Boataround
Boataround is an online two-sided marketplace that aggregates sailboats, motorboats, catamarans, and yachts from charter operators and private owners across 98+ countries, enabling individual travellers to search, compare, and book boat rentals directly via its website.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBratislava
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Boataround does
Boataround, founded in 2016 and incorporated in Slovakia as Boataround.com, a.s., operates an online marketplace that aggregates yacht, motorboat, catamaran, and houseboat rentals from professional charter companies and private boat owners for direct booking by consumers. The platform surfaces approximately 27,185 vessels across 98+ countries and 2,639 marinas, organised by destination (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, and Turkey are the largest markets) and boat type (sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans, motor yachts, canal boats, gulets, and power catamarans). Customers can book with or without a skipper and pay via a broad set of payment options including cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, and bank transfer.
The technology layer is a product-led web platform with search, comparison, real-time availability, and secure third-party payment processing, supported by a multilingual SEO content engine (blog, destination guides, itineraries, regulatory updates) and a separate Partner Portal (partner.boataround.com) that lets operators manage listings, pricing, and bookings. Supporting services include the EXTRA loyalty programme, gift cards, and an affiliate programme. Boataround runs an around-the-clock customer support operation, evidenced by 30+ country-specific phone numbers plus a London-based support office, and maintains its legal headquarters in Bratislava with operational offices in London.
The business model is a two-sided marketplace monetised via commission paid by boat providers on completed bookings; the service is free for end customers, with no booking fees added to the rental price. Go-to-market is product-led growth paired with content/SEO marketing, supplemented by an affiliate channel. The company is privately held and venture-backed, having raised approximately €6M+ from Reflex Capital in 2024 (with earlier rounds from MITON, CB Investment Management, and QQ Capital). The customer base is highly fragmented on both sides: a long tail of individual leisure travellers on the demand side and thousands of charter operators and private owners on the supply side, giving the business low customer concentration but seasonal revenue volatility inherent to discretionary travel.
Boataround firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boataround
- Legal name
- Boataround.com, a.s.
- Website
- https://boataround.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Boataround is an online two-sided marketplace that aggregates sailboats, motorboats, catamarans, and yachts from charter operators and private owners across 98+ countries, enabling individual travellers to search, compare, and book boat rentals directly via its website.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boataround industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Yacht Charter Marketplace
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE), Cabin Charters & Shared Yacht Trips (THAEADAH)
Keywords
Where Boataround is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bratislava
Offices2 records
Markets served
Boataround business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commission from boat providers: Boataround operates as an intermediary platform connecting boat renters with boat providers (charter companies and private owners). Boat providers pay a service fee (a small percentage of the boat rental price) to Boataround after the customer has paid the rental price. The service is free for customers - no commission or additional fees are added to the boat rental price.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boat rental prices per booking (varies by boat type, destination, and season) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Optional extras and add-ons |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Boataround product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boataround operates an online marketplace that aggregates yachts, motorboats, catamarans, motor yachts, gulets, and canal boats from professional charter companies and private owners, allowing consumers to search, compare, and book charters (with or without a skipper) across 98+ countries. The service is free for renters; boat providers pay Boataround a commission on each completed booking. Supporting offerings include the EXTRA loyalty programme, gift cards, and an affiliate programme.
Product overview
Boataround operates a unified online yacht booking marketplace that connects customers with professional charter companies and private boat owners worldwide. The core platform provides search, comparison, and booking of boats across 27,185+ yachts and 2,639+ marinas in 98+ countries. The product portfolio includes sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans, motor yachts, canal boats, and gulets, with vessel categories ranging from budget-friendly monohulls to luxury crewed motor yachts. Supporting services include the EXTRA loyalty programme, gift cards, affiliate programme, and a content-rich blog with sailing guides and itineraries. Boat owners and charter companies access the platform through the Partner Portal to list and manage their vessels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boataround Online Yacht Booking Platform Self-serve online marketplace where consumers search, compare, and book sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans, motor yachts, canal boats, gulets, and power catamarans (with or without a skipper) across 98+ countries and 2,639+ marinas.
- EXTRA Loyalty Programme Repeat-customer loyalty rewards programme offering discounts, rewards, and perks for users who book multiple charters through the Boataround platform.
- Gift Cards Digital gift cards purchasable on the platform that allow customers to give sailing holidays or charter credits to friends and family.
- Partner Portal Separate portal for professional charter companies and private boat owners to list vessels, update availability and pricing, and manage bookings transacted through the Boataround marketplace.
Quantifiable outcome
- Best selection of boats online with unbeatable prices
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Boataround
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Boataround technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Boataround partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Boataround competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Click&Boat: France-based boat rental marketplace operating across Europe with thousands of listings. Closest direct competitor to Boataround in aggregating private owners and charter companies for online yacht booking.
- SamBoat: Paris-headquartered peer-to-peer and professional boat rental marketplace with similar inventory breadth across Mediterranean destinations. Direct competitor for both supply (charter operators) and demand (renters).
- Nautal: Barcelona-based boat rental marketplace aggregating sailing yachts, motorboats, and catamarans across Europe and the Caribbean. Direct competitor with overlapping Mediterranean focus and similar commission model.
- Sailogy: Italian-headquartered online yacht charter platform offering sailing yachts, catamarans, and motor yachts. Directly comparable marketplace operating in the same Mediterranean geographies with similar booking UX.
- GlobeSailor: France-based yacht and catamaran charter broker with a comparable online aggregation model and luxury/bareboat split similar to Boataround's portfolio. Direct competitor across Mediterranean and Caribbean markets.
- Zizooboats: Online boat rental aggregator operating in European and Caribbean destinations. Comparable marketplace model targeting the same charter customer and competing for the same supplier base.
Broad incumbents
- The Moorings: One of the largest global yacht charter operators (sailing yachts, catamarans, power yachts) with its own fleet and direct booking. A broad incumbent competing with Boataround for end customers while also potentially supplying the platform.
- Dream Yacht Charter: Global yacht charter operator with owned fleet and franchise bases across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and beyond. Competes with Boataround's inventory on its own direct channels and is a potential supplier/competitor hybrid.
Emerging players
- Borrow A Boat: UK-based boat rental marketplace with a growing presence in European and Caribbean destinations. An emerging peer with similar product-led online booking but smaller inventory than Boataround.
- MedSailors: Bareboat and skippered flotilla sailing holidays operator focused on Mediterranean destinations. Smaller, more curated player overlapping Boataround's Croatian/Greek core with a more guided/experiential positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Boataround social profiles
Digital presenceBoataround financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boataround leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Boataround funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boataround M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boataround
What does Boataround do?
Boataround operates an online marketplace that aggregates yachts, motorboats, catamarans, motor yachts, gulets, and canal boats from professional charter companies and private owners, allowing consumers to search, compare, and book charters (with or without a skipper) across 98+ countries. The service is free for renters; boat providers pay Boataround a commission on each completed booking. Supporting offerings include the EXTRA loyalty programme, gift cards, and an affiliate programme.
Is Boataround a public or private company?
Boataround is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Boataround founded?
Boataround was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Boataround based?
Boataround is headquartered in Bratislava.
How does Boataround make money?
One revenue line is on record: commission from boat providers.
Who are Boataround's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Click&Boat, SamBoat, Nautal, Sailogy, GlobeSailor and Zizooboats. Broad incumbents are The Moorings and Dream Yacht Charter. Emerging players are Borrow A Boat and MedSailors.
Does Boataround have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boataround.
What industry is Boataround in?
Boataround's product category is Online Yacht Charter Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAB, Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters), with a secondary code of THAJALAE, Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 4400.