Marine & Boating Best Sellers: The Deck Seats, Winches, GPS and Rod Holders Kiwi Boaties Are Buying Now

Summer's nearly here, and the orders coming through our Marine & Boating range show it. Alongside the usual anchor chain and Danforths (we've covered those before), Kiwi boaties have been buying gear that makes days on the water easier and more comfortable: something to sit on, something to get the boat back on the trailer, better navigation and a spot for the rods. We went through the last 90 days of real orders and picked five genuine recent sellers.

1. Comfort Sundeck Seat by Absolute Marine

The most popular "comfort" buy on the list. It's a padded seat cushion with a built-in backrest that locks at a range of angles, from sitting upright at 90 degrees right back to lounging. It measures 110cm long by 43cm wide and 7.5cm thick, has a non-slip base and is covered in marine-grade, weather-resistant fabric. People are buying it for the foredeck or sundeck of the boat, but it works just as well on the beach, the lawn or at the park, and it folds away when you're done.

Price: $175 - Comfort Sundeck Seat. More in boat seats, pedestals & tables.

2. maXtek Wireless Boat Winch 900kg

If you launch and retrieve on your own, this is the one people buy to save their back at the ramp. It's a 12V DC trailer winch rated to pull 900kg (about 2,200lb), with a wireless handheld remote so one person can run it while staying clear of the cable. It comes with 9m of 5mm wire rope, a 4.5m power cable, a mounting plate and a hand crank as a backup, and carries a two-year warranty. A circuit breaker is recommended for the install (not included).

Price: $295 - maXtek wireless boat winch 900kg. More in electric trailer winches.

3. Lowrance Point-1 GPS Antenna

A popular upgrade for anyone already running a Lowrance display. The Point-1 is a compact external GPS antenna with a built-in electronic compass, giving 10 Hz position, speed and heading updates over NMEA 2000. That means smoother tracking on the plotter and heading data for chart stabilisation and radar overlay. It supports GPS and GLONASS plus SBAS, is waterproof, and can be pole or surface mounted. Check that your display is NMEA 2000 compatible before you buy.

Price: $440 - Lowrance Point-1 GPS antenna. More in antennas & network gear and marine navigation & electronics.

4. Sea Harvester Alloy Rod Holder (Straight)

A simple bit of kit that keeps selling to anyone fitting out an alloy boat. It's a straight, rocket-launcher style rod holder made to be welded in or welded on, with a T-bar bottom to stop the rod butt moving around. Mount a few in a row along a rail or gunwale and your rods are tidy, out of the way and ready to grab. If you're getting a boat built or doing some alloy work this spring, it's worth adding a few to the job.

Price: $39.99 - Alloy rod holder straight. More in marine accessories.

5. 6 Inch Plastic Float

By units, this is one of the biggest sellers in the whole range. It's a heavy-duty, hi-vis plastic float (yellow or orange, depending on what's in stock) with a loop for easy tying off. Customers use them to mark cray pots, longline ends and set nets, and plenty of people grab several at once to replace ones that have gone missing or faded.

Price: $13 - 6 inch plastic float. More in buoys, fenders & floats.

Also popular

• 5mm 316 Quick Link ($8 each): a marine-grade stainless connecting link for joining chain. More in anchor swivels & shackles.
• Simrad GS25 Antenna Module Pack ($468.05): an NMEA 2000 GNSS antenna with heading, for Simrad systems.
• Polyform Fender (from $19.99): tough, inflatable vinyl fenders in a range of sizes.

From NZ boat ramps to the Pacific

Most of these orders come from Kiwi owners getting set for summer, whether that's a trailer boat heading to the local ramp or a launch on a mooring. We also supply marine gear to customers in the Pacific Islands, where tough hardware and good navigation are just as important. If you're not sure which winch suits your trailer or whether an antenna will work with your display, get in touch and our team will help you check.

Browse our full range at actionoutdoors.kiwi