April Marine

What April Marine does

April Marine is a French specialty insurance broker focused exclusively on recreational pleasure craft insurance and financing. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the APRIL Group conglomerate, the company serves approximately 110,000 individual customers across France, the Caribbean, and Canada, providing coverage for motorboats, sailboats, jet skis, trailers, and related equipment. Headquartered in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, April Marine operates regional agencies covering the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Antilles markets, with international offices in Martinique (Le Marin), Canada (Montréal and Toronto), and Italy (Sanremo).

The company's product architecture is anchored on three core insurance contracts — Horizon (premium multi-risk with new-value reimbursement), Littoral (standard multi-risk with economic value), and Responsabilité Civile (mandatory third-party liability) — supplemented by a broad menu of modular add-on guarantees. Differentiating components include an exclusive engine breakdown warranty (Garantie Avarie Moteur) covering motors up to 50 years old, a 24/7 premium assistance service operating up to 6 nautical miles from French coasts via a network of 500 approved professionals, automatic coverage for collaborative boating practices (peer-to-peer rental, co-navigation), and free expert-fee coverage in total loss cases. Distribution is supported by a 100% digital quote and subscription platform, iOS/Android mobile applications with assistance requests and nautical chart features, the APRIL Marine Académie online training platform (Gold Medal winner, Trophées de l'Assurance 2024), and the APRIL-ON broker portal for professional partners.

April Marine generates revenue through insurance brokerage commissions on annual subscription premiums and transactional fees on boat financing arrangements (credit and lease-with-option-to-purchase). The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer online self-service, phone-based advisory, broker intermediation, dealer/marina referrals (Mercury Marine, YANMAR, Sea-Doo), and physical presence at major French nautical salons (Grand Pavois La Rochelle, Nautic de Paris, Arcachon). Pricing is quote-based with regressive deductibles that decrease 25% per claim-free year, creating a structural loyalty mechanism. The company is privately held within the APRIL Group, with no external venture funding disclosed and two completed acquisitions (Intercaraïbes Assurances in 2016 and Assurback in 2019).

Name

April Marine

Legal name

APRIL Marine SAS

Website

https://aprilmarine.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

April Marine is a French specialty insurance broker offering multi-risk insurance and financing for pleasure boats, sailboats, jet skis and trailers. It serves 110,000 individual customers across France, the Caribbean and Canada via direct, broker and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pleasure Boat Insurance Brokerage

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Finance Lessors (6172)

akta.pro primary industry

Yacht & Pleasure Craft Insurance (FSAJAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Boat & Marine Leasing (FSAKANAH), Marine & Boat Finance (FSAKADAH), Marine Specialty (Hull/P&I/Cargo) (FSAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Pleasure boat insurance
• Marine insurance brokerage
• Boat financing solutions
• Nautical training platform
• Recreational marine coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

La Roche-sur-yon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pleasure Boat Insurance Premiums: Recurring insurance premiums from multirisk, third-party liability, and specialized boat insurance contracts covering powerboats, sailboats, jet skis, and trailers. Subscription-based model with annual billing.
2. Boat Financing Services: Financing solutions for boats, jet skis, motors and equipment through credit or lease-with-option-to-purchase arrangements. Acts as an insurance broker and credit broker, non-exclusive, working with multiple credit institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

April Marine brokers specialty insurance for recreational watercraft (powerboats, sailboats, jet skis and trailers) through its Horizon and Littoral multi-risk contracts, third-party liability cover and modular add-on guarantees, distributed via a 100% digital quote-and-subscription platform plus advisor hotlines. The company also arranges boat financing (credit and lease with option to purchase) through partner credit institutions, and operates the APRIL Marine Académie online nautical training platform and a 24/7 premium assistance service at land, dock and sea.

Product overview

April Marine is a specialist in pleasure boating insurance and financing, offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on core insurance contracts (Horizon, Littoral, Responsabilité Civile) and specialized coverage for motorboats, sailboats, jet skis, and trailers. The company provides financing solutions through credit and lease-with-option-to-purchase arrangements. Key differentiating services include APRIL Marine Académie (online nautical training platform), a mobile application with assistance and navigation tools, Assistance Premium (24/7 coverage at sea up to 6 nautical miles), and the unique Garantie Avarie Moteur covering engines up to 50 years. Additional offerings include legal protection, fishing/water sports equipment extensions, collaborative boating coverage, and LibertyKite® safety kites through a partnership with Beyond the Sea. The product architecture combines core multi-risk insurance contracts with modular add-on coverages allowing customers to customize protection based on their specific vessel type and usage patterns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APRIL Marine Académie: Online nautical training platform providing 100% digital courses for boaters to develop and reinforce their nautical knowledge, safety skills, and seamanship.
• Horizon
• Littoral
• Assurback

Products and services

• Horizon Premium multi-risk pleasure craft insurance contract offering comprehensive coverage including new value reimbursement, premium 24/7 assistance, engine breakdown warranty up to 50 years and legal protection.
• Littoral Standard multi-risk insurance contract with economic value reimbursement for pleasure boats and watercraft, covering accidental damage, theft, third-party liability and assistance.
• Responsabilité Civile (Third-Party Liability) Mandatory third-party liability insurance for pleasure boating (required for port moorings), indemnifying for bodily, material and immaterial damages caused to third parties, including passengers.
• Assurance Usages Spécifiques Custom insurance solutions for atypical navigation profiles including transatlantic crossings, Caribbean navigation, bareboat or skippered charter, boat school use and regatta participation.
• Crédit Plaisance / Boat Financing Boat financing solutions offered through credit or lease with option to purchase (LOA) arrangements, working with multiple partner credit institutions on a non-exclusive basis.
• APRIL Marine Académie 100% online nautical training platform offering courses for developing and reinforcing nautical knowledge, safety skills and seamanship for pleasure boaters; awarded Gold Medal in the Innovation category at the Trophées de l'Assurance 2024.
• Application Mobile APRIL Marine Mobile application (iOS and Android) providing assistance requests, emergency contacts, GPS position sharing, claim declarations, weather forecasts, nautical charts and equipment inventory management for APRIL Marine clients.
• Assistance Premium (24/7 sea assistance) Exclusive 24/7 premium assistance service covering land, dock and sea (up to 6 nautical miles from French coasts) through a network of 500 approved professionals for breakdowns, rescue and recovery.
• LibertyKite® safety kite Safety kite (created by Yves Parlier, marketed as LibertyKite®) providing backup propulsion in case of engine failure or mast damage, distributed by APRIL Marine under partnership with Beyond the Sea with a 20% client-exclusive discount. Available in 10m², 20m², 40m² and 80m² sizes with rapid deployment in 15-20 minutes.
• Assurback (online insurance broker brand) Pure-player online insurance broker for pleasure boating in France (acquired 100% in February 2019), offering optimized online subscription processes with partner products alongside APRIL Marine offerings as part of the group's multi-brand distribution strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% client satisfaction rate (survey by M.O.A.I. institute, 2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 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

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Beyond the Sea (LibertyKite®)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to offer LibertyKite safety kites to insured clients with 20% exclusive discount. LibertyKite is a patented safety sail designed to bring boats back to port in case of engine failure or mast breakdown.
• Mercury Marine FrancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Long-standing financing partnership expanded to event sponsorship (Mercury Fishing Cup) and skipper sponsorship (Mercury partner of Matéo Le Calvic Mini). Joint financing offers including 10-times interest-free credit for AVATOR electric motors and 30% discount on portable motors.
• BoatngominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to offer simplified, complete boat maintenance management to APRIL Marine clients. Exclusive offer for clients in Alpes-Maritimes (06): free Boatngo subscription (normally 359 euros/year), 10% discount on labour, 1 free hour of assistance, dedicated contact. Offer expansion to national level under consideration.
• YANMARminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with YANMAR as main engine supplier. APRIL Marine trained YANMAR master dealers on financing solutions for remotorization and boat purchase projects. Customers directed to YANMAR dealers who offer APRIL Marine financing.
• SNSM (Société Nationale des Sauveteurs en Mer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-standing partnership since 2012 for maritime safety and rescue. APRIL Marine donates 1 euro per multirisk insurance contract to SNSM. Teams train with SNSM volunteers and participate in joint exercises. Annual donations ranging from 22,160 to 40,500 euros have been made.
• LegisplaisanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner of the annual Journées Nationales Legisplaisance since 2016, addressing topics such as technological innovation in nautical and pleasure boating in the context of ecological transition.
• Grand Pavois OrganisationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and participant at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle (50th edition), the leading international in-water boat show. APRIL Marine sponsors the APRIL Marine Paddle Jam and Grand Pavois Fishing events organized by GPO.
• Easy NautiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create and deliver the 'Journées Sécurité Plaisance' (Pleasure Safety Days) - free safety training sessions for APRIL Marine insured clients covering rescue procedures, SNSM interventions, medical at sea, and safety equipment.
• eKomiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent customer review platform collecting verified reviews from APRIL Marine clients. Current rating 4.8/5 from 1,348 reviews, demonstrating customer satisfaction transparency.
• Mission 1000 TonnesminorOthersEnvironmental partnership supporting ocean and waterway cleanup operations. APRIL Marine Canada has collaborated with Mission 1000 Tonnes for multiple waste collection events. Coordinated global waste collection on World Ocean Day 2022 across France, Martinique and Canada.
• Océan Récif AvenirminorOthersEnvironmental partnership supporting marine fauna and flora development in depolluted wreck sites that favor species reproduction.
• Ecogestes Méditerranée & Manche AtlantiqueminorOthersCampaign supported since 2015 to inform and sensitize pleasure boaters on eco-responsible practices and equipment changes. Run by CPIE associations.
• Fédération Française des Pêches Sportives (FFPS/Carnassier)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer with Mercury Marine of the Mercury Fishing Cup - French championship of lure fishing from boats - with 10,000 euros prize for the winning team.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Assurboat: French online specialist broker focused exclusively on pleasure boat insurance, with direct quote and subscription flows similar to APRIL Marine's self-service model. Most direct head-to-head competitor in the French specialty niche.
• Assinco / Plaisance Assurances: Long-standing French pleasure-boat insurance broker serving sailboats, motorboats and jet skis. Directly comparable product scope and target customer (individual French boaters).

Broad incumbents

• MACIF: French mutual insurer with pleasure-boat and nautical coverage as part of its multi-line offering. Reaches similar individual boater customers through a broader product portfolio.
• Groupama: French mutual insurer with significant presence in marine and recreational craft insurance through its regional caisses. Competes on the same boat-insurance category but with broader P&C scale.
• APRIL Group (parent): French insurance broker conglomerate whose other specialty lines (Auto, Moto, Santé) demonstrate the broker model and brand-extension playbook that APRIL Marine replicates within pleasure boating.
• Allianz Marine (Allianz France): Major French general insurer with a marine insurance line that competes for the same pleasure-boat customers. Overlaps in product and target market but does not specialise in the pleasure-craft niche.
• AXA Loisirs et Plaisance: Large incumbent insurer offering pleasure-boat coverage as part of a broader P&C portfolio. Comparable customer base but lacks the specialist focus and proprietary guarantees that define APRIL Marine.

Regional players

• Pantaenius: German-headquartered yacht insurance specialist with strong European footprint (including Mediterranean). Comparable product design for sailboats and motor yachts, but operating primarily in German-speaking and Northern European markets.
• Navigators & General (Allianz-owned): UK-based specialist pleasure-craft insurer serving sailing and motor yacht owners. Comparable niche focus, though operating in the UK/Ireland rather than the French market.

Emerging players

• Hiscox: Specialty insurer with marine and high-net-worth personal lines exposure in France. Comparable niche positioning on tailored coverage and affluent boating clientele, though Hiscox is broader across other specialty classes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GroupeAPRIL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdEtDZ6g_cdyz_6_f3LBNjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/aprilmarine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/april-marine-fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 April Marine