We Buy Boats
We Buy Boats is a US-based used boat wholesaler, founded in 2012, that purchases powerboats and yachts (2005+) directly from individual owners and resells them through distribution channels. Operating as a subsidiary of NextBoat (NYSE: NXB), it runs four US inspection locations and serves sellers nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersHampstead, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What We Buy Boats does
We Buy Boats is a US-based used boat wholesaler founded in 2012 and headquartered in Hampstead, operating as a subsidiary of NextBoat (NYSE: NXB). The company purchases used powerboats and yachts (model year 2005 or newer, valued between $50,000 and $8 million) directly from individual owners and resells them through its distribution channels, generating revenue from the margin between wholesale purchase price and resale value. Its core service follows a four-step process: cash offer, purchasing agreement, on-site survey/inspection, and quick closing with fund disbursement, with closings achievable in as little as one week.
The company operates four US inspection locations and provides nationwide coverage including contact-free ocean transport for vessels in the North Atlantic and Pacific. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website submission forms and phone, supplemented by field representatives who physically visit boats for inspection. Customers are primarily individual boat owners seeking quick liquidation, with a secondary segment of boat dealers liquidating trade-in inventory. The company handles all paperwork, lien/payoff coordination, logistics, and transport. There is no proprietary technology platform; the business is operationally driven by a full-time staff dedicated to boat preparation and restoration.
Revenue mechanics are purely transactional with no recurring component. Pricing is wholesale-based, with offers valid for 7 days and no seller obligation. The company does not purchase sailboats or non-power vessels. Since inception, the company claims over 5,000 satisfied sellers and over $100 million of inventory purchased in 2018 alone, making it one of the larger specialized boat wholesalers in the US market.
We Buy Boats firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- We Buy Boats
- Legal name
- We Buy Boats
- Website
- https://webuyboats.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- We Buy Boats is a US-based used boat wholesaler, founded in 2012, that purchases powerboats and yachts (2005+) directly from individual owners and resells them through distribution channels. Operating as a subsidiary of NextBoat (NYSE: NXB), it runs four US inspection locations and serves sellers nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
We Buy Boats industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Used Boat Wholesale and Resale
- NAICS
- Boat Dealers (441222), Motorcycle, Boat, and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (44122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Boat & Personal Watercraft (PWC) Retail (CRAMAIAA)
Keywords
Where We Buy Boats is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hampstead
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
We Buy Boats business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Boat Purchase and Resale: Company purchases used powerboats and yachts directly from owners at wholesale prices, then resells through their distribution channels. Revenue generated from the margin between wholesale purchase price and retail resale value. Transaction-based model with no recurring revenue component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Boats valued $50,000 to $5 million, 2005 or newer |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
We Buy Boats product offering
Product offeringCore offering
We Buy Boats is a used-boat wholesaler that purchases used powerboats and yachts (model year 2005 or newer, valued between $50,000 and $5 million per primary pricing, with some sources citing up to $8 million) directly from private owners at wholesale prices. The process comprises a cash offer valid for 7 days, a purchasing agreement, an on-site survey/inspection at one of four US locations or via a mobile surveyor, and a quick closing with funds disbursed by wire transfer or check. The company does not purchase sailboats or non-power boats, and it resells acquired vessels through its own distribution and preparation channels.
Product overview
We Buy Boats operates a single unified boat purchasing/wholesale service focused on buying used powerboats and yachts. The core offering consists of a cash purchase service with a four-step wholesale process (Cash Offer, Purchasing Agreement, Survey/Inspection, Quick Closing). The company has four US locations for in-person evaluations and offers nationwide contact-free pickup. Boats accepted include cruisers, powerboats, bowriders, center consoles, sport fish, bay boats, performance boats, ski/wakeboard boats, and rigid inflatables from 2005 or newer, valued between $50,000 and $8MM. The company does not purchase sailboats or non-power boats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Used Boat Wholesale Purchase Service End-to-end wholesale boat buying service for individual owners and trade-in dealers, accepting used powerboats and yachts 2005 or newer valued between $50,000 and $5 million (some sources cite up to $8 million). The service comprises a no-obligation 7-day cash offer, a purchasing agreement, a survey/inspection conducted at one of four US locations or on-site at the seller's convenience, paperwork and lien/payoff handling, and a quick closing with funds disbursed by wire transfer or check. The company does not purchase sailboats or non-power boats.
Quantifiable outcome
- Close as quick as one week
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use We Buy Boats
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
We Buy Boats technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
We Buy Boats partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
We Buy Boats competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boat Trader: Large online marketplace for new and used boats, including private party listings and dealer inventory. Competes with We Buy Boats for sellers seeking alternative exit channels.
- HMY Yacht Sales: Established yacht brokerage and dealer network with new and pre-owned motor yacht sales, providing similar cash purchase and consignment services to We Buy Boats in overlapping price ranges.
- YachtWorld: Leading online marketplace for new and used yachts, connecting sellers with broker networks. Functions as both a competitor and complementary listing channel for used-boat wholesalers like We Buy Boats.
- Denison Yachting: National yacht brokerage and dealer focused on used and new motor yachts, providing direct purchase and consignment services comparable to We Buy Boats' wholesale purchase offering.
- Pop Yachts: National used-boat buying and brokerage service that purchases used powerboats and yachts directly from owners, closely mirroring We Buy Boats' core direct-to-consumer wholesale model.
- BoatMax: Online and showroom retailer specializing in used boats, offering consignment, trade-in, and outright purchase options to individual sellers, overlapping directly with We Buy Boats' acquisition and resale model.
Broad incumbents
- MarineMax: Largest US recreational boat and yacht retailer with a national footprint; competes broadly in the used-boat space as a trade-in buyer, but operates a much wider portfolio that includes new boats and brokerage.
Regional players
- Galati Yacht Sales: Multi-location yacht dealership and brokerage on the US Gulf and Southeast coasts that buys and sells used yachts in price segments that overlap with We Buy Boats' core band.
Others
- NextBoat: NYSE-listed parent company of We Buy Boats (ticker NXB) that provides capital, governance, and potentially a wider portfolio of marine services interacting with the used-boat wholesale business.
- Azure Funding: Boat financing partner linked from the We Buy Boats site, representing an ecosystem participant in marine lending that interacts with the company's buyer base downstream.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
We Buy Boats social profiles
Digital presenceWe Buy Boats financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
We Buy Boats leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
We Buy Boats funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
We Buy Boats 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 We Buy Boats
What does We Buy Boats do?
We Buy Boats is a used-boat wholesaler that purchases used powerboats and yachts (model year 2005 or newer, valued between $50,000 and $5 million per primary pricing, with some sources citing up to $8 million) directly from private owners at wholesale prices. The process comprises a cash offer valid for 7 days, a purchasing agreement, an on-site survey/inspection at one of four US locations or via a mobile surveyor, and a quick closing with funds disbursed by wire transfer or check. The company does not purchase sailboats or non-power boats, and it resells acquired vessels through its own distribution and preparation channels.
Is We Buy Boats a public or private company?
We Buy Boats is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was We Buy Boats founded?
We Buy Boats was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is We Buy Boats based?
We Buy Boats is headquartered in Hampstead, United States, in the North America region.
How does We Buy Boats make money?
One revenue line is on record: boat Purchase and Resale.
Who are We Buy Boats's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boat Trader, HMY Yacht Sales, YachtWorld, Denison Yachting, Pop Yachts and BoatMax. MarineMax is listed as a broad incumbent. Galati Yacht Sales is listed as a regional player. Others are NextBoat and Azure Funding.
Does We Buy Boats have an API?
No public API is recorded for We Buy Boats.
What industry is We Buy Boats in?
We Buy Boats's product category is Used Boat Wholesale and Resale. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAA, Boat & Personal Watercraft (PWC) Retail. Its NAICS code is 441222.