Boatbound and Boatsetter combine forces for all your nautical needs

By Lulu Chang August 18, 2017

boatsetter acquires boatbound boat international media 2017 world superyachts awards narvalo — Boat International Media

Why buy a boat when you can just rent one? That is the idea behind both Boatbound and Boatsetter, and it appears to be lucrative enough to have catalyzed an acquisition. Miami-based Boatsetter, an Airbnb for boats, if you will, has acquired Seattle-based Boatbound, creating one large marketplace from which users can select a boat for a nautical adventure.

Thanks to the addition of the Boatbound inventory, Boatsetter now boasts watercraft in more than 300 locations across the U.S. While it is unclear exactly how much Boatsetter paid for the deal, a TechCrunch source suggested that it was “valued in the low-millions range.” And seeing as the acquisition likely solidifies Boatsetter’s position as the largest peer-to-peer boat rental service in the country, and perhaps even the world, it sounds like a good deal.

“I think we’re best poised for a roll-up strategy, “Boatsetter CEO Jackie Baumgarten told TechCrunch. “There’s an opportunity to acquire and roll up several of the players. It’s ripe for consolidation.”

As it stands, the boat rental market is estimated to be worth about $50 billion a year, as more and more folks look to take on the open water for either a vacation or just a quick afternoon sail. Boatsetter also established a partnership with Airbnb, where it helps vacationers plan “experiences” that include learning how to sail in the San Francisco Bay Area, how to wakeboard in Miami, and more.

“Boatsetter is not only backed by a great board and great investors, but they have also secured many key partnerships as they have grown,” Boatbound CEO Aaron Hall said in an email. “Now, with the addition of Boatbound, the biggest boat rental marketplace in the U.S., we are well positioned to keep growing and dominate the space.”

Thanks to the creation of this new mega-boat rental company, Boatsetter now has double the inventory of boats, and Baumgarten adds that “Boatbound’s team brings fresh talent in areas of fleet development and tech.”

As the executive noted, “We’ve taken boating from being a rare pastime for a fortunate few boat owners to being a universally accessible lifestyle activity for anyone with a smartphone and a credit card.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Computing

Nvidia opens up GeForce Now RTX 3080 tier to all, no pre-orders required

RTX 3080 graphics card on a table.

GeForce Now's RTX 3080 tier is now available without a pre-order waiting period. Nvidia launched the new tier, which offers 1440p streaming at 120Hz, in October, but the company has funneled interested buyers into a pre-order tunnel. Now, the RTX 3080 tier is available to everyone instantly.

The RTX 3080 tier is the highest GeForce Now plan Nvidia offers. It comes with a cloud-based gaming PC with an RTX 3080 inside, as well as eight-hour session lengths and support for 4K HDR streaming to the Nvidia Shield TV. Six months runs $100, and unlike the cheaper Priority tier, you can't pay month-to-month. GeForce Now Founders have "Founder for Life" status, entitling them to 10% off the price.

Mobile

Peak Design’s new universal phone case could meet all your mounting needs

peak designs new mobile accessories iphone android design s everyday loop case

Regardless of whether you're grabbing a new iPhone 13 or sticking to a Galaxy S21, fiddling with bulky or unreliable mounts before a long drive could be a thing of the past. Mobile by Peak Design is a continuation of its efforts to simplify phone accessories so that you only need one case and a few accessories for both protection and mounting. The goal is to offer the convenience of just one or two accessories, without a loss to practicality or style.

How the new case system works is that there are magnets built straight into Peak Design's cases to ensure that your phone stays exactly where you put it. Whether that's on a bike, in your car, or even just at home on your desk. Because the magnets are universal on Mobile's Ecosystem, your phone can work with the entire Mobile line. It's also compatible with Apple's other MagSafe accessories you may already have as well as any non-MagSafe wireless chargers. How useful MagSafe is as a whole is likely a question that's best answered by your own usage.

Mobile

Pegasus and BlastDoor are why you need to update your Apple devices immediately

iPad, iPhone, and airpods.

The iPhone 13 may be ready to launch tomorrow, but Apple is working fast to patch a major vulnerability to its devices with a new update for iOS 14.8, iPad 14.8, and watchOS 7.6.2, none of which were given a beta test period first. While none contain major features as you might expect in advance of tomorrow's "California Streaming" event, these are important security updates, as they contain fixes to two system vulnerabilities.

The potentially more serious one is Pegasus, which is an invasive spyware discovered by Israel's NSO group. This "zero-click" exploit requires no input from a phone's user to take effect, and was being used specifically against activists in Bahrain, including members of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. By defeating Apple's BlastDoor security system, the ForcedEntry exploit was able to install the Pegasus spyware suite for purposes of surveillance.