What Bootswerft Empacher does

Bootswerft Empacher GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German boatyard founded in 1923 by Willy Empacher and headquartered in Eberbach am Neckar, Germany. The company designs and manufactures high-performance racing rowing shells using vacuum-process sandwich construction with epoxy resin, carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Nomex honeycomb cores, supplemented by autoclave-produced carbon prepreg components (wing riggers, stretchers, sliding seat plates) and CNC milling. Its product portfolio centers on racing singles, doubles, fours, and eights, with multiple mould variants (R/C/X 80, 86, 87, 88, 89) tailored to rower weight classes, alongside racing sculls, sweep oars, a recreational single (R07L/R07H), and a para-rowing line (PR1, PR2, PR3 adaptive singles and doubles) certified to FISA standards.

The company sells predominantly to national rowing federations and elite clubs (Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, among others), serving as an official FISA/World Rowing supplier. Revenue is generated through custom hardware sales (made-to-order shells, sculls, oars, spare parts) and ancillary services (boat repair, used boat resale, and on-site regatta service at approximately 20 events annually). Distribution runs through the German headquarters and 11 country-specific regional representatives spanning Europe, North America, Oceania, and East Asia, complemented by a Strato-hosted spare-parts e-commerce shop. Approximately 75% of production is exported, the workforce has been stable at roughly 90 employees for several years, and Helmut Empacher currently leads the business as sole managing director following the 2018 death of his brother Rainer.

Name

Bootswerft Empacher

Legal name

Bootswerft Empacher GmbH

Website

https://empacher.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bootswerft Empacher is a third-generation, family-owned German boatyard (founded 1923) that designs and manufactures carbon-fiber composite racing rowing shells, sculls, and oars for national federations, clubs, and para-rowing athletes worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eberbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Racing Boats: Custom-built composite racing rowing boats for competition including single sculls, doubles, fours, and eights. Made to order with various configurations (mould types, rigger materials, weight classes).
2. Sculls and Oars: Racing sculls and oars with various shaft options (normal, slimline), blade types (Macon, Big Blade, Smooth, Vortex), and adjustable or fixed lengths.
3. Spare Parts and Accessories: Online spare parts shop offering replacement components, rowing shoes, and accessories.
4. Repair Services: Boat repair services and a dedicated repair shop for maintaining and restoring Empacher boats.
5. Used Boats: Refurbished pre-owned Empacher racing boats sold at various price points depending on model, age, and condition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bootswerft Empacher designs, manufactures and sells custom-built high-performance racing rowing boats (singles, doubles, fours and eights), sculls and oars using proprietary carbon fiber, Kevlar and Nomex honeycomb sandwich construction. The portfolio also covers adaptive/para rowing shells and recreational rowing boats, supplemented by a spare parts shop, a repair service, a mobile regatta service and used boat sales.

Product overview

Bootswerft Empacher is a third-generation family-owned German boatyard (founded 1923) specializing in high-quality carbon/Kevlar/Nomex honeycomb sandwich construction rowing boats. The product portfolio centers on racing shells including Racing Singles, Doubles, Fours, and Eights (available with aluminum or carbon wing riggers in various configurations), complemented by Racing Sculls and Oars with multiple shaft and blade options. The company also serves recreational and adaptive rowing with dedicated product lines including Single Sculls for ambitious recreational sports and Para Rowing Adaptive boats (Singles and Doubles) for PR1/PR2/PR3 athletes. Supporting services include a spare parts e-commerce shop, repair services, mobile regatta service attending approximately 20 regattas annually, used boat sales, and event booking systems. Production is ISO-certified with ~90 employees and 75% export share.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empacher Racing Eight High-performance carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb sandwich construction eight-person sweep racing shell available in multiple moulds (R88/C88/X88, R80/C80/X80, R86/C86/X86, R87/C87/X87, R89/C89/X89) with aluminum or carbon wing riggers, designed for competitive rowing with rower weights from 65–105 kg.
• Empacher Racing Four High-performance four-person sweep rowing shell with multiple mould configurations (R40–X55) for rower weights from 65–100 kg, featuring carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb construction and aluminum or carbon wing riggers.
• Empacher Racing Double Two-person sculling racing boat (X22, X32 and other moulds) in carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb construction, designed for competitive double sculls with adjustable rigger options.
• Empacher Racing Single Single scull racing boat with multiple moulds (X04, X14, X17 and others) for individual competitive rowing, in lightweight carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb construction.
• Empacher Racing Scull Carbon fiber racing sculls available in normal, slimline, and slimline light shaft options with blade shapes (Macon, Big Blade, Smooth Blade, Vortex edge, Rounded), adjustable or fixed lengths, and multiple handle diameters for men and women.
• Empacher Racing Oars Sweep oars for racing boats available in normal, stiff and slimline shaft configurations with Macon, Smooth, Vortex and Leaf shape blades, adjustable or fixed lengths, and multiple handle options.
• Single Scull for Ambitious Recreational Sports Wide-bodied recreational single scull (R07L/R07H) with profiled aluminum or carbon wing riggers, deep entry design for easy boarding, carbon/Kevlar/honeycomb sandwich construction, designed for recreational rowers weighing 60–100 kg.
• Para Rowing Single Adaptive Scull Adaptive single scull (A07L/A07H) for para rowing athletes in PR1 and PR2 classes, available with fixed seat/back for PR1 or adjustable seatplate for PR2, optional pontoons for PR1, with aluminum or carbon wing riggers.
• Para Rowing Double Adaptive Scull Adaptive double scull (A27) meeting FISA para rowing PR2 Mix2x requirements, featuring a wider stable boat form, fixed seatplate with seating profile and belts, carbon/Kevlar/Nomex honeycomb construction, and adjustable footstretcher.
• Spare Parts Shop Online e-commerce platform for ordering replacement parts and accessories for Empacher rowing boats, including the new repair shop offering materials for boat repair.
• Repair Shop Boat repair service offering materials and support for repairing damaged Empacher rowing boats.
• Regatta Service Mobile regatta support service providing on-site boat maintenance, adjustments and technical support at approximately 20 regattas annually worldwide, including World Championships, World Cups and Olympic Games.
• Used Boats Pre-owned refurbished Empacher racing boats available for purchase, with various mould types, boat types (1x, 2x, 2-, 4-, 4+, 4x, 8+) and production years, priced approximately €12,800–€29,000 including VAT.
• World Masters Regatta Bled 2026 Booking System Online booking system for the World Masters Regatta Bled 2026, allowing athletes to book regatta services and boat rentals via SimplyBook.

Quantifiable outcome

• World best time for men's eight: 5'18.68 minutes set in Poznan 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and historical.

• World Rowing (FISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial supplier of rowing boats that meet all FISA guidelines. Empacher boats are built on highest standards and are used at all World Championships, World Cups, and Olympic Games.
• German Rowing Association (DRV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing successful partnership continuing as official supplier and partner of German Rowing Association.
• Swiss Rowing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial supplier and partner of Swiss Rowing Association.
• Yellow Boat FR (France)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for France including Cyril Banse and Teddy Nigon handling sales and customer support.
• Fred Honebein (USA)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for USA based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
• Mark Chatwin (UK)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for United Kingdom based in Berkshire.
• Empacher BeneluxregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Benelux countries with Chris Deen and Meindert van den Heuvel.
• Silvia Súrová (Czech Republic)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Czech Republic based in Prague.
• Axel Müller (Spain)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Spain.
• Empacher Sykes AustraliaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Australia represented by Angus Widdicombe.
• Kuwano Boats CO., LTD. (Japan)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Japan with Takafumi Mori, based in Shiga prefecture.
• KOMO ENTERPRISE, LTD. (Korea)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for South Korea represented by KyungHwan Han.
• Olexandr Yakhnienko (Ukraine)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative for Ukraine based in Kyiv.
• BASFhistoricalTechnology or IntegrationEarly collaboration from 1955 for experiments with plastics, resulting in world's first plastic rowing skiff made of polyester in 1956.
• Rubenetti (Spain)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for organizing the Empacher Cup Alicante 2025, setting up first regatta fleet.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Filippi: Italian rowing shell manufacturer and Empacher's primary global competitor; builds racing singles, doubles, fours, and eights in carbon composite and supplies many of the same national federations (including Italy and others) at World Championships and Olympic Games.
• Concept2: US-based rowing equipment company best known for ergometers and Concept2 oars/sculls; directly comparable on the sculls and oars product line where Empacher also competes, and dominates the indoor rowing training ecosystem.
• C-Tech Rowing: New Zealand racing shell builder producing carbon composite rowing shells; comparable in scale, technology, and target market (national teams and elite clubs) to Empacher.
• Braca-sport: Manufacturer of carbon fiber racing sculls and oars competing with Empacher's Skull & Riemen product line, supplying elite rowers and federations globally.
• Hudson Boat Works: Canadian rowing shell manufacturer with a long heritage, supplying national teams and elite clubs worldwide with composite racing shells in the same boat classes as Empacher.
• Vespoli USA: US-based racing shell manufacturer producing carbon composite rowing eights, fours, doubles, and singles; competes head-to-head with Empacher for North American federation and club accounts.
• Allen Brothers Racing Oars: UK-based manufacturer of wooden and carbon racing oars and sculls; legacy competitor to Empacher in the oars and sculls product category for elite and club-level rowing.
• Fluidesign: German racing shell manufacturer producing carbon composite rowing boats; direct domestic competitor to Empacher with overlapping technology base and customer set in Germany and Europe.
• Croker Oars: Australian oar and scull manufacturer with deep heritage in sweep and sculling oars; directly competes with Empacher in the oars and sculls category used in elite rowing worldwide.
• Wintech Racing: UK-based manufacturer of carbon composite racing rowing shells (singles through eights), competing with Empacher for European federation contracts and regatta presence.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bootswerft-empacher

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Bootswerft Empacher