Opening of Samboat USA
The online boat rental specialist Samboat has announced the opening of an office in the United States, in Clearwater, Florida. The company has recruited Sarah Briquet, a French woman with experience in the American market and the digital sector. She will be in charge of creating a team on site in order to create a large fleet of boats for rent. "We have a fleet of 200 boats currently available in the United States and we are aiming for 2,000 boats in 2023," says Laurent Calando, founder of Samboat.
In order to be ready, Samboat has developed its platform with foreign currency payment now operational.
An open boat rental market
For the French company, which is mainly active in France, the United Kingdom since the integration of Late Sail in December 2021, Spain and Italy, the United States was the main market to attack, with 87.3 million boaters.
"Our rental platform model is taking well in Europe. The biggest market for yachts is still the United States. There is no strong competition like in Europe, only 2 platforms not very extensive. So we saw an opportunity. The objective is twofold: to create a fleet, starting with Florida, California and the lakes where there are the most small motorboats, and also to expand the American clientele who will rent during their trips also in Europe "explains the manager of Samboat.
Rely on Dream Yacht Charter and Bénéteau
In its strategy, Samboat relies on support and synergies with its shareholders. This starts with the establishment in Florida in the offices of Dream Yacht Charter, which bought Samboat in 2018. The latter is already well established in the United States. At the top level, Samboat is also counting on the Bénéteau effect, owner of the American brands Wellcraft, Scarab, Glastron and Four Winns, but also a shareholder of Dream Yacht Charter.
Exchanges with boat clubs, well developed in the United States, are underway so that they can offer their boats for rent on the Samboat website.
