Born from necessity, engineered for convenience
Sea Turner was founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife team James and Nicole Turner. The couple had recently purchased their dream 9-metre boat to enjoy adventures with their two young children, only to encounter a frustrating problem—where to store their dinghy. The outboard motors left little room for traditional davits, and manual solutions were cumbersome and time-consuming. After trying various storage methods, including awkward setups on the bow and roof, the couple settled on an inflatable dinghy that could be stowed on the back deck and inflated when needed. However, this added 30 minutes to every trip ashore.
Determined to find a better way, James sketched a design for a set of lifting arms that could hoist the dinghy and turn it upside down for secure storage. When no such product existed on the market, they decided to create their own solution. Sea Turner was born.
How it works
Sea Turner is a pair of compact, folding davit arms designed to make dinghy storage effortless. With a push of a button, the arms lift the dinghy out of the water and secure it upside down on the roof or foredeck. The upside-down storage position prevents water and debris from collecting, enhances aerodynamics, and keeps decks clear for other activities like fishing, diving, and swimming.
Unlike traditional davit cranes, which require significant reinforcement and take up valuable transom space, Sea Turner applies minimal turning force to the mounting area. Installation is straightforward—requiring only eight bolts to secure it to a hardtop or foredeck.
Key features & benefits
- Fast & Effortless Operation – Deploy or retrieve a dinghy in under a minute using a simple remote control.
- Space-Saving Design – Keeps decks clear and eliminates the need for rear davits or transom storage.
- Minimal Structural Impact – Requires no major reinforcements or modifications to most boats.
- Versatile Installation – Compatible with a range of vessels, as well as campervans and RVs.
- Marine-Grade Durability – Built from high-quality materials to withstand harsh marine environments.
- Enhanced Safety – Reduces the physical strain of lifting and secures the dinghy in place for stable transport.
Expanding beyond boats: A solution for land adventurers too
While Sea Turner was designed with boaties in mind, it has quickly gained interest from caravan and motorhome owners looking for a hassle-free way to transport kayaks, SUPs, and inflatable boats. The system’s extendable arms can be mounted to roof racks, clearing wing mirrors and wheel arches to protect vehicles from damage. A single or double setup can be used to carry loads of up to 40kg, making it an ideal storage solution for outdoor enthusiasts.
See Sea Turner in action
Sea Turner is set to make waves at the Auckland Boat Show from 6-9 March, where visitors can see the system in action and place orders. The company is already receiving strong interest from boat owners, RV enthusiasts, and industry professionals eager to revolutionise their approach to dinghy storage.
“We keep hearing from people that they’ve never seen anything like it, but it perfectly solves a problem so many face,” says James Turner. “We’re also hearing from people who want to install them on caravans and motorhomes, so we have plans to expand our offerings later this year.”
Unlock more adventure with Sea Turner
For more information, visit Sea Turner at the Auckland Boat Show⏤you’ll find Sea Turner on the water where they will be demonstrating the Sea Turner⏤or contact the team to learn how you can get your own Sea Turner system installed today.
