Keep Yourself Safe And Legal
While homeowners occasionally run afoul of city and county codes, boat owners can easily run afoul of Coast Guard regulations. When renting out your boat, its important to understand the difference between bareboat rentals and chartering as regulated by the Coast Guard.
A clear line must be drawn between the types of service you can offer with your boat. What you cannot do without a master mariner on board and Coast Guard documentation is offer cruises on your boat. You cannot, for example, take your customers on a trip around the bay. That would be a charter, and you would need the appropriate captains license, and your vessel would need to meet the requirements of a passenger vessel, be it inspected or uninspected.
Bareboat rentals are the most popular on P2P websites. You are just providing a rental vessel. The owner should not be aboard, and the customer is the skipper.
Larger and more complex boats are often packaged with the captain. For renters, its essential to know that your captain and vessel are licensed by the Coast Guard.
Where Can I Rent A Houseboat In Copenhagen
You can rent this Copenhagen houseboat on Airbnb. Staying in an Airbnb rental offers travelers a unique alternative to the traditional hotel. From yurts to treehouses, there’s a ton of variety for the more adventurous traveler. Airbnb also has an impressive selection of sailboats and houseboats that any water lover would enjoy.
Get My Boat: Airbnb Of Boats
TRI-CITIES, WA You can rent a house, a car, a pool, a storage place and now a boat.
Get My Boat is a national company that helps connect people who want to rent boats with boat owners, captains, and professional charter companies so they can get out on the water.
In the Tri-Cities, there are currently four listings for boat rentals, including pontoons and jet skis. In Kennewick, they range from $200 an hour to $800 a day.
You can filter it out by dates, group size, or budget. Each situation is different which is why on the booking page, you can communicate directly with the boat owner to figure out those details.
Val Streif with Get My Boat said it is free to sign up and the process is fairly quick and easy. And if issues do come up, there is a 24/7 customer service team ready to help. Val also wants to stress safety with renting a boat.
You know licensing rules vary by state and location. we just require that everyone check the rules based on where you are boating so that they make sure that they are following the law, she said.
If you are unfamiliar with boating, Val recommends having a captain on board.
You can find more information on their website at getmyboat.com.
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Do Some Business Planning
Pretend to be a customer and browse the web for boat rentals near you. Figure out what you would have to pay, and what sorts of boats are available. If youre the only game in town, you will have more leeway than if there is a lot of competition.
Furthermore, look at how your boat stacks up. Are there are other similar vessels already available to renters? How much do they rent them for, and how booked up are they?
Another critical part of setting up your rental business will be figuring out what costs you are going to incur. Chances are, you will have to do some things to get ready for customers, and those things are going to cost you money. If the engine is running more often, it will need maintenance like oil changes more frequently. You may also need to upgrade your insurance policy. You might need to invest in a regular detailing service.
The most important reason to do all of this is to set your own expectations. While its impossible to get a real idea for how much demand there will be, knowing your businesss potential will make it easier to manage in the long run.
What You Need To Know Before You Rent A Boat Airbnb
Whats the most unusual accommodation youve ever stayed in? For some, hostels are weird enough themselves but for me, its usually the quirky AirBnBs that make my list and after my stay in Cartagena last autumn, I have to say that living on a boat now tops my list!
Choosing a boat for your accommodations can be a lot of fun, but it certainly comes along with its unique set of consideration. If youve never done so before, you probably also have no idea what it will really entail. Staying the night on a boat was not exactly what I had expected so here are some serious pros, cons, and points of intrigue Id like to lay out for you if youre considering the same arrangements:
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Boaters Were The First Airbnbers
The best innovation ever for boaters and waterfront homeowners is here the ability to search for privately-owned dockage worldwide using an online system similar to Airbnb for finding a slip for your boat. Its called PierShare, and can you even imagine the benefits and the advantage this provides for boaters. In fact, its even better than the benefits of home sharing.
For boat owners, sometimes finding dockage is not nearly as easy as travelers on land finding a hotel. Airbnb and other similar homesharing companies put people in touch with places to stay temporarily.
Beneficial to boaters hesitant to anchor out dock-to-dock jumps will open new cruising grounds to them. Also, for seasoned cruisers traversing busy areas, the ability to find temporary dockage will open areas previously precluded will allow them to plan voyages more easily.
The pros and cons are many, and in some cases, wildly different from the pros and cons for boaters. If you already understand the benefits and drawbacks, jump toward the end for a comparison of the five main listing options for renting private docks.
How To Book An Airbnb If Youre Under 25 Years Old
So what does this mean if youre under the age of 25 and live in a country where Airbnbs newest policy is enforced ?
You can still book any non-local Airbnb listing, as before. But for local listings, you can only book a private room or hotel room, not an entire home – unless you have at least 3 positive reviews and 0 negative reviews.
*Vrbo.com is the next best option. Its the best alternative to Airbnb for apartment and house rentals.
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Offer A Welcome Present
This is something that is totally dependent on your personal preference. However, if you choose to offer a welcoming present to your guests, it will result in a nice and long-lasting first impression.
Sometimes, the guest comes from a faraway place, and they are already tired of jet lag from the journey. This is why offering them a nice welcome present can help them see that they are going to have a nice experience at your houseboat. Moreover, who doesnt like getting gifts? They will also leave a 5-star review once they get back.
You can choose this gift, depending upon your customers. If it is a newlywed couple, you can offer them some scented candles along with a nice bottle of wine. This will not chip away at your profits and make a good impression. On the other hand, if it is a middle-aged couple with a family, offer them a gift basket with chocolates and candies for the kids.
The Laws Inspected Vs Uninspected Vessels
Uninspected vessels can carry up to six passengers. Inspected vessels will have a certificate indicating how many passengers they are authorized to carry.
A larger vessel which carries more than six passengers must be inspected, and the master must hold the appropriate license. The inspection will be posted where you can read it.
While the master may hold a larger license, allowing him or her to operate a larger vessel that is capable of carrying more passengers, it does not allow them to stuff a boat with more passengers than the vessel is intended.
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Safety Was An Early Stage Issue
Its an obvious win for boat owners who are looking for ways to minimise the cost of owning a boat by renting it out for a few days and modern technology means that the boat can find nearby customers without being registered to a specific boating agency as in the past.
Safety issues are paramountBoatbound came unstuck after a customer lost a leg in an accident because the startup didnt require that people hire captains with the boats, something which its competitors doand renters are able to take out insurance on a daily basis via accompanying apps.
Airbnb For Boats: Water
Its been a decade since the launch of Airbnb and Uber, now considered a part of life for many people booking trips and journeys. In that time, several boat sharing apps have been working hard to disrupt how people rent boats or book activities on the water, many of them hoping to make steady inroads into the same space.
Boat rentals are on the up across the world
Sergi Gulenok /Unsplash
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Boat Instructions And Preparations
Try to imagine all of your customers needs and meet them in advance. In addition to making sure the boat is reliable and safe, make sure it is well equipped. Have all required safety equipment onboard and make sure it is in good shape. Nothing is more disheartening than seeing sun-bleached and ratty-looking lifevests!
There are also many small touches you can do to make their rental experience outstanding. Provide charts with notes and routes that they might find helpful. Make sure your chartplotter has local waypoints marked, like sandbars for partying and reefs for snorkeling. Likewise, include a handbook with menus from restaurants and instructions on how to get to all the local hang out spots. Cover as much as you can when you check your customers out on the boat.
Its also not a bad idea to stock a cooler with bottled water, sodas, and light snacks. Have some dry towels on board, and maybe some sunblock and bug spray. You dont have to go overboard but show that youve considered their comfort and want them to enjoy the day. Think about what you use on the boat and what you often forget to bring.
Lastly, keep the boat as clean as possible. While they arent expecting a showroom new boat, it will pay off to have the stainless sparkle and the decks clean.
The Brilliance Of Sharing Piers
Heres where we get to the greatness starting in the 1960s, dockage in South Florida began to become dear as boat production increased rapidly with the addition of fiberglass construction.
Boaters probably were the first Airbnbers as captains for decades have been knocking on doors inquiring about empty docks in areas where they would like to tie up. Thats definitely not been the case with land travelers!
Its very unlikely for someone to knock on a door and ask if someone has a spare bedroom for the night. Since the number of boats in production rose in the mid to late 1900s, docks have been in high demand and boaters often do knock on doors and ask about slippage
Boaters already are more accustomed to this practice of sharing a property with the owner, so, the initial reluctance that travelers had for staying in the home of a stranger will not be an early hurdle to growth of sharing docks. Dock owners also are more used to the idea of someone borrowing their dock temporarily.
Added that were talking about a place to tie up not a more personal bed and bathroom its less personal, and no house cleaning necessary!
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Take Out Your Houseboat By Yourself
Take your own houseboat for a test drive. Would you ever serve a meal to guests without tasting it first? No. In the same way, you have to live a few days in your houseboat first to see how it feels, what it lacks, and what can be done to improve it.
Moreover, this shouldnt be a one-time experience. Take out your own houseboat for a spin every few months. Check all the amenities, and spend a few nights in the boat to see how your guests and renters would feel like. Enhance the experience by living it yourself.
So, pack up your things as you would for any vacation, and camp out in your houseboat. See if there are any amenities that are missing from experience. See if the houseboat smells due to the water around it. Also, make sure the beds are comfortable enough for a good nights sleep.
We Dont Go Anywhere Without:
- Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code DeepWH for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable not just recycled and recyclable.
- Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves. With code DeepWH you save 20% on the TC2 course
- MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code DeepWH15 will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
- North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code MAY25 for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
- Cycle Booty Citrus Cleanser and Post Ride Cream.
- Airbnb, Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.
- Airbnb says, Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
- Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
- Travelex is our trip insurer click for a free quote.
- Girls That Scuba members discount card for all things diving.
- REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
- Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: KimWa1
- PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
- BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: HEWAF88
- RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
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Am I Subject To Any Other Laws Or Regulations If I Offer Travel
Maybe. Many jurisdictions around the world impose requirements on sellers of travel-related services, regardless of whether the individual needs to register or obtain a license.
If you are unsure about anything relating to your experience, we encourage you to check with your local tourism authority directly, or speak to a lawyer, to discuss your experience and confirm your experience complies with local laws including safety, tax, and insurance requirements.
* Please note that Airbnb has no control over the conduct of hosts and disclaims all liability. Failure of hosts to satisfy their responsibilities may result in suspension of activity or removal from the Airbnb website.
Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites .
And If You’re The Renter
The last thing you want is an unreliable boat. For boats with current reviews, you’ll have to rely on previous renters’ experiences. People who’ve had problems with a boat are not usually shy about saying so. If there are no reviews, and you’re not comfortable with the pictures and description, ask to see the boat before you make a deal.
Ask what the policy is if the boat breaks down and you can’t use it. In most cases, P2P companies will work with the owner and renter for a full or partial refund, or find another boat to rent. Boatbound, Boatsetter, and other P2P companies have agreements with BoatUS to provide towing resulting from on-the-water breakdowns at no charge to the renter.
Look for a boat you’re comfortable with and that fits your needs, and be aware that you’ll be paying fuel costs as well as the rental fee. Ask about any other fees or charges before you climb aboard.
Make sure you get a pre-rental checklist so you can note any prior damage. Walk through the boat, inside and out, looking for preexisting damage. It’s a good idea to take your own date- and time-stamped photos of the boat, inside and out. Look at the P2P’s liability coverage in the event you injure someone in an accident. Make sure it’s at least as high as what you have through your own boat or auto policies.
You’ll need a credit card for the daily fee as well as an advance deposit. Most P2P companies return your deposit automatically after the boat owner inspects the boat and gives the OK.
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Why Age Restrictions Were Introduced
Unauthorized, open-invite Airbnb parties occurred for years.
While the parties sometimes upset neighbors and damaged property, they were a tiny percentage of Airbnbs total bookings . Still, Airbnb sought to lower that percentage.
The final straw may have been the Halloween party shooting of late 2019, a single-night rental that resulted in five deaths, and took place despite a no-party agreement between the guest and host. Within a year, Airbnb introduced this policy to limit unauthorized parties .
This new policy restricts guests under the age of 25 from booking an entire home if they live locally and dont have at least 3 positive reviews with 0 negative reviews. It was introduced in Canada, followed by the US, UK, France and Spain. Criticism of the policy has come from users under 25, hosts who want to rent to younger guests, and people claiming that the policy is unfairly age discriminatory.
