During their 7 years circumnavigation on boad of their performance catamaran Moonwalker, Russell & Karin Carlyon realized none of the tenders available in the market provided all of the key aspects they felt were important for a good tender. Russell’s background as a competitive windsurfer and high performance board builder provided us with the confidence to utilize high tech materials to build a light weight structure strong enough to achieve the tough job of performing as a cruising tender.

The brief was to a achieve a durable design, light enough to be easily handled and carried by a single or couple dragging up to the high tide mark; provided a dry ride; stable but with enough movement to facilitate reboarding and performance when solo riding; quick planing; fuel efficient; good fendering to protect the main boat and tender against docks. 

Starting with the OC300 manufactured in 2014 and showcased to all cruisers arriving to Opua and Whangarei during the summer of 2014/2015, the OC300 was immediately put to the test by the most demanding clientele of all: the full time offshore cruiser. This is where the name Offshore Cruising Tenders comes from. With a full season in the South Pacific under its belt, the OC300 sent ripples through the cruising community worldwide. In 2018 Offshore Cruising Tenders invested on their own manufacturing facilities where vertical integration, self reliance and efficient building methods assisted the brand to grow and expand rapidly.

By embracing the original OC Tenders concept, the international sailing cruising community spread the word, provided the feedback for improvements and have been our solid base of advise, inspiration and motivation to provide the best product and customer service possible. We now service a much wider community of full time cruisers, recreational users, and even being the main boat for a variety of needs, being on the ocean, rivers or lakes. 

The OC Tenders range proved to be an excellent platform for electric propulsion, with early adoption of electric outboards by our clients with excellent results. This motivated the team to support all efficient solutions providing zero emissions. Our long standing relationship with many NZ innovative start ups is on the leading edge of zero emissions tenders. Check out  ZeroJet options.

Offshore Cruising Tenders only sells directly from the factory in New Zealand. No dealers or distribuitors.

The reasoning behind it is our constant drive to offer the best quality, the best service, at the best price possible. 

With a new concept, comes a lot of education on how to use, operate and care. Offshore Cruising Tenders embarked on a educational journey from day 1 of operations and found real value on the direct to customer business model. It meant we could help guide the customer, understand their needs, clarify their questions enough to see if our concept was suitable to their requirements and provide assistance directly, with no intermediaries. 

By offering direct to customer, we can control quality, provide support and offer the best transport and convenience to our worldwide clientele without making them pay extra margins or adding restrictive clauses based on warranty by limiting their self reliability. As a cruiser you need to be able to sort any issues on the go with what is available to you at the time. We know that because this is what we had to do ourselves. 

Customer services is immediate, and direct from the manufacturers to the client. We can help you find a solution, clarify a question and help with any issues with one email. We are always present for our clients.

We have in recent times, created close ties with a number of companies facilitating shipments to Europe and providing assitance to their clients to receive our tenders. These are selected from long standing relationship built over the years of catering for existing clients. We appreciate and have a very close relationship with them all:

  Turkey: Oceo Marine   France (La Rochelle): Pretty Nautique & Uchimata    UK: Marine Tech

We also have close relationship with many manufacturers whom order directly from us for their clientele. Its an honour to leave the factory with a brand new boat! We hope to keep building close relationships with all our clients, boat manufacturers and service providers of our clients choice. 

We look forward to beign part of your next adventure.