Professional BoatBuilder
Professional BoatBuilder is a privately held B2B trade publication, founded in 1989 in Brooklin, Maine, that produces a print and digital technical magazine, email newsletter, and 1,100+ article archive for professional boatbuilders, repairers, designers, and marine surveyors, and co-produces IBEX.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersBrooklin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Professional BoatBuilder does
Professional BoatBuilder is a privately held B2B trade publication serving the technical and professional segments of the small-craft marine industry. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Brooklin, Maine, it produces a print magazine, a continuously updated digital edition, and an email newsletter aimed at boatbuilders, repairers, designers, and marine surveyors. Its archive exceeds 1,100 technical articles, delivered through a WordPress-based content platform that supports self-serve global subscription purchase. The company's strategic footprint is anchored by its co-production role in IBEX, the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference, which embeds the publication in the industry's primary annual trade venue and provides compounding distribution and advertising economics beyond what a standalone magazine would generate.
The publication's editorial positioning emphasizes hands-on technical content — construction methods, materials, design, and repair practice — and increasingly extends into emerging technologies such as electric propulsion, 3D-printed components, and natural-fiber composites. Leadership comprises Carl Cramer as Publisher and Aaron Porter as Editor, consistent with a small editorial-driven trade media operation of 11-50 employees. There is no disclosed AI, data, or platform-product layer beyond the CMS and newsletter infrastructure, and the business has no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or material ownership transitions in the available record.
Professional BoatBuilder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Professional BoatBuilder
- Legal name
- Professional BoatBuilder: An IBEX Technical Journal
- Website
- https://proboat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Professional BoatBuilder is a privately held B2B trade publication, founded in 1989 in Brooklin, Maine, that produces a print and digital technical magazine, email newsletter, and 1,100+ article archive for professional boatbuilders, repairers, designers, and marine surveyors, and co-produces IBEX.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Professional BoatBuilder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Trade Publication
- NAICS
- Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (3366)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAC), Luxury Yacht Tenders & Support Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAMAK), Yacht & Recreational Boat Service & Refit (TLAKAKAD), Sailing & Rigging Retail (Sailboats, Sails, Hardware) (CRAMAIAG)
Keywords
Where Professional BoatBuilder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Professional BoatBuilder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Subscription-based revenue from boat industry professionals subscribing to receive the technical journal publication
- Advertising: Revenue from marine industry advertisers promoting products and services to the publication's professional readership through display ads, sponsored content, and media kit partnerships
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Magazine Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Professional BoatBuilder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Professional BoatBuilder publishes a recurring technical trade journal and associated digital content aimed specifically at professional boat builders, repairers, designers, and surveyors. The publication covers boat construction, design, materials, propulsion systems, onboard systems, tools, repair, refit, and boatyard operations, and is delivered as a print magazine, a website (proboat.com), and an email newsletter, with a comprehensive searchable article archive.
Product overview
Professional BoatBuilder is a single publication technical journal/magazine serving the marine industry. The publication covers topics including boat construction, design, materials, propulsion systems, onboard systems, repair, refit, tools, and boatyard operations. It is written and edited specifically for professional boat builders, repairers, designers, and surveyors. The magazine is associated with IBEX (International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Professional BoatBuilder Magazine
Quantifiable outcome
- Professional BoatBuilder No. 135 featured Wood to Glass virtual exhibit preview covering boatbuilding transition period 1940-70
Companies that use Professional BoatBuilder
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Professional BoatBuilder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Professional BoatBuilder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- IBEX (International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference)coreProfessional BoatBuilder is a co-producer of IBEX, the annual marine industry trade show held in Louisville, Kentucky. The magazine hosts and moderates technical seminars at IBEX and operates a booth on the show floor.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Professional BoatBuilder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WoodenBoat Magazine: Specialized publication covering wooden boat construction, restoration, and traditional boatbuilding techniques; comparable as a niche technical marine publication serving builders and designers with deep technical content.
- Soundings Trade Only: Trade publication covering the recreational boating industry with a focus on boatbuilders, dealers, and marine businesses; comparable as a B2B marine trade magazine serving industry professionals and marine product advertisers.
- Boating Industry Magazine: B2B marine industry publication serving boatbuilders, dealers, and marine retailers with industry news, dealer education, and product coverage — a direct peer in the professional marine trade press category.
- WorkBoat Magazine: Long-running B2B trade publication covering the commercial marine industry, including vessel construction, repair, and design — directly comparable as a professional-focused marine trade journal serving boatbuilders and marine industry professionals.
- Passagemaker Magazine: Trade publication focused on the trawler and long-range cruising vessel market including construction and refit — comparable as a specialized marine publication serving boat owners, builders, and refit professionals.
Broad incumbents
- Yachting Magazine: Consumer-facing boating publication covering yachts, boats, and the boating lifestyle with some technical content; comparable as a marine publication but oriented toward recreational boaters and yacht consumers rather than professional builders and surveyors.
- Boat International Media: Global luxury yacht media company producing magazines and events (including the World Superyacht Awards); comparable as a marine industry publication brand with an exclusive event portfolio but oriented toward yacht ownership and luxury market rather than professional boatbuilders.
- Marine Log: Established B2B publication covering the broader commercial marine industry including shipbuilding, marine technology, and vessel operations — comparable as a marine trade publication but with broader commercial shipping coverage rather than recreational boatbuilding focus.
Emerging players
- Practical Sailor: Independent technical review publication for sailing products and gear, with technical content overlap; comparable as a niche technical marine publication but with consumer-oriented product testing rather than professional boatbuilding focus.
Others
- International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX): The marine industry trade show that Professional BoatBuilder co-produces; included as an adjacent ecosystem participant since IBEX is both a partnership and the publication's signature industry platform.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Professional BoatBuilder social profiles
Digital presenceProfessional BoatBuilder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Professional BoatBuilder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Professional BoatBuilder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Professional BoatBuilder 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 Professional BoatBuilder
What does Professional BoatBuilder do?
Professional BoatBuilder publishes a recurring technical trade journal and associated digital content aimed specifically at professional boat builders, repairers, designers, and surveyors. The publication covers boat construction, design, materials, propulsion systems, onboard systems, tools, repair, refit, and boatyard operations, and is delivered as a print magazine, a website (proboat.com), and an email newsletter, with a comprehensive searchable article archive.
Is Professional BoatBuilder a public or private company?
Professional BoatBuilder is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Professional BoatBuilder founded?
Professional BoatBuilder was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Professional BoatBuilder based?
Professional BoatBuilder is headquartered in Brooklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Professional BoatBuilder make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising.
Who are Professional BoatBuilder's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WoodenBoat Magazine, Soundings Trade Only, Boating Industry Magazine, WorkBoat Magazine and Passagemaker Magazine. Broad incumbents are Yachting Magazine, Boat International Media and Marine Log. Practical Sailor is listed as an emerging player. International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) is listed as an others.
Does Professional BoatBuilder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Professional BoatBuilder.
What industry is Professional BoatBuilder in?
Professional BoatBuilder's product category is Marine Trade Publication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAEAM, Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAJAMAC, Luxury Sailing Yacht Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.