SEABOB Is the No. 1 Water Toy Brand on Caribbean and Bahamas Charter Yachts
SEABOB is the No. 1 water toy brand on Bahamas and Caribbean charter yachts: 182 of 631 list one. Find charter yachts with a SEABOB and what guests say.
Charter yachts with a SEABOB are easier to find than most guests expect. Of the 631 active crewed charter yachts listed for the Bahamas and the Caribbean, 182 list one aboard, more than any other water toy brand (Vital Charters analysis, October 2026). Guests also keep writing about it once they’re home.
A SEABOB is an electric watersled. You lie along it, hold two grips, squeeze the trigger and lean to steer, and it carries you across the surface or down beneath it. SEABOB’s current range is the F9 and F9 S series, designed by Studio F.A. Porsche. Of all the toys in our count of what Caribbean charter yachts actually carry, it’s the one you’re most likely to see named, so this time we looked at it on its own. David Jirikovic, SEABOB’s Director of Sales for the Americas, answered our questions.
Which water toy brand do charter yachts name most?
SEABOB is the No. 1 water toy brand on crewed charter yachts in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. More yacht listings name it than any other toy brand, well ahead of BOTE’s paddleboards in second place, and it leads every brand in guest reviews too (Vital Charters analysis, October 2026).
These are the six brands that charter listings name most often:
| Rank | Brand | What it is | Yachts whose listing names it | Share of yachts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEABOB | Electric watersled | 136 | 21.6% |
| 2 | BOTE | Paddleboards and inflatable floats | 77 | 12.2% |
| 3 | Subwing | Towed underwater glider | 69 | 10.9% |
| 4 | Sea-Doo | Jet skis | 40 | 6.3% |
| 5 | Sublue | Hand-held sea scooters | 34 | 5.4% |
| 6 | Yamaha | WaveRunner jet skis | 33 | 5.2% |
Crewed charter yachts listed for the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as of October 6, 2026. A yacht counts toward a brand when its own listing names it, and one yacht can name several. The higher SEABOB count at the top of this page also includes yachts that only tick SEABOB in an equipment list.
Its lead holds in both regions, on motor yachts and on the biggest and priciest yachts, and the infographic below shows the runner-up in each. Where it trails is the smaller, less expensive end of the fleet, mostly sailing catamarans under 75 ft, where the Subwing or BOTE is named more often. That’s the part of the market SEABOB now sees opening up for its lighter F9.
Which charter yachts have a SEABOB?
SEABOB appears most often on larger motor yachts and at the top of the weekly-rate range, and it’s just as common in the Bahamas as in the Caribbean (Vital Charters analysis, October 2026). A yacht counts only when its own listing names one, so the true share runs higher.
The infographic below breaks the count down by region, hull type, length and weekly rate.
View data table
| Where | Yachts whose listing names a SEABOB | Share | Next brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | 41 of 191 | 21.5% | Sea-Doo and Yamaha, 22 each |
| Caribbean | 95 of 440 | 21.6% | Subwing, 65 |
| Motor yachts | 75 of 214 | 35.0% | Sea-Doo, 37 |
| Yachts 100 ft and over | 62 of 120 | 51.7% | Sea-Doo, 29 |
| Priciest quarter of the fleet, by all-in weekly rate | 85 of 156 | 54.5% | Sea-Doo, 31 |
Every figure is a floor, not market share. As of October 6, 2026.
The pattern didn’t surprise SEABOB. Jirikovic called the brand’s strength among larger yachts and premium charter programs “consistent with the position SEABOB has earned within the yachting market.”
What stands out to me is not simply the number of yachts carrying SEABOB, but where that concentration appears to be strongest. […] Perhaps even more important is seeing guests mention SEABOB by name in their reviews. That tells us the product is not simply equipment carried aboard the yacht; it is becoming part of the guest experience and part of what they remember about the charter.
The brand name has also become the word for the toy. Listings write “2 x SEABOB” the way people say jet ski, and guests turn it into a verb: their reviews talk about “seabobbing” around an anchorage.
What is it like to ride a SEABOB?
Riding a SEABOB feels like swimming with a motor. You lie along the sled, set the pace with a stepless throttle and steer by shifting your weight, skimming the surface or tipping the nose down to dive. Let go of the trigger and water resistance stops it “within an extremely short distance,” according to SEABOB’s F9 technical data.
“SEABOB gives someone an entirely different relationship with the water,” Jirikovic told us. “You can move effortlessly across the surface, dive below it, and explore underwater naturally and responsively.”
On a charter, it’s the exploring that guests love. A snorkeler on fins covers a patch of reef; a snorkeler on a SEABOB covers the whole bay. One group on a 48 ft sailing catamaran put it neatly in March 2026, calling the SEABOB “a wonderful way to explore a wide area in a limited time span.”
Plenty of listings use the names SEABOB and sea scooter loosely, though they’re different toys:
| Feature | SEABOB | Sea scooter |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An electric watersled you lie on and steer by shifting your weight | A small hand-held propeller you hold out in front of you |
| Pace | Fast enough to skim the surface, and dives on command | Walking pace, at or near the surface |
| Launching | The crew hands it down from the swim platform | Light enough to carry in one hand |
| Best for | Covering a whole reef, diving and a bit of speed | A slow, easy tow along a reef |
How easy is a SEABOB to learn?
A SEABOB needs no watersports experience, according to the company. “You do not have to be an experienced watersports athlete to enjoy it,” SEABOB’s David Jirikovic told us. “The controls are intuitive, the rider can select the appropriate performance level, and most people become comfortable with basic operation very quickly.”
A first ride still starts with some preparation. SEABOB’s guidance, in the company’s own words:
- Start with a briefing. “The first ride should always begin with an operational and safety briefing from the yacht’s crew and should take place in an appropriate area away from vessel traffic, swimmers and other hazards.”
- Be at ease in the water. “A rider should be comfortable in the water and should follow the instructions of the yacht’s captain and crew regarding flotation equipment, operating area, weather and sea conditions.”
- Let the yacht set the age. “Minimum-age requirements can vary depending upon jurisdiction, yacht operating procedures and other applicable requirements, so guests should always follow the policy established by the vessel and crew.”
- Pick your water. “For a first experience, relatively calm, open water with good visibility provides an excellent environment.”
Calm, open water with good visibility describes a typical morning anchorage in the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas, and that’s a big part of why the toy suits a charter so well. Guests who write about learning to ride also tend to credit the crew who taught them. “[The crew] happily helped everyone learn how to use the e-foil and sea bobs,” wrote one group after a week on a 59 ft sailing catamaran in March 2026.
What do guests say about the SEABOB?
Guests name SEABOB in their reviews more often than any other toy brand: 55 published reviews across 32 crewed yachts in the Bahamas and the Caribbean mention it, more than three times the 15 that name Subwing, the next brand, according to a Vital Charters analysis in October 2026.
Four of them follow, credited by hull and month rather than by name.
Seabobbing is a must, you’ll have a permanent smile on your face.
Some of our favorite memories included spending time at Oil Nut Bay, seabobbing alongside a sea turtle in Little Harbour, exploring hidden coves throughout the BVI…
The seabob was a huge hit and it was awesome to see the underwater world.
The new upgrades were fantastic, especially the Waverunners & Seabobs.
Guests remember what the SEABOB showed them, the turtle and the reef, as much as the ride itself. The boats behind these reviews also run from a small sailing catamaran to a big motor yacht, the same spread Jirikovic sees opening up. If you’re traveling with children, our guide to yacht charters with kids covers which toys suit which ages.
Is the SEABOB moving onto smaller charter yachts?
SEABOB sees smaller charter yachts as a growing market for the toy, because the lighter F9 generation is far easier to carry aboard. The company’s 2025 F9 technical data puts an F9 at about 46 lbs (21 kg) and an F9 S at about 52 lbs (24 kg), light enough for the crew to hand down from a swim platform.
“The F9 generation was engineered with substantially reduced weight and excellent handling both in and out of the water,” he told us, which makes it “considerably easier to accommodate aboard smaller yachts, performance boats and other vessels.” He was careful to add that the big yachts still count: “while large yachts remain an important part of the SEABOB market, we increasingly view the product as relevant across a much broader range of boats rather than as something reserved exclusively for superyachts.”
Charter listings point the same way. Our September look at the toy box found SEABOB adoption steady on motor yachts across every build era and higher on each newer generation of sailing catamaran, the part of the fleet where a family on a mid-range budget is most likely to book. Guest reviews often mention the eFoil in the same breath. Our guide to riding an eFoil on charter covers the other toy guests ask for by name. If you’re weighing hull types, our comparison of sailing and power catamarans covers what else changes with that choice.
What do charter yachts with a SEABOB cost?
A SEABOB adds nothing to the charter invoice: it comes with the yacht’s toy package and runs on a battery charge. Yachts that carry one charter for 24% to 38% more per week than matched yachts without one (Vital Charters analysis, October 2026), a gap that reflects the kind of yacht that buys one rather than a fee for the toy.
SEABOB reads that figure as cautiously as we do. “The reported relationship between SEABOB-equipped yachts and higher weekly charter rates is particularly interesting,” Jirikovic said. “We are aware that yachts carrying SEABOB may also differ in age, specification, equipment level, service level and overall market positioning. Still, the correlation is noteworthy.” In a separate read on October 14, 2026, the median yacht carrying a SEABOB listed an all-in week of about $91,000.
SEABOB’s US price list puts an F9 at $10,725 and an F9 S at $14,465 (August 2025). A yacht with a pair aboard has more than $20,000 of SEABOBs waiting at the swim platform before anyone adds a charger. On an all-inclusive yacht the rate covers watersports along with food, bar and fuel. On a plus-expenses yacht, fuel comes out of the Advance Provisioning Allowance, and an electric toy barely draws on it. Our breakdown of rates, APA and add-ons explains both contracts.
How to book a charter yacht with a SEABOB
To book a charter yacht with a SEABOB, name it in your first inquiry, then confirm four things with the yacht: how many units are aboard this season, who is allowed to ride, how the crew charges them between rides, and what other toys share the toy box. Knowing on day one saves a week of looking at the wrong boats.
1. How many are aboard, and are they on the boat this season? Two lets a parent and child, or two friends, ride side by side instead of taking turns. Published toy lists can lag behind the boat, and a SEABOB away for service is one you don’t have.
2. Who can ride it? The yacht sets the rules, as SEABOB itself advises. Ask about age, swimming ability and flotation before you promise a ride to anyone in your group.
3. How is it charged? A full charge on the standard charger takes hours, so with two units and a busy day at anchor, the crew is juggling charge times. Ask whether the yacht carries SEABOB’s quick charger, which shortens the wait considerably.
4. What else is in the toy box? Ask what sits beside it: an eFoil, a Subwing, or the bigger toys the priciest yachts add. Our look at what the top-end toy box adds shows the full range.
Bring those answers to the size decision; our guide to choosing the right yacht size walks through the rest. Then browse crewed yachts at Vital Charters or get in touch with the toy list your group wants. We’ll tell you which boats have it, and what else those boats bring with them.
Our thanks to SEABOB for the photographs on this page, including the cover image, and to David Jirikovic for his answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do charter yachts have SEABOBs?
Yes, many do. SEABOB is the water toy brand that crewed charter yachts in the Bahamas and the Caribbean name most often in their listings. It’s most common on larger motor yachts and the most expensive yachts to charter, though smaller catamarans carry them too. Ask for one at the start of your search, and confirm it on the yacht’s current toy list.
How deep can a SEABOB dive?
A built-in depth sensor gives a safety cut-off at 10 feet (3 m), and the electronic control can be set for depths of up to 82 feet (25 m), according to SEABOB’s F9 technical data. On a charter, the crew decides the setting for each rider.
How long does a SEABOB battery last?
An F9 runs up to 40 minutes with a sporty riding style, or 60 minutes with SEABOB’s larger Battery Capacity plus option, and an F9 S runs up to 50 minutes, according to SEABOB’s technical data. A standard charge takes about four hours (six with the larger battery), or one to one and a half hours on the quick charger.
Is a SEABOB the same as a sea scooter?
No. A sea scooter is a small hand-held propeller that tows a snorkeler along at walking pace. A SEABOB is a larger electric watersled you lie on and steer with your body, fast enough to skim the surface and built to dive. Listings sometimes use the names loosely, so check which one a yacht means.
Can children ride a SEABOB on a charter?
That’s up to the yacht. SEABOB says minimum-age requirements vary with the jurisdiction, the yacht’s operating procedures and other rules, so the policy belongs to the vessel and its crew. Any rider should be at ease in the water and wear whatever flotation the crew asks for. Ask the specific yacht before you book.
Find a yacht with a SEABOB aboard
Tell us your group size and dates, and we’ll shortlist the crewed yachts that carry a SEABOB and fit the rest of your brief.
