The Salthouse name has been part of New Zealand boatbuilding since John Salthouse opened his original yard in 1956. Over the years that followed, the yard produced timber launches, GRP cruisers, production sailing yachts, and custom offshore vessels. One of the most enduring contributions to the local market was Salthouse's role in developing the Cavalier sailing range, which became one of the best-known production yacht lines in the country.
An unusually broad collection of Salthouse-built and Salthouse-designed vessels has appeared on the market at the same time, spanning nearly five decades of output. The selection crosses timber and GRP construction, sail and power, modest family day boats, and serious long-range cruisers. Eight vessels are examined below, chosen to represent the range of price points, construction types, and intended uses they cover.
1979 Salthouse Corsair MkI — $120,000
11.7m LOA. Detroit diesel 210hp, fully rebuilt, 900 hours. Two cabins plus saloon berths, sleeps seven or more.
Few designs shaped New Zealand launch ownership through the 1980s as distinctly as the Corsair MkI, and it retains genuine standing with buyers who know these coastal waters well. This 1979 example has been through successive restorations and presents in a condition that gives little away about its age. The interior has been professionally restored with factory teak floors, the gearbox received a full rebuild in February 2023, and the heat exchanger has since been reconditioned with a new water pump impeller. Fitted equipment includes a hard top flybridge, bow thruster, shore power with a current EWOF, full electronics, and separate fridge and freezer. Buyers seeking a Corsair MkI that is genuinely ready to use, with no significant outstanding work remaining, will find precious little to add.
1996 Salthouse Corsair MkII — $178,000
Approx. 12m. Single 400hp Iveco, shaft drive, 260 hours since new in 2013. Double V-berth forward, double bunk cabin to port.
This 1996 Corsair MkII ranks among the faster vessels currently available in its category. Its 400hp Iveco was installed new in 2013 and has accumulated just 260 hours since. Maximum speed is reported at 24 knots, with a cruise of 19 knots. Equipment fitted includes engine-driven fridge and freezer, electric bow thruster, a new swim platform installed in 2025, and new clears. A marina berth is available for separate purchase alongside the vessel.
2015 Salthouse Corsair Cabriolet 49 — $890,000
15m LOA, 4.12m beam, 1.0m draft. Two cabins.
The Cabriolet 49 shares a name with the Corsair launch range but is a different boat altogether. Developed by Dean Salthouse under the Next Generation Boats brand, this 15-metre GRP power catamaran was built around indoor-outdoor living, described simply as alfresco at its optimum. A draft of just 1.0 metre opens up anchorages and shallow waterways that remain inaccessible to deeper-keeled vessels. Two well-appointed cabins sit within a layout oriented toward entertaining and extended cruising. For buyers whose priorities centre on stability, shallow-water access, and a strong social layout, nothing else among the current Salthouse listings addresses the same brief.
1994 Salthouse Coastal 32 — $98,000
10.5m LOA. Hino 150hp shaft drive, 3,100 hours. One single and two doubles, sleeps six.
The Coastal 32 was designed to extract maximum volume from its waterline length, producing a boat that accommodates six people within 10.5 metres while still providing a cockpit large enough for serious fishing. The Hino diesel is a well-supported unit that keeps maintenance predictable and straightforward. This particular example spent roughly 20 years under single ownership with consistent attention throughout. Equipment aboard includes a Furuno plotter and sounder, fridge and freezer in working order, a Maxwell anchor winch, engine-heated hot water, inside and outside showers, and a rubber dinghy with Suzuki outboard.
1984 Salthouse KB760 — $56,000
8.45m LOA. 2020 Yanmar, ~405 hours. Family coastal cruiser.
The KB760 is a Bob Salthouse fibreglass hull that earned a loyal following among New Zealand boating families, valued for its practical layout and easy handling. The standout feature of this 1984 example is its engine, a Yanmar fitted in 2020 with approximately 405 hours on the clock, making the mechanical package considerably newer than the hull it powers. Hot and cold showers are fitted both inside and in the cockpit, a 12v/240v fridge and freezer is aboard, and dual-station flybridge docking controls are installed. Shore power is connected, and fresh antifoul, anodes, and prop-speed were applied in May 2025. At $56,000 it carries the lowest asking price in the current Salthouse listings, and the low engine hours give it a value argument that extends well beyond that figure.
1975 Salthouse 42 — $140,000
12.8m LOA, 4.2m beam, 1.3m draft. Detroit GM8V71TT shaft drive, reportedly reconditioned December 2016, 3,071 hours. Three forward cabins, sleeps a double and four singles.
Constructed using double-diagonal Kauri glassed over, this 1975 Salthouse 42 is a direct product of the building method that defined New Zealand launch construction through the 1960s and 1970s. The Detroit diesel is reported to have been fully reconditioned in late 2016, providing a useful reference point against the total hours showing on the clock. Cruise is reported at 9 knots at 1,500rpm with an average fuel burn of 20 litres per hour, and 16 knots is available at maximum. Headroom reaches 1.96 metres, the flybridge is open, the cockpit is spacious, and the saloon helm station gives good all-round visibility. A bow thruster is fitted. For anyone drawn to the timber era of New Zealand boatbuilding, this is a classically constructed, generously proportioned launch priced to reflect honest wear rather than a showroom finish.
1983 Cavalier 39 — $59,990
11.88m LOA. 3.42m beam. 1.82m draft. Perkins M60 60hp. Bluewater setup.
Designed by Bob Salthouse and built by Export Yachts New Zealand, the Cavalier 39 was conceived for capable offshore passage-making. This 1983 example is well-maintained and pairs proven bluewater performance with practical liveaboard comfort. Full standing headroom runs throughout, private double cabins and a well-equipped galley are included, and total berth count reaches six. The 60hp Perkins diesel has been reconditioned and carries low hours since rebuild. A full sail wardrobe is aboard, professional osmosis treatment was completed in 2022, and fresh antifoul was applied in 2025. The yacht is currently lying in Auckland.
1978 Salthouse 12.8 Crusader — $65,000
12.8m LOA. 38hp Nanni Kubota auxiliary, 275 hours. Quarter berth aft, large double V-berth forward, two further doubles from saloon conversion.
A category one survey history sets this Salthouse 12.8 Crusader apart: it is a yacht built and maintained for offshore work. The Nanni Kubota auxiliary has seen very limited use, with only 275 hours recorded. The sail inventory is the most compelling element of the listing, covering a full battened mainsail, three genoas, yankee, storm jib, storm main, cutter blade, staysail, and spinnaker. The cockpit can be fully enclosed via the transom door, the traveller sits forward of the bimini to keep the working area clear, and autopilot controls are positioned at the helm. Decks have been prepared for painting. Offered below market value to achieve a prompt sale, this is a complete, serious offshore sailing yacht available at an entry-level price.
Market Summary
These eight vessels cover an unusually broad cross-section of New Zealand boatbuilding history under a single family name. The price spread runs from $56,000 to $890,000 across close to 50 years of production. Restored Corsair launches, a compact family cruiser, a timber passage-maker, a purpose-built offshore sailing yacht with a category one survey history, a bluewater-capable Cavalier 39, and a high-specification GRP power catamaran all sit within the same market at the same time. Each was designed and built for New Zealand conditions, practical in its intent whether the brief called for day tripping, extended coastal cruising, or serious offshore work.
Specifications and prices are as listed by the selling broker or owner. Independent survey is recommended before purchase.
