The Boat :-

The M. V. Whai is a 41 foot (12.75 metre) catamaran with Twin Cummings engines. The boat is subject to full marine survey and runs to a safe ship management program.

Sleeping quarters on single or twin bunks cater for 10-16 persons or we are surveyed for 24 persons on day trips. The boat has a conventional household toilet and shower.

The Galley includes a kitchen sized stove/oven and large fridge and freezer units. 240V is available and there is a barbecue onboard. 'A floating holiday batch.'

A 3.6 metre aluminum runabout, kayaks (on request) and a dive compressor are all available to our clients.

The Owner/Skipper :-

John Ellwood has recently taken over the family business from his parents Mick and Dulcie. Mick was only the 2nd owner of the boat and has been running the boat for the last 25+ years. John has been the sole skipper for the last 3 yrs.

John grew up in Whitianga, learning to fish and dive in the local waters over 30 years ago. He has extensive experience and contacts in the local boating, fishing and diving scene. He has worked on other charter boats and commercially on wetfish, gamefish, crayfish and scallop boats locally and around the South Pacific. John is a volunteer fireman and a Coastguard committee member. He has been involved in both for over 20 years.

The Whai has completed many successful trips to Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The Whai was taken by its previous owner (Peter Spurdle) to Japan.