GUNBOAT
GUNBOAT designs and builds semi-custom luxury performance catamarans (68-80 feet) at its shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France, serving ultra-high-net-worth sailors seeking carbon-composite speed with bluewater comfort, and operates an in-house brokerage for its pre-owned fleet.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersLa Grande Motte, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GUNBOAT does
GUNBOAT designs and builds semi-custom luxury performance catamarans ranging from 68 to 80 feet, serving ultra-high-net-worth individual buyers and owners who demand both regatta-level sailing capability and bluewater cruising comfort. Its current lineup comprises the Gunboat 68 Series (including a longer Voyager variant), the Gunboat 72 Series (in Standard, Explorer, and Flybridge configurations), the Gunboat 80 Series, and the Fusion 80. Every hull is built in the company's purpose-built shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France, from all-carbon composite supplied through a precision partnership with SF Composites/Hexcel, with naval architecture by VPLP and design collaboration from Patrick Le Quément and Christophe Chédal Anglay. Each build goes through more than 1,300 validation checkpoints and takes roughly 18 months from order to delivery; vessels are certified to CE ISO Cat A Ocean standards.
Underlying systems include hydraulic sheet and rig controls, integrated load sensors, modern autopilot electronics, long daggerboards, retractable rudders, and wave-piercing bows. Business mechanics are anchored on quote-based semi-custom new-build sales (multi-year contract cycle per yacht), complemented by an in-house brokerage for the 48-90 foot pre-owned fleet and refit/maintenance partnerships with Newport Shipyard (US) and ORAMS Marine (Auckland). Distribution is direct only, via the La Grande-Motte headquarters and a Newport, Rhode Island sales office, with marketing driven by regatta participation (Caribbean Multihull Challenge, BVI Spring Regatta, Multihull Cup, Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez), private factory visits, owner rendezvous, and sailing media. The company was founded in 2002 as an American brand, acquired by French conglomerate Grand Large Yachting in 2016, and is led by Managing Partner Benoit Lebizay and COO William Jelbert.
GUNBOAT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GUNBOAT
- Legal name
- Gunboat – Grand Large Yachting Méditerranée
- Website
- https://gunboat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GUNBOAT designs and builds semi-custom luxury performance catamarans (68-80 feet) at its shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France, serving ultra-high-net-worth sailors seeking carbon-composite speed with bluewater comfort, and operates an in-house brokerage for its pre-owned fleet.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GUNBOAT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Performance Sailing Catamarans
- NAICS
- Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Building (336612)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Catamaran (Power & Sail) Manufacturing (IMAJAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Catamaran & Multihull Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAC), Luxury Yacht Refit, Rebuild & Lifecycle Upgrades (MRO) (IMAJAMAJ)
Keywords
Where GUNBOAT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Grande Motte
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
GUNBOAT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Custom New Build Yachts: Gunboat manufactures semi-custom luxury performance catamarans (Gunboat 68, 72, 80 series) to client specifications. Each yacht takes approximately 18 months to build with full customization of layout, sail plan, interior architecture, and finishings. The company builds to CE ISO Cat A Ocean standards.
- Gunboat Brokerage: The company operates an exclusive brokerage service for resale of Gunboat vessels (fleet ranging from 48-90 feet), providing technical knowledge, understanding of build history, customizations, and maintenance of each boat. Services include supporting new owners and connecting buyers with sellers.
- Refit and Maintenance Services: Gunboat provides refit services and maintenance support through partnerships with specialized service providers like Newport Shipyard and ORAMS Marine, supporting the ownership lifecycle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom luxury catamaran pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
GUNBOAT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gunboat designs and builds semi-custom, all-carbon composite luxury performance sailing catamarans ranging from 68 to 80 feet. Each yacht takes approximately 18 months to build with VPLP naval architecture and full customization of layout, sail plan, interior architecture, and finishings, built to CE ISO Cat A Ocean standards at the company's single shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France. The company also operates an exclusive brokerage service for resale of pre-owned Gunboat vessels worldwide and provides refit and maintenance support through service partners.
Product overview
Gunboat is a luxury catamaran manufacturer offering a range of high-performance sailing catamarans from 68 to 80 feet. The product lineup consists of the Gunboat 68 Series (including the Voyager variant), the Gunboat 72 Series (offering standard, Explorer, and Flybridge configurations), the Gunboat 80 Series, and the Fusion 80 variant. All boats feature all-carbon composite construction, advanced naval architecture from VPLP, and are built to CE ISO Cat A Ocean standards at the company's shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France. The company also offers brokerage services for pre-owned Gunboat vessels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gunboat 68 Series High-performance sailing catamaran and original Gunboat model, featuring lightweight all-carbon composite construction, wave-piercing bows, retractable rudders, and long daggerboards. Designed for exhilarating shorthanded sailing with intuitive sail systems and luxury cruising capability.
- Gunboat 68 Voyager Extended-voyage variant of the Gunboat 68 featuring larger hulls (+8%) with significantly more interior space, an expansive living area, and an enlarged aft cockpit optimized for fast cruising holidays while retaining Gunboat performance DNA.
- Gunboat 72 Series Versatile performance catamaran series offered in multiple configurations: standard Gunboat 72 for precision sailing and comfort, 72 Explorer for ocean exploration, and 72 Flybridge with enhanced social spaces. Built for owners wanting expanded interior volume over the Gunboat 68 with full customization.
- Gunboat 72 Explorer Adventure-focused variant of the Gunboat 72 that transforms the forward cockpit into additional living areas for maximized onboard space, built for rapid cruising with performance and luxurious long-distance exploration capability.
- Gunboat 72 Flybridge Elevated-design variant of the Gunboat 72 featuring a flybridge with panoramic views, enhanced social spaces for entertaining, and maintained comfort, stability, and performance in all conditions.
- Gunboat 80 Series Ultimate custom luxury catamaran and largest Gunboat model, meticulously crafted for uncompromising performance with a regatta configuration featuring rotating mast and oversized daggerboards. Customizable bridgedeck salon with expansive windows for natural light and luxury interior appointments.
- Fusion 80 Expanded interpretation of performance on the Gunboat 80 platform, retaining performance fundamentals while emphasizing distance, continuity, and comfort during fast passages, integrating speed and composure into a single ownership experience.
- Gunboat Brokerage Services Exclusive resale service for pre-owned Gunboat vessels ranging from 48 to 90 feet, providing in-house technical multihull knowledge, understanding of build history and customizations, and complimentary support services for prospective buyers entering the brand.
- Refit and Maintenance Services Refit, maintenance, and lifecycle support delivered through partnerships with specialized service providers including Newport Shipyard, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, and ORAMS Marine, supporting Gunboat owners across the full ownership lifecycle.
Quantifiable outcome
- More time under sail, less reliance on mechanical propulsion, lower energy consumption across the life of the boat
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GUNBOAT
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
GUNBOAT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
GUNBOAT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and minor.
- VPLP (Van Pet Lauriol Prévost)coreIndustry-leading naval architects described as 'the fastest naval architects in the world' and foremost offshore racing as well as cruising multihull designers. VPLP delivers industry-leading naval architecture guaranteeing light, robust, impressively fast platforms.
- Doyle SailscoreSail manufacturer partnership. Doyle Sails was present at the BVI regatta village alongside Gunboat, demonstrating the importance of sail plan optimization in Gunboat's performance philosophy.
- SF Composites / HexcelcorePrecision carbon fiber materials partnership eliminating risk of human error. SF Composites delivers millimeter precision that improves build efficiency, reduces labor hours, and achieves overall weight savings through pre-cut carbon at defined widths.
- Fibre MechanicsimportantHelm station design and manufacturing partner. Built custom exterior helm stations for Gunboat 68 Highland Fling, designed by Christophe Chedal Anglay.
- LorimaimportantMast and daggerboard manufacturer. Lorima produces regatta daggerboards for Gunboat vessels, as seen in the Gunboat 68 SeaTilt commissioning process.
- NaviteamimportantFrench paint subcontractor with experience on race boats. Chosen for mirror finish capability and ability to keep fairing light while achieving premium paint results. Has been with Gunboat from the beginning.
- ORAMS MarineimportantService and maintenance provider. Since 2025, TOSCA has been developed and maintained to highest standards under the care of ORAMS Marine in Auckland.
- Newport ShipyardcoreUS shipyard partner in Newport, RI. Gunboat has an office at Newport Shipyard, where multiple Gunboats undergo refits and commissioning. The facility has familiarity with Gunboat boats and subcontractors experienced with Gunboat refits.
- Safe Harbor Newport ShipyardimportantService partner for Gunboat events and maintenance. Co-sponsored video footage of LVDS Bermuda 2018 and hosts Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard Race Week.
- Tidal Pulse MediaminorMedia partner that captured footage at sea during BVI regatta week. Content creation partnership for documenting Gunboat events.
- Patrick Le QuémentcoreRenowned industrial designer collaborating on Gunboat design. Part of the close design loop between Gunboat, VPLP, Patrick Le Quément and Christophe Chédal Anglay for yachts like TOSCA.
- Christophe Chédal AnglaycoreDesign partner working with VPLP on Gunboat designs. Created helm station designs for Gunboat 68 Highland Fling built by Fibre Mechanics.
- North SailscoreSail manufacturer for Gunboat yachts. Gunboat 68 Highland Fling features a new suit of North Sails, and commissioning professionals were on board for sea trials.
- Rigging ProjectsimportantRigging specialist involved in commissioning and sea trials of Gunboat yachts. Present during first sails and commissioning process.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GUNBOAT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Outremer Catamarans: Outremer Catamarans (part of Grand Large Yachting, Gunboat's parent group) builds performance-oriented cruising catamarans in the 45-65 foot range. It targets a similar performance-cruising customer and benefits from the same parent group, making it both a peer and a sister brand.
- Catana Group: Catana Group owns the Catana (performance-oriented) and Bali (cruising-oriented) catamaran brands, offering performance sailing catamarans in the 50-70 foot range. Catana in particular competes with Gunboat on the performance-cruising axis with similar weight and speed engineering priorities.
- Sunreef Yachts: Sunreef Yachts is a Polish-based luxury catamaran builder offering sailing and power catamarans in the 50-100+ foot range, including semi-custom and fully custom configurations. It is the most direct competitor to Gunboat in the UHNW luxury multihull segment, with overlapping product positioning and customer base.
- HH Catamarans: HH Catamarans builds high-performance luxury sailing catamarans using advanced composite construction (including carbon) targeting the same UHNW performance-cruising buyer as Gunboat. The brands compete head-to-head on weight, speed, and bluewater capability with similar semi-custom build processes.
- Privilege Marine: Privilege Marine is a French luxury catamaran manufacturer (now part of HanseYachts AG) building semi-custom sailing catamarans in the 50-74 foot range. It is one of Gunboat's closest direct competitors in the European luxury cruising catamaran segment, sharing a French shipyard heritage.
Broad incumbents
- Lagoon Catamarans: Lagoon, owned by the Beneteau Group, is the world's largest catamaran builder with sailing and power models from 40-78 feet. While broader and more production-oriented than Gunboat, Lagoon competes for the upper end of the luxury catamaran buyer and benefits from massive scale, dealer network, and charter channel reach.
- Royal Huisman: Royal Huisman is a Dutch builder of large custom performance sailing yachts and superyachts (typically 50-90+ meters in build capability). It competes with Gunboat for the UHNW performance-sailing buyer at the very top of the market, offering fully custom builds with similar lightweight composite engineering.
- Southern Wind Yachts: Southern Wind builds high-performance semi-custom sailing yachts (typically 78-105 foot monohulls and the SW96 mini-series) in Cape Town for the UHNW performance-sailing buyer. It is comparable to Gunboat in client base and price tier, though Southern Wind focuses on monohulls and larger yachts.
- Fountaine Pajot: Fountaine Pajot is a major French catamaran and sailing yacht manufacturer offering both cruising catamarans and monohulls across broad price points. Its Lucia, Astrea, and flagship models overlap with the luxury cruising catamaran buyer, but Fountaine Pajot operates at significantly higher volume and broader price tiers than Gunboat.
Emerging players
- Windelo Catamarans: Windelo is a French emerging catamaran builder focused on eco-performance cruising catamarans (50-57 foot range) with hybrid propulsion and recycled materials. It targets an adjacent performance-cruising buyer with an environmental positioning that increasingly overlaps with luxury multihull customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GUNBOAT social profiles
Digital presenceGUNBOAT compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
GUNBOAT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GUNBOAT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GUNBOAT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GUNBOAT 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 GUNBOAT
What does GUNBOAT do?
Gunboat designs and builds semi-custom, all-carbon composite luxury performance sailing catamarans ranging from 68 to 80 feet. Each yacht takes approximately 18 months to build with VPLP naval architecture and full customization of layout, sail plan, interior architecture, and finishings, built to CE ISO Cat A Ocean standards at the company's single shipyard in La Grande-Motte, France. The company also operates an exclusive brokerage service for resale of pre-owned Gunboat vessels worldwide and provides refit and maintenance support through service partners.
Is GUNBOAT a public or private company?
GUNBOAT is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GUNBOAT founded?
GUNBOAT was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GUNBOAT based?
GUNBOAT is headquartered in La Grande Motte, France, in the Europe region.
How does GUNBOAT make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom New Build Yachts are the primary driver. The others are gunboat Brokerage and refit and Maintenance Services.
Who are GUNBOAT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Outremer Catamarans, Catana Group, Sunreef Yachts, HH Catamarans and Privilege Marine. Broad incumbents are Lagoon Catamarans, Royal Huisman, Southern Wind Yachts and Fountaine Pajot. Windelo Catamarans is listed as an emerging player.
Does GUNBOAT have an API?
No public API is recorded for GUNBOAT.
What industry is GUNBOAT in?
GUNBOAT's product category is Luxury Performance Sailing Catamarans. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAMAF, Luxury Catamaran (Power & Sail) Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAJAEAC, Catamaran & Multihull Leisure Craft Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.