How to Configure Your First Boat Model | Tutorial

Before you start: what you need

Have this ready before opening BoatConnect:

Technical specifications (length, beam, draft, motorization)
Current base price and next season pricing
List of optionals with prices
10-15 professional photos of the boat
Layout or general arrangement plan
Manufacturer contact (website, email, phone)

Configuring halfway and coming back later wastes double the time.

Step 1: Create the brand (if it's new)

Menu: Catalog → Brands → Create brand

Required:

Name (e.g., "Sunseeker")
Country

Recommended:

Commercial name
Founded in
Market segment (Luxury, Mid-range, Entry-level)
Type of vessel (Yachts, Day Cruisers, Sailing boats)

Rates Season Period: Define when your commercial season starts and ends. The system will automatically generate rates for each year based on these dates.

Example: If your season runs Sept 1 to Aug 31:

Season Start: Day 1, Month September
Season End: Day 31, Month August

Internal notes: Sales manager contact, special conditions, typical delivery times. Only your team sees this.

Step 2: Create the base model

Menu: Catalog → Models → Create model

Main Details:

Model name* (e.g., "Oceanis 40.1")
Series (e.g., "Oceanis")
Year (2024, 2025...)
Type (Day Cruiser, Motor Yacht, Sailing Yacht)
Length (in meters)

Click Create.

Step 3: Complete technical specifications

Tab "Model Details":

Fill in everything you can:

Length, Beam, Draft, Displacement
Passengers, Fuel Tank, Water Tank
Number of Engines, Maximum/Minimum Power
Engine Type, Engine Brand
Status, Availability, Delivery Time

Why fill everything? Because it appears in the proposal PDF. A PDF with empty fields looks unprofessional.

Step 4: Upload images

Tab "Media":

Main Image: Main photo of the model (minimum 1920px wide, good lighting)

General Arrangements: Layout or boat plan

Image Gallery: 10-15 additional photos

Exteriors from different angles
Interior (salon, cabins, bathroom)
Details (helm, deck, equipment)

Format: JPG, PNG | Size: max 5MB per image

Step 5: Configure equipment sections

Tab "Model Sections" → Configure Sections

Default structure:

1. Standard (Included)

└ Standard Equipment

2. Optional Equipment (With price)

└ Navigation & Electronics

└ Safety & Protection

└ Interior & Cabins

You can add, remove, or rename subsections according to your catalog.

Step 6: Define standard equipment

Tab "Current Season Rates"

Base Price: Base price of the boat (e.g., €245,000)

Standard Equipment: List everything that comes as standard:

Anchor with 50m chain
Fenders and mooring lines
Approved safety kit
VHF radio with DSC
LED navigation lights

No individual prices because they're included in the base price.

Why list what's included? Marketing. A boat with 20 listed items looks more complete.

Step 7: Add priced optionals

Optional Equipment:

Navigation & Electronics:

12" touchscreen GPS plotter → €3,500
Digital depth sounder/fishfinder → €1,200
Autopilot system → €4,800

Safety & Protection:

Bimini top with stainless frame → €4,500
Full boat cover → €2,200

Interior & Cabins:

Swimming platform with ladder → €2,800
Teak cockpit flooring → €6,500

Tip: Group optionals in discounted packs. It's easier to sell a pack than individual items.

Step 8: Configure next season

Tab "Next Season Rates"

The system automatically generates the next season with the same dates and equipment. You just enter the new base price.

Why do it now? Because manufacturers publish next season rates 3-6 months in advance.

Example:

Current Season (2025-2026): €245,000
Next Season (2026-2027): €257,250 (+5%)

Step 9: Add brand contact info

Catalog → Brands → [Select brand] → Tab "Contact Info"

Official Website
Email Contact
Phone Number
Local Distributor
Contact Distributor

This info is available for your team when generating proposals.

Step 10: Generate test PDF

From model view: Button Export PDF

The system automatically generates a PDF with:

Main image
Technical specifications
Standard equipment
Optionals with prices
Total calculated price
Your branding

Review the PDF:

Empty fields? Fill them.
Bad photos? Change them.
Wrong prices? Verify.

This PDF is what you'll send to clients. It must be impeccable.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

❌ Leaving specs empty → Fill EVERYTHING, even if approximate

❌ Low-quality photos → Request HD images from manufacturer

❌ Not organizing optionals → Group them in logical categories

❌ Forgetting next season → Update in Jan-Feb when manufacturer publishes rates

❌ Not reviewing PDF → ALWAYS generate test PDF before sending

Real time investment

New brand: 5-10 min (first time only)
Complete model: 20-25 min
Additional models: 10-15 min

Total for brand with 3 models: ~1 hour

Compare with:

Excel: impossible to keep updated
Manual PDFs: 2-4 hours per proposal
Searching scattered info: infinite time

Ready?

You've now got your first model configured. The next step is creating a sales opportunity and generating your first proposal for a real client.

[Start 14-day free trial] [See configurator demo]