Pleasant Bay Community Boating

What Pleasant Bay Community Boating does

Pleasant Bay Community Boating (PBCB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community boating organization founded in 2003 and headquartered at 2287 Route 28, Harwich, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. The organization operates a 3.67-acre waterfront campus on Pleasant Bay — described as the only remaining property providing public access to the bay — including a dock, boathouse, four buildings, and 750 feet of beach frontage. PBCB's asset base includes an 80-90 boat fleet (Flying Scots, Sunfish, Catboats, Lasers, 420s, Optimists, kayaks, adaptive vessels), a USCG-certified solar-powered floating classroom named 'Friend of Pleasant Bay', a fully ADA-compliant accessible dock with kayak launchers, and a rooftop weather station.

PBCB delivers a portfolio of sailing, marine science, and community programs serving 5,000+ individuals annually. Core offerings span youth sailing (ages 6+, including Optimist racing, 420 sailing, Junior Intern leadership program), adult and family sailing, the Women on the Water (WOW) program, catboat sailing (Levels 1 and 2), marine science education in partnership with the Center for Coastal Studies, and the Sailing & Science Summer Day Camp. Adaptive programs serve individuals with physical, developmental, and visual impairments, including partnerships with Cape Abilities, Community Connections, Special Olympics, and a Blind and Vision-Impaired Sailing Program. Community outreach extends through the free First Sail program (serving local school children from Monomoy and Nauset districts), sailing experiences for seniors via four Councils on Aging (Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham), and a free summer program with Monomoy Community Services.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining program fees, residential memberships (with giving circles from Anchor Circle upward), boat and kayak rentals, waterfront cottage rentals, and a tiered Business Partnership Program (Bronze $1,000 / Silver $2,500 / Gold $5,000). Approximately 50-56% of operating costs are covered by charitable contributions, with the 'Charting Our Course' capital campaign seeking $3.1 million for campus acquisition, rehabilitation, and renovation. Distribution is regional (Cape Cod) and primarily direct-to-consumer via on-site programming, the MyRec registration portal, and partnerships with schools, Councils on Aging, and community organizations. Technology infrastructure is standard nonprofit SaaS: MyRec, Constant Contact, Blackbaud eTapestry, Google Analytics, and the UserWay accessibility widget.

Name

Pleasant Bay Community Boating

Legal name

Pleasant Bay Community Boating

Website

https://pbcb.cc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pleasant Bay Community Boating is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) operating the only remaining public-access waterfront campus on Pleasant Bay in Harwich, Massachusetts. It delivers sailing instruction, marine science education, and adaptive boating programs to 5,000+ individuals annually across Cape Cod.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwich

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from sailing lessons, youth programs, adult programs, marine science education, and adaptive sailing programs for participants of all ages and abilities
2. Membership Dues: Residential membership program providing boat rental access, campus access, and discounts on programs. Multiple giving circle tiers from Anchor Circle to Commanders Circle
3. Donations and Annual Fund: Charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and business partners to support operations and scholarships. PBCB is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) relying on donations to bridge gap between program fees and operating costs
4. Boat and Kayak Rentals: Boat rental program available 7 days a week for 2-3 hour sessions. Pleasant Bay Pass provides in-season access. Fleet of 80-90 boats including Flying Scots, Sunfish, Catboats, Lasers, 420s, Optis, Kayaks
5. Cottage Rentals: Waterfront 'Old Cape Cod' cottages available for rental, offering views and stay opportunities on Pleasant Bay
6. Capital Campaign: Fundraising campaign for campus acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation - 'Charting Our Course' campaign with $3.1 million goal
7. Business Partnerships: Annual business sponsorship program with marketing benefits, event tickets, and custom experiences. Gold ($5,000), Silver ($2,500), Bronze ($1,000) tiers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PBCB is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community boating organization that delivers sailing instruction, marine science education, and adaptive boating programs from a 3.67-acre waterfront campus on Pleasant Bay in Harwich, MA. Programs span youth, adult, family, and senior participants using a fleet of 80-90 boats and a USCG-certified solar-powered floating classroom. The organization also operates boat rentals, residential memberships, and overnight cottage rentals while running community outreach initiatives for local schools, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Product overview

Pleasant Bay Community Boating (PBCB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community boating organization offering a comprehensive suite of sailing, marine education, and water recreation programs. The organization operates from a 3.67-acre waterfront campus in Harwich, MA, with an 80-90 boat fleet and a solar-powered floating classroom vessel. Core programs include Youth Sailing (for ages 6+), Adult & Family Sailing, Catboat Program (with Level 1 and Level 2 courses), Optimist/Opti Racing Team, 420 Sailing and Racing, and the Sailing & Science Summer Day Camp. Marine Science Education complements sailing instruction with STEM-focused curriculum. Adaptive Programs serve individuals with disabilities including blind/vision-impaired sailing and adaptive kayaking. The organization provides community outreach through the free First Sail Program for local school children, Council on Aging partnerships, and Veterans Sailing. Boat Rentals and the Pleasant Bay Pass membership provide fleet access for qualified sailors. Additional offerings include a Speaker Series, annual Sailabration Gala, Rental Cottages, a Weather Station, and a Business Partnership sponsorship program. The Floating Classroom (Friend of Pleasant Bay) is a USCG-certified solar-powered research vessel providing wheelchair-accessible marine education experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sailabration Gala: Annual fundraising gala event held at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
• The Friend of Pleasant Bay
• Sailing & Science Summer Day Camp
• Women on the Water (WOW)

Products and services

• Youth Sailing Sailing lessons for children ages 6 and up offering progressive sailing skills across Flying Scots, Sunfish, 420s, and Optimists from beginner through experienced levels with informal races.
• Adult and Family Sailing Recreational sailing program for adults and families offering lessons from beginner to advanced levels, including skills assessment certification enabling independent sailing on the 80-boat fleet.
• Women on the Water (WOW) Women's sailing program providing sailing instruction and opportunities to develop confidence and independence at the helm.
• Marine Science Education STEM-focused educational programs exploring Pleasant Bay's marine environment through hands-on activities, waterfront experiments, and environmental stewardship curriculum.
• Adaptive Sailing and Paddling Programs for individuals with physical, developmental, or visual disabilities including blind and vision-impaired sailing, Special Olympics sailing, developmentally impaired sailing, and adaptive kayaking using specialized equipment on accessible facilities.
• Boat Rentals Rental program providing access to the 90-boat fleet of Flying Scots, Catboats, Sunfish, Lasers, 420s, Optis, and kayaks for qualified members with skills assessment, available in 2-3 hour sessions.
• Pleasant Bay Pass Membership Membership program providing in-season unlimited access to boat rentals for experienced sailing members who have completed qualification review, plus access to Friday racing, Flotilla Day events, and 20% discounts on programs.
• Floating Classroom (Friend of Pleasant Bay) Solar-powered wheelchair-accessible floating classroom and research vessel certified by the US Coast Guard that provides marine education experiences, community outreach trips, and environmental stewardship programs for schools and partner organizations.
• Sailing and Science Summer Day Camp Week-long full-day camp blending sailing instruction with marine biology curriculum for children ages 7-14, including kayaking, rowing, cardboard boat building, and hands-on science experiments.
• First Sail Program Free outreach program providing sailing experiences for local school children in grades 3-5 from Monomoy and Nauset school districts, teaching wind, sails, tides, navigation, teamwork, and resilience.
• Waterfront Rental Cottages Waterfront 'Old Cape Cod' cottages available for overnight rental offering views of Pleasant Bay and stay-learn-play experiences on the bay.
• Friday Speaker Series Weekly Friday evening educational presentations at the Hillside Center covering ocean sciences, climate change, marine ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and Cape Cod-related topics, free and open to the public.
• Sailabration Gala Annual fundraising gala hosted at Wequassett Resort & Golf Club featuring hors d'oeuvres, raw bar, local wine and beer, auction, music, and dancing as PBCB's major annual fundraising event.
• Business Partnership Program Annual corporate sponsorship program with Gold ($5,000), Silver ($2,500), and Bronze ($1,000) tiers offering marketing exposure, event tickets, custom campus experiences, and digital/logo recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ individuals participate annually
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nauset MarinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term business sponsor supporting PBCB since 'Day One'. Described as a 'perfect brand fit' with philanthropic goals aligned with PBCB's community impact focus.
• Wequassett Resort and Golf ClubcoreAnnual host venue for Sailabration Gala, a major fundraising event. Located at 2173 Route 28, Harwich. Provides space for community celebration supporting PBCB mission.
• MyReccoreTechnology or IntegrationProgram registration and scheduling platform used for managing sign-ups and family scheduling for all PBCB programs.
• eTapestry/BlackbaudcoreTechnology or IntegrationDonation tracking and donor management platform used for processing contributions and maintaining donor records.
• Constant ContactcoreTechnology or IntegrationEmail marketing platform used to manage newsletter and community communications. Name and email stored within their system for subscriber management.
• Friends of Pleasant BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor supporter who made campus acquisition possible. Collaborates on environmental stewardship and preservation of Pleasant Bay. Supports First Sail program and accessible dock project.
• Massachusetts Marine Trades AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supporting marine education and workforce development. Partner in First Sail program.
• AmeriCorps Cape CodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram placing AmeriCorps members at PBCB to support estuary stewardship, Citizen Science program, and project development.
• Center for Coastal StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine science research organization collaborating on curriculum development for Sailing and Science camp. Provides expert scientists and researchers for educational programming.
• Chatham-Harwich Newcomers ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWoodworking group volunteered time to build transfer box for adaptive sailing access.
• Stage Harbor Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for PBCB Optimist Race Team competitions.
• Stone Horse Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for PBCB Optimist Race Team sailing competitions.
• Wianno Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for PBCB Optimist Race Team sailing competitions.
• Hyannis Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for youth regatta attended by PBCB sailors.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sail Martha's Vineyard: Martha's Vineyard community sailing nonprofit providing youth and adult instruction. Operates in the same Cape Cod/Islands recreational boating ecosystem as PBCB with a similar nonprofit membership model.
• Community Boating Inc. Boston-based nonprofit community sailing organization offering sailing instruction, rentals, and adaptive programs on the Charles River. Closest structural analog to PBCB: membership-based nonprofit, public-access mission, similar youth/adult/adaptive programming mix, and comparable fleet/instruction model.
• SoundWaters: Connecticut coastal education nonprofit operating a floating classroom and providing hands-on marine science programs to schools. Directly comparable to PBCB's Friend of Pleasant Bay floating classroom and school-based marine education offerings.
• Nantucket Community Sailing: Nonprofit community sailing organization on Nantucket offering youth and adult sailing instruction. Closely mirrors PBCB's island/coastal Massachusetts operating environment and nonprofit instructional model.
• Sail Newport: Rhode Island nonprofit community sailing center providing instruction, rentals, and racing programs. Directly comparable to PBCB as a regional community sailing nonprofit serving broad demographic segments including youth, adults, and adaptive sailors.
• Community Sailing Center: Burlington, VT nonprofit offering community sailing instruction, youth programs, and adaptive sailing. Comparable nonprofit operating model with similar public-access mission and instructional programming focus.

Regional players

• Cape Cod Sea Camps: Overnight and day camp on Cape Cod offering sailing and water sports. Comparable regional youth sailing/camp programming; PBCB's Program Director Mike Moore previously worked there, indicating direct personnel overlap and operational similarity.
• Cape Cod Maritime Museum: Hyannis-based maritime heritage and education organization serving Cape Cod. Shares PBCB's regional focus on maritime education but focuses on heritage/wooden boat building rather than active sailing instruction.

Others

• Atlantic White Shark Conservancy: Cape Cod-based marine research and education nonprofit. Comparable regional marine stewardship mission and donor base to PBCB's environmental stewardship programming, with potential partnership overlap on Pleasant Bay research.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Cape Cod: Regional YMCA serving Cape Cod with youth development, aquatics, and community programming. PBCB's former ED PJ Richardson came from YMCA Cape Cod; both organizations compete for similar youth/family program participants and donor dollars in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PleasantBayCommunityBoating
• Instagraminstagram.com/pleasantbaycommunityboating
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pleasant-bay-community-boating

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Pleasant Bay Community Boating