Borrow A Boat targets U.S. growth with latest acquisition

United Kingdom-based Borrow A Boat is making its third acquisition of the year and first in the United States with its purchase of KellyBoat, based in Massachusetts. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

In February, Borrow A Boat acquired Amsterdam-based peer-to-peer boat marketplace Barqo, and in March it took ownership of London-based Beds on Board, which offers boats for people to use as accommodation without taking them on open water.

Founded in 2017, Borrow A Boat says the United States is its fastest-growing market and with this acquisition it intends to pursue additional expansion, starting in New England and Palm Beach, Fla. 

KellyBoat is a peer-to-peer charter platform also founded in 2017, by Kelly Shea Lyden.

“The combination of Kelly's local knowledge and our technology gives us a powerful platform to grow in the U.S., and we have aggressive growth targets as we see it as a key market for Borrow A Boat,” says Matt Ovendon, Borrow A Boat founder and CEO.

“Since launching in America last year, we’ve experienced unrivaled interest from the U.S. boating audience who have well and truly got on board with the Borrow A Boat offering, enabling it to become one of our fastest growing markets worldwide.”

Borrow A Boat Group includes Borrow A Boat, with more than 45,000 listings including sailboats, motorboats, catamarans and more, as well as Helm, a marketplace for premium charter holidays that it acquired in 2021, and Barqo.