Two people who couldn't wait to put their new boat in the water on Sunday encountered more than miserable boating weather.

In freezing 20knot winds they lost their anchor, ran out of fuel and called Tauranga Coastguard when they began blowing towards the shore.

The Coastguard crew got to the 20ft Bayliner with two people onboard at about 4.30pm, by which time it was in the shallows off Ferguson Park.

He wasn't a Coastguard member and may face the cost of his rescue.