CaptainOwned tops 1,000 boating and fishing listings

CaptainOwned, the veteran-founded travel platform built by charter captain William Phillips, has passed 1,000 boating and fishing directory listings as it expands its reach across U.S. destinations. The milestone underscores a push to help travelers connect directly with independent captains before booking.

Why it matters: - CaptainOwned is trying to make it easier for travelers to find and contact independent captains directly. - The platform’s growth could give smaller boating and fishing operators more visibility without relying on third-party booking channels. - The milestone comes as the company expands beyond Florida into multiple U.S. destinations.

What happened: - CaptainOwned.com says its directory has grown to more than 1,000 boating and fishing business listings. - The platform was founded by U.S. Marine Corps veteran and charter captain William “Captain Bill” Phillips. - Phillips is also the owner of Skyway Fishing Tours. - CaptainOwned is based in Florida’s Sarasota-Bradenton area.

The details: - The directory includes fishing charters, dolphin tours, sunset cruises, sandbar trips, sailing experiences and other on-the-water activities. - Listings cover businesses across multiple U.S. destinations. - The 1,000-plus total counts business listings, including unclaimed entries, not 1,000 enrolled captains. - Operators can join CaptainOwned, claim an existing listing where applicable, and add details about their business and trips. - CaptainOwned offers a free listing option and optional paid memberships. - The captain membership model does not take a percentage of each trip. - Participating operators can use profile and contact features to direct travelers to their businesses, with features varying by membership. - The company’s website is More information. - CaptainOwned’s social channels include Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The company is positioning itself as a discovery tool, not just a booking marketplace. - Phillips is leaning on his experience as a working captain to frame the platform as a way to surface the local operator behind each trip. - The emphasis on direct contact suggests CaptainOwned wants travelers to ask questions and compare options before booking.

What's next: - CaptainOwned says its next priority is helping more captains complete their profiles, add trip information and build a stronger presence for travelers. - Phillips said the company wants more captain stories to be easy for travelers to find. - The platform will continue inviting independent captains to join and claim listings where relevant.

The bottom line: - CaptainOwned has crossed a scale milestone, but its bigger goal is to turn directory entries into direct relationships between travelers and local captains.