Marine & Boating Best Sellers: The Anchor Chain, Anchors and Floats Kiwi Boaties Are Buying Now

Spring is here and boats are coming out from under their covers all around the country. So we went back through the last 90 days of orders in our Marine & Boating range to see what Kiwi boaties have actually been buying. The answer is pretty clear: people are sorting out the basics. Chain, an anchor, a decent shackle to join it all, a float to mark the spot and a nav light for the trip home. Here are five genuine recent best sellers, laid out the way you'd put together a simple, reliable anchoring set-up.

1. DIN 766 Galvanised Anchor Chain

This is our biggest Marine & Boating seller over the last three months,. It's galvanised short-link chain made to the DIN 766 standard, designed for use with an auto winch, in 6mm, 7mm, 8mm and 10mm sizes. You order it by the metre, so you can buy exactly the length your boat and winch need. It's bought by trailer boat owners replacing a rusty old length of chain and by people setting up a new auto winch. If you're replacing chain on an existing winch, check the chain size and standard on your gypsy first so the new chain matches. We also stock matching rope, and there are ready-made rope and chain combos if you'd rather buy the lot together.

Price: from $10.99 per metre - DIN 766 anchor chain. More in short link DIN 766 anchor chains.

2. Danforth Galvanised Anchors (1.5kg to 6kg)

The Danforth design has been around since 1939, and it's still one of the most popular anchors we sell. These are low-cost galvanised sand anchors that set quickly in most seabeds, which makes them a good fit for dinghies, small boats and fishing nets. They're best suited as a short-term fishing anchor or for day cruising. Sizes run from 1.5kg up to 6kg, so there's an option for most small craft.

Price: from $21 - Danforth anchors. See the full range in Danforth & collapsible anchors.

3. Stainless Captive Pin D Shackles

It's a small part, but it's what holds the chain to the anchor. These D shackles are marine-grade stainless steel with an electro-polished finish to resist corrosion and rust. The captive pin is the selling point: the pin stays attached to the shackle, so you won't drop it over the side when you're connecting or disconnecting gear on a rocking boat. They come in 4mm through to 12mm and are sold individually, so it's easy to grab the right size for your chain plus a spare for the toolbox.

Price: from $5.99 each - Stainless captive pin D shackles. More in anchor swivels & shackles.

4. 9 Inch Plastic Float Buoy (5kg Flotation)

A hi-vis orange float that's tough, cheap and easy to spot. This Sea Harvester float measures 200mm x 270mm, gives 5kg of flotation and has a loop for easy fastening. Customers use it on cray pots and long lines, and it works just as well as a marker or anchor retrieval float.

Price: $25 - 9 inch plastic float buoy. More in buoys, fenders & floats.

5. Portable Bi-Colour Navigation Light

This is the finished bit of kit on the list, and it's a handy one. It's a compact, waterproof LED bi-colour nav light that runs on 3 x AA batteries for up to 24 hours of continuous use. It suits small boats, RIBs, inflatables and dinghies without a wired lighting system, and plenty of owners keep one on board as an emergency backup. Handy if you're out early or heading home at dusk.

Price: $65 - Portable bi-colour navigation light. More in marine & RV lighting.

Also popular right now

• 6 RIB Low Drag Buoy ($29): a UV-stabilised marine-grade PVC buoy in 8 colours, with 1500g of flotation.
• 7 inch Round Float ($12.99): a bright plastic float for longlines, pots and nets.
• Sea Anchors for Softbaiting (from $37): drift anchors that slow the boat so soft baits and jigs look more natural. More in soft bait drift anchors.

From NZ harbours to the Pacific

Most of these orders come from Kiwi boaties getting ready for summer, from Northland harbours to the Marlborough Sounds and beyond. We also supply anchoring gear, floats and hardware to customers in the Pacific Islands, where dependable chain, anchors and shackles matter just as much. If you're not sure which chain size suits your winch or which anchor suits your boat, get in touch with our team and we'll help you work it out.

Browse our full range at actionoutdoors.kiwi