Powering Up for Safety: Waiheke Coastguard’s Electrical Refit
Waiheke Island Coastguard has been serving the Hauraki Gulf since 1990, a dedicated volunteer team that puts in countless hours helping boaties stay safe on the water. But even the toughest vessels need a refresh now and then, especially when a design feature starts causing more harm than good!
The Incident That Sparked the Refit
Waiheke’s 10.3-metre rescue vessel was built to handle rough conditions. But it had one design quirk, a gap around the top of the cabin to allow airflow and keep the crew cool during summer. Great idea in theory, until things got wild out on the water.
“In one particularly nasty storm, we took a large wave straight over the bow,” recalled Bernard Guillemin from Waiheke Coastguard. “It filled the cabin and completely soaked the electronics.”
The damage was severe. Most of the electrical system was compromised and needed replacing. Thankfully, with funding support from Coastguard New Zealand, the team went out to tender for a full electrical refit, and chose HMB Marine Electrical to take the lead.
A Major Job, Done Right
This was far from a small job. Aside from a couple of UHF radios and the existing radar, everything electrical was stripped out with a full suite of new gear, including:
Three state-of-the-art 16” Simrad NSS Evo4 displays
A FLIR thermal imaging camera for safe night operations
A brand-new BEP switchboard, antennas, horns, and more
All wiring to commercial marine code, using Lloyd’s-approved cabling
Complete electrical drawings for Maritime NZ survey and approval
But it didn’t stop there. HMB also helped manage other elements of the refit, from organising new seating to coordinating painting and fit-out details and anti-fouling.
“They didn’t just do the electrical work,” says Bernard. “They took care of all the logistics too, including the complex survey approval process, which made our lives a whole lot easier.”
Built for Today’s Standards
Because the vessel was 14 years old, current marine regulations meant the electrical system had to be redesigned from the ground up. HMB’s team took that in stride, offering smart recommendations along the way.
“They made a lot of suggestions that improved the usability and efficiency of the boat,” Bernard explains. “We trusted their expertise from day one and it has paid off.”
Why Waiheke Coastguard Chose HMB
Waiheke Coastguard has worked with HMB on smaller jobs over the years, and that long-standing relationship made this decision easy.
“They’ve always given us outstanding service,” says Bernard. “And because they understand we’re an essential community service, they’ve always been quick to respond when we’ve needed help at short notice.”
The refit began in mid-June and is now nearing completion, with sea trials scheduled for early November. Once back in action, the upgraded vessel will be safer, smarter, and better equipped to support Auckland’s boating community, in any weather.
“When you go into a project like this, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Bernard says. “But we trusted Simon and his team completely — and we couldn’t be happier with the result.”
