Explorer Inflatable Craft

Can you take the engine from a Toyota K series Vitz and convert it into a powerful jetboat engine?

You can if you’re Explorer Inflatable Craft, according to Director Mark Goodhew. His innovative Kumeu-based company makes stylish, jetboat ‘tenders’ – utility boats for the niche global superyacht market.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) facilitated research and development funding through Callaghan Innovation and introduced Explorer Inflatable Craft to specialist engineering firms in Auckland so it could convert Toyota car engines into highly reliable water jet marine engines. While Mark was in Sydney, commissioning craft sold by Explorer’s Australian distributer following the 2014 Sydney International Boat Show, we spoke to his business partner Matt Taylor about how ATEED helped power up their business.

We certainly wouldn’t have been ready to launch the 2013 Sydney Boat Show if the funding hadn’t fast tracked our final R&D. ATEED was passionate about our boat concepts and that showed in its highly professional efforts for us.

Mark Goodhew
Director, Explorer Inflatable Craft