A Family-Driven Solution to a Common Problem
The story of Sea Turner started with a simple but serious problem. Company owner’s, James and Nicole, along with their two small children, enjoy adventuring out on the water, visiting secluded beaches and isolated locations. Their 25ft (7-metre) hard-top launch is perfect for a family of their size, except for the problem of their dinghy. Their small dinghy is a much needed part of their adventure as it allows the family to easily get to the shore from their boat, and back again.
Small as it is, their dinghy is too large to tow behind the back of their launch; as it drags and slows their launch making it difficult to travel. Instead, with their 25ft launch, every trip meant inflating, deflating, and stowing their small tender.
“We were managing the children, the vessel, and the dinghy, and it just wasn’t happening,” James remembers. “I thought, ‘There has to be an easier way to do this.'”
What ensued was typical Kiwi ingenuity. With a number-eight-wire mentality, James set about creating a simple, effective, and affordable solution. What he ended up with was the Sea Turner: a compact, efficient device that enables boat owners to easily lift and stow their dinghy—whether on a foredeck, cockpit hardtop, or elsewhere—without worry of wind, waves, or whatever else the weather might throw at them.
Precision engineering with local craftsmanship
The Sea Turner might have begun as a simple, local idea, but its development has required a cadre of capable engineers and fabricators, all of whom are based in New Zealand, to work in concert together.
Nicole explains that they are an incredibly talented team. “Our lead engineer, Dave Higgins, has worked with Team New Zealand on the cycling grinders and has been involved in Olympic-level bicycle design. Our fabricator, Mike Fraser, is a rally car driver with a precision approach to metalwork. Everything about this product is built for performance and longevity.”
The Sea Turner works with just two buttons, making it a simple device to use even when conditions aren’t favourable. With a smooth, controlled lifting motion, the Turner pulls the dinghy from the water, secures it, and places it cleanly out of the way—no excessive muscle or manpower required.
Designed for everyday boaters
The Sea Turner spreads the load effectively and has a simple installation. It installs with just eight bolts—four per arm. The arms are adjustable so they can fit a variety of boat designs, from small launches to larger yachts. A lot of installations require costly reinforcements; this one doesn’t.
“Where demand is coming from has been interesting to see,” Nicole says. “At first, we thought it was mostly going to be people like us with hardtop launches. But we’ve had yacht owners express interest, fishing aficionados, and even people looking for a way to handle really heavy cray pots. The versatile nature of the system is proving one of its standout features.”
The present system is designed to manage tenders weighing up to 40 kg—ideal for the vast majority of inflatable dinghies. Future iterations will accommodate heftier tenders as the product line expands.
Making waves in the boating community
After introducing the Sea Turner at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, Turner and Nicole were astounded by the response. “People really need to see it in action to understand just how effective it is,” James observes. “Once they do, it’s a lightbulb moment. We’ve had great feedback from our first customers, and we’re stoked to bring it to a wider audience.”
The product’s straightforwardness and usefulness have made it successful online as well. Recent attention in Boating New Zealand saw it placing among the most-read stories, with levels of engagement exceeding expectations.
Nicole says there is a lot of interest in their marine solution. “When we started, we just wanted a better solution for our own boat,” she shares. “Now, it’s turned into something that could help a lot of other boaters as well.”
Launching with a special Auckland Boat Show offer
As the Auckland Boat Show approaches, the Sea Turner team is presenting a not-to-be-missed offer for early adopters. The first three customers to acquire a Sea Turner at the show will receive, gratis, a Takacat three-metre inflatable dinghy—an ideal tender to pair with the system.
With a launch price of NZD $11,000 plus GST, the Sea Turner is competitively positioned against the traditional davit system, while offering greater ease of use and flexibility.
A bright future ahead
As demand grows, James and Nicole are already thinking about future developments. Plans are in place to refine and expand the product line, ensuring that more boat owners can benefit from this innovative solution.
“We’re still at the start of our journey,” James says. “But the response so far has been incredibly encouraging. We’re looking forward to seeing where this takes us and how we can continue improving the boating experience for Kiwis.”
For those heading to the Auckland Boat Show, a live demonstration of the Sea Turner in action is a must-see. With a strong mix of innovation, practicality, and New Zealand craftsmanship, this is one product that’s set to make waves in the boating world.
