Who We Are & Who Reads This Site
Sailboats USA is a practical resource directory for owners of American sailboats under 50 feet — the people who haul their own boats, replace their own standing rigging, do their own gelcoat repairs, and rebuild their own diesel engines. These are not first-time boaters. They are experienced, budget-conscious, hands-on sailors who spend real money on parts, tools, supplies, and gear.
Our audience actively seeks out the products and suppliers listed on this site. A sponsorship or ad placement here puts your brand in front of people who are already in buying mode.
Audience Profile
- Owners of production sailboats 22–49 feet (Catalina, Hunter, O'Day, Pearson, Ericson, Cape Dory, and more)
- DIY maintenance and repair focus — engines, rigging, fiberglass, electrical
- US-based, coastal and Great Lakes regions
- Annual marine spending: $1,000–$10,000+ per boat owner
- Actively researching parts, suppliers, YouTube channels, and books
Sponsorship & Advertising Options
All placements are clearly labeled "Featured Sponsor" or "Advertisement" in compliance with FTC guidelines. Prices are per month unless noted.
| Placement | Description | Size / Format | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Sponsor Card | Named sponsor card between major sections — company name, tagline, logo, and link. Appears above the fold in high-traffic areas (Engines, Sails, Hardware, Hull & Deck). Rotating or fixed placement. | Text + logo, full width | $150 / mo $400 / 3 mo |
| Section Header Sponsor | "[Section name] sponsored by [Your Brand]" line at the top of a relevant section. E.g., a diesel supplier sponsoring the Engines section, a sailmaker sponsoring the Sails section. | One-line text link | $75 / mo $200 / 3 mo |
| Directory Listing — Featured | Your listing highlighted in bold with an extended description (vs. standard one-line entries). Includes your logo next to the link. Best for suppliers already in the directory. | Enhanced text listing | $50 / mo |
| Leaderboard Banner | 728×90 banner (responsive) displayed at the top of every page, above all content. High-visibility placement. | 728×90 px image + link | $200 / mo |
| Footer Banner | Banner displayed in the footer strip across all pages. | 728×60 px image + link | $75 / mo |
| Affiliate / Referral Link | We replace standard links to your store with tracked affiliate links throughout the relevant section. Best for suppliers with existing affiliate programs (TotalBoat, West Marine, etc.). | Tracked URL, no design needed | Commission-based no upfront fee |
Custom packages available. Annual rates negotiable. Non-profit yacht clubs and class associations: contact us for reduced rates.
Affiliate Programs — Sign Up Here
These are the affiliate programs most relevant to this site's content. Sign up, get your tracking links, and replace the placeholder links in the site. Each pays a commission on sales referred from your links — at no cost to the buyer.
Marine Suppliers
- TotalBoat — 5% commission + 5% customer discount. Direct program, easy approval. Apply at affiliate.totalboat.com
- West Marine — up to 10% commission via FlexOffers or Commission Junction. 3-day cookie.
- Boat US — membership referrals. Commission on new memberships.
- Defender Marine — contact them directly at defender.com; they have worked with sailing content creators on referral arrangements.
- Jamestown Distributors — contact directly; they sponsor sailing YouTube channels and may offer referral terms.
- Sailrite — apply at affiliate.sailrite.com; historically active with sailing content creators.
Safety & Electronics
- ACR Electronics — EPIRBs and PLBs. Contact their marketing dept for affiliate/referral terms.
- Garmin Marine — Garmin runs an affiliate program through Impact.com; apply via their partner portal.
- Victron Energy — contact US distributor for referral arrangement options.
Amazon Associates (Books & General)
- Amazon Associates — apply at affiliate-program.amazon.com. Earns 4–8% on books (physical), 3–5% on tools and marine supplies purchased through your links. All book links on this site are pre-structured with an affiliate tag placeholder (sailboatsusa-20) — replace with your actual Associates tag after approval.
How to Replace the Amazon Tag
- After joining Amazon Associates, your tracking ID will look like: yoursite-20
- Open index.html and do a find & replace: change sailboatsusa-20 to your actual tag
- Every book link on the site will then be a live affiliate link earning commissions
Google AdSense (Display Ads)
- Google AdSense — apply at adsense.google.com once the site has meaningful traffic (typically 100+ daily visitors). After approval, get your publisher ID and ad unit codes, then replace the placeholder comments in index.html with your actual ad unit code. The ad slots are already built and positioned.
- Marine-related display ads typically earn $3–$8 CPM (per 1,000 pageviews) — higher than general content due to the affluent boating audience.
Product Review Program — Send Us Your Product
We accept products from marine industry companies in exchange for editorial coverage on SailboatsUSA. This is not a paid review — we write honestly about what we receive. If the product is good, we say so. If it has shortcomings, we say that too. Our readers are experienced DIY sailors who can spot a soft review instantly. That's exactly why coverage here means something.
- Featured product write-up in the most relevant section of the site (hull care, electrical, rigging, canvas, adhesives, etc.) — with your product name, description, what it does well, and a direct link to purchase
- Permanent placement — product reviews stay on the site indefinitely, not just for a campaign window
- Searchable — the product will be indexed in the site's built-in search so visitors find it when they search for related terms
- Honest editorial voice — our audience trusts this site because we don't publish fluff; a genuine positive review from us carries real weight with DIY sailboat owners
- Optional affiliate link — if you have an affiliate program, we'll use your tracked link so you can measure referrals directly
Products We're Interested In
- Fiberglass repair products — epoxy, gelcoat, fairing compounds
- Marine adhesives and sealants
- Bottom paint and antifouling products
- Deck hardware — cleats, blocks, winch handles, clutches
- Rigging components — shackles, line, terminals, swages
- Marine electrical — fuse blocks, terminals, wire, connectors
- Battery monitoring and charging equipment
- Navigation tools and electronics
- Canvas and sail repair supplies
- Teak care, polish, wax, and cleaning products
- Anchors, chain, windlass accessories
- Safety equipment — EPIRBs, PLBs, life jackets, flares
- Tools designed for marine use
- 3D printing filaments and hardware for marine applications
- Dinghy and tender accessories
- Books and instructional materials about sailing or boat maintenance
How It Works
- Reach out first — email us at contact@sailboatsusa.com with a brief description of your product and what you'd like covered. We'll confirm interest before you ship anything.
- Ship the product — we'll provide a shipping address after confirming interest. Products must arrive in retail-ready condition with any instructions or documentation.
- We test and review it — we use the product in a real sailboat context where possible. Typical turnaround is 2–4 weeks after receipt.
- Review goes live — we publish the write-up in the appropriate section. You receive a link to the published page.
- Products are not returned — we keep what we test. This is standard practice in product review programs.
Our Standards
- We disclose all product review arrangements to our readers — FTC compliance is non-negotiable
- We reserve the right to decline any product that doesn't genuinely serve DIY sailboat owners
- We will not publish a falsely positive review — if a product underperforms, we'll tell you before publishing and give you the option to withdraw
- We do not accept payment to change or soften a review once written
- Products from companies with existing paid sponsorships receive priority consideration
❤ Individual Supporters — Patreon
Not a business? You can still support SailboatsUSA.com directly as an individual patron. Patreon support keeps the site free, independent, and growing — no ads required. Every patron helps fund new content, site maintenance, and keeping 100+ pages of sailing reference material current and accurate.
❤ Support on Patreon
Join sailors from across the US who support this site on Patreon. Your contribution keeps SailboatsUSA.com free for every boat owner who needs it.
❤ Become a Patron →Get in Touch
To discuss sponsorship, request a media kit, or set up an affiliate arrangement, email us at contact@sailboatsusa.com. We respond within 48 hours.
We only work with companies whose products genuinely serve the DIY sailboat owner. If your product belongs on this site, we want to hear from you.