Charting the course – inside Mariner’s 2025 Great NZ Boating Survey
“These surveys tell a great story about our collective life on the water,” says Aaron Mortimer, Mariner Insurance owner and director. “The results give us a valuable insight into boating behaviour and trends. They add a layer of nuance to our standard insurance data, and I’m sure there are many others in the industry and around it who will find the results of use.”
Mariner’s second nationwide survey attracted 3,610 skippers and crew, giving us a rich vein to compare 2025 against the inaugural 2019 study. Want to see how a pandemic, a cost-of-living crunch and two blockbuster summers have reshaped boating in Aotearoa? Read on.
1. Bigger hulls, bigger horizons
Trailer boats still dominate, yet their share has slipped 5.1 percentage points while yachts and launches climbed 5.6 points.
“More Kiwis are investing in range,” notes Mortimer. “Longer waterlines mean offshore ambitions and values pushing upward.”
With extra space comes the potential for longer passages, more comfort for the crew and passengers and higher valuations and rebuild values. If you have upgraded, do check your policy schedule to make sure the sum insured matches expectations.
2. Owners are hanging on
There’s an 8.9 % jump in vessels kept three-plus years. Longer stewardship means more maintenance effort. Aaron adds a caution, urging owners to keep a check on silent wear factors such as rig fatigue or outdated electronics.:
“Even the tidiest launch hides fatigue you can’t see. If you are holding on to your boat, a mid-life survey and tidy service log pay dividends, especially if you do decide to sell.”
3. Salt water in the blood
A whopping 78.2 % of respondents grew up in boating households.
“That generational knowledge is gold,” says Aaron, “but it shouldn’t be an excuse for complacency. A skipper’s ticket doesn’t replace experience; it sharpens it.”
4. Why we go afloat – family first
Fishing still tops the chart at 76.7%, but it’s down from 83%. Day trips with family now sit at 59.1 %.
“Boats are sometimes floating baches,” Aaron laughs. “We’re certainly seeing more paddleboards lashed to stanchions and dog-friendly deck mats.”
6. Spring fever at the broker's yard
Purchases peak in October and December; unsurprisingly, winter remains the quietest season.
“If you’re after a bargain, you might find motivated vendors once the mercury drops, just be aware there’s also less on the market at that time,” Aaron notes. “Sellers should hold until early spring to catch the wave of pre-summer buyers to optimise demand.”
Top tips for buying and selling boats:
- Sellers – list late winter/early spring to catch demand from spring browsers.
- Buyers – cold months mean motivated vendors and limited competition; negotiate hard and redirect the savings into safety gear.
6. Proudly Kiwi-built
62.6 % of yachts and 45.2 % of launches are locally built. That means parts are close, designers know our coastline and resale values stay high.
“We love to buy local,” admits Aaron. “It’s great to support the local economy, but there’s more to it than that. We have a rich history of building great boats in NZ, and locally made means shorter wait times for delivery, parts and peace of mind in designs made for our tough coastal conditions.”
That good ol’ Kiwi heritage also adds weight to resale values.
7. Safety culture steps up
Insurance uptake rose to 87.3 % and formal training to 68.4 %.
“That’s one stat that makes me smile.” says Aaron. “More cover plus better training equals fewer heartbreak stories in my inbox.”
It shows a boating community with a better understanding of risk that wants to protect people, gear and the places we love.
8. The horizon ahead
Bigger boats, longer stewardship and a growing focus on family time together paint a picture of a maturing Kiwi boating scene.
Experience, expertise, plus a trusted insurer sit at the heart of that journey. If this survey sparks thoughts about upgrades or new adventures, take a moment to review your cover – Mariner is here to help.
Fair winds and following seas, Aotearoa.