheke! Elise & Simon Save the Day
HMBE owners Simon & Elise showed true seamanship, rescuing a father and three children stranded on a paddleboard off Eastern Beach. Spotting their struggle, they launched their tender and brought them safely to shore. Watch the rescue unfold in our latest video – a powerful reminder of boating safety and looking out for each other.