Senator Builds Boats with the Sun

Hawke’s Bay boat building firm Senator Boats is using the sun to help build its wide range of popular alloy boats at its Napier factory.

Instead of facing a $1500 monthly electricity bill, Senator Boats managing director Wayne McKinley decided to generate his own power, to reduce and stabilise his power costs by utilising the roof of his large factory.

Senator Boats is one of New Zealand’s premier boat builders and pioneered the pontoon-style leisure boat market. More than 130 boats sized from 4 metres to 17 metres are manufactured in the factory annually and sent to boat retailers nationally.

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