Marathon Leisure
UK-based trade-only wholesale distributor of marine equipment and supplies, serving boat builders, marine service centers, retailers, and yacht chandleries across 14 product categories and 30+ brands from a Portsmouth headquarters, with same-day dispatch.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersHayling, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Marathon Leisure does
Marathon Leisure, Ltd. is a UK-based, trade-only wholesale distributor of marine equipment and supplies, headquartered in Portsmouth. The company serves marine trade professionals — boat builders, marine service centers, marine retailers, and yacht chandleries — explicitly leaving end-consumer retail to its downstream customers. Its product range spans 14 categories including marine electronics (fishfinders, CHIRP radar, VHF, GPS), electrical systems (batteries, charging, inverters, lighting, panels), cabin and galley equipment, water systems and pumps, safety equipment, navigation tools, engines and propulsion accessories, inflatable boats and water sports, ropes and rigging, anchoring and mooring, maintenance and consumables, and personal marine equipment. The catalog carries products from 30+ recognized marine brands including Humminbird, Mastervolt, Blue Sea Systems, Minn Kota, Hella Marine, Hempel, Veethree, Whale, Motul, Ritchie, Ankerplex, Starbrite, and Crosseven.
The business operates a B2B wholesale revenue model with no direct retail channel. Orders are accepted via phone, email, and an online trade storefront with a quick-order interface. Pricing is published as RRP ex. VAT, with trade-specific pricing unlocked through account login. Same-day dispatch is offered on 95%+ of orders placed by 3pm, with an overnight delivery option available for urgent requirements. Marketing activity is minimal, relying primarily on trade referrals, brand partnerships, and account management. The operating geography is restricted to the United Kingdom, and the company is privately held with no disclosed parent, investors, or headcount.
Marathon Leisure firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marathon Leisure
- Legal name
- Marathon Leisure, Ltd.
- Website
- https://marathonleisure.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UK-based trade-only wholesale distributor of marine equipment and supplies, serving boat builders, marine service centers, retailers, and yacht chandleries across 14 product categories and 30+ brands from a Portsmouth headquarters, with same-day dispatch.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marathon Leisure industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Equipment Wholesale Distribution
- SIC
- Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Wholesale-Hardware (5072)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail (CRAMAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI), Sailing & Rigging Retail (Sailboats, Sails, Hardware) (CRAMAIAG), Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles) (CRAMAIAD)
Keywords
Where Marathon Leisure is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hayling
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Marathon Leisure business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Wholesale marine equipment distribution: B2B wholesale distribution of marine equipment and supplies to trade customers. Operates as a trade-only distributor leaving retail sales to their customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Trade wholesale pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Marathon Leisure product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marathon Leisure is a UK trade-only wholesale distributor of marine equipment, supplying chandleries, boat builders, marine service centres, and retailers across 14 product categories. The company sells and ships branded marine electronics, electrical systems, cabin and galley, water systems, safety gear, navigation, propulsion accessories, and personal equipment from 30+ leading marine brands such as Humminbird, Mastervolt, Blue Sea Systems, Minn Kota, Hella Marine, and Hempel. Orders are accepted via phone, email, and an online B2B storefront, with same-day dispatch on 95%+ of orders placed by 3pm and overnight delivery available for urgent needs.
Product overview
Marathon Leisure is a trade-only marine equipment wholesale distributor offering an extensive portfolio of marine supplies across 14 product categories. The company distributes products from multiple branded manufacturers including Humminbird (fishfinders, mapping software, CHIRP radar, GPS modules), Veethree (gauges, GPS receivers, senders), and numerous other marine equipment brands. Their product range spans marine electronics (fishfinders, VHF radios, sonar systems, mapping software), electrical systems (batteries, charging, lighting), cabin equipment (refrigeration, cooking, climate control), water systems (pumps, plumbing, sanitation), safety equipment, navigation tools, propulsion accessories, and personal marine clothing. As a trade distributor, they supply marine trade professionals with same-day dispatch on 95% of orders placed by 3pm.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Marine Electronics Wholesale supply of marine electronics including fishfinders/plotters, VHF radios, marine audio, antennas, and gauges for commercial and recreational marine vessels, sold to marine trade businesses.
- Electrical Systems Wholesale supply of marine electrical components including batteries, charging systems, inverters, solar charging, lighting, switches, and monitoring equipment for boat electrical systems.
- Cabin & Galley Equipment Wholesale supply of interior boat equipment including refrigeration, cooking appliances, ventilation, air conditioning, flooring, and climate control systems for marine vessels.
- Water Systems & Pumps Wholesale supply of marine water management systems including bilge pumps, freshwater systems, plumbing, water heaters, toilets, and sanitation equipment for boats.
- Safety Equipment Wholesale supply of marine safety products including life jackets, buoyancy aids, life rings, firefighting equipment, emergency signaling devices, and first aid supplies.
- Navigation Equipment Wholesale supply of marine navigation tools including compasses, plotters, digital charts, and binoculars for vessel navigation and wayfinding.
- Engines & Propulsion Wholesale supply of outboard motor accessories, steering systems, fuel systems, trolling motors, and engine components for boat propulsion.
- Inflatable Boats & Water Sports Wholesale supply of inflatable boats, tenders, RIBs, SUP boards, fishing accessories, and water sports equipment for marine recreation.
- Ropes, Rigging & Hardware Wholesale supply of marine deck hardware, ropes, blocks, cleats, hatches, handrails, and sailing equipment for boat fitting and rigging.
- Anchoring, Boarding & Mooring Wholesale supply of anchor systems, windlasses, fenders, mooring equipment, boarding ladders, and docking accessories for boat anchoring and mooring.
- Maintenance & Consumables Wholesale supply of boat maintenance supplies including paints, antifouling, cleaning products, lubricants, anodes, adhesives, and repair materials.
- Personal Equipment Wholesale supply of marine clothing including foul weather gear, waterproof jackets, footwear, gloves, drysuits, wetsuits, and personal flotation equipment.
- Trade Wholesale Distribution Service Trade-only wholesale distribution service for UK marine trade businesses, providing account-based ordering, same-day dispatch on 95%+ of orders placed by 3pm, and overnight delivery options for urgent orders.
Companies that use Marathon Leisure
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Marathon Leisure technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Marathon Leisure partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- HempelcoreMarine paint and coatings brand distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- HumminbirdcoreLeading marine electronics brand (fishfinders, plotters, CHIRP radar) distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- MastervoltcoreMarine electrical systems and battery charging products distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- Blue Sea SystemscoreMarine electrical components and circuit protection products distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- Minn KotacoreTrolling motors and marine fishing equipment distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- Hella MarinecoreMarine lighting products distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- CrossevencoreMarine equipment brand featured in catalogue and distributed by Marathon Leisure.
- VeethreecoreMarine gauges and instrumentation distributed by Marathon Leisure.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Marathon Leisure competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Force 4 Chandlery: Major UK marine chandlery retailer with a substantial trade division and deep product range across electronics, safety, anchoring, and water systems. Competes with Marathon for the same end customers and many of the same brands, though its primary channel is consumer retail.
- Compass24: European marine e-commerce retailer/distributor (originally German, with UK presence) covering electronics, clothing, safety, and chandlery. Competes with Marathon for UK trade customers shopping online and represents the digital-native threat to traditional UK distributors.
- SVB (Sportboot-Versand Bremen): Large Germany-based marine equipment retailer/distributor serving both consumer and trade across Europe with an extensive catalogue of marine electronics, deck hardware, and safety equipment. Comparable to Marathon in product breadth and brand coverage, but operates at much larger scale and across Europe.
Regional players
- Balchin Marine: UK-based marine equipment and sail loft supplier serving sailing trade customers and chandleries with a focus on rigging, ropes, and deck hardware. Comparable to Marathon's rigging and anchoring category overlap, but with a regional/niche emphasis.
Direct peers
- JP Nautical / James Pearson & Sons: UK marine equipment and chandlery supplier with a long history serving boat builders, service yards, and chandleries. Comparable to Marathon as a UK trade-focused distributor across multiple marine categories.
- C-Quip International: UK marine hardware and deck equipment distributor serving OEM boat builders and the marine trade with stainless hardware, fittings, and deck equipment. Comparable to Marathon as a B2B trade supplier, particularly in anchoring, rigging, and deck hardware categories.
- ASAP Supplies: UK-based marine equipment distributor supplying chandlery, boat building, and service trade customers with a comparable breadth of marine brands and categories. Most directly comparable to Marathon as a UK marine trade wholesaler with overlapping supplier relationships and similar trade-account go-to-market.
- A.E. Meakin: Long-established UK marine chandlery and equipment supplier serving both retail and trade customers across electronics, safety, deck hardware, and consumables. Comparable to Marathon in product breadth and UK market focus, though with a stronger retail tilt.
- Whites Marine Services: UK-based marine equipment distributor servicing chandlery and trade customers with a focus on consumables, hardware, and marine maintenance products. Comparable to Marathon's maintenance, anchoring, and consumables categories.
- Bainbridge International: UK-based marine equipment distributor and manufacturer with broad coverage of safety, clothing, and chandlery categories. Comparable to Marathon as a UK marine trade supplier, and an additional competitor for distributed safety and personal equipment brands.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Marathon Leisure social profiles
Digital presenceMarathon Leisure financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marathon Leisure leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Marathon Leisure funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marathon Leisure 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 Marathon Leisure
What does Marathon Leisure do?
Marathon Leisure is a UK trade-only wholesale distributor of marine equipment, supplying chandleries, boat builders, marine service centres, and retailers across 14 product categories. The company sells and ships branded marine electronics, electrical systems, cabin and galley, water systems, safety gear, navigation, propulsion accessories, and personal equipment from 30+ leading marine brands such as Humminbird, Mastervolt, Blue Sea Systems, Minn Kota, Hella Marine, and Hempel. Orders are accepted via phone, email, and an online B2B storefront, with same-day dispatch on 95%+ of orders placed by 3pm and overnight delivery available for urgent needs.
Is Marathon Leisure a public or private company?
Marathon Leisure is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Marathon Leisure founded?
Marathon Leisure was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Marathon Leisure based?
Marathon Leisure is headquartered in Hayling, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Marathon Leisure make money?
One revenue line is on record: wholesale marine equipment distribution.
Who are Marathon Leisure's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Force 4 Chandlery, Compass24 and SVB (Sportboot-Versand Bremen). Balchin Marine is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are JP Nautical / James Pearson & Sons, C-Quip International, ASAP Supplies, A.E. Meakin, Whites Marine Services and Bainbridge International.
Does Marathon Leisure have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marathon Leisure.
What industry is Marathon Leisure in?
Marathon Leisure's product category is Marine Equipment Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAB, Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMABAI, Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories). Its SIC code is 5040.