Britain’s leading boat hire and yacht charter marketplace, Borrow A Boat, has acquired Beds on Board, the sharing economy platform that connects guests and owners for static charters (non-sailing boat hire).

The acquisition, part of Borrow A Boat’s continued growth, brings over 5,000 additional boats and more than 30,000 users to the leading boat hire marketplace and reinforces the business’s position as the largest boat charter marketplace in the UK, whilst bringing unprecedented flexibility and inclusivity to the boating world.

Borrow A Boat will also be inviting Beds on Board boat owners to list on Borrow A Boat, allowing them to offer both static and standard charters.

Launched in 2015, Beds on Board is a peer-to-peer platform connecting boat owners and accommodation seekers wanting ‘another way to stay’. This allows boat owners to monetise their otherwise vacant boat, helping to offset the costs of ownership whilst offering customers competitively priced accommodation. And, unlike traditional chartering, there is no licencing required with static charters.

Borrow A Boat, the largest boat charter marketplace worldwide, now has access to over 45,000 boats in 65+ countries. Founded in 2016, the company has grown rapidly since formation, and has raised over £4.8 million in capital from a mixture of crowdfunding, private investors, and venture capital investors. Borrow A Boat is now planning a potential IPO in 2022, which will be a world-first for a boat charter marketplace.

CEO & founder of Borrow A Boat, Matt Ovenden, says: “The acquisition of Beds on Board is a huge milestone for us. There are a number of synergies between the two businesses – both having been founded with the goal of making boating more accessible, affordable, flexible and inclusive for all.

“Opening up otherwise vacant boats for static charters satisfies the pent-up demand for city-breaks and staycations, while offering customers a more unique and memorable experience than traditional overnight accommodation options.

“This is just the first of many exciting announcements this year, and we’re looking forward to revealing more milestones later in the year.”

Britain’s leading boat rental and yacht charter marketplace, Borrow A Boat, has today gone live with its £750,000 crowdfunding campaign, having already received £448,495 in investment from 138 investors.

The campaign has now opened up to the 1.3million users of crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.

The ‘Airbnb of boats’, Borrow A Boat is part of the vanguard of companies digitising the large and maturing global charter market, set to be worth $30bn annually by 2027. One of the pioneers of peer-to-peer charter since 2017, Borrow A Boat is on a mission to make boating more accessible, affordable, flexible, and inclusive for all, to help drive participation, and make chartering a boat simpler.

CEO & founder of Borrow A Boat, Matt Ovenden, said: “Borrow A Boat wouldn’t be in the position it is today without the support of its loyal community, to be going live with nearly 60% of our round already funded is full testament to their unwavering support.

“We’re over the moon to now be opening up the opportunity of becoming a shareholder to Crowdcube’s 1.3 million investors and we look forward to welcoming a new wave of shareholders on board to join us on this journey.”

Founded in 2016 and launched in 2017 by entrepreneur Matt Ovenden, Borrow A Boat has access to over 35,000 vessels in 65+ countries, and offers peer-to-peer listings as well as boat rental through traditional charter companies. On a mission to make boating more accessible, affordable, flexible, and inclusive, Borrow A Boat pioneered peer-to-peer boat charters, helping boat owners generate extra income from their vessel and reducing the high costs of boat ownership, including maintenance costs and marina fees.