Rightboat debuts AI search plugin to drive boat leads from ChatGPT

Online boat sales platform, Rightboat, is launching a new ChatGPT plugin to help brokers and dealers connect with prospective buyers researching boats through AI-powered conversations.

The plugin opens a new channel for Rightboat listings, enabling buyers to describe their budget, preferred location, boat type, and intended use in everyday language to search for relevant boats for sale.

The launch follows a busy period for Rightboat, with the company expanding its North American team with sales and customer success appointments, and the recent appointment of Evan Davis as account director for North America.

According to Rightboat, boat buyers increasingly researching options online before contacting sellers. Ipsos research released earlier this year by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) found that buyers’ purchasing journeys are becoming increasingly digital and self-directed, while dealers remain central to building trust.

Rightboat’s new feature allows brokers and dealers to make their inventory discoverable at every stage of this evolving research journey, extending listing exposure beyond traditional search engines and boat marketplaces.

For example, a buyer might ask: ‘Find me a used cruising catamaran under $700k in Florida suitable for a family of four.’

For sellers, Rightboat says this feature creates additional opportunities for buyers to discover their boats and make inquiries. The conversational format encourages buyers to share detailed requirements as they narrow their search.

Josie Tucci, VP of marketing and GM for North America, comments: “Brokers and dealers invest significant effort in showcasing every boat they list. Our goal is to ensure these listings reach buyers no matter where their search begins. Whether someone is asking which boats best fit their family or exploring options for a specific cruising adventure, this technology gives us another way to connect those conversations directly to a broker’s or dealer’s boat for sale. Just tell ChatGPT what you’re looking for, and Rightboat will do the rest.”

Readers can try the new AI search feature on ChatGPT – find Rightboat in ChatGPT’s plugins directory and then begin to search, tagging @Rightboat.