Vico Marine

What Vico Marine does

Vico Marine, a division of Vico Plastic Molding LLC, is a Wisconsin-based OEM manufacturer specializing in boat cover ventilation and support accessories for the marine industry. Founded on the legacy of inventor Bill Gridley, the company sells patented polycarbonate boat vents (Boat Vent 2, Boat Vent 3, Boat Vent 4, Boat Vent AERO, and Shrink Wrap variants) and anodized aluminum telescoping support poles (Classic and Pro Series) under the registered Boat Vent® trademark. It serves professional canvas shops, marine dealers and distributors, OEM boat manufacturers, and DIY boat owners across more than 30 countries, with the stated mission of protecting boat interiors from mold, mildew, and moisture damage during covered storage or transport.

The product portfolio is built around proprietary mechanical designs including patented vent architectures with UV-inhibiting polymers, compression-fit components, toothed washer systems, and the patented Swivel Pole Base. Vents, poles, and bases are engineered as matched components that form an integrated venting system optimized for airflow and structural support on boat covers. Manufacturing, engineering, assembly, and quality assurance are conducted in Janesville, Wisconsin under ISO-compliant processes, with selective global material sourcing balanced against a Made-in-USA positioning and stated exploration of biodegradable and eco-conscious resin technologies for future products.

Vico Marine generates revenue through one-time hardware sales distributed across a Shopify e-commerce storefront, the Amazon marketplace, phone-based B2B sales, and the international distribution partner Marvent.eu. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and appears to be quote-based by product, quantity, and customer relationship. The go-to-market is primarily B2B through canvas shops, trim shops, and marine dealers, with OEM boat manufacturers and DIY consumers as secondary segments, and the company holds patents on the BV2 and Swivel Pole Base plus the Boat Vent® trademark as the foundation of its 30-plus year market presence.

Name

Vico Marine

Legal name

Vico Plastic Molding LLC

Website

https://vicomarine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vico Marine is a Wisconsin-based OEM manufacturer of patented boat cover ventilation and support products, serving professional canvas shops, marine dealers, boat manufacturers, and DIY owners across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Hardware

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine HVAC, Refrigeration & Ventilation Systems (IMAJAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains) (IMAJAIAK)

Keywords

• Boat cover vents
• Telescoping support poles
• Marine ventilation accessories
• OEM marine hardware
• Boat cover protection systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Delafield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Boat Vent Sales: Sale of proprietary boat vent products including Boat Vent 2, Boat Vent 3, Boat Vent 4, Boat Vent AERO, and Shrink Wrap Boat Vent. Both polycarbonate (screw-together, no-sew) and sew-in styles available. One-time hardware purchases.
2. Support Pole Sales: Sale of aluminum telescoping support poles including Classic Series and Pro Series with flip-lock mechanisms. Multiple configurations and tip styles. Floor protection crutch tips included. One-time hardware purchases.
3. Accessories and Parts: Sale of installation tools (circle cutters, wrenches, sockets), marine accessories (1/4 lever ratchet, rope rolls), and replacement parts. One-time product sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vico Marine designs, manufactures, and sells OEM boat cover ventilation products (boat vents) and telescoping support poles for the marine industry, all engineered and assembled in Janesville, Wisconsin. Its product ecosystem includes patented polycarbonate vents (BV2, BV3, BV4, AERO, Shrink Wrap Vent), anodized aluminum flip-lock support poles (Classic and Pro Series), patented swivel pole bases, installation tools, and integrated venting systems sold through B2B channels (canvas shops, marine dealers, OEMs) and direct e-commerce (own Shopify site and Amazon).

Product overview

Vico Marine offers a comprehensive portfolio of boat-cover ventilation and support products, primarily serving professional canvas shops, marine dealers, and boat owners. The core product lines include polycarbonate Boat Vent models (II, III, 4, AERO, and Shrink Wrap variants) that provide airflow to prevent mold and mildew under boat covers, paired with aluminum flip-lock support poles (Classic and Pro Series) featuring various tip configurations. The company also offers patented swivel pole bases, installation tools (circle cutters, wrenches, sockets), and marine accessories (ratchets, rope). All products are manufactured in Wisconsin, USA with ISO-compliant processes, and the portfolio is designed to work as an integrated system combining vents, poles, and bases for complete boat-cover protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boat Vent®: A registered trademark product line of boat cover ventilation devices, including the Boat Vent® 2, Boat Vent® 3, Boat Vent® 4, and Boat Vent® AERO models, sold as polycarbonate and sew-in styles.

Products and services

• Boat Vent II (BV2) Patented UV-inhibiting polycarbonate boat vent with a 4.25-inch umbrella, compression-fit design for all marine fabrics, standard airflow, and a classic domed profile with umbrella flush to the venting area. Provides easy installation and vents enclosed spaces to prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria growth under boat covers.
• Boat Vent III (BV3) High-performance polycarbonate boat vent delivering approximately 40% more ventilation than the BV2. Features a proprietary overhanging top design, 30 aggressive gripping teeth, UV-inhibiting plastic construction, and a sleeker lower profile; available in Black.
• Boat Vent 4 Sew-in boat vent built for professional canvas shop installation. Made from a soft, durable TPE/PP blend with UV inhibitor, featuring a larger flange for easy sewing without disassembly, lead-in threading, and a flatter profile suited for trailering; matches BV3 airflow performance.
• Boat Vent AERO Low-profile sew-in ventilation solution with a streamlined teardrop shape and louvered front, designed for tight-fitting, angled, or vertical cover sections where traditional pole-supported vents are impractical. Features drainage slits for water management; available in Small (7.50 x 5.25 x 1.25 in) and Large (10.625 x 7.625 x 2.25 in) sizes in soft rubber or polycarbonate, Black or White.
• Shrink Wrap Boat Vent Push-and-twist shrink wrap vent with sharp piercing teeth and weather-resistant adhesive for shrink-wrapped boats. Reusable with new gasket material; top cover diameter 4 inches, hole diameter 2.75 inches.
• Flip-Lock Telescoping Support Poles (Classic and Pro Series) Marine-grade anodized aluminum flip-lock telescoping support poles available in Classic Series (two-section, single flip-lock) and Pro Series (three-section, dual flip-lock) configurations, with ribbed-wall design that prevents bending and heavy-duty polycarbonate flip-lock collars tested to hold 170 lbs downward pressure. Resists corrosion, saltwater, and UV exposure; includes floor-protection synthetic TPE crutch tips; multiple factory-installed tip options (Plug, Snap, Swedge, Spline).
• Support Pole Tips (Plug, Snap, Swedge, Spline) Factory-installed tip options for telescoping support poles. Includes Plug Tip (ABS plastic), Snap Tip (ABS with stainless steel snap), Swedge Tip (nylon for grommets), and Spline Tip (ABS, optimized for Boat Vent 2, 3, 4, and Flex Support); pressure-fitted for permanent installation.
• Patented Swivel Pole Base Patented self-aligning swivel base for support poles. Features a swiveling design that reduces repositioning during installation, an oversized base with thermoplastic rubber pad for grip and floor protection, a four-piece assembly, and a locking wingnut to keep components together; available in multiple sizes.
• Boat Vent Installation Tools (Circle Cutter, Wrench, Sockets) Installation tools for Boat Vent products, including the Boat Vent Circle Cutter (cuts clean holes through canvas; replacement blades available), Boat Vent 3 Wrench (lightweight aluminum wrench for securing the BV3 nut to body), and Boat Vent Sockets (aluminum sockets for handheld drill or impact wrench — BV3 for 1/4 inch arbor, BV2 for 3/8 inch arbor).
• Boat Cover Tensioning and Rigging Accessories (1/4 Lever Ratchet, 1/4 in 500 ft Polyester Rope Rolls) Marine accessories for securing boat covers. The 1/4 Lever Ratchet works with 1/4 inch rope, offers four tensioning methods, an easy-release thumb tab, and a 225 lbs working load limit. The 1/4 in 500 ft rope rolls are 16-braid polyester with parallel cord, low stretch, UV resistance, 1100 lbs breaking strength, and water resistance to prevent rotting.
• Vico Marine Venting Systems Complete integrated boat-cover protection solutions combining vents, support poles, and swivel bases engineered as matched components for proper fit, optimal airflow, and reliable performance. Available with flexible packaging and branding options tailored for dealers and distributors; designed to deliver an integrated system rather than individual parts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Boat Vent 3 delivers 40% more airflow than Boat Vent 2
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Marvent.eucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for Vico Marine products. Handles all international orders and customer support for customers outside the United States. International customers are directed to Marvent.eu for ordering and inquiries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Camco: Camco is a broad incumbent in RV and marine accessories with extensive distribution to retailers and OEMs. While best known for RV, its marine accessories lines compete with Vico in the marine aftermarket through overlapping retail and online channels.
• Attwood Marine: Attwood, owned by Brunswick Corporation, offers a broad portfolio of marine hardware, lighting, and accessories. It is a larger incumbent with overlapping categories in marine deck fittings and accessories, but competes through a much wider product portfolio rather than specializing in vents and cover hardware.

Direct peers

• Perko: Perko manufactures marine hardware including deck fittings, lighting, and ventilation-related products for OEM boat builders and the aftermarket. It directly overlaps with Vico in supplying marine-grade components to boat manufacturers and dealers.
• Garelick & Associates: Garelick manufactures telescoping support poles, deck hardware, and other marine accessories specifically designed for boat covers and biminis. Its pole and support product lines are direct competitors to Vico's Classic and Pro Series support poles.
• Shoreline Marine: Shoreline Marine produces boat cover accessories, hardware, and deck fittings sold primarily through marine retailers and online channels. It competes with Vico in the same DIY and dealer channel for boat cover ventilation and support hardware.
• Taylor Made Products: Taylor Made Products supplies marine canvas, dock, and cover accessories to boat builders, dealers, and canvas shops. It competes with Vico in boat cover hardware and adjacent marine outfitting categories sold through the same B2B and aftermarket channels.
• Sea-Dog Line: Sea-Dog Line manufactures a broad catalog of marine-grade hardware and accessories including deck fittings, fasteners, and ventilation-related items. It directly overlaps with Vico Marine in serving marine dealers, boat builders, and the marine aftermarket with similar distribution channels.
• Windline Marine: Windline Marine manufactures marine-grade hardware and accessories including chocks, cleats, and boat cover support items. Its deck and cover hardware products overlap with Vico's pole and vent categories in OEM and aftermarket channels.

Emerging players

• Magma Products: Magma Products makes marine grills, tables, and accessory hardware distributed through boat builders and dealers. While its core category differs, it overlaps with Vico in serving the same OEM and dealer channels and in marine-grade accessory engineering.
• Dock Edge: Dock Edge produces docking, mooring, and waterfront accessories including hardware that overlaps with Vico's deck fittings and marine accessory lines. It is a smaller, more regionally focused competitor that targets similar dealer and OEM relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vicoplasticsinc.6117
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vico-plastics-inc-
• Facebookfacebook.com/vicomarine

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 Vico Marine