Introducing Image Search on the Boat Trader App
We’re excited to launch the first and only boat image search tool, boato, now available in the Boat Trader app! Below are some frequently asked questions to help you understand how boato works and what it means for you.
Q: What is boato?
A: boato (a play on “photo”) is Boat Trader’s new image recognition tool that helps you quickly answer “What kind of boat is that?”
With the new camera icon in the Boat Trader app, you can upload or take a photo, and boato will show you similar boats for sale — all in seconds.
Q: How does boato match boats?
A: boato uses advanced image recognition to predict the boat’s make and model, then applies those filters to your search results. You’ll see listings in the “Recommended” sort view, with any Featured boats that match displayed among the first three results.
Q: What if boato can’t identify my photo?
A: Like any tool, boato is always improving. For the best results, try taking a clear side view of the boat with good lighting and a simple background.
Q: How will boato use my listings?
A: boato helps amplify your exposure. When a shopper uploads a photo, boato identifies similar boats and shows relevant listings, including yours. That means your inventory gets surfaced to more engaged users—even ones who weren’t directly searching for your brand!
As a reminder, Boats Group does not own your data - you do. Everything you list with us (boats, photos, descriptions) remains yours. We simply help market your listings to buyers. For more clarity about this topic, please visit the Boats Group Service Agreement & Policies (North America).
Q: Can I remove my listings from boato searches?
A: Currently, boato is designed to help more buyers discover more listings, including yours. There isn’t an option to exclude individual listings from boato at this time, but we welcome your feedback and will share it with our product team.
Q: Can I see reporting on how many views I get from boato?
A: At the moment, there isn’t a separate report for impressions coming from boato, but this is something we’re working on for future updates.
Q: Is boato available on desktop?
A: boato is available today in the Boat Trader mobile app, designed for shoppers on the go. We plan to integrate it into the YachtWorld app in the future.
If you have additional questions, please reach out toyour Account Manager.
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