INSIGHTS FROM THE FOUNDERS OF SEAPEN DRY DOCKING SYSTEMS
For many boaters, the answer involves a mental checklist that starts well before they ever leave the marina. Does the hull need a clean? Is it time for another antifoul? Has marine growth affected performance or fuel economy? It’s the kind of maintenance burden that can take the shine off a boating holiday before it even begins.
For Mark and Sandra Barber, founders of SeaPen Dry Docking Systems, boating has always been about family, freedom and making the most of Queensland’s incredible waterways. Every year, they load up the boat and head across Moreton Bay to Moreton Island for a week of snorkelling, spearfishing, fishing and exploring the island’s crystal-clear waters. It’s a tradition that has become one of the highlights of the family calendar.
The difference is that unlike many boat owners, the week leading up to departure is remarkably stress-free. Their boat is berthed at Runaway Bay Marina in a SeaPen. There are no last-minute bookings for hull cleaning, no antifouling schedules to manage and no concerns about marine growth reducing performance. The boat sits clean, dry and ready to go every day of the year.
“We simply pack the food, load the gear and head off,” says Mark. “The boat is always ready because it’s stored in the SeaPen.”
That convenience is no accident. In fact, it was the driving force behind the invention itself. The story began with Mark’s engineer father, Allan Barber. Allan owned a 30-foot catamaran named Skylark and, like many boat owners, became increasingly frustrated with the constant battle against marine growth. Despite regular antifouling and maintenance, the hull would quickly accumulate growth, reducing efficiency and creating ongoing expense.
Rather than accepting the problem, Allan set out to solve it. His solution was elegantly simple: keep the boat in the water, but keep the hull dry when not in use. Working from this concept, Allan developed the original floating dry docking system that would eventually become the SeaPen. Mark and Sandra later established DockPro and refined the design into the commercial product now used by thousands of boat owners throughout Australia and overseas. Today, every SeaPen is designed and manufactured on the Gold Coast and engineered specifically for Australian conditions.
The system operates by creating a floating, isolated enclosure around the hull. Once the vessel enters the pen, an automated pumping system removes the water from inside the enclosure, leaving the hull suspended in air while the surrounding marina water remains outside. This eliminates the marine environment that barnacles, algae and other fouling organisms need to survive. The result is a clean hull year-round without antifouling, scraping or regular underwater cleaning.
For boat owners, the benefits extend beyond convenience. A clean hull can improve fuel efficiency, maintain performance and reduce longterm maintenance costs. It also minimises the environmental impact associated with antifouling paints and hull cleaning operations.
When it’s time to leave the marina, operation is simple. Using a remote control, the rear gate is lowered, water re-enters the pen and the boat can be driven away immediately. There is no need for cranes, travel lifts or advance bookings.
Back on Moreton Bay, those practical advantages translate directly into more time on the water. Whether it’s cruising across to Tangalooma, dropping anchor in a secluded bay, exploring the wrecks or spending the day fishing offshore, the Barber family knows their boat will perform exactly as expected.
And when the holiday ends and they return to the marina, the process starts all over again. The boat goes back into its SeaPen, the water is pumped out, and the hull remains protected until the next adventure. For the Barber family, that’s what boating should be about: less maintenance, more time on the water, and the confidence that your boat is always clean, protected and ready for the next trip.
To connect with Sandra and Mark at Seapen visit www.dockpro.com.au/seapen
Published in print August-December 2026
