Boat rental is a sector that is experiencing considerable success. It is now possible to sail on any body of water, on any sailboat or motorboat. But before embarking on a rental, how do you rent a boat and what are the rental conditions?
In the 80s, every boater wanted to own their first small sailboat. Then, as the years went by and experience grew, we all sought that extra meter. We’d look at the neighbor on the dock with their boat bigger than ours. We’d start dreaming of the larger aft cabin, the increased comfort of a bigger boat.
Today, things have changed somewhat. Indeed, increasingly, Boaters are turning to boat rentalsRental bases are increasingly numerous and spread across all French and European coasts as well as in the West Indies.
The profile of the boat owner is very diverse. We are far removed from the image of the casual sailor who only sails for a few days or a week a year, a computer piloting enthusiast incapable of leaving the harbor (I know some owners who are no better). Some boaters who rent a boat are often sailboat owners on other bodies of water. Others sail very frequently on rental boats, sometimes more often than owners. Finally, the last group will rediscover a world that had become distant from their daily lives, or rather, the other way around.
So yes, Renting a boat has become a real alternative and/or has become complementary to owning a boat.In this article, we’ll explore why renting can be a good option. We’ll also examine the conditions and regulations surrounding it. boat rental Then, what are the places where it is possible to sail and how to prepare for your rental?
Why rent a boat?
As we mentioned, rent a boat is not always an alternative to ownership. It can be perfectly sensible to rent a boat in Toulon to explore the Var region, then sail on Lake Geneva the following year, while owning your boat in Quimper or Cherbourg. You multiply the experiencesDiscover new horizons while sailing on the most beautiful boat in the world in the most beautiful bay in the world, year-round or during the warmer months. Everything will, of course, depend on your budget.
The advantages of renting
Rent a boat allows you, in effect, to:
Browse everywhere
Vary the destinations
Sailing on all types of boats
Sailing solo or in a fleet
Try out the navigation or boat before buying
Reduce the costs associated with sailing (berth, maintenance, insurance, etc.)
Buying or renting a boat? Ask yourself the question.
However, renting is also a sensible choice compared to buying a new or used boat. The first thing to do before deciding whether to rent or buy a boat is to ask yourself the right questions.
Do you sail often?
The first question to ask yourself before buying a boat is that of the frequency of his navigationsWill you be sailing regularly? Indeed, if you live near the coast, in Brittany or La Rochelle, you’re likely to be able to sail more often than if you live in Paris or even Strasbourg. If you can regularly free up weekends and holidays, buying a boat will make sense. You won’t be checking the weather forecast every day to see if it will be sunny.
Conversely, buying a sailboat to sail for two weeks in the summer, plus a long weekend in May, isn’t always the best option. A small, transportable sailboat might be sufficient; otherwise, rent a boat will be the right option. Because budget is the second criterion to consider.
What is your budget?
THE boat budget Budget is a very important point when buying a boat. By budget, we obviously mean the price of the sailboat. But the cost of a boat The costs don’t end with the purchase. Annual boat expenses are significant. First, there are administrative fees such as insurance and marina or winter storage fees. These costs can quickly exceed the price of a week’s rental in the middle of summer in the Mediterranean. Second, and this is especially true for sailboats, there are maintenance costs. Maintaining a sailboat requires numerous expenses such as antifouling, engine winterization, and routine annual repairs.
Renting a sailboat means avoiding all these costsYou can enjoy your sailing trip, your cruise, without any constraints.
What is your program?
How, and where, do you want to navigate? This is a very important consideration before… choosing between buying and renting a boatIf your goal is to explore different bodies of water, sail everywhere, and discover numerous destinations, and you’re always active, it will be difficult to fulfill your plans with a 10-meter cruiser. The most logical solution would be to consider a trailerable sailboat or chartering.
With a rental, you can sail anywhere. The possibilities are endless. Explore the Gulf of Morbihan, the Îles d’Or departing from Toulon, or even Greece, Croatia, Corsica, or the Caribbean. You can even consider river cruises, on lakes or canals.
Do you have the temperament of a landlord?
Finally, and this seems an important question to me, do you want to own your boat? It’s not such a silly question. It’s like real estate; we’re not all attached to bricks and mortar. The idea of choosing a boat based on your desires, needs, and current plans isn’t such a bad one.
What legal status is required to rent a boat? The regulations
While a boating license isn’t required for motorboats, the situation is different when renting a sailboat. In France, no boating license of any kind is necessary to sail a sailboat (at least for the vast majority of sailboats). Therefore, it’s perfectly possible to rent a sailboat anywhere in France without a license. Some rental companies may request a sailing resume, which may even be a condition of the rental.
However, regulations for renting a boat The regulations are not the same in every country. It is therefore important to know that in some countries, regardless of the type of boat, you must have a boating license. Let’s take the example of certain European countries. If you do not have a license, you will not be able to rent a sailboat in Spain, Greece, Portugal, or Italy, for example. Italy goes even further by requiring a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate (RROC).
In any case, I also want to talk about common sense. As with any boat owner, A boater renting a boat must be responsibleAnd in all cases, he is responsible for his boat and his crew.
So, if you rent a boat, rent one that you can easily maneuver, suited to your itinerary and the experience of your crew.
Renting through an agency or directly from individuals?
Historically, boat rental has been a business for professionals. Some rental companies have become key players in the boating industry.So essential are they that their boat purchases have a very significant impact on the production of sailboats, and especially catamarans, in France and Europe in general.
Professional rental companies
Renting a boat through a professional rental company is the most obvious solution. You go through an agency that will assist you in choosing the boat, and even with the trip itself if you’re renting in the Caribbean or Greece, for example.
Rental companies have acquired considerable experience. Whether it’s a local rental company in Brittany or a large international broker, all these professionals know their business and the risks associated with sailing and rentals.
Private landlords
In recent years, several players have positioned themselves on the peer-to-peer rental marketThe principle is quite simple, for the tenant as for the owner.
On one hand, the renter has access to sailboat listings and makes their selection just like on any other rental website. The intermediary acts as a guarantor for the transaction and intervenes in case of a dispute. The tenant can communicate with the landlord before renting his boat
For the owner, things are also quite simple. Just enter the boat’s details, upload a few supporting documents and photos, and you’re all set. You also retain control over the boat’s availability schedule. However, be aware that you cannot rent out your boat while simultaneously acting as the skipper.
In all cases, whether you go through an agency, a rental platform or a private individual, you will be able to rent a boat on all bodies of water:
- The Channel
- Brittany
- La Rochelle
- The Canal du Midi
- Marseille and Toulon
- Roussillon
- Corsica
Owner and tenant
Finally, as we mentioned at the very beginning of this article, it is perfectly feasible to own and rent out a boat. So why not also rent out your own boat? This could be for financial reasons.
The first example is the buying a sailboat which will be leased to an owner. Many charter companies operate this way. Rather than buying their own sailboats, they offer investment and financing solutions to buyers. These buyers make their boat available to the charter company for a specified period and then retrieve it. This solution allows them to acquire a boat at a lower cost, given that the charter company returns the boat after any necessary repairs. At the same time, the owner typically receives a portion of the rental income, which can potentially be used to repay a loan, and can benefit from several weeks of chartering at different locations.
The other solution was mentioned earlier. You can easily rent out your boat from time to time through a rental platform. In this case, you’ll receive rental income that will allow you to cover maintenance costs, for example.
But be careful to comply with the regulations:
You must establish a lease agreement with the tenant defining:
- the amount of any potential advance payments,
- the rental price,
- the conditions for termination in case of cancellation,
- cleaning and fuel costs.
- And presenting a report on the condition of the boat
“The owner must also specify to the tenant the extent of the risks covered by the boat’s insurance policy (civil liability, loss and theft, damage, damage caused to third parties, etc.). The owner must carefully verify that this insurance policy authorizes them to rent out their boat.”
Depending on the type of navigation, the boat must be equipped with several Required materials [application/pdf – 196.2 KB] .
The person responsible for maintaining the boat and safety equipment (the owner or a specialized organization) must complete the annual special inspection [application/pdf – 314.6 KB]. This document allows the boat’s user (owner or renter) to verify that the maintenance and monitoring of the safety equipment are carried out regularly. This document must be kept on board.
Which boat to rent?
Only you can answer that question. There is Several questions to ask yourself before renting a boat. However, it’s worth remembering a few rules. It’s easy to want to indulge yourself by renting your dream sailboat, the latest luxury catamaran, or the sailboat of the year. However, reason must prevail.
Always keep in mind that the sea is a dangerous environment. You must not overestimate your skills or your needs. The same applies to your crew. Is it reasonable to charter a Pogo 1040 if you want to sail in Brittany with your wife and two children, when you never sail before?
In all cases, you should look at the following elements during your initial contact with rental companies:
- Number of beds
- Number of cabins
- Size of chests
- Presence of an annex
- Condition of the boat
- Insurance if you rent from a private individual
- Engine power (useful if you are sailing in areas with strong currents and for maneuvering in port)
- Mooring space included (in case of bad weather)
- family-friendly boat
So of course, you can, and should, enjoy yourself. But always keep in mind that the goal is sailing and exploration. The boat is the means.
How to prepare for your boat rental and what items to bring?
Going to sea is not like going for a walk. Sailing requires preparation. Before renting a boat, you must prepare your cruise. By preparing for your cruise, you should understand:
- Prepare your navigation, the weather, your route.
- Prepare your program.
- Prepare your crew, inform them of the program, the weather conditions,…
- Prepare your stopovers, your anchorages and of course your visits.
- Find out about the crew’s skill level and knowledge.
At the same time, to go to sea, you need to be well-equipped and bring everything you need for a comfortable and safe cruise. Of course, the boat will be equipped for navigation, so there’s no particular problem there. However, you will need to bring some personal belongings with you.
- Sea clothing (fleece jacket, oilskin, shoes, etc.)
- Protective gear (cap, goggles, gloves, etc.)
- A knife
- Binoculars
- A shackle opener
- A headlamp
- A small waterproof backpack
- Books