Segel-Center-Frankfurt E. K.

What Segel-Center-Frankfurt E. K. does

Segel-Center Frankfurt GmbH & Co.KG, doing business as Segel-Center Frankfurt, is a privately-held German sailing and motorboat school headquartered at Bachforellenweg 51, Frankfurt am Main, with operational training at Marina Westhafen on the Main river. The company delivers the full statutory German boating qualification stack — Sportbootführerschein (SBF Binnen/See), Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS), Sportseeschifferschein (SSS), Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS), Funkzeugnisse (SRC/LRC/UBi), Pyroschein FKN, and VdS Segelgrundschein — accredited by the German Sailing Federation (DSV), the German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV), and the Verband Deutscher Sportbootschulen (VdS), with QAW quality certification. Practical training is conducted on the Main river and at sea-based locations in Heiligenhafen (Baltic Sea), Pula (Croatia), and Palma de Mallorca (Mediterranean), with theory delivered both in-person and via the Delius Klasing eLearning portal. The company also operates a marina berth rental business (Marina Westhafen, separately constituted), a sailing-trip and voyage program (SKS mileage trips, SSS preparation, skipper training, individual charters), a mini-shop with eBay retail presence for sailing equipment, and short-format seminars. Eckhard Mikulski is the managing director (Geschäftsführer). The company has trained 12,000+ students since founding and reports pass rates of 90–99% across license types.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer, advisory-led go-to-market model: prospects self-qualify via a 30-second license diagnostic quiz on the website, then receive phone-based personal consultation to finalize course selection, with online booking executed through Yachtoffice software. Revenue streams include professional services (license theory and practical courses, €249–€499 for SBF theory and ~€829/person for SKS practical trips), managed services (seasonal and winter marina berth rentals at Marina Westhafen), professional services for seminars (€79–€149/attendee), hardware retail (mini-shop and eBay), and unit-priced gift vouchers valid for two years. Pricing is uniformly pay-as-you-go with no subscription or recurring contracts. Customer segments are recreational boaters and sailing enthusiasts (primary, persona-based) and boat owners needing berth facilities (secondary). The marketing mix relies on website content marketing, organic Instagram and Facebook, blog/SEO, and an email newsletter (Flaschenpost); distribution is exclusively direct — walk-in at the marina, phone-based inside sales, online self-serve booking, and on-site retail. The firm has 7 employees, is structured as a GmbH & Co.KG with Segel-Center Frankfurt Verwaltungs GmbH as general partner, and is privately held with no external VC or PE ownership.

Name

Segel-Center-Frankfurt E. K.

Legal name

Segel-Center Frankfurt GmbH & Co.KG

Website

https://segel-center-frankfurt.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Segel-Center Frankfurt is a privately-held German sailing and motorboat school in Frankfurt am Main, accredited by DSV, DMYV, and VdS to deliver the full German boating license stack (SBF, SKS, SSS, SHS, Funkzeugnisse) plus practical voyages to the Baltic and Mediterranean, serving individual recreational boaters and boat owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boating and Sailing Education

NAICS

Automobile Driving Schools (611692), Marinas (71393), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Water Transportation (4400), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Boating license training
• Sailing school
• Motorboat school
• Sailing trips
• Marina berth rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Boatsport License Courses (theory & practice): Classroom and practical instruction for all German boatsport licenses (SBF Binnen, SBF See, SKS, SSS, SHS, Funk certificates UBI/SRC/LRC, Pyroschein FKN, VdS Segelgrundschein). Revenue earned through course fees covering both theory seminars and practical on-water training.
2. Sailing Trips & Voyages (Törns): Practical sailing voyages including SKS mileage/practical-exam trips, SSS preparation trips, skipper training, individual/private voyages, and vacation trips. Revenue earned through per-person trip fees (e.g., SKS trip ~€829/person; individual skipper hire ~€1,600/week). Costs include yacht charter, skipper honorarium, and shared crew board expenses (cash kat).
3. Marina Westhafen – Berth/Slip Rental: Operation of the Marina Westhafen providing seasonal and winter berth slips for motorboats and sailing yachts. Revenue from seasonal and annual berth rental contracts. Includes ancillary services: electricity, water, sanitation, and waste disposal invoiced per usage.
4. Sail Shop (Mini-Shop): Retail sale of sailing equipment and accessories (sailing gloves, life jackets, books, nautical charts, hardware) through an eBay store and the on-site marina shop. Products sourced from suppliers including Secumar, Musto, Zhik, Liros, and Lindemann. Repair services for sails and life jackets also offered.
5. Seminars & Workshops: Short-format seminars covering navigation, weather, safety, knot-tying/splicing, and galley cooking. Revenue through per-attendee seminar fees (e.g., Safety First seminar €149; Gezeiten Workshop €79).
6. Voucher/Gift Certificate Sales: Sale of gift vouchers (Gutscheine) in arbitrary denominations or for specific course values. Vouchers valid for 2 years and redeemable against any course offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Segel-Center Frankfurt is a German sailing and motorboat school that delivers government-recognized boating license courses (SBF Binnen/See, SKS, SSS, SHS, Funk SRC/LRC/UBi, Pyroschein FKN, VdS Segelgrundschein) combining classroom theory with on-water practical training in Frankfurt, on the Baltic Sea, and in the Mediterranean. The company also organizes sailing voyages, runs the Marina Westhafen berth facility, and operates a small retail shop for sailing equipment.

Product overview

Segel-Center Frankfurt operates as a sailing and motorboat school offering a comprehensive portfolio of German boating licenses and certifications. The core offering consists of progressive boat driving licenses (SBF See, SBF Binnen, SKS, SSS, SHS) and radio certificates (SRC, LRC, UBi), which are statutory requirements for operating vessels in German waters. These are supplemented by practical training modules (Motorbootpraxis, Segeln Jolle Praxis), online theory courses, individual/private tutoring, and supplementary seminars on navigation, weather, safety, and boat technique. The company also organizes sailing trips (Segeltörns) for training, mileage accumulation, and certification examinations, and maintains a retail shop for maritime equipment. The overall portfolio is structured as a unified service offering where theoretical instruction and practical water training are designed to work together toward certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBF Kombi (See/Binnen) - Sportbootführerschein Combined theory and practical course for the German inland (Binnen) and coastal (See) boat driving license, covering motorboat and sailing vessel operation. Theory €499 (Präsenz or Hybrid); additional costs for practical sessions, exam fees, and learning materials.
• SBF See - Sportbootführerschein Theory and practical training for the coastal boat driving license required for operating motorboats on German coastal waters. Theory course €379; exam fee €147.31.
• SBF Binnen - Motor Inland waterway motorboat license for operating motorized vessels on rivers, lakes, and canals. Includes theory (Präsenz) at €289 plus 2 practical motorboat sessions at €138.
• SBF Binnen - Segeln & Motor (Jolle) Inland waterway boat license covering both sailing (dinghy/Jolle) and motorboat operation on rivers, lakes, and canals. Theory €289; practical sailing €499; 2 practical motorboat sessions €138; exam fee €172.30.
• SKS - Sportküstenschifferschein Advanced coastal sailing certificate enabling operation of sailing yachts up to 12 nautical miles offshore; requires SBF See plus 300 nautical miles of documented experience. Combines theory course with practical mileage/exam trips (~€829/person in double cabin; ~150 nautical miles).
• SSS - Sportseeschifferschein Advanced offshore certificate for operating yachts up to 30 nautical miles offshore and on the high seas; requires SKS plus 1000 nautical miles of documented experience. Theory split into Navigation & Weather and Seamanship & Law, plus practical exam trips.
• SHS - Sporthochseeschifferschein Highest German sailing certificate for worldwide offshore operation; requires SSS plus additional 1000 nautical miles of documented experience.
• Funkzeugnisse (SRC / LRC / UBi) Marine radio operator certificates for VHF/DSC communication: SRC (Short Range Certificate), LRC (Long Range Certificate), and UBi (Inland Waterway Certificate). Practical training on ICOM IC-323, Sailor HC 4500, and Inmarsat C equipment.
• Pyroschein FKN - Fachkundenachweis für Feuerwerk Pyrotechnic certification required for carrying and using marine distress signals and pyrotechnics on boats.
• VdS Segelgrundschein Entry-level sailing certificate from the Association of German Water Sports Schools (VdS), designed for sailing beginners aged 12 and above.
• Segeltörns (Sailing Trips) Guided sailing trips including SKS mileage/practical exam trips, SSS preparation trips, skipper training, experience/vacation trips, and individual/private voyages to the Baltic Sea (Heiligenhafen) and Mediterranean (Croatia, Mallorca). Includes individual skipper hire (~€1,600/week).
• Seminare (Seminars & Workshops) Short-format seminars covering navigation, weather, safety, boat technique, knot-tying/splicing, and galley cooking. Examples: Safety First seminar €149/person; Gezeitenkunde Workshop €79/person.
• Segelshop / Mini-Shop Physical retail shop at Marina Westhafen plus an eBay store (scffm-21) selling sailing gloves, life jackets, books, nautical charts, and hardware from suppliers including Secumar, Musto, Zhik, Liros, and Lindemann. Also offers sail repair and life jacket servicing with pickup/delivery at the marina.
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Sale of gift vouchers in arbitrary denominations or tied to specific course values; vouchers are valid for 2 years and redeemable against any course offering, delivered as a physical voucher in a maritime envelope.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ students trained since founding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutscher Seglerverband (DSV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Sailing Federation (DSV) is the primary examination authority for boat licenses in Germany. Segel-Center Frankfurt administers DSV-recognized theory and practical examinations, coordinates exam registration with the Rhein-Mosel-Saar examination committee, and issues DSV-accredited licenses (SBF, SKS, SSS, SHS, Funk). The school also coordinates SSS examinations through DSV Zentralstelle Verwaltung. DSV accreditation is central to the school's legitimacy and market positioning.
• Deutscher Motoryachtverband (DMYV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Motor Yacht Association (DMYV) provides the alternative examination pathway for boat licenses alongside DSV. Segel-Center Frankfurt can administer DMYV-recognized exams, broadening its addressable market. DMYV accreditation complements DSV credentials.
• Verband Deutscher Sportbootschulen e.V. (VdS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of German Water Sports Schools (VdS) issues the VdS Segelgrundschein (basic sailing license) and provides instructor licensing credentials. The school offers VdS Segelgrundschein courses as an introductory credential for beginners (from age 12). Instructor licensing through VdS validates teaching quality.
• YachtofficecoreTechnology or IntegrationYachtoffice is a specialized water sports software platform (based in Münster, Germany) used by Segel-Center Frankfurt for its online course catalog, availability management, and automated booking processing for courses and sailing trips. A data processing agreement (Auftragsdatenverarbeitung) is in place per GDPR requirements. The software handles offer display, booking inquiries, and reservation confirmation.
• Rhein-Mosel-Saar Examination Committee (DSV)coreOthersThe DSV Rhein-Mosel-Saar examination committee conducts official theory and practical examinations for boat licenses in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region. Students register directly with this committee; the school coordinates exam logistics and provides facilities.
• Helvetia Versicherung (Professional Liability Insurance)minorOthersHelvetia Versicherung provides the school's professional liability insurance (Berufshaftpflichtversicherung). Additionally, Hamburger Yachtversicherung Schomacker covers yacht operations. This insurance is mandatory for conducting practical training voyages.
• Equipment Suppliers (Secumar, Musto, Zhik, Liros, Lindemann, Gotthardt)minorOthersMultiple sailing equipment suppliers provide inventory for the mini-shop: Secumar (life jackets/safety equipment), Musto (sailing clothing), Zhik (performance sailing gear), Liros (ropes/lines), Lindemann, Gotthardt (additional suppliers). The school orders on behalf of customers and arranges pickup at Marina Westhafen.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Segelschule Johannsen: Flensburg-based sailing school providing SBF/SKS/SSS instruction and Denmark/Baltic practical voyages. Comparable in customer base, license portfolio, and reliance on the Baltic Sea for practical training.
• Segelschule Nord: Kiel-based sailing school offering the full range of German boating licenses and Baltic Sea practical training. Comparable as a regional competitor with similar curriculum and offshore trip offerings.
• Aschoff Segelschule: Established Hamburg sailing school delivering SBF/SKS training and Baltic Sea practical trips. Comparable in business model — theory classes combined with offshore mileage trips under DSV accreditation.
• Yachtschule Hamburg: Hamburg-based sailing school focused on SBF, SKS, and SSS training. Directly comparable as a competing licensed German sailing school targeting the same customer segments and license tiers.
• Segelschule Bonito: A Hamburg-based DSV-recognised sailing school offering SBF, SKS, and SSS courses plus sailing trips. Directly comparable as a German sailing school operating the same license pathways and exam preparation trips.

Broad incumbents

• ADAC: Germany's largest motoring association, which also offers recreational boating training and certification services. Comparable as a much broader incumbent with overlapping boat license examination and training offerings.
• Verband Deutscher Sporttaucher (VDST): German umbrella sports association for diving and adjacent water sports. Comparable as a federated body offering accredited water-sports training and certification, though focused on diving rather than sailing.

Others

• Delius Klasing Verlag: Germany's largest maritime publishing house, supplying the eLearning portal and learning materials used by the school. Comparable as a maritime content provider and ecosystem partner in the German sailing training market.
• Mairdumont: German publisher of nautical charts, boating guides, and travel content. Comparable as a maritime content and information provider serving the same recreational boating audience.

Regional players

• Chiemsee Yachtschule: Bavarian sailing school operating on Chiemsee / southern German inland waters. Comparable as a German sailing school offering license pathways, but with a different inland-water geography than the Frankfurt/Main-river model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Segel-Center-Frankfurt-149000911810261
• Instagraminstagram.com/segel_center_frankfurt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/segel-center-frankfurt-e.-k.

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 Segel-Center-Frankfurt E. K.