The Yacht Brokers Association of America

What The Yacht Brokers Association of America does

The Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA), founded in 1920 and headquartered at 6060 N Central Expressway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas, is a non-profit professional trade association that unites yacht sales professionals (brokers, dealers, and salespeople) across North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its mission is to establish and enforce high standards of professional competence, character, and ethical conduct while fostering public recognition of and support for its member brokers. The organization serves both member professionals (the primary customer segment) and boat buyers and sellers who benefit from access to certified, qualified sales professionals.

YBAA's product portfolio is centered on the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) certification program, its flagship credential, which establishes a benchmark for measuring skills, abilities, and performance. Supporting offerings include YBAA University (an online education platform with webinars and e-Seminars), continuing education programs, The Guide resource, a member directory, a CPYB-certified broker finder, a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for boats for sale, and a boat loan calculator. The technology stack is primarily a learning management system and web-based directory/MLS tools rather than a proprietary software platform.

The business model is subscription-based, with revenue generated through recurring membership dues from yacht sales professionals, supplemented by sponsorship contributions (including Boats Group's Exclusive CPYB Diamond Sponsorship) and ancillary fees from education and certification programs. The go-to-market motion is community-led — recruiting brokers and dealers into membership, then deepening engagement through education, certification, and member benefits. YBAA markets itself through organic social channels (YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), webinars, and industry news publications, while distributing services through its member directory, MLS, and online university.

Name

The Yacht Brokers Association of America

Legal name

The Yacht Brokers Association of America, Inc.

Website

https://ybaa.yachts

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YBAA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1920 that unites yacht sales professionals across North America, offering the CPYB certification, member directory, MLS, and continuing education through YBAA University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN)

Keywords

• Yacht broker association
• Professional certification
• Yacht sales training
• Boat listing MLS
• Member directory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: YBAA generates revenue through membership fees from yacht sales professionals including brokers, dealers, and salespeople who join the association. Members pay dues to access benefits including education programs, certification, and member directory listings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YBAA is a nonprofit professional trade association founded in 1920 that unites North American yacht sales professionals (brokers, dealers, salespeople) through membership, ethics enforcement, and continuing education. Its core offering is the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) certification program, supplemented by the YBAA University education platform, a member directory for consumer referrals, and a boat listing MLS.

Product overview

The Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA) is a professional trade association that serves as a unified platform for yacht sales professionals across North America. The organization operates a single integrated membership platform centered around the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) certification program, which is the flagship credential offering. Supporting the core certification are educational services through YBAA University and webinars, continuing education programs, and The Guide resource. The association also provides member-facing tools including a broker directory for consumer referrals, a boats for sale MLS for listing and searching vessels, and a boat loan calculator. The portfolio functions as a unified professional development and marketplace ecosystem rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CPYB (Certified Professional Yacht Broker): A professional certification program for yacht brokers, dealers, and salespeople that establishes a benchmark for measuring skills, abilities, and performance while enhancing marketing value.

Products and services

• Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) Professional certification program for yacht brokers, dealers, and salespeople that establishes a recognized benchmark for measuring skills, abilities, and performance while enhancing marketing value for certified individuals.
• YBAA University Education platform offering teleconference e-Seminars throughout the year, many free of charge, providing valuable education and insights for participating yacht sales professionals.
• Member Directory Searchable online directory of YBAA member yacht brokers allowing boat buyers to find and connect with qualified sales professionals.
• Boats for Sale (YBAA MLS) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for yachts and boats for sale, enabling member brokers to list vessels and prospective buyers to search available boats.
• Boat Loan Calculator Financial calculator tool to help prospective boat buyers estimate loan payments and explore vessel financing options.
• The Guide Resource publication for yacht brokers providing guidance on professional standards and industry best practices.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Boats GroupflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2026Boats Group is the Exclusive CPYB Diamond Sponsor, providing renewed support to advance broker education, transparency, and consumer trust. The partnership includes sharing marketplace insights and consumer behavior trends through quarterly webinars and presentations. The collaboration aims to strengthen professionalism in the brokerage community while addressing evolving expectations of informed boat buyers.
• IYBA (International Yacht Brokers Association)minorOthersIYBA appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among the organization's sponsors that support the association's mission and programs.
• New EnglandminorOthersNew England appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• NorthstarminorOthersNorthstar appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• OPO (Offshore Performance Organization)minorOthersOPO appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• ACY (Atlantic Coast Yachts)minorOthersACY appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• CrusademinorOthersCrusade appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• Global YachtminorOthersGlobal Yacht appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.
• RCRminorOthersRCR appears as a sponsor of YBAA, listed among sponsors supporting the association.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA): IYBA is the most direct peer — a parallel yacht broker trade association whose mission, member base (yacht sales professionals), and ethical-standards remit closely mirror YBAA's. IYBA is already listed as a YBAA sponsor, underscoring direct comparability in serving yacht brokers.

Broad incumbents

• National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA): NMMA is the largest US trade association for the recreational boating industry, representing boat builders, engine manufacturers, and accessory makers. It overlaps with YBAA through industry advocacy, certification programs (e.g., Certified Marine Service Technician), and standards-setting, but covers the broader marine manufacturing supply chain.
• ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations): ICOMIA is the global umbrella body for national marine industry associations, providing policy, technical standards, and networking across recreational boating. Comparable to YBAA as an association-of-associations in the marine industry space, though operating at a broader, supranational level.

Others

• Boats Group: Boats Group operates consumer-facing boat marketplaces (boats.com, YachtWorld, Boat Trader) and is YBAA's Exclusive CPYB Diamond Sponsor. It is adjacent to YBAA as a partner that channels consumer demand toward certified brokers, and partially overlaps via its MLS-style listing infrastructure.
• YachtWorld: YachtWorld, part of Boats Group, is the dominant global online yacht listing marketplace. It is adjacent to YBAA — both serve to connect buyers with yacht listings — and is closely entwined through the Boats Group sponsorship relationship.
• MarineMax: MarineMax is the largest US recreational boat and yacht retailer with brokerage and superyacht divisions. Relevant as a major employer of yacht sales professionals that YBAA certifies, and as a benchmark for the brokerage/retail side of the value chain YBAA serves.
• Denison Yachting: Denison is a large yacht brokerage and charter firm that operates its own listing platforms and is active in the YBAA ecosystem. Comparable as a leading yacht sales professional that YBAA's CPYB program certifies, and as an ecosystem participant shaping broker standards.

Regional players

• British Marine: British Marine is the UK trade association for the leisure marine industry, providing membership, training, and regulatory representation to boat builders, brokers, and marine service firms. Comparable as a membership-driven industry body with training and certification, but serving the UK market.
• Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA): MYBA is the leading yacht broker association for the Mediterranean/charter market, operating MYBA Charter Show and member codes of conduct. Comparable to YBAA in serving yacht brokers with codes, education, and event-driven value, but focused on Mediterranean charter rather than NA sales.

Emerging players

• YATCO (Yacht Access Television Company / YATCO MLS): YATCO operates a yacht MLS and central listing platform for yacht brokers worldwide. It overlaps with YBAA's MLS offering and serves a comparable broker audience, positioning it as an emerging infrastructure peer in the same niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yachtbrokernews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3Kbi0r817TNEAoZspv24vQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/YBAAMembers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-yacht-sales-professionals-ybaa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ybaa_yachts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Yacht Brokers Association of America