Beyond the grounds: The Pacific 62 and the rise of the ocean-going sportfisher

For a particular breed of sportfisherman, a day’s run to the local grounds isn’t the goal - it’s just the beginning. The ocean is an opportunity without limits: a place to be explored, understood, and fished with purpose. For these adventurers, distance is an advantage, not a deterrent. The Pacific 62 from Dickey Boats speaks directly to that ambition.

A vision forged from experience

The Pacific 62 is the outcome of an ocean-focused family’s personal challenge and professional legacy. Jason and Tristin Dickey, founders of the acclaimed Dickey Boats, envisioned a vessel that could take them, their kids, and a few like-minded friends on serious offshore adventures - whether that meant diving untouched reefs, fishing distant seamounts, or heading where the chart detail begins to thin out.

Khaos, the first Pacific 62, brought that vision to life. Since launching in November 2024, she has already logged thousands of nautical miles—from the Bay of Islands to the Three Kings and beyond. In just her first few months, she’s proven herself as the family’s go-to platform for extended escape and reconnection - hosting trips with mates, school holidays on the water, and spontaneous missions chasing fish through New Zealand’s summer blue-water season.

She’s a boat that reflects deep thinking, lived experience, and a clear understanding of what matters most at sea. With the shake-down cruises behind them, the charts are back on the table - and plans to push deep into the Pacific are already underway.

Range without compromise

The Pacific 62’s long-range credentials aren’t theoretical - they’ve been proven under load in real-world passage-making conditions. The combination of a low-drag hull, modest horsepower, and modern variable-pitch propellers has now been thoroughly tested over thousands of nautical miles. In Jason Dickey’s own words: “We couldn’t be happier.”

And range is about more than just fuel capacity and litres per nautical mile. It’s about serviceability at sea, in a wide range of conditions, and with minimal support. The Pacific 62 includes dedicated workshop space and systems that can serviced while travelling with allowances for manual overrides if necessary. When the nearest technician is an international flight away, both reliability and serviceability matter.

Key factors contributing to the Pacific 62’s real-world range include:

• Twin 150hp Yanmar diesels
  Straightforward, no-nonsense powerplants - dependable power.

• Variable pitch propellers
  Adjusted manually for precision load at all RPM’s. West Mekan props and shafts from Norway give serious bite at low revs, and real-world flexibility.

• Fuel burn: ~1L per nautical mile at 7.5–8 knots
  With 4,400L in the tanks: That’s New Zealand to French Polynesia, non-stop on only 50% of the total fuel.

• Feathering mode for passage-making
  Shut one engine down, feather the idle prop, and double your service interval. Efficiency meets foresight.

• Flat shaft angle
  Propulsion goes into forward motion - not wasted in lift.

• Pace when you need it
  Fast cruise of 14-knots (with a secondary cruise of 10-knots at 2L per nautical mile).

This boat was never about speed. It’s about covering serious water in comfort, with confidence, all on a platform tailored to maximise the experience. There’s space for toys, well-considered living arrangements, and a purposeful fishing setup that reflects time spent offshore.

Seakeeping when more than just comfort depends on it

Most modern sport-fishers are highly compromised by the weather conditions in which they can comfortably and effectively operate. The Pacific 62 wasn’t built for waiting out forecasts - it was made to get moving when it makes sense to do so, and to cope with the unexpected enroute - even when that route stretches over weeks.

This requirement shaped the design process from day one. The Pacific 62 is engineered to perform reliably across a wide spectrum of sea states and latitudes. From long-period ocean swell to short, confused chop driven by frontal systems - and even heaving-to in storm-driven weather - this vessel is built to be at sea when other recreational vessels are tied up.

Khaos has proven its mettle in real-world conditions: logging miles in 50-knot systems, anchoring off exposed and remote coastlines, and holding station in open water over structure. Khaos has handled it all without drama.

Contributing to the Pacific 62’s confidence-inspiring seakeeping are the following features:

• 8mm aluminium hull base
  A commercial-grade hull bottom that offers exceptional durability and impact resistance - ideal for remote anchorages and the occasional unplanned grounding.

• Quick X19 gyro stabiliser integrated into design
  Compact, quiet and effective underway or at rest. Essential for comfort during overnighting in open anchorages or while drifting deepwater structure.

• Full thermal and acoustic insulation
  14mm closed-cell foam throughout keeps internal temperatures steady and noise levels low - important for crew endurance over long passages.

Additional considerations allow the vessel to survive in worst-case scenarios:

• Self-righting hull characteristics
  Hull geometry and superstructure buoyancy are designed to provide a natural righting moment.

• Glass – 12mm toughened outer glass with secondary 6mm toughened inner glass

Fishing-first functionality

Fishing isn't an afterthought on Khaos - it’s foundational. The fishing–explorer lifestyle underpins Jason Dickey’s vision for this boat, and he has the lived experience to design for it. The cockpit, deck layout, and storage systems are shaped by time on the water and tested in real offshore scenarios. The bridge and its complementary tower offer exceptional visibility, yet the vessel can be confidently operated from multiple locations - including the aft deck, ideal when fishing short-handed.

The tuna tubes, generously sized live-wells, and integrated mounting options for blue-water gear a serious sportfisherman might need make it clear - this boat was built by someone who takes offshore fishing seriously. Every detail has a reason—and every inclusion supports the mission.

• Dedicated bait tanks, and tuna tubes
  These are mission-critical features for anyone spending serious time on extended sport fishing voyages. The live bait systems keep offerings healthy and ready over multiple days.

• Gear-rigging station, outdoor bbq and deck-access day head
  A dedicated rigging station and day-head reduces the foot traffic inside while keeping the fish scales and filleting detritus outside. Cooking a soul-warming lunch can even be completed outside in comfort keeping the crew focus where it matters.

• Rod storage for more than 30 rods
  Purpose-built lockers and overhead stowage secure a full arsenal—everything from pitch bait setups to heavy tackle - close to hand and protected in transit.

• Uncluttered transom
  Clean, open space for divers, swimmers, or bringing large pelagic species to the rail. Nothing gets in the way when it matters. The swim platform is optional depending on the intent to dive and access the water regularly

• Coachroof storage with dedicated crane system
  The 3.5m tender, kayaks, paddleboards, surf boards, wing foils are stored high, dry, and out of the workflow - yet deployable in minutes when needed.

• Dual anchoring systems
  Remotely operable twin forward anchors with serious chain capacity, plus aft winches for stern ties. This setup expands anchorage options—from tucked-in Fiordland bays to coral atolls thousands of miles from any marina.

This Pacific 62 - Khaos - isn’t trying to please everyone. It’s purpose-built for those who fish seriously and cruise far, giving its owner the confidence and capability to fish harder and stay out longer—wherever the edge of the map happens to be.

Designed to be lived in

Inside, the Pacific 62 balances practical design with understated, enduring comfort. This isn’t a showboat - it’s a proper home at sea, built for people who know what it means to be underway for days or weeks at a time. Every detail is there to serve daily life aboard, albeit with a high degree of contemporary aesthetic appeal.

• Saloon-to-cockpit integration
  A swing-up aft window and large doorway unify the interior and exterior spaces. The result is excellent crossflow for airflow and conversation, whether on the hook or under way.

• Full galley with 240V appliances
  Outfitted for serious provisioning and real cooking. Full-size refrigeration, solid-surface bench tops, and electric cooking appliances make meal prep feel effortless, even on a passage.

• Three-cabin configuration
  A forward owner’s suite with en suite, plus two guest cabins with stacked bunks. Flexible layout options are available to match each owner’s preferences - whether family cruising or crewed passage-making.

• Full service zone below deck
  A dedicated space for the real work of long-term cruising: integrated workshop, laundry facilities, bait freezer, and excellent access to the engine room.

• Lithium-ion battery system
  A robust, fast-charging, house bank provides quiet power for lifestyle loads and essential systems. Designed for endurance and efficiency, it reduces reliance on the genset and supports true off-grid operation.

• High-capacity watermaker
  Reliable freshwater production to support extended periods away from shore. It’s a key enabler for true off-shore living - zero need for land-based fill-ups means less usage restrictions and more freedom to roam.

Technology aboard the Pacific 62 is treated with the same philosophy as the rest of the boat - practical, integrated, and fit for serious use. From navigation to communication, the systems are built around reliability and usability, supporting extended operation without unnecessary complexity.

Electronics are sensibly integrated and proven: Khaos is fitted TIMEZERO Pro navigation, Furuno radar and sounders, WASSP bathymetry, and Starlink comms—all easy to access, easy to maintain, and ready to support serious miles.

Who’s it for?

The Pacific 62 was never intended to appeal to the widest market. It was built with a specific kind of owner in mind - someone who values capability and understands that the true rewards of time at sea lie beyond the 12-mile limit. This is a vessel designed for experienced hands, practical thinkers, and those who view seamanship as a way of life.

It’s for people who:

• Have ambitions to passage-make - and want the range to do it
  This is a vessel that makes long-range planning feel achievable and safe, whether it’s a full Pacific crossing or a serious coastal leg.

• Want to run their own boat, hands-on
  With systems designed for reliability and access, this is a boat that rewards owner-operators who like to stay involved and in control.

• Appreciate craftsman-like finish

• For a particular breed of sportfisherman, a day’s run to the local grounds isn’t the goal - t’s just the beginning. The ocean is an opportunity without limits: a place to be explored, understood, and fished with purpose. For these adventurers, distance is an advantage, not a deterrent. The Pacific 62 from Dickey Boats speaks directly to that ambition. intelligent layout
  The Pacific 62 is not showy, but it’s beautifully executed. Every line, joinery detail, and system installation is shaped by people who care about the result.

• Need to balance of offshore readiness and family liveability
  Whether you're drift fishing wide of the shelf or sharing anchor with another family in a quiet cove, this boat fits the moment.

• Value capability without compromises
  They boat-building integrity, logic in design, and thoughtful integration - without the distraction of superficial accoutrements. It’s about what works - and what lasts.

The Pacific 62 is a vessel that speaks to mastery of seamanship - and to those who choose to practise it.

Final Word

The Pacific 62 is more than a product - it’s a platform. A philosophy. An invitation to step beyond the ordinary and into something elemental. It’s a vessel built to unlock ambitions you may not have realised you held—until you find yourself planning a trip you never thought possible.

With hull two almost completed, hull three under build, and Khaos having already crossed thousands of miles, this vessel is no longer a prototype. It’s a proven answer to a question few builders truly ask: how far do you want to go?

This article is published with permission on NZ Fishing World & Angler's Planet