Classic sports cars, oceanfront villas, outdoor gear, even pools — these days, everything is available for rent by the week, the day, or even the hour. So, it comes as no surprise that one company just dove (get it?) into the sharing economy with boat rentals. Whether you’re looking for an ordinary party boat to tool around the nearest pond or a full-fledged luxury yacht complete with captain, crew, and deep sea fishing gear, Boatsetter has you covered.
Boating is right up there with high-stakes casino gambling and bungee jumping. It’s exhilarating and amazing, but owning a boat is notoriously frustrating. When you add up insurance, maintenance, seasonal care (including pulling the vessel from the water and wrapping it during the off-season), docking, and fuel, it can be a very, very expensive hobby indeed. There’s a reason most owners describe their boat as “a hole in the water, into which I throw money.” For anyone looking to enjoy boating in the simplest way possible, on-demand boat rental is the way to go.
As of late 2018, Boatsetter offers nearly 25,000 rental opportunities in more than 2,100 cities. Rentals are available in almost every major U.S. city from San Francisco to Chicago to Boston to Miami. Shopping for a rental is as easy as shopping for Airbnb accommodations. Potential renters can search by location, date, and the type of boat (power or sail). They can then narrow their search with additional options like the size of their party, whether or not they need a captain, and the type of water activity they’re interested in (fishing, diving, cruising, or straight-up celebrating).
Just like with recreational vehicles, most boats sit idle for the vast majority of the year. For boat owners, renting out their pleasure craft is a virtually guaranteed extra source of income. According to Boatsetter’s calculator, even the smallest powerboat (less than 20 feet) commands an average of $168 per rental. Luxury yachts larger than 60 feet can score more than $2,000 per rental. Owners control their rates and rental schedule. Plus, Boatsetter handles all the logistics, customer service, and even hull and liability insurance in case some joker decides to play dockside demolition derby with your Bayliner.
Boat renters and owners can both register for Boatsetter for free. For anyone new to boating and unsure of what’s involved, the site’s comprehensive listing of boating laws and boaster safety courses by state is a great place to start.
