explorer industries

What explorer industries does

Explorer Industries is a privately held Canadian manufacturer based in Edmonton, Alberta that builds custom jet boats and related marine accessories. The core product line consists of Explorer Outboard Jet Boats available in 14-, 16-, and 17-foot configurations powered by Yamaha 4-stroke jet engines, and Explorer Inboard Jet Boats powered by Kodiak engines (4.3DI, 5.3DI, 6.2L86, 6.2LSA) with American Turbine 309 pumps. The company differentiates on several in-house proprietary features including an electronic dashboard with fuel monitoring and code reading, a billet intake with 1/4-inch QT100 steel bars, UHMW keel strips with reverse chines, the X-Gate outboard cleanout device, and the X-Fin steering control accessory.

The business operates four revenue streams: boat sales, parts and accessories (including resold portable winches, Sharkhide protective coating, drift boat accessories, and replacement parts for Outboard Jets and American Turbine pumps), service and repair (waterjet cutting, press brake, welding, fabrication, engine service), and financing facilitation handled in-house. Pricing is quote-based on all boats with no e-commerce transaction capability. Distribution is primarily direct from the Edmonton headquarters, supplemented by a single named dealer (Aurora Ford/Hay River Ford in the Northwest Territories), with the company indicating open dealer territories are still available for expansion.

Customers split between individual consumer/hobbyist buyers (river boating, fishing, hunting, shallow-water navigation) and commercial/government operators including RCMP, multiple Fire Rescue departments, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Transport Canada, SAR, and tourism operators such as Get Hooked Fishing Adventures and Black Gold River Tours. Boats carry a 3-year engine warranty and a Limited Lifetime hull warranty. Geographic reach is Canada-only with a stated northern Canadian emphasis, and the company has no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no public leadership disclosures in the available data.

Name

explorer industries

Legal name

Explorer Industries

Website

https://explorerindustries.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Explorer Industries is a privately held Edmonton, Alberta manufacturer of custom jet boats (14-17 ft outboards and Kodiak-powered inboards) and marine accessories, serving Canadian consumer buyers and government/commercial operators including RCMP, fire rescue, and tourism operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Boat Manufacturing

NAICS

Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreational Fishing & Sportfishing Boat Manufacturing (IMAJAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing (IMAJAEAI)

Keywords

• Jet boat manufacturing
• River boats
• Marine parts accessories
• Portable winches
• Boat service repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Boat Sales (Inboard and Outboard Jet Boats): Explorer Industries manufactures and sells custom jet boats. Outboard models available in 14, 16, and 17 foot lengths. Inboard models powered by Kodiak engines (4.3DI, 5.3DI, 6.2L86, 6.2LSA). Boats carry a 3-year engine warranty and Limited Lifetime hull warranty. Both consumer/hobbyist and commercial/government buyers.
2. Parts and Accessories Sales: Sale of replacement parts for Outboard Jets and American Turbine pumps, as well as engine, steering, control, and other parts. Must-have accessories including X-Fin, Explorer Push Pole, Sharkhide Metal Protectant, portable diesel heaters. Accessories also include drift boat accessories such as Cataract Oars, Oar Right, NRS Aluminum Oarlocks, and Dierks anchoring systems.
3. Service and Repair: Service department available for Yamaha Jet Outboard Service, Outboard Jet Service, Kodiac Inboard Service, Waterjet Cutting, Press Brake, Welding and Fabrication.
4. Financing Facilitation: The company facilitates financing for boat purchases through its website, offering to search for best rates, terms, and monthly payments suitable for buyer budgets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Explorer Industries manufactures and sells jet boats (outboard models in 14', 16', and 17' lengths and custom inboard models) along with related marine parts, accessories, and services. The company produces both consumer/recreational boats and custom commercial boats configured for government agencies and commercial operators. It also resells portable winches, drift boat accessories, and protective coatings, and provides a full service department for jet outboards, inboards, waterjet cutting, welding, and fabrication.

Product overview

Explorer Industries is a Canadian boat manufacturer specializing in jet boats and marine accessories. The core product portfolio consists of Explorer Outboard Jet Boats (available in 14', 16', and 17' models) and Explorer Inboard Jet Boats (powered by Kodiak engines with American Turbine pumps). These are complemented by add-on products including the X-Gate outboard cleanout system, PCW-3000 and PCW-5000 portable winches (powered by Honda engines), X-Fin steering control, Explorer Push Pole, Sharkhide metal protectant, and 5KW diesel air heater. The company also offers drift boat accessories (Cataract Oars, NRS oarlocks, Dierks anchoring systems), a full range of replacement parts for inboard/outboard pumps and engines, Kodiak engine parts, and boat services including maintenance, waterjet cutting, welding, and fabrication. Commercial custom boats are available for government agencies and commercial enterprises. The product line does not constitute a unified software platform but rather a portfolio of related marine products and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Explorer Outboard Jet Boats Lightweight, affordable jet boats available in 14', 16', and 17' configurations featuring UHMW keel strips, reverse chines, and Yamaha 4-stroke jet engines with 3-year warranty and Limited Lifetime hull warranty. Designed for individual consumers and commercial operators needing shallow water access.
• Explorer Inboard Jet Boats Custom-built inboard jet boats featuring the in-house Explorer Electronic Dashboard with fuel monitoring and code reader, American Turbine 309 pumps, Kodiak engines (4.3DI, 5.3DI, 6.2L86, 6.2LSA), and UHMW keel strips with reverse chines. Targeted at consumers and commercial clients needing higher power and fuel economy.
• Commercial Boats Custom commercial boats built for government agencies, emergency services, and commercial enterprises. Used by customers including Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Manitoba RCMP, Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta, Edmonton Fire Rescue, Fort McMurray Fire Rescue, Medicine Hat Fire Rescue, Transport Canada, Stantec ElectroFisher, Get Hooked Fishing Adventures, Black Gold River Tours, and Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures.
• X-Gate Outboard Cleanout Outboard jet cleanout gate featuring 3/16 steel grates that reduce debris size reaching the impeller, extending impeller life without affecting flow, with a rear follower plate for intake protection. Fits most medium and large intakes and bolts on in minutes to existing studs.
• PCW-3000 Portable Winch Compact portable capstan winch powered by a Honda GX-35cc 4-stroke engine, weighing 9.5 kg with 700 kg pulling capacity. Can run sideways, tilted, or upside down; marketed for jet boating, hunting, ATV recovery, and other field applications.
• PCW-5000 Portable Winch High-powered portable capstan winch with Honda GXH-50cc 4-stroke engine, 16 kg weight, 1000 kg pulling capacity, and two-speed options with interchangeable 57mm or 85mm capstan drums. Marketed for jet boating, hunting, ATV recovery, dock management, and forestry use.
• X-Fin Steering Control Accessory Steering control accessory for outboard jets providing immediate course correction and control in neutral. One size fits all outboard jets and is simple to install and remove in seconds.
• Explorer Push Pole Accessory used together with Honda-powered winches for freeing boats stuck on gravel bars or sand bars in shallow water.
• Sharkhide Metal Protectant Proprietary blend of resins that forms an airtight protective film on metal surfaces, used primarily on aluminum hulls. Can last 3-5 years in marine applications with no stripping or prep needed for reapplication.
• 5KW Diesel Portable Air Heater Portable 16000 BTU air heater with dual power connections (12V DC or 120V), built-in fuel tank, thermostat, USB port, and ducting. Suitable for boats, trailers, tents, and fishing shacks.
• Boat Services In-house service department offerings including Yamaha jet outboard service, outboard jet service, Kodiak inboard service, waterjet cutting, press brake, welding and fabrication. Open Monday-Friday (8:00 AM-4:30 PM) with Saturday by appointment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Boat models available in 14, 16, and 17 foot lengths
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aurora Ford / Hay River FordminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAurora Ford in Hay River, Northwest Territories stocks and services Explorer Industries products. Contact Kurtis at 1-800-661-0716 for sales and financing. This dealer relationship extends geographic coverage to northern customers without requiring them to travel to Edmonton.
• YamahacoreTechnology or IntegrationExplorer Industries uses Yamaha 4-stroke outboard jet engines across their outboard boat line. Models available in 60/40, 90/65, and 115/80 configurations. All outboards carry a 3-year engine warranty.
• American TurbinecoreTechnology or IntegrationExplorer Industries standardizes on American Turbine 309 pumps for their inboard jet boat models. The 309 pumps are described as providing the best in performance and fuel economy.
• Kodiak (Engines)coreTechnology or IntegrationExplorer Industries inboard boats are powered by Kodiak engines including 4.3DI, 5.3DI, 6.2(L86), and 6.2(LSA) models. Kodiak engines carry a 3-year warranty.
• Portable WinchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExplorer Industries resells the Portable Winch product line including PCW-3000 (700kg pulling, Honda GX-35cc) and PCW-5000 (1000kg pulling, Honda GXH-50cc) models. These winches are powered by Honda 4-stroke engines and are marketed for jet boating, hunting, ATV recovery, and forestry applications.
• Honda (Engines for Winches)coreTechnology or IntegrationHonda 4-stroke engines power the Portable Winch products sold by Explorer Industries. PCW-3000 uses Honda GX-35cc engine, PCW-5000 uses Honda GXH-50cc engine.
• Get Hooked Fishing AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdmonton Alberta's only full-time all-inclusive guided fishing adventures and Alberta's only certified freshwater angling guides. Featured on Explorer Industries Links page as a way to experience Explorer jetboats in action.
• Black Gold River ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuided river tours on the North Saskatchewan River using Explorer Industries Explorer Inboard boats. Featured on Explorer Industries Links page as a way to experience Explorer boats in action.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alumacraft: Alumacraft is a large, established aluminum boat manufacturer with a broad portfolio of fishing, utility, and recreational boats. While smaller and not jet-focused, it competes for the same freshwater fishing and outdoors customer base in North America.

Direct peers

• Kingfisher Boats: British Columbia-based aluminum boat manufacturer producing welded hulls with jet and outboard propulsion for fishing and commercial use. Comparable to Explorer Industries in geography (Western Canada), target buyer (commercial fishermen and government), and propulsion technology.
• Duckworth Boats: Duckworth Boats builds welded aluminum hulls with jet and outboard configurations for Pacific Northwest river and offshore fishing. Their shallow-water performance focus and government/commercial positioning are directly comparable to Explorer Industries.
• Thunder Jet Boats: Thunder Jet builds aluminum jet boats outfitted for river running, fishing, and family use, overlapping directly with Explorer Industries' outboard jet boat product line. They compete in the same Western North American river boating market with similar size offerings.
• Weldcraft Marine: Weldcraft Marine is a US-based aluminum jet boat manufacturer producing comparable welded aluminum hulls with jet propulsion for river and offshore use. Directly competes with Explorer Industries in the shallow-water jet boat niche though with bigger hull sizes and broader US distribution.
• Northwest Boats: Northwest Boats produces heavy-gauge aluminum boats, including jet propulsion models, for commercial fishing, law enforcement, and fire/rescue agencies. Shares Explorer Industries' commercial/government customer profile and aluminum hull construction.
• Hewescraft: Hewescraft produces aluminum sport fishing and commercial boats, including jet boat variants, serving river and coastal markets. Its combination of welded aluminum construction and outboard jet propulsion overlaps with Explorer Industries' core product positioning.
• Northriver Boats: Northriver Boats manufactures welded aluminum jet and outboard boats used for fishing, hunting, and commercial applications. Their product mix and target customer (river-based anglers, guides, and agencies) closely parallels Explorer Industries' offerings.

Regional players

• JetCraft: Canadian jet boat manufacturer based in Quebec producing jet propulsion boats for river and lakes. Comparable product category but with a primarily Eastern Canadian market, making it a regional rather than direct competitor to Explorer Industries.

Others

• Cataract Oars: Cataract Oars is a current Explorer Industries supplier/partner for premium composite oars sold as drift boat accessories. It is comparable as an adjacent marine accessories manufacturer serving the same river-based fishing and outfitting customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Explorer-Industries/342270475808005
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/explorer-industries-ltd

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 explorer industries