Boat Trader Introduces Natural Language Search: A More Powerful Way to Discover Boats and Sellers Online

MIAMI, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boat Trader, the nation's leading boating marketplace, today announced the launch of natural language search. This new AI-powered smart search experience allows shoppers to describe what they're looking for in their own words. Now, live on both desktop and mobile web, the new search experience makes boat discovery more intuitive, shortens the time between research and decision, and gives sellers more exposure to buyers who are further along in their journey.

"The smart search experience is about removing friction and making it easier for people to shop the way they naturally think," said John Barrile, Chief Technology Officer at Boats Group. "From boat type to dealer name, buyers can now find what they want in fewer steps. That not only improves the shopping experience but also drives more meaningful exposure and higher-quality leads for our sellers."

Boat shopping has historically required clicking through filters, drop-down menus, and dealer directories. Boat Trader's new search experience eliminates these barriers. Buyers can now simply type what they want – whether that's "family cruiser with cabin under 40 feet," "pontoon boat near me for weekend use," or "MarineMax Florida."

By interpreting natural language prompts, Boat Trader delivers relevant listings in seconds. For the first time, buyers can search by dealer name directly in the search bar, giving them instant access to a dealer's full inventory without navigating through the separate "Find a Dealer" page.

This intuitive experience:

• Reduces friction in discovery by allowing buyers to describe what they want instead of filtering search results.
• Supports the early-stage shoppers who may not know brands, models, or classes.
• Saves time by shortening the path from browsing to contacting a seller.

For sellers, the new search experience represents a major value add. Previously, shoppers had to search office by office from the "Find a Dealer" page, limiting dealer visibility. Now, with AI-powered natural language search, buyers can type a dealer's name and instantly see all their listings.

Additional benefits include:

• Improved exposure — Listings are more discoverable, even from broad lifestyle prompts.
• Company brand recognition — Dealers can now be searched directly, increasing visibility across the platform
• Higher-quality leads — Buyers describing their needs are further along in intent and closer to purchase.
• Faster connections — More purchase-ready shoppers mean shorter cycles from inquiry to sale.

Since its launch, the smart search experience has already shown measurable impact, driving a 5% increase in lead conversion across the platform.

Just as car shoppers often begin with natural language prompts like, "SUV with third row under $30K", boat buyers can now search in ways that reflect how they think and shop. By bringing this familiar search experience into boating, Boat Trader is making it easier for buyers to find the right boats and sellers to connect with serious leads.

For more information on the latest updates and to explore the new features, visit boatsgroup.com/product-updates.

About Boat Trader

Boat Trader is the largest online boating marketplace in the United States, connecting millions of boaters and buyers with thousands of dealers, brokers, private sellers, and manufacturers. Boat Trader offers AI-driven search tools, financing services, and market insights to make boat discovery and ownership accessible, engaging, and seamless.

Media Contact:

Courtney Chalmers
VP of Marketing, Boat Trader
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-877-354-4069

SOURCE Boats Group