What Sea Star Base Galveston does

Sea Star Base Galveston (SSBG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Captain Charles and Rosemary Doolin, operating a 10-acre waterfront facility at 7509 Broadway St, Galveston, TX, with direct access to Offatt's Bayou. The organization's physical platform consists of a LEED Platinum certified, fully wheelchair accessible building, a modern marina, a swimming pool, a "seagoing classroom," and a 39-boat fleet supporting sailing, kayaking, power boating, fishing, navigation, seamanship, marine conservation, and swimming instruction. SSBG is a certified Texas Parks and Wildlife Boaters Education location and hosts NOAA training, lending it state- and federal-level credentialing as a maritime training provider.

The organization serves five principal customer segments: youth and families (primary), military veterans, individuals with disabilities, corporate clients, and wedding/private event clients. Programmatic offerings include dedicated Adaptive Sports Programs and Veterans Programs delivered through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The facility's banquet infrastructure — including The Commodore hall (capacity 275 seated / 330 standing) and a waterfront chapel overlooking Offatt's Bayou — supports a separate event-venue revenue stream for weddings, corporate retreats, galas, and fundraisers.

SSBG's revenue model blends donations (tax-deductible contributions starting at $25, with suggested $100 and program-directed giving options), recurring corporate sponsorships from a roster including Moody Foundation, Port Houston, Moody Bank, McCoys, Tremont House, Rotary Club, and Kiwanis Club, quote-based event venue rentals booked through a TripleSeat proposal system, and program fees for youth and adult aquatic education. Distribution is regional (Texas Gulf Coast), delivered primarily on-site at the Galveston facility with school and nonprofit partnership channels extending reach. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and was recognized with the 2020 Galveston Daily News Readers Choice Award for Best Venue.

Name

Sea Star Base Galveston

Legal name

Sea Star Base Galveston

Website

https://ssbgalveston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sea Star Base Galveston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 10-acre, LEED Platinum certified waterfront facility in Galveston, TX, delivering marine and aquatic education programs to youth, veterans, and people with disabilities, while hosting weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine and Maritime Education Services

NAICS

Marinas (71393)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)

Keywords

• Marine education programs
• Aquatic youth programs
• Adaptive water sports
• Waterfront event venue
• Veterans maritime programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Galveston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Sea Star Base Galveston relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to sustain and expand their marine education programs. The donation portal offers options to direct funds to specific programs including Fishing Programs, Sailing Programs, Adaptive Programs, Veterans Programs, or the general SSBG Mission.
2. Event Venue Rental: Revenue generated from hosting weddings, corporate events, community events, galas, fundraisers, and private parties at their waterfront facilities. The venue offers multiple spaces including The Commodore banquet hall (seating up to 275, standing 330), conference rooms, and outdoor waterfront areas.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from local businesses and organizations including McCoys, Moody Bank, Tremont House, Port Houston, and various other sponsors who support the organization financially in exchange for recognition and association with the nonprofit.
4. Youth and Community Programs: Revenue from youth aquatic education programs including sailing, kayaking, fishing, marine conservation, navigation, seamanship, and swimming lessons. Programs are open to all with focus on leadership and teamwork skill development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sea Star Base Galveston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers marine, maritime, and aquatics-based education programs including sailing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, navigation, seamanship, and power boating on a 10-acre waterfront facility with a 39-boat fleet. It also runs adaptive sports programs for individuals with disabilities and veterans, and rents its LEED Platinum certified facility for weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings.

Product overview

Sea Star Base Galveston (SSBG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of marine, maritime, and aquatics-based education programs designed to instill lifetime leadership and teamwork skills while fostering independence of mind, body, and spirit. The core product suite consists of sailing programs (small- and large-boat sailing, Keelboat Certification), kayaking, fishing, swimming lessons, power boats, marine conservation, navigation, and seamanship instruction. The organization also provides specialized Adaptive Sports Programs for individuals with disabilities and Veterans Programs. Event services include venue rental for corporate events, weddings, and community gatherings. The 10-acre waterfront facility features a fleet of 39 boats, a LEED Platinum certified building, swimming pool, and modern marina—all fully wheelchair accessible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sailing Programs Small- and large-boat sailing instruction including Keelboat Certification, teaching youth and adults teamwork and leadership through aquatic adventure.
• Kayaking Programs Kayak instruction and guided experiences on the water, introducing participants to paddle sports and water safety.
• Fishing Programs Fishing education including instruction from the pier, hands-on outdoor experiences, and marine conservation awareness.
• Swimming Lessons Aquatics instruction focused on water safety and skill development for youth and adults.
• Power Boating Programs Power boating instruction and certification programs, including TPWD Boaters Education courses certified by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
• Adaptive Sports Programs Specialized programs designed for individuals with disabilities, offering wheelchair-accessible water activities and adaptive sailing.
• Veterans Programs Programs designed for veterans to reclaim independence and discover lifelong hobbies through water-based activities and adaptive sports.
• Corporate Events Venue Rental Corporate event hosting including team building, business conferences, retreats, galas, and fundraisers at the waterfront venue with capacity up to 330 guests.
• Wedding Venue Rental Wedding venue rental featuring an open-air chapel overlooking the marina with panoramic views of Offatt's Bayou and waterfront experiences.
• Community Events Venue Rental Community event hosting and programming at the waterfront facilities for galas, fundraisers, and private parties.

Quantifiable outcome

• The entire facility and boats are fully wheelchair accessible, ensuring everyone is accommodated and welcome
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA conducts training programs at Sea Star Base Galveston facilities. The partnership provides specialized marine education and training opportunities for participants at SSBG's state-of-the-art waterfront facility.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Boaters Education programs. SSBG serves as a certified location for TPWD Boaters Education courses, providing official staterecognized maritime training.
• Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Veterans Programs at SSBG, providing adaptive sports and high adventure activities for military veterans to help reclaim independence.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Disabled Sports USA: National nonprofit delivering adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities. Comparable in adaptive recreation programming though broader in sport coverage than SSBG.
• US Sailing Association: National governing body for sailing in the US, offering instruction, certification (including Keelboat), and training programs. Comparable as an organization shaping sailing education standards that SSBG's programs align with.

Direct peers

• The Mariner's Museum: Nonprofit maritime institution offering maritime education and seamanship programming. Comparable as a mission-driven maritime education organization.
• Sail Nauticus: Norfolk, VA-based sailing center offering youth sailing programs, adaptive sailing, and maritime education on a waterfront facility. Closely comparable operating model and mission mix to SSBG.
• Challenge America: Nonprofit providing adaptive sports and recreation programs for veterans, military families, and individuals with disabilities. Directly comparable in mission around adaptive and veterans recreation.
• Sea Base (Boy Scouts of America): Operates sailing and maritime adventure programs for youth across multiple locations. Directly comparable as a youth-focused marine education and adventure organization using a fleet of vessels.

Regional players

• Houston Yacht Club: Historic Houston-area yacht club offering sailing instruction, youth programs, and waterfront events. Comparable as a regional sailing education and waterfront venue operator.
• Lakewood Yacht Club: Houston-area yacht club offering sailing education, regattas, and youth programs. Comparable as a Gulf Coast sailing and youth boating education organization serving a similar demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_OHYoCTzezQ9RarvxBTAlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SSBGalveston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sea-star-base-galveston
• Instagraminstagram.com/seastarbasegalveston
• Xx.com/SSBGalveston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Sea Star Base Galveston