Manex Power and Marine

What Manex Power and Marine does

Manex Power and Marine (Pty) Ltd is a privately-held South African distributor of marine, diving, and watersports equipment founded in 1974 and headquartered in Cape Town with a sales office in Johannesburg. The company operates as an authorized distributor of international brands across three verticals: yachting/marine (Jabsco, Rule, Seastar, Antal, Bennett Marine, Fusion, NKE, Garmin, Wichard, and others), scuba and freediving (Aqualung, Apeks, Sea & Sea, BigBlue, Divevolk), and leisure watersports and sailing apparel (O'Brien Watersports, Gill Marine). It has no proprietary technology or manufactured products; its value proposition rests on long-running brand distribution rights, technical advisory, and channel access in South Africa.

There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying business uses a WordPress/WooCommerce-based e-commerce storefront (shop.manex.co.za) for B2C and B2B sales, layered with a physical retail shop in Cape Town and B2B sales coverage extending to Johannesburg. The technology is therefore undifferentiated commodity e-commerce tooling rather than a developed platform. The product portfolio spans deck hardware, marine pumps, plumbing, sanitation, electronics, regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, underwater imaging, dive lights, wakeboards, tubes, paddleboards, and sailing apparel.

The revenue model is one-time product sales via both retail and wholesale channels, with prices quoted in South African Rand and free shipping over R1,000. GTM motion is a hybrid of self-serve e-commerce and B2B direct sales, supported by digital marketing on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and email. Customer segments are dominated by SMB and individual consumers (yacht owners, recreational divers, watersports enthusiasts) plus B2B accounts (yacht builders, diving operators, marine businesses). No revenue, funding, or growth metrics are disclosed.

Name

Manex Power and Marine

Legal name

Manex Power and Marine (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://manex.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manex Power and Marine is a South African distributor, founded 1974, of international marine, diving, and watersports brands including Jabsco, Aqualung, Gill, and O'Brien, serving yacht owners, divers, and B2B marine businesses via retail, e-commerce, and wholesale channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Equipment Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail (CRAMAIAB), Sailing & Rigging Retail (Sailboats, Sails, Hardware) (CRAMAIAG), Water Sports & Marine Recreation Gear Distribution (CRAOAJAD)

Keywords

• Marine equipment distribution
• Scuba diving gear supply
• Watersports equipment retail
• Yachting hardware wholesale
• Sailing apparel distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time product sales through retail shop and e-commerce platform. Products include marine equipment, diving gear, sailing apparel, and watersports equipment from distributed brands.
2. Wholesale/Distribution: Wholesale distribution of international marine and diving brands to B2B customers including yacht builders, yachting companies, and diving operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Manex Power and Marine distributes international marine, diving, and watersports equipment brands to the South African market. The company supplies pumps, electronics, deck hardware, plumbing and sanitation to the yachting and powerboat sectors; scuba regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, dive computers, underwater cameras and lights to the diving sector; and wakeboards, tubes, waterskis and paddleboards to the watersports sector. Products are sold through a retail shop in Cape Town, a sales office in Johannesburg, an e-commerce site (shop.manex.co.za), and a B2B wholesale channel serving yacht builders and dive operators.

Product overview

Manex Power and Marine is a South African distributor of marine, diving, and watersports equipment operating for over 50 years. The company distributes international leading brands including Jabsco, Rule, Seastar, Antal, Fusion, NKE, Gill Marine, and O'Brien Watersports for the marine segment; Aqualung, Apeks, Sea & Sea, BigBlue, and Divevolk for diving; and O'Brien and Gill for watersports and sailing. The business operates a B2C/B2B e-commerce platform alongside traditional sales channels, with locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The product portfolio spans marine deck hardware, pumps, electronics, plumbing, sanitation; scuba and freediving equipment; and watersports gear including wakeboards, tubes, waterskis, and paddleboards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine Equipment Distribution Distribution of international marine brands — including pumps (Jabsco, Rule), electronics (Garmin, NKE, Fusion), deck hardware (Antal, Wichard, Jefa, Lopolight), sanitation (Tecma), steering (Seastar), trim tabs (Bennett Marine), glazing (Gebo), and watermakers (HRO) — for power boating, yachting, and dinghy sailing customers.
• Scuba & Freediving Equipment Distribution Distribution of scuba and freediving equipment — regulators, buoyancy compensators, wetsuits, dive computers, masks, fins, and underwater imaging — from brands including Aqualung, Apeks, Sea & Sea, BigBlue Dive Lights, and Divevolk, for recreational and technical divers and dive operators.
• Watersports Equipment Distribution Distribution of watersports equipment including wakeboards, bindings, tubes, towables, waterskis, kneeboards, paddleboards, ropes, and accessories from O'Brien Watersports, for individual watersports enthusiasts and families.
• Sailing Apparel Distribution Distribution of Gill Marine sailing apparel including offshore jackets, trousers, boots, gloves, and buoyancy aids featuring XPLORE, XPLORE+, and XPEL technologies, for sailors and boating enthusiasts.
• Online Shop (shop.manex.co.za) E-commerce platform with product catalog, brand pages, secure checkout, free shipping on orders over R1000, and a dedicated B2B login for wholesale business customers, enabling purchase of marine, diving, and watersports equipment across South Africa.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• JabscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJabsco is one of the well-known yachting and diving brands distributed by Manex. Products include marine pumps and marine toilet systems.
• AqualungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAqualung is a world-renowned diving brand distributed by Manex, offering scuba equipment, regulators, wetsuits, and diving accessories.
• Gill MarinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGill Marine is a leading global marine apparel brand specializing in sailing clothing and gear, distributed by Manex in South Africa.
• O'Brien WatersportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorO'Brien Watersports is the most recognized brand in watersports, creating products for wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubes, and paddleboards. Distributed by Manex in South Africa.
• ApeksmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApeks is a technically inspired diving equipment brand offering regulators and technical diving gear, distributed by Manex.
• Sea & SeamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSea & Sea is an underwater imaging company specializing in underwater cameras and strobes, distributed by Manex.
• BigBlue Dive LightsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBigBlue Dive Lights offers underwater lighting solutions, distributed by Manex in South Africa.
• GarminmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarmin marine electronics including GPS and fishfinders are distributed by Manex.
• Rule (by Xylem)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRule marine pumps are part of the Xylem portfolio and distributed by Manex.
• Seastar SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeastar hydraulic steering and trim tab systems for marine applications.
• Antal Yacht FittingsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAntal deckware equipment for sailboats.
• NKE Marine ElectronicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNKE marine electronics products distributed by Manex.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Overton's: US retailer specializing in marine and water sports equipment including wakeboarding, water skiing, tubing, and boating gear. Directly comparable to Manex's O'Brien-led leisure and watersports segment.
• iBoats: Online marine retailer with a broad catalog of marine parts, accessories, and OEM-equivalent components. Comparable to Manex's shop.manex.co.za e-commerce focus and multi-brand parts distribution.
• Defender Marine: US marine equipment distributor and retailer with both B2C and B2B sales channels. Sells hardware, pumps, electronics, and accessories from major brands, closely matching Manex's multi-channel marine parts business.
• Fisheries Supply: Pacific Northwest marine distributor operating for nearly a century with a similar long-tenured distribution model. Stocks marine hardware, electronics, and safety gear from leading international brands.
• Wholesale Marine: Marine parts distributor serving both retail and B2B customers with a wide assortment of marine hardware, pumps, and electrical components. Similar multi-channel structure and brand-distribution playbook to Manex.
• Boat Outfitters: Online marine parts and accessories retailer serving boat owners, builders, and technicians. Comparable distribution-led model for marine hardware, deck fittings, and accessories.
• Divers Direct: Diving equipment retailer combining online and physical store presence, selling regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, and dive computers. Comparable to Manex's diving distribution segment and multi-channel approach.
• West Marine: Largest US-based marine retailer offering a similar mix of marine hardware, electronics, parts, and accessories across physical stores and online. Same distribution-led model serving both consumers and B2B customers, and the closest structural analogue to Manex.
• Scuba.com: US diving equipment retailer offering major brands including Aqualung, Apeks, and Scubapro. Directly comparable to Manex's scuba and freediving distribution business.

Broad incumbents

• Cape Union Mart: South African outdoor and lifestyle retailer with broader category focus that includes marine, camping, and watersports. Comparable geography and overlapping end customers, but not specialized in the marine/diving niche that Manex serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ManexPowerMarine
• Instagraminstagram.com/ManexPowerMarine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manex Power and Marine