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The merger of Boatsetter and Getmyboat marks a turning point for the boatsharing sector. By joining forces, the two companies aim to increase their influence in a global market that is in the throes of restructuring.
Merger in the connected yachting sector
Consolidation in the global boat rental market has reached a new milestone. On December 19, 2025, U.S.-based Boatsetter and Getmyboat, hitherto direct competitors in the private-to-professional rental segment, announced their merger. The combined group will represent a business volume in excess of $500 million in cumulative bookings, spread over more than fifty countries.
The transaction does not immediately alter the operation of the two platforms, which will continue to offer their services separately. The new headquarters will be based in Miami, but each entity will retain its current operational teams. Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter since 2022, will assume the position of Managing Director of the merged structure.
A fast-growing sector, driven by tourism and recreational demand
This merger comes at a particularly propitious time. The global yacht charter market is enjoying sustained growth, estimated to exceed $36 billion by 2032. At the same time, associated activities, such as fishing tourism, are expected to exceed $250 billion by 2035. These figures reflect not only the rapid evolution of water-based leisure activities, but also the changing expectations of boaters, who increasingly prefer access to experience rather than ownership.
Both companies claim continued growth against a backdrop of profound cultural change, particularly among younger people. According to Michael Farb, 80% of young adults surveyed say that spending time outdoors, and on the water in particular, has become a priority. Platforms thus see an opportunity to capture a new clientele in the long term, by offering accessible, flexible and secure digital solutions.
A merger supported by historical investors
Funds already committed to both companies, including Centerbridge Partners, Level Equity and Yanmar, confirm their support for the new entity. For them, this is a strategic alignment aimed at capturing the fruits of structural growth, while solidifying the economic basis of the model. In a market that is still fragmented, the Boatsetter-Getmyboat merger could serve as a benchmark, or even a catalyst, for other mergers.
Moreover, access to the market for small rental companies or local structures will depend on their ability to align themselves with the technological requirements imposed by the common platform. While this will enable us to broaden our customer base, it could also reshape the balance in certain regions, depending on operators' ability to fit into this intermediation logic.
A step towards the professionalization of digital boating
The merger between Boatsetter and Getmyboat marks a turning point in the recent history of digital boating. It testifies to the desire to professionalize a sector long perceived as informal, by placing it within a more structured industrial, technological and marketing logic. It remains to be seen whether this model will be able to interact with the traditional players in European boating and adapt to local specificities, particularly in France, where regulations, seasonality and infrastructures differ greatly from North American standards.
