Bearboat Classic runs exclusively on the PC. Bearboat Classic was formerly known simply as Bearboat. The name, Bearboat Classic, was adapted simply to differentiate the program from Bearboat Pro. This version of the software has been available since 1998. Bearboat Classic is no longer being upgraded. This program has been replaced by Bearboat Pro and more recently by BearboatSP. The program is available for download here for those who, for some reason known only to themselves, might want to get a copy.

Bearboat Pro is capable of opening Bearboat Classic files. Those who want to modify an old Bearboat Classic file or analyze an old Bearboat Classic design are urged to download Bearboat Pro for this purpose. It is a much richer design environment that Bearboat Classic. Bearboat Pro can open a Bearboat Classic file.

As of 2009, work has started on BearboatSP which is the successor to Bearboat Pro. It is possible to open a Bearboat Pro file in BearboatSP. To move a Bearboat Classic design to BearboatSP would require first using Bearboat Pro to convert the file to the BearboatPro format and then opening that file in BearboatSP.