The 40-metre catamaran is the largest boat Profab has built.

One of the largest boats built in New Zealand is set to make a long, slow journey towards the sea.

Profab Engineering, in Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North, has almost finished building one of its most ambitious boats to date – a 40-metre-long and 12m-wide catamaran called The Beast. It is the largest boat the company has built.

Previously, the largest boat the company had constructed was 34m long.

"It's the biggest boat manufactured in New Zealand for years," said Profab owner Carl Ferguson.

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MURRAY WILSON/STUFF The boat appears has been dubbed "The Beast".

"Six metres doesn't sound like much, but in boat terms it makes a big difference."

The boat will be transported to Foxton in two parts, due to its size. Power disruptions and road closures are expected on the boat's route, as powerlines will have to be disconnected to allow room for the oversized load to pass under.

Ferguson said his company had been working on the boat for almost two years, with about 30 people involved in its construction.

The boat's journey to Foxton will be a gradual one, spanning a couple of days. It departs Palmerston North on Tuesday evening, heading towards Sanson before turning off at State Highway One.

The boat will spend Wednesday on a weighbridge near the Himatangi turn-off. On Thursday morning, SH1 in Foxton will be closed between Victoria St and Avenue Rd from 4am to 7am while the boat travels to the Manawatū Marine Boating Club.

The journey to Foxton is not the end of the road for the vessel. The two parts will be joined back together on Friday, and it will take another five to six weeks to finish the wiring, exterior painting and interior joinery, before it will be ready to launch.

Ferguson would not say who owns the boat or how much it cost to build.