Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment

What Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment does

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment is a U.S.-based specialty manufacturer of marine hardware founded in 1954 by David "Fred" Brownell in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, and currently owned by Peter Kavanaugh, who acquired the business in 2009. The company designs and builds boat stands, keel supports, boat racks, dollies, boat lift systems, shop equipment, pontoon products, and trailer components for motorboats, sailboats, maxi sailboats, and mega motorboats, with documented safe working load ratings of 20,000 lbs standard and up to 25 tons for its largest units. It reports more than 2,000,000 of its stands in active use worldwide and positions safety certifications and a multi-decade track record as core buying criteria.

The company's product line is built around load-rated metal fabrication: stands, dollies, and racks sized across powerboat, sailboat, and large-yacht segments, supplemented by newer lift systems (including the BL5 8,000 lb Manual Boat Lift) and Service Station equipment (SSBLU, SSFOB, SSFLU, and a Hitch Mounted variant). Pricing spans roughly $25 for small accessories to $6,880 for mega motorboat stands, reflecting a tiered catalog across recreational and commercial marine use cases.

Brownell generates revenue through direct-to-consumer e-commerce at boatstands.com and a marine trade discount program targeting dealers, marinas, and boatyards in the United States and Canada. The business is privately held, self-funded, and operates with 11-50 employees, with a 2025 relocation to a new factory in Dartmouth, Massachusetts signaling capacity expansion. There is no disclosed AI, software platform, API, or SDK; the offering is purely physical equipment sold through traditional and online retail channels.

Name

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment

Legal name

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment Company

Website

https://boatstands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment, founded 1954, manufactures load-rated boat stands, dollies, racks, and lift systems for marinas, boatyards, dealers, and individual boat owners across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Boat Handling and Storage Equipment

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB)

Keywords

• Boat stand manufacturing
• Marine storage equipment
• Boat dollies lifts
• Keel support products
• Marine trade supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Mattapoisett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time sale of boat stands, boat dollies, boat racks, keel support products, boat lift systems, shop equipment, trailer components, and parts/accessories. Products sold directly through e-commerce with pricing ranging from approximately $25 for wood blocks to $6,880 for heavy-duty boat dollies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Brownell manufactures and sells American-made adjustable steel boat stands and complementary boat handling and storage equipment (dollies, lift systems, keel supports, racks, shop equipment, trailer components). Products are certified to a 20,000 lb safe working load (25 tons for mega stands) and sold primarily direct to consumers and marine trade professionals through the company's e-commerce site and phone sales, with marine trade pricing available for commercial buyers.

Product overview

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment is a marine equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of boat handling, storage, and support products. The core product line centers on boat stands (adjustable steel supports certified to 20,000 lbs. safe working load for standard models, 25 tons for mega models) available in motorboat, sailboat, maxi sailboat, and mega motorboat configurations. Products are unified by the Brownell Seven Standards of Quality: American steel construction, 70+ years of manufacturing expertise, certified load ratings, precision Acme #4 threads, quality control, 7-ply marine-grade plywood pads, and highest-quality casters. The portfolio extends to complementary handling equipment including keel support systems (stands, benches, wood blocks), boat racks, dollies (8,000 to 35,000 lb. capacity), boat lift systems (manual and hydraulic), shop equipment (drive racks, outboard racks, service stations), pontoon-specific products, trailer components, and replacement parts/accessories. All products are available in painted or hot-dip galvanized finish. The company also offers a Safety Training Program and Boat Stand Selector tool as customer service resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motorboat Stands (MB Series) Adjustable steel boat stands certified to 20,000 lbs safe working load featuring precision Acme threaded solid steel rods and 25-degree swivel tops; available in heights 2'–6' in painted blue or hot-dip galvanized finish. For professional and consumer motorboat storage.
• Sailboat Stands (SB Series) Boat stands with 23-degree angled base for sailboat hulls, swivel top adjustable from parallel to 45 degrees, and welded chain slots for port-to-starboard connection; certified to 20,000 lbs safe working load in heights 3'–7'. For sailboat and steep-angled powerboat hulls.
• Maxi Sailboat Stands (SB Series) Boat stands engineered for very deep draft vessels with integrated ladder access, fold-flat design and certified 20,000 lbs safe working load in heights 8'–15' (SB8–SB15 models). For professional and consumer deep-draft sailboats.
• Mega Motorboat Stands (MBX Series) 25-ton capacity stands with Acme screw fine adjustment and 12-inch pin adjustment increments, available in vertical (MBX4–MBX8) and angled (SBX58) configurations at 4'–9' heights. For large yachts and commercial vessels.
• Keel Support Products Three keel support categories: keel stands (K4/KS1F/KS1V/KS28F/KS28V) with flat or V-top adjustable heights, keel benches (KB50, KB12, BRB16) rated 20,000–80,000 lbs, and wood blocks (B6/B8/B12 in pine or pressure-treated pine). For sailboats and motorboats during storage and service.
• Boat Racks Storage solutions for boats up to 20,000 lbs including bow racks, stern racks, catamaran sling systems and the BR37 Display Rack with four adjustable TLC tops for showroom and gelcoat protection. Disassemble for storage and transport.
• Boat Dollies Boat dollies with non-marking wheels and adjustable screw pads in capacities from 8,000 lbs (BD2) to 35,000 lbs (BDXL), plus small craft/PWC and pontoon variants. For boat movement in yards and service areas.
• Boat Lift Systems Systems for lifting boats off trailers using Acme threaded rods and either manual, hydraulic or air-powered actuation; BL2 Manual ($1,470), BL3 Hydraulic ($2,824), BL5 Manual 8,000 lb ($3,700), BL8/BL8AIR rated 8,000 lbs per jack. For one- or two-person operation.
• Shop Equipment Shop accessories including drive racks (SDR1, SDR4), outboard motor racks (OBR1, OBR2), the SD3 stern drive jack ($3,300), the SWD1 dispensing dolly ($1,900) and Service Stations (bench-mounted and floor-mounted with lower unit or outboard fixtures). For marine service shops.
• SBX58 Mega Angled Stand (5'–8') Megaboat angled-base stand at 5'–8' height range with 25-ton safe working load, sized for large powerboats and yachts. Part of the mega motorboat stand line.
• MBX69 Mega Vertical Stand (6'–9') Megaboat square-base vertical stand at 6'–9' height range with 25-ton safe working load, sized for larger powerboats and commercial vessels. Part of the mega motorboat stand line.
• BL8 Hydraulic Boat Lift Hydraulic boat lift rated 8,000 lbs per jack for lifting motorboats off trailers during service and seasonal storage. Part of the boat lift systems line.
• BL8AIR Air-Powered Boat Lift Air-powered boat lift rated 8,000 lbs per jack for motorboat removal from trailers in shops with compressed air. Part of the boat lift systems line.
• MBX47 Mega Vertical Stand (4'–7') Megaboat square-base vertical stand at 4'–7' height range with 25-ton safe working load. Part of the mega motorboat stand line.
• Boat Stand Cover (BSC1) Cosmetic cover accessory for Brownell motorboat stands MB1, MB2 and MB3 intended for show and showroom displays. Sold as a 4-cover package at $150.
• Hitch Mounted Service Station Truck receiver-mounted service station for field service work on lower units up to 400HP and outboards up to 50HP, with dual support legs and interchangeable fixture/T bracket; optional rotating tray for parts and tools. For mobile marine service technicians.
• BL5 8,000 lb Manual Boat Lift System Manual boat lift system rated for motorboats up to 8,000 lbs with Acme threaded rod handle, 2 K4 keel stands and KS1 supports; optional wheel attachment for maneuverability. Priced at $3,700.
• MD1 Mast Dolly Dolly designed to support and maneuver sailboat masts during stepping, unstepping and storage. Priced at $900.
• 16' Fixed Ground Stand (GSF16) Fixed 16-foot ground stand for supporting vessels requiring fixed reference heights during maintenance or storage. Part of the ground stand family.
• 20' Fixed Ground Stand (GSF20) Fixed 20-foot ground stand for supporting large vessels requiring fixed reference heights during maintenance or storage. Part of the ground stand family.
• Stand Tops and Replacement Pads Replacement pads and tops for Brownell boat stands including plywood (GPLY, BPLY, OPLY), TLC pads (Plastic and TPE), V-tops and flat tops in 16"/23"/27" sizes; OTOP, GTOP and BTOP feature 25-degree swivel, all carrying a 20,000 lb safe working load.
• Pontoon Products Pontoon boat storage and handling products including pontoon dollies (PD2X Tall, PD2 Pair, PD2B with casters, PD3 adjustable), pontoon V-tops (PVTOP) and pontoon-specific racks and benches. For pontoon dealers and owners.
• Trailer Components Components for building trailers or cradles including adjustable trailer pads (BTOPTTLC, OTOPTLCT) and wedge stands (W1/W2 small and large, standard and hot-dip galvanized) u-bolted to trailer frame or fastened to wood beam.
• Parts & Accessories Safety chains (sold by foot or in 8'/10'/12' lengths), replacement pads and TLC boat pads with TPE surface to protect finishes including fine wooden crafts, epoxy, and gel coat.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified safe working load of 20,000 lbs (9,100 kgs) on standard stands; 25 tons on mega motorboat stands
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sunstream Boat Lifts: Sunstream manufactures hydraulic and solar-powered boat lifts for marinas and residential owners. It competes with Brownell's BL-series hydraulic, air, and manual lifts in the same channel and end-use cases.
• Hydro Hoist: Hydro Hoist is a major US manufacturer of boat lift systems, including hydraulic and air-powered lifts. Like Brownell, it sells lifting/handling equipment to marinas, dealers, and individual owners, overlapping most directly with Brown's Boat Lift Systems line.

Emerging players

• Lake Lite Inc. Lake Lite manufactures boat lift components, dock hardware, and marine accessories for residential and light commercial use. It overlaps with Brown's accessories and parts business in the boat lift aftermarket.
• Airberth Boat Lifts: Airberth designs air-powered dry-dock boat storage systems for marinas and individual owners. It is an emerging alternative to Brown's BL3AIR and BL8AIR air-powered lifts in the same dry-stack and storage use cases.

Broad incumbents

• ShoreMaster: ShoreMaster is a broad incumbent in waterfront equipment offering boat lifts, docks, and PWC lifts. It overlaps with Brownell's lift systems and serves the same marina/boatyard channel with a wider product portfolio.
• Hewitt Industries: Hewitt produces pontoon and aluminum boat lifts, docks, and waterfront structures. It overlaps with Brown's pontoon product line (PD series dollies and PVTOP) and broader lift category.
• FLOE International: FLOE manufactures boat lifts, docks, and marine equipment for residential and commercial waterfronts. It competes with Brown's lift and dolly categories and shares a similar direct-to-consumer and dealer model.
• Attwood (Marine Accessories): Attwood produces marine parts and accessories including engine components, lighting, and storage solutions. It overlaps with Brown's Parts & Accessories and Shop Equipment categories sold through similar marine trade channels.
• Garelick & Associates: Garelick manufactures a broad portfolio of marine equipment including seating, ladders, and dock/boat accessories. It competes with Brown's shop equipment and accessories categories for the same marine trade buyers.

Regional players

• Dock Doctors: Dock Doctors designs, builds, and services docks, boat lifts, and waterfront structures in the Northeast US. It is comparable to Brownell in serving New England boatyards and offering complementary lift/handling solutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/brownellboatstands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment