If you’re tired of antifouling your hull every season and want a better way to store your boat, you’ve likely come across two main options: a water-level dry docking system like the SeaPen, or a boat lift. Both keep your hull out of the water between uses — but they work differently, suit different environments, and come with different advantages.
At DockPro, we manufacture the SeaPen and are also the authorised Australian and New Zealand distributor for both Sunstream and Golden Boat Lifts. So we’re genuinely placed to give you an honest, practical comparison.
How Each System Works
The SeaPen Advanced Dry Docking System is a floating dry dock that sits at water level inside your existing berth. You drive your vessel in, and the SeaPen creates an isolated enclosure around the hull. A built-in bilge pump automatically checks for water every two hours and pumps it out if detected, while a non-wicking rope mat inside the enclosure creates an air gap between the hull and the SeaPen’s inner skin — keeping the hull dry and ventilated between uses. No cranes, no hoists, no boatyard haul-out required. The SeaPen suits vessels approximately 6–20 metres in length across a wide range of hull types, including monohulls, catamarans, pontoon boats, and wake boats, and is compatible with outboards, stern drives, jet drives, and V-drives.
Sunstream Boat Lifts are hydraulic lifting systems designed to raise your vessel vertically out of the water. Sunstream lifts are known for their robust engineering and are available in a range of sizes to suit different vessel types and weights.
Golden Boat Lifts operate on a similar principle — lifting the vessel clear of the water — and are a popular choice for home pontoons and private jetties, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for recreational boat owners.
The Key Difference: Location, Location, Location
The most important factor in choosing between a SeaPen and a boat lift isn’t the size of your vessel — it’s where you keep it.
The SeaPen is ideally suited for calm water environments such as marinas, canals, and sheltered waterways. In these locations, water movement is minimal, making the SeaPen’s water-level design highly effective. It integrates seamlessly into an existing marina berth without any structural modifications, which is why it’s the preferred choice for marina operators and boat owners in protected waterways around the world.
Boat lifts are better suited to more exposed locations — home pontoons on tidal rivers, open bays, or areas with chop and surge where a water-level system would be subject to more movement. In these environments, lifting the vessel fully clear of the water on a fixed structure provides greater stability and security.
In short: if you’re in a marina or canal, the SeaPen is likely your best fit. If you’re on a home pontoon in a more exposed area, a Sunstream or Golden Boat Lift may be the more practical solution.
Why Dry Storage Matters
Whichever system you choose, keeping your hull dry between uses delivers significant, measurable benefits:
- Eliminates antifouling paint — no hull in the water means no marine growth, which means no toxic antifouling chemicals. The SeaPen removes this cost and environmental impact entirely.
- Reduces fuel consumption by up to 30% — a clean, dry hull has significantly less drag, which directly improves fuel efficiency every time you go out.
- Extends hull and engine life — constant immersion accelerates corrosion, osmotic blistering, and wear. Dry storage dramatically slows this process.
- Saves time and money — less maintenance, fewer haulouts, and lower running costs over the life of the vessel.
Which Should You Choose?
| SeaPen | Sunstream / Golden Boat Lift | |
| Best environment | Marinas, canals, calm waterways | Home pontoons, exposed areas |
| How it works | Floating enclosure, hull stays dry at water level | Vertical lift above the water |
| Antifouling eliminated | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | Fits existing berth — no structural changes | Fixed structure required |
| Fuel savings | Up to 30% | Up to 30% |
| Designed & made in Australia | Yes | No |
Talk to the Experts
DockPro has been helping Australian and New Zealand boat owners find the right dry storage solution for over 22 years. Whether the SeaPen, a Sunstream, or a Golden Boat Lift is right for your situation, we can help you make the right call.
Contact DockPro today — email us at sales@dockpro.com.au, call +61 7 5240 9763, or visit dockpro.com.au to get a quote.
DockPro is the manufacturer of the SeaPen Advanced Dry Docking System and the authorised Australian and New Zealand distributor for Sunstream and Golden Boat Lifts.
