Every great idea starts somewhere. For BoatBites, it started with a bad sandwich, a beautiful sunset, and a simple question: Why can't you get food delivered to your boat?
The Idea Behind BoatBites
A few years ago, I was anchored near a Tampa sandbar with friends. The weather was perfect, the water was calm, and nobody wanted to leave.
But by mid-afternoon, we'd run out of food. All that remained was a squashed ham sandwich and some crushed chips.
We had two choices: stay hungry or head back to shore. We chose to leave.
As we headed in, I couldn't help thinking about how ridiculous it was. We were leaving a perfect day on the water just to grab something to eat.
You can get almost anything delivered on land. Why should being on a boat be any different?
That question became the foundation of BoatBites.
Turning an Idea Into Reality
Delivering food to boats wasn't as simple as it sounded.
We needed marine insurance, reliable delivery drivers, restaurant partners, and technology capable of finding boats without traditional street addresses.
There were plenty of challenges, and we rebuilt our app more than once. But we kept going.
Today, BoatBites has grown from an idea into a boatside delivery service, with milestones including:
St. Petersburg in 2024
Anna Maria Island in 2025
Fort Myers Beach in spring 2026
Interest from more than 50 marinas nationwide
What's Next for BoatBites?
Our mission remains simple: Wherever you drop anchor, you should be able to enjoy great food without leaving the water.
As we expand into new boating communities, we want boaters to help shape where BoatBites goes next.
Where do you love to boat? Which restaurants would you like to see delivering to your favorite sandbar or anchoring spot?
We'd love to hear your suggestions.
Thank you for being part of the BoatBites journey. We're just getting started.
John
Founder & CEO, BoatBites