There are plenty of ways to spend a weekend away. You could head to the beach, disappear into the bush, or perhaps find a nice spot beside a lake and do absolutely nothing. Or, if you’re Ford New Zealand, you could gather around 100 boats, 400 fishing enthusiasts, a sizeable fleet of Ford Rangers and head off to Whitianga for one seriously fishy weekend.
That’s exactly what we did, joining Ford New Zealand at this year’s Extreme Boats Fishing Tournament, an event that brings together the best bits of boating, fishing, friendly competition and a healthy dose of Kiwi camaraderie.
There were plenty of fishing stories, a vast amount of impressive boats and enough horsepower to make a marina mechanic smile, but (thankfully) not a single Jaws moment – phew.
A tournament with plenty of history
The Extreme Boats Fishing Tournament has grown into a significant fixture on the New Zealand fishing calendar. It’s more than simply a gathering of people hoping to land the biggest fish; it’s an event built around the boating community, a shared passion for getting out on the water and the opportunity to bring people together for a good cause.
This year’s sell-out gathering attracted around 400 fisher-folks and 100 boats, with participants travelling from across the country to be part of the action. That’s quite a commitment when you consider that one of the boats was towed all the way from Nelson.
The event has developed a reputation for attracting a broad range of fishing enthusiasts, from experienced offshore anglers to those who simply enjoy spending time on the water. And while the fishing is obviously the main attraction, there’s a bigger story behind the tournament – one that involves community spirit, charitable fundraising and a rather substantial prize.
Small boats, big boats and some serious towing
One of the most interesting things about the weekend was the variety of boats on display. From smaller, more manageable fishing craft to larger 3+ tonne offshore-ready vessels, there was something to suit just about every kind of angler.
Of course, getting these boats to the event is half the adventure. With boats arriving from all corners of the country, including Nelson, there was plenty of towing going on. And, looking around the car park and boat-launching areas, one thing became pretty obvious: Ford Rangers were doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
It’s hardly surprising. With a braked towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes, the Ranger has long been a favourite among Kiwis who need a ute capable of doing more than simply looking tough outside the local café. Whether it’s hauling a sizeable fishing boat, a trailer loaded with gear or the family caravan, that towing capacity makes a real difference.
But Ford’s towing story isn’t just about how much weight you can pull. It’s also about how easily you can get that weight moving in the right direction, particularly when you’re attempting to reverse a boat and trailer into a tight parking space or down a busy boat ramp. With your fishing peers watching on.
Enter Pro Trailer Backup Assist. This clever bit of technology deserves more than a passing mention because, if you’ve ever tried reversing a boat trailer, you’ll know it can quickly turn into a test of patience, marriage counselling and creative vocabulary.
The system takes much of the guesswork out of the process. Once the trailer has been set up and calibrated with the Ranger, the driver can use a rotary control knob on the centre console to direct the trailer. Want the trailer to move left? Turn the knob left. Want it to move right? Turn it right.
The Ranger then takes care of the steering inputs, automatically turning the vehicle’s steering wheel to guide the trailer in the direction requested. Essentially, you’re steering the trailer rather than trying to work out which way the ute needs to point to make the trailer go where you want it. It’s a wonderfully intuitive concept.
The system uses a trailer-specific reference sticker and the Ranger’s camera technology to monitor the trailer’s position and angle. Information is displayed on the central touchscreen, with helpful camera views and graphics showing the trailer’s direction and projected path. Depending on the equipment fitted, additional camera views and trailer guidance graphics help the driver keep an eye on proceedings.
There’s an initial setup process for each trailer, but once calibrated, its information can be stored in the vehicle for future use. That means if you’re regularly switching between a fishing boat, work trailer or caravan, you don’t necessarily have to start from scratch every time.
Importantly, the system doesn’t take over everything. The driver remains responsible for controlling the accelerator and brakes, checking mirrors, watching the surroundings and ensuring there’s enough clearance for both vehicle and trailer. It’s a driving aid, not an excuse to stop paying attention.
Still, for anyone who’s ever had a boat trailer start heading towards a neighbouring vehicle, fence or particularly expensive-looking boat, it’s technology that makes a lot of sense. Ford’s wider towing assistance features also help make the process more manageable, reinforcing the Ranger’s reputation as a vehicle designed to work hard and play harder.
And here’s an observation from the weekend: while we saw plenty of Rangers towing boats, we didn’t spot any PHEVs doing the same. Now, that’s not to say a plug-in hybrid can’t tow – the Ranger PHEV itself is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes – but when you’re talking about a weekend involving a hundred boats, some serious distances and plenty of weight behind the towbar, the Ranger’s established towing credentials were certainly well represented.
There is something reassuring about seeing a vehicle doing the job it was designed for, rather than simply talking about what it might be capable of. However, I must admit that the Extreme boat we headed out on actually didn’t need a tow at all, with its sealegs-style wheels we just drove directly into (and out of) the water. Lazy, but quite a unique experience.
A $400,000 reason to go fishing
While the boats, fishing and social side of the tournament provided plenty of entertainment, there was another very good reason for everyone to get involved. The headline prize was a remarkable $400,000 Ford Ranger and Extreme Boats fundraising package, supporting Northern Rescue.
That’s a pretty extraordinary prize and one that demonstrates just how much can be achieved when automotive brands, boat builders and the wider fishing community get behind a worthwhile cause. The package ultimately found a new home with a winner from Auckland – proving that sometimes the biggest catch of the weekend doesn’t actually involve a fishing rod.
For Northern Rescue, the fundraising element is an important part of what makes the tournament more than just another competition. It brings together people with a shared passion and gives them an opportunity to contribute to something that reaches well beyond the water’s edge. And with a prize of this magnitude, there was certainly plenty of incentive to get involved.
More than just fishing
Spending the weekend with Ford New Zealand gave us a chance to see a different side of the Ranger story. We regularly talk about utes in terms of power, torque, payload, technology and specification. They’re measured against spreadsheets, compared with competitors and discussed in terms of fleet suitability and running costs.
But weekends like this are a reminder of what these vehicles actually enable people to do. They tow boats, transport families, carry fishing equipment, travel across the country and provide access to experiences that might otherwise be a little harder to enjoy. For many owners, a ute isn’t just a work vehicle; it’s an essential part of their recreational life.
And the Extreme Boats Fishing Tournament was a pretty convincing demonstration of that. With around 100 boats, 400 participants, some impressive distances covered and a whole lot of Ranger-shaped towing power, it was a weekend that showcased the strength of New Zealand’s boating and fishing community.
We might not have landed a trophy fish ourselves (or in fact any fish at all worth mentioning), and there wasn’t a shark in sight, but we certainly came away with a better appreciation of the people, passion and machinery that make events like this happen.
A big thanks to Ford New Zealand for having us along for the weekend. We had a great time, saw some seriously impressive boats and were reminded that, when it comes to getting out there and enjoying the Kiwi outdoors, a good ute and a decent boat make a rather excellent combination.
Now, about that fishing rod… we might need to practise a little before next year..
