Quiet Flight

What Quiet Flight does

Quiet Flight is a US-based, family-founded manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer of custom handcrafted surfboards, headquartered and producing out of 377 Imperial Blvd C-1, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Founded in 1972 by Jim and Ed Leasure in Cocoa Beach, the company designs, shapes, and glasses surfboards across five product collections — Performance Boards, QF Fishery, Outboard Series, Performance Funshapes, and Longboards — and sells them exclusively through its Shopify-powered online store at quietflightsurfboards.com. The company employs 11-50 people and positions itself as one of the largest surfboard manufacturers in the United States, with a current shaper Bruce Ragan continuing a lineage that has included Ed Leasure, Richard Munson, Matt Kechele, Rich Rudolph, Bill Johnson, Tom Neilson, Sean Slater, Joe Johnson, and Joey Maus. Its customer base is segmented across performance surfers seeking professional-grade shortboards, recreational surfers of all skill levels, and longboard enthusiasts pursuing traditional styles, with elite team riders including 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater, CJ Hobgood, Damien Hobgood, Matt Kechele, and Sean Slater providing design input and brand credibility.

The company's underlying technology is rooted in traditional hand-shaping craftsmanship augmented with modern construction techniques, including stringerless EPS foam with carbon fiber infusions and proprietary bottom-contour designs (single/double concave, Bonzer-style, and hybrid tail configurations) tuned for specific wave conditions and performance profiles. Pricing is predominantly quote-based, reflecting the custom-built nature of each order, with disclosed standard-model and Black Friday sale pricing ranging approximately $350-$450 per board. Revenue is generated almost entirely from one-time direct unit sales of custom surfboards; no subscription, financing, wholesale, or licensing model is disclosed, and geographic reach is restricted to the United States.

Operationally, Quiet Flight remains founder-controlled with no external investors, parent entity, M&A activity, or public-market listing indicated in the source material. Distribution is single-channel DTC via Shopify, with broad payment-method coverage (American Express, Apple Pay, Diners Club, Discover, Google Pay, Mastercard, PayPal, Shop Pay, Visa), supported by an owned digital marketing footprint across email, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, regulatory actions, or formal partnerships are disclosed, and the company has not pursued international expansion, leaving the business model concentrated on US-based custom-board manufacturing and direct retail.

Name

Quiet Flight

Legal name

QuietFlightSurfboards

Website

https://quietflightsurfboards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quiet Flight is a US-based manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer of custom handcrafted surfboards founded in 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It serves performance surfers, recreational surfers, and longboard enthusiasts exclusively through its Shopify-powered online store in Cape Canaveral.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surfboard Manufacturing

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf & Beach Sports Retail (Surfboards, Bodyboards, Skimboards) (CRAMAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI)

Keywords

• Custom surfboard manufacturing
• Performance surfboards
• Handcrafted surfboards
• Surfing equipment retail
• Longboard cruisers

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Canaveral

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Surfboard Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling custom-made surfboards directly to consumers through their e-commerce platform. Customers select from various board models across different categories (Performance Boards, QF Fishery, Outboard Series, Performance Funshapes, Longboards) with specific dimension options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quiet Flight designs, shapes, and manufactures custom handcrafted surfboards and sells them direct-to-consumer through a Shopify-powered online store. The product range spans five collections — Performance Boards, QF Fishery (fish-style boards), Outboard Series (alternative fun boards), Performance Funshapes, and Longboards — covering performance shortboards, fish designs, cruisers, and traditional longboards for surfers from beginners to professionals.

Product overview

Quiet Flight is a surfboard manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio of handcrafted surfboards across five main product lines: Performance Boards (high-performance shortboards like The Reaper, The Vandal, The Anti-Hero), QF Fishery (fish-shaped boards including The Marlin, Black Marlin, The Mahi Mahi, The Bad Fish), Outboard Series (alternative fun boards like The Pontoon, The Skiff, Double Agent, Secret Agent), Performance Funshapes (mid-length cruisers including Classic Funshape, Jumbo Sting Fish), and Longboards (traditional and high-performance longboards including GTO Longboard, Ultra Glide). The company was founded in 1972 by Jim and Ed Leasure in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and has grown into one of the largest surfboard manufacturers in the country. Their product range spans from beginner-friendly funshapes and cruisers to professional-grade shortboards ridden by tour surfers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• QF Fishery: Fish-style surfboard collection featuring models like The Marlin, Black Marlin, The Mahi Mahi, and The Bad Fish.
• Performance Boards
• Outboard Series
• Performance Funshapes
• Longboards

Products and services

• The Pontoon An ultimate cruiser surfboard with increased volume, round nose, low rocker for easy paddling, and diamond tail for quick responsiveness. Features single fin box plus quad setup for versatility; described as a perfect summertime board or beginner option.
• Double Agent A fun alternative board designed to work in all conditions, featuring single to slight double concave with lower entry rocker, fuller volume through center, and thinner nose and tail for responsiveness.
• The Skiff An update to the best-selling Pylon model, built to get through flat sections fast. Features fuller and rounder nose for paddle power, low entry rocker, double bump wing, and bonzer-style bottom for easy rail transitions.
• Secret Agent A fun versatile board with mid-size nose and forward outline. Extra foam in center aids paddling, low entry rocker for fast entry, pulled-in tail and rounded pin for easy tight turning.
• The Sea Cow A super fast wave-catching machine featuring low rocker, wide nose for planing, and a rounded tail for quick maneuvers. Wider outline provides glide with a solid feel underfoot.
• The Reaper The latest hybrid shortboard featuring wider nose and lower entry rocker for early entry and speed. Curvy outline with single to double concave and slight vee off tail for a playful and responsive ride.
• Black Marlin Updated version of the top-selling Marlin with wider nose for earlier wave entry, extra foam in center for paddle power, and straighter outline in tail for quicker turning radius in the pocket.
• The Bad Fish A modern take on a classic retro fish with fuller nose for paddling, 4-channel combo for speed, and pulled-in tail for quick rail engagement.
• The Mahi Mahi Latest fish design featuring double wing swallow tail with fuller nose, deep single to double concave, and vee off tail. A fast and responsive board for everyday conditions.
• The Anti-Hero A performance board for everyday surfers in everyday conditions. Wider tail builds speed quickly, double channels in tail provide extra squirt, deep single concave, lower entry rocker, and diamond/swallow hybrid tail for quick maneuvering.
• The Vandal CJ Hobgood's board of choice — a high performance shortboard that works in all conditions. Features slightly forward outline with extra foam in front, lower entry rocker, squash tail with deep single to double concave and extra vee for maximum responsiveness.
• The Marlin Described as the fastest fish in the water with mid-size nose and low entry rocker for fast paddling and early wave entry. Increased concave creates lift and drive in smaller surf, and swallow tail with bonzer-type bottom helps release on every turn.
• GTO Longboard A high-performance longboard with thinned-out nose and tail, pulled-in squash, concaved nose, and double concave in tail for responsiveness while maintaining all longboard characteristics.
• Ultra Glide A classic wide-nose longboard suited for everyone. Low rocker makes it fast and great for catching waves like an old-school cruiser. Features nose concave with vee off tail and 60/40 turned-down rails.
• Jumbo Sting Fish A performance fun shape with wide nose, extra width and thickness for easy wave catching. Wing and swallow tail loosen the board up making it very responsive.
• Classic Funshape Designed to paddle easy and catch lots of waves with wide nose and extra width and thickness for floating and early wave entry. Marketed as fun for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Channel Islands Surfboards: California-based custom surfboard manufacturer founded by Al Merrick, producing performance shortboards and a broad model range very similar in structure to Quiet Flight. Comparable as a heritage-driven, pro-surfer-influenced custom shaper with multiple product lines.
• Lost Surfboards: Iconic custom surfboard brand co-founded by Matt Biolos, known for pro-rider collaborations and a wide SKU matrix across performance, fish, and alternative categories. Comparable as a direct-to-consumer, shaper-led brand with strong professional team-rider alignment to Quiet Flight.
• Pyzel Surfboards: Hawaii-based custom surfboard manufacturer founded by John Pyzel, with elite team riders (e.g., John John Florence) and a model lineup spanning performance shortboards to longboards. Comparable in craftsmanship, pro endorsement strategy, and product breadth.
• JS Industries: Australian surfboard manufacturer founded by Jason Stevenson, producing performance and everyday boards used by World Tour surfers. Comparable as a custom shaper brand with professional team-rider credibility and similar SKU segmentation.
• Firewire Surfboards: Technology-focused surfboard manufacturer using composite/EPS construction and proprietary build methods (e.g., LFT, Helium). Comparable as a U.S.-based custom board maker serving similar surfer segments, differentiated by construction R&D versus Quiet Flight's hand-shaping focus.
• Sharp Eye Surfboards: California custom surfboard manufacturer founded by Marcio Zouvi with a strong team of pro riders, focused on performance shortboards. Comparable as a heritage custom shaper brand serving high-performance surfers.
• Pukas Surf: Spanish/European surfboard manufacturer with deep heritage, producing custom boards and a global pro team. Comparable as an internationally distributed custom shaper brand with similar product segmentation and direct sales channels.

Broad incumbents

• Surftech: Larger, established surfboard manufacturer specializing in composite/EPS construction and surf accessories across a broad catalog. Comparable as a wider-portfolio incumbent in the same custom surfboard category, though more technology-led versus Quiet Flight's heritage shaper-led approach.
• Billabong: Global surf brand with apparel, wetsuits, accessories, and a surfboard line through Billabong Surf. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the surf lifestyle category that competes for the same end consumer and surfboard purchase occasions, though its surfboard line is a smaller part of a much wider portfolio.
• Ron Jon Surf Shop: Iconic U.S. surf retailer carrying multiple surfboard brands, apparel, and hard goods with flagship Florida locations (including Cocoa Beach). Comparable as a Florida-based surf retail destination competing for the same Florida surf customer and shelf-of-mind share as Quiet Flight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/qfsurfboards?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/surfquietflight
• Instagraminstagram.com/quietflightsurfboards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quiet-flight-surf-shop

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 Quiet Flight