Boat rental: 5 practical tips before getting started

Type of boat, equipment on board, safety equipment, insurance… If boat rental is particularly practical when you want to set sail, explore wild coves or get away from the tourist hustle and bustle, it is still better know a few tips before getting started.

Book a boat at the best price

These days, rental boats are now more readily available and affordable. Just like booking a flight, a hotel room or even an event, many platforms like Set Sail now allow you to find what you want on a large number of different ships, and this is true around the world. These platforms also offer you the possibility of filtering the search according to your preferences: number of people, beds or cabins, skipper or not, price, years of construction, radius to cover… all you have to do is choose the product which best suits your needs.

Pay attention to the type of boat rental

While most rental companies offer a variety of boats: sailboats, catamarans, motorboats, semi-rigid boats… it is important to study your needs carefully before making early reservations so that you can choose the boat that suits you the best. To help you with this process, first ask yourself the following questions:

• How many will you be on the boat?
• Do you have a license?
• What is your budget ?
• Which route will you take?
• What activities do you want to practice (navigation, fishing, idling, towing buoys, water skiing)?
• Where do you want to sail (sea, river, lake)?
• What level of comfort do you need?
• How long do you plan to rent?

These questions will help you choose the ideal boat rental for your next trip.

Equipment on board

Before boarding, your vessel must be equipped with mandatory safety equipment: life jackets, lighting equipment, marsh calendar, emergency telephone number, navigation map, first aid kit, etc. This equipment may vary depending on the activity you wish to perform. In any case, before boarding, make sure you don’t miss anything and don’t take any risks.

Rent lease

At the start of each rental, do not rush, please read your rental contract carefully to avoid mistakes. Here is the list of the different points of the contract to which you must pay attention:

• Cancellation policy: Remember to check this part of the contract to make sure you can cancel the rental without having to go to the checkout.
• Additional costs: cleaning costs, fuel, late return… If you don’t want to see unnecessary costs added to the final bill, you can’t take it lightly.
• Deposit: Remember that in most cases you will need to pay a higher deposit before departure. This is a way for rental companies to protect themselves from potential damages when renting.

Insurance

Loss, theft, civil liability, collision… Don’t let problems spoil your trip to the sea, so we can offer you various insurances when you rent a boat. Remember to read the contract, as sometimes the rental company may have insurance already in place, then check the coverage provided to sail with confidence.