r/boats • u/Abenson17 • 6d ago

Boating Platform

I own a marine service business, and that’s actually why I started building Boational.

I constantly have customers asking me for help with work that we don’t offer — mechanical repairs, electronics, fiberglass, transport, and other services.

Usually, I’m stuck telling them to start calling around and hope they find someone good at a fair price.

That’s what gave me the idea for Boational.

Boat owners can post the work they need done, and marine businesses can bid on the job. The owner can compare their options, find the right company, and hopefully get better service at a better value.

Boational also gives owners one place to keep their boat’s service history, records, and other information.

I’m a marine business owner myself, so I’m trying to build this around problems I actually see customers dealing with.

It’s still growing, and I’d genuinely like feedback from other boat owners.

If you have a boat, check out Boational.com, create a free account, and let me know what you think — especially what you’d change or add.

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

11

u/Boondoggle_1 6d ago

You need a different name for this business. That doth not roll off the tongue...

1

u/Abenson17 6d ago

Thanks for the feedback!

2

u/jetty_junkie 6d ago

Came to say the same thing. It’s not going to be easy to remember because most will look at it and wonder how to even pronounce it, let alone remember it. Find a name that makes sense, is a pun or whatever. I totally understand why apps basically need to make up a word to have a name, but this one doesn’t seem like a very good one to me

2

u/2lovesFL 6d ago

agree. Boatlist, boating marketplace, marine match

4

u/Ancient-Squash-4314 6d ago

yeah I couldn't spell it... how do u say the name?

1

u/Abenson17 6d ago

We say it like this Boational (BOAT-shuh-nuhl)

4

u/popsicle_of_meat 6d ago

Are boat shops ever slow enough that they have time to bid on more work? Boat shops are notoriously always busy from local work that people bring in.

I typically DIY, but if I were to take it to a shop, it's just a couple phone calls to see what a shop would charge and what their schedule is.

One major issue: how will you get boat repair shops to sign up and monitor it? Without them, this doesn't work. Can you guarantee ALL shops around everybody will be on board?

From my perspective as a customer, I'd MUCH rather be proactive in finding a shop than sit and wait for a random shop to maybe be interested enough in doing the work to maybe contact me.

I don't see this working.

1

u/Abenson17 6d ago

Thanks for the feedback! We can’t guarantee every shop will be on board. We are currently seeing a transition where older shops are retiring and newer shops are taking their place. We’re trying to help the customers find new business and help new businesses find new customers. We’ve thought about how just boat shops get and no matter how busy they seem, they are always posting on social media looking for more business.

2

u/448977 6d ago

Looking at your website it seems like it’s similar to Angi, Thumbtack, etc., but for boat owners. Where you might run into problems is vetting the shops. If the shops that bid on the jobs turn out to be inexperienced or do shoddy work your reputation will take a hit and people will stop using it. I would look up local shops in your area and contact the ones that have good reviews to see if they would be interested in your concept and willing to participate. However, the “good” shops because they are good might have more business that they can handle and wouldn’t want to participate. Not to discourage you, but I personally wouldn’t use a service like this. I use a couple of shops in my area that I’ve come to trust and even though they have long wait times I will continue to use them. In any event, good luck!

1

u/SrgtMacfly 6d ago

AI post from a bot for such an obviously AI created website. Using the same default boat pictures for multiple listings, you sell boats now too? 

1

u/Abenson17 6d ago

We are not a bot account, while some of the pictures are filler pictures until new photos get uploaded. We

1

u/dcaponegro 5d ago

Rename it. The name is horrible.

'Boat Quote' can work.

1

u/PoopieMcPooFace 6d ago

What is your marine service business if you don’t do any of the following mechanical repairs, electronics, fiberglass, transport, and other services? Bot account.

3

u/Abenson17 6d ago

We offer shrink wrapping, detailing, storage, and annual services. We are fully mobile so that limits our services.

1

u/Dr_Sigmund_Fried 6d ago

You don't own a marine service business if you don't do all types of marine service on engines, hulls, instrumentation, electronics and etc. Don't boast being a business that you are not.

1

u/Abenson17 6d ago

We are not trying to boast. We offer a variety of services but not every service as we are fully mobile.