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About Boats.com
Boats.com, founded in 1999, is the largest global search engine and online marketplace in the leisure marine market with more than 120,000 boats from 146 countries. Its powerful URL helps position boats.com as the go-to resource for everything boats - boating news, DIY tutorials, blog posts, videos, reviews, and boat listings.
For OEMs and their dealer networks, boats.com offers effective marketing tools to promote and sell new and used boats globally. Originally launched as a private, venture capital-funded start-up in San Francisco, California, boats.com acquired YachtWorld in 2000, marking the first Internet content deal within the boating industry.
The company expanded its offerings soon after into the European market, opening offices in Fareham, England, and creating dedicated websites for the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and Australia.
Company History and Growth
- In 2004, Boats.com was acquired by Trader Publishing Company, a joint venture of Landmark Media Enterprises and Cox Enterprises.
- In 2010, Boats.com, YachtWorld, and Boat Trader joined forces as the three leading marine websites to form Boats Group (previously Dominion Marine Media).
- In 2016, Boats Group was acquired by Apax Partners and later by Permira Funds in 2021.
- Boats Group moved its headquarters to Miami, Florida, in 2017 and operates offices in England, Italy, and Spain.
Services and Market Position
Boats.com functions not only as a marketplace but also as a comprehensive resource for boat buyers, sellers, and industry professionals worldwide. The site features:
- Global boat listings (over 350,000 boats in more than 150 countries)
- Boating news, educational articles, DIY tutorials, videos, and reviews
- Marketing tools and financial services for OEMs, dealers, brokers, and boat buyers
- Powerful digital marketing and contract management tools for accelerating boat sales
Summary
In summary, Boats.com is a market-leading global boating search engine and marketplace under the Boats Group umbrella. It combines a rich history of innovation, strategic acquisitions, and international expansion to maintain a dominant position in the recreational marine commerce industry.
