RHEA MARINE
Rhea Marine is a French artisanal boatbuilder (La Rochelle, founded 1996) that hand-crafts premium neo-retro motorboats in four ranges (Open, HB, Timonier, Trawler) for private family boaters, fishing enthusiasts, and coastal cruisers across France and Scandinavia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLa Rochelle, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What RHEA MARINE does
Rhea Marine (legal entity Chantiers Rhéa-Marine) is a French private limited company (SAS) that manufactures hand-built motorboats at its shipyard in La Rochelle, France. Founded in 1996 by Bertrand Danglade in collaboration with naval architect Michel Joubert, the company builds boats inspired by traditional Atlantic French oyster-farming and fishing vessels, with a distinctive neo-retro silhouette (tulip bow, frigate stern). The current portfolio comprises 14 active models organized into four ranges — Open (day boats and coastal cruisers such as the 23 Open V2, 27 Open, 35 Open), HB (outboard-powered variants), Timonier (wheelhouse fishing-cruisers such as the 850 Timonier), and Trawler (long-range cruisers such as the Trawler 34). Boats are constructed one unit at a time using GRP laminate with gelcoat finish, hand-crafted wood joinery, and either in-board or outboard propulsion (Suzuki outboards, Ray Marine electronics).
The company operates with a 12-person artisan team and has produced 322 boats since founding, with the cumulative fleet logging over 244,239 nautical miles. Revenue is generated through one-time bespoke boat sales priced on a quote basis, complemented by recurring refit, renovation, and custom upholstery services that extend vessel life across multiple owners. Distribution combines direct sales from the La Rochelle headquarters with an authorized dealer network spanning France (Motte Marine on Île de Ré, Midi Nautisme in Marseille) and international markets (Scandinavia, Spain), supported by experiential 'Journées Privilège' test events at multiple ports. Customers are predominantly private individuals and SMB buyers — families, fishing enthusiasts, coastal cruisers, water-sports users, and heritage-boat collectors — with documented multi-generational ownership. The company is founder-led, privately held with €4.2M share capital, has no disclosed external funding or institutional investors, and operates a horizontal segmentation across recreational boating use cases.
RHEA MARINE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RHEA MARINE
- Legal name
- Chantiers Rhéa-Marine
- Website
- https://rhea-marine.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Rhea Marine is a French artisanal boatbuilder (La Rochelle, founded 1996) that hand-crafts premium neo-retro motorboats in four ranges (Open, HB, Timonier, Trawler) for private family boaters, fishing enthusiasts, and coastal cruisers across France and Scandinavia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RHEA MARINE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recreational Motorboats
- NAICS
- Boat Building (336612)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Yacht Prototype, One-Off & Concept Build Programs (IMAJAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing (IMAJAEAI), Yacht & Recreational Boat Service & Refit (TLAKAKAD)
Keywords
Where RHEA MARINE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Rochelle
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
RHEA MARINE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Motorboat sales: Rhéa Marine manufactures and sells hand-built motorboats in four main ranges: Open, HB, Timonier, and Trawler. Boats are offered with either in-board or outboard propulsion. Each boat is custom-configured according to customer requirements and can include various optional packs and equipment.
- Refit and renovation services: The company offers refit services to maintain and restore Rhéa boats. This includes replacing obsolete parts identically, upholstery renovation, and general boat restoration to extend vessel life across generations.
- Custom upholstery and sellery: Nathalie, an artisan who hand-makes all original upholstery for Rhéa models, offers complete renovation, color changes, material adaptations, custom embroidery with boat name, and bespoke personalization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom boat orders with personalized configuration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
RHEA MARINE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rhéa Marine is a French boatyard (Chantiers Rhéa-Marine) that manufactures and sells hand-built motorboats from its La Rochelle shipyard. The portfolio spans four ranges — Open, HB (outboard), Timonier (wheelhouse), and Trawler — comprising 13 distinct models built to order in GRP laminate with gelcoat finish, offered in in-board or outboard propulsion variants with extensive customization. The company also provides refit, renovation, and bespoke upholstery services to extend the lifespan of its vessels across generations.
Product overview
Rhéa Marine is a French boatyard (Chantiers Rhéa-Marine, founded 1996) manufacturing hand-built motorboats at La Rochelle. The product portfolio comprises three distinct model lines: the Open line (23 Open V2, 23 Origine, 27 Open, 27 Escapade, 35 Open, 29 HB Open, 32 HB Open) — elegant day boats and coastal cruisers for family outings, fishing, and water sports; the Timonier line (730 Timonier V2, 800 Timonier, 850 Timonier, 29 HB Timonier, 32 HB Timonier) — wheelhouse fishing-cruisers offering protection and comfort for year-round use; and the Trawler line (Trawler 34) — premium displacement-hull cruisers for long-range coastal and bluewater passages, available in Fly and Sedan configurations. Models are offered with either in-board or outboard (hors-bord) propulsion and are built using hand-crafted GRP laminate with fiberglass-reinforced polyester, gelcoat finish, and select wood joinery. The company emphasizes customization at order, with options spanning electronics, upholstery, fishing equipment, and comfort features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 322 boats manufactured over 14+ years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RHEA MARINE
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
RHEA MARINE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
RHEA MARINE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- Midi NautismeregionalMidi Nautisme is Rhéa Marine's dealer partner in Marseille, hosting Journées Privilège test events where customers can experience Rhéa boats on the water. The partnership allows Rhéa Marine to reach customers in the Mediterranean region.
- Motte MarineregionalMotte Marine, directed by Laurent Moisy, is Rhéa Marine's exclusive dealer on Île de Ré. The partnership is described as a key relationship with shared passion for heritage boat building and quality customer service.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RHEA MARINE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Jeanneau: Major French motorboat builder (also part of BENETEAU Group) producing Merry Fisher, Leader, and Cap Camarat ranges. Direct competitor in coastal and outboard-powered cruiser segments at lower price points with series-production scale.
- Bénéteau: Largest French boatbuilder with broad motorboat and sailboat portfolio including the BENETEAU Power Boats range. Overlaps with Rhéa in the day-boat and coastal cruiser categories but competes on volume, dealer scale, and broader price tiers.
- Riva: Iconic Italian luxury motorboat brand (now part of Ferretti Group) producing mahogany and composite boats in similar heritage style. Comparable in craftsmanship-led heritage positioning and aspirational branding, but operates at substantially larger scale and price points.
Direct peers
- Tofinou (Latitude 46): French builder of classic-styled motorboats and sailboats with retro aesthetic positioned at similar premium price points. Direct competitor in the neo-classic day-boat and small cruiser segment where Rhéa competes.
- Wauquiez: French sailboat and motorboat builder also based in the La Rochelle region, sharing heritage boatbuilding DNA and visibly overlapping communications infrastructure ([email protected] appears as a Rhéa contact email). Highly comparable as a French artisan yard serving a similar premium European buyer.
- Chris-Craft: American heritage motorboat builder known for hand-finished launch and day-boat models with classic mahogany aesthetic. Highly comparable in craftsmanship-driven heritage positioning serving affluent recreational buyers.
- Apreamare: Italian builder of classic Gozzi-style motorboats combining traditional Mediterranean aesthetics with modern construction. Comparable in heritage-design philosophy, hand-finishing approach, and premium small-cruiser positioning.
- Sasga Yachts (formerly Menorquin Yachts): Spanish builder of classic Mediterranean motor yachts (Menorquin-style) with traditional lobster-boat aesthetics and modern construction. Comparable in heritage aesthetic, European Mediterranean positioning, and similar length range.
- RM Yachts (RM Fora Marine): French premium sailboat and motorboat builder producing performance cruising yachts with composite construction. Comparable as a French artisan builder serving European premium buyers with hand-built, design-forward vessels.
- Nimbus Boats: Swedish premium motorboat builder producing day-boats and cruisers (Tender, Commuter, Weekender lines) for Northern European markets. Comparable in coastal-cruiser positioning and Scandinavian dealer overlap with Rhéa.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RHEA MARINE social profiles
Digital presenceRHEA MARINE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RHEA MARINE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
RHEA MARINE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RHEA MARINE 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 RHEA MARINE
What does RHEA MARINE do?
Rhéa Marine is a French boatyard (Chantiers Rhéa-Marine) that manufactures and sells hand-built motorboats from its La Rochelle shipyard. The portfolio spans four ranges — Open, HB (outboard), Timonier (wheelhouse), and Trawler — comprising 13 distinct models built to order in GRP laminate with gelcoat finish, offered in in-board or outboard propulsion variants with extensive customization. The company also provides refit, renovation, and bespoke upholstery services to extend the lifespan of its vessels across generations.
Is RHEA MARINE a public or private company?
RHEA MARINE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RHEA MARINE founded?
RHEA MARINE was founded in 1996.
Where is RHEA MARINE based?
RHEA MARINE is headquartered in La Rochelle, France, in the Europe region.
How does RHEA MARINE make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Motorboat sales are the primary driver. The others are refit and renovation services and custom upholstery and sellery.
Who are RHEA MARINE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Jeanneau, Bénéteau and Riva. Direct peers are Tofinou (Latitude 46), Wauquiez, Chris-Craft, Apreamare, Sasga Yachts (formerly Menorquin Yachts), RM Yachts (RM Fora Marine) and Nimbus Boats.
Does RHEA MARINE have an API?
No public API is recorded for RHEA MARINE.
What industry is RHEA MARINE in?
RHEA MARINE's product category is Recreational Motorboats. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAMAL, Luxury Yacht Prototype, One-Off & Concept Build Programs, with a secondary code of IMAJAEAI, Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336612 and its SIC code is 3730.