Welcome back Challenger boats

The Challenger boat brand is back – with a new owner, new branding and a new plan of attack. The brand has been launched by new owner, Peter Bridgens, based out of the Waikato, who purchased the brand after deciding he wanted to do something that incorporated one of his biggest passions – fishing.

After milking cows for 30-odd years, Peter sold his cows and says he was looking for something else. “I wanted to purchase the company because it had been on sale for a few years and it piqued my interest. When I found this, I thought, oh that would be just the right ticket, because I've always been a keen fisherman and boatie,” he says. “I've always been around boats, having bought my own when I was 15. I thought it would be great to do my passion and give it a go.”

Peter says the brand had good potential, having been around since the mid-90s. “They had a good name, it had everything going for it,” he says.

Peter says his main goal for his first year in business is to produce and sell 25 boats, as well as get the Challenger name back out there. “We want to let people know that we are back, and we're back for good,” he says.

The company has already finished production on the Challenger 650 hard top, with a 720 hard top now in the works. Two Challenger 595s will soon join the line-up, Peter says.

The vessels are being produced with the Challenger’s original hull moulds. “Once we get the build process down to a fine art, we should be able to make a boat every two weeks,” he says. “Once we've done one or two it should get quicker and quicker and get easier from there. At the
moment, we can supply a boat in six to eight weeks.”

Peter says the boating and fishing community has been enthusiastic about the brand’s return. “It's been great. Everyone is really supportive and says it is great to see the boats back. Everyone has been
really positive.”

Challenger attended the Tairua Boat Show, which Peter says was a great experience. "To get the boat out there and see people and to see their reaction, there was a lot of interest in it."  

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