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How to Get Your Captain’s License –A Step-by-Step Guide

From captain requirements to the coast guard application process – how to navigate the process of becoming an official boat captain.

Like all other areas of professional endeavor, getting a Captain’s license is an essential and non-trivial process. Despite the years between my earliest thoughts on having one and actually applying…or perhaps because of that time…I am quite proud to call myself Captain !

From the time I was Quartermaster aboard the Chesapeake Lightship back when she was berthed in Washington, DC, I had wanted to get my Captain’s license. We in her crew had plenty of sea time. The late Capt. Joe Murray, John Hart, and particularly Chris Krusa saw to it that each of us developed our skills and knowledge beyond the minimum that we needed for our jobs.  We met collectively with a Coast Guard officer to explore the options for us all getting licensed; however, the wind was taken out of our sails so to speak when he told us that since most of us were not 18, we were not entitled to take the written exam.

I left that session crestfallen but I put it all behind me as I moved on with a career in research physics. Later, I learned that what the officer SHOULD have said is that if we had just waited (a few months) until we turned 18, we could have taken the exams. Years later, my problem was that I could not meet the requirement to have 90 days of sea time in the last 3 years. My employer would have more than frowned on my having been gone so often. And all of us had not even bothered to ask for sea service forms or letters to document our time on the Chesapeake.

Fast forward 34 years and serendipitous events led to my being able to get signed sea service forms for my time on the Lightship. Shortly thereafter, I became a boat owner WITH vacation time afforded to a very senior engineer in the company.

Long story short, I am Capt. Rob Chichester –  200 Ton Master with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing Endorsements.

Navigating the path to a Captain’s license can be full of the brambles of regulations, forms, and oddly worded requirements. In this article, I will try to clarify the process and help interested skippers decide what type of license, scope, and tonnage they should pursue. Then I will discuss the application process and all the elements needed to assemble a successful license application package.

More Resources: If you would like a one-on-one consultation to have your specific questions answered on this topic or others related to boating, please sign up for 30 minute video consultation with me!

The Basics of a Captain’s License

A first time applicant will need to decide while type of license to pursue. There are two types available to one applying for a new license.

• You may apply for a license to be an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or the more familiar “Six Pack” license. It is so called because the holder of this license is limited to carrying no more than 6 paying passengers on any vessel within his tonnage rating regardless of the maximum capacity rating for the vessel.
• The other option is a Master’s license which allows you to carry up to the maximum number of passengers indicated for the vessel in question. Whereas a Master’s license requires US Citizenship, an OUPV license holder can be non-US citizen. Clearly holding a Master’s license offers more opportunities; however as I will explain later, the knowledge requirements are appropriately greater.

The scope or route for one’s license is the waters in which you are authorized to function in your licensed capacity.

There are effectively three such areas defined:

• The first is Inland which covers all inland rivers and bays not otherwise outside the demarcation line for the high seas. This may also include portions of the Great Lakes up to the International boundary line. (I will not explicitly discuss the Great Lakes or Western Rivers in this article but those waters are also covered by an Inland scope with a specific endorsement for each.)
• The second route is near-coastal which means ocean waters not more than 200 miles offshore. By extension, a near-coastal route endorsement includes inland waters as well.
• Lastly,  Oceans refers to all waters seaward of the Boundary Lines as described in 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 7.

Tonnage rating is determined by the size vessels upon which an applicant has served. The tonnage is not simply the weight or displacement of a given vessel. It is not how much stuff you had loaded on a boat. It is a calculation of theoretical displacement if the complete available interior volume of a ship were filled with material of density 1 (i.e., water).

There are formulas available to estimate that based on the dimensions and type of boat. The calculations are necessarily different for a sailboat and a power boat. On a very rough order of magnitude, a 100 Ton powerboat would be about 80 feet long and a 100 Ton sailboat would be about 100 feet long. The tonnage rating is a not to exceed limitation.

One need not necessarily serve on a 50 ton or 100 ton vessel to earn the equivalent tonnage rating (see the table below for specifics on that). One cannot be granted more than a 100 Ton rating on an initial license because higher tonnage requires that one has served in a licensed capacity before applying for the higher tonnage. When I renewed my license in November, I applied for a 200 Ton rating which was granted conditional to my successfully passing the mandated written test. By the time you read this, I expect to have taken that exam.

Tonnage and route are determined by one’s documented experience. While you may apply for a 100 ton rating, you may only be granted 50 tons (or less) if your experience does not justify the higher rating. Additionally, the greater the scope, the more sea time is required to qualify for the rating.

For example, while an Inland scope needs 360 days of total sea time with 90 days in the last 3 years, a near-coastal scope requires 720 days and again the 90-day recency requirement. The take-away here is that experience is a big determinant and should NOT be discounted in any way. Note that there is no path to being granted an Ocean scope except by being a licensed mate or master for at least 2 years with documented service on those waters. That is, it is impossible to apply for an Oceans scope on a first application.

It should be noted that an OUPV license is automatically issued with a 100 Ton rating. As coarse as this may sound, the reason is that it is assumed that with an OUPV license, the most damage one can do is to 6 people. Therefore, there is no particular benefit to issuing OUPV with varying tonnage ratings. New Master’s licenses are issued with ratings of 25, 50, or 100 tons. Discussions of ratings over 100 tons or Ocean routes are beyond the scope of this article. You may contact the author if you wish more information on those specific topics.

The table below is a guide to determining for what rating one may qualify.

Your Sea Time Experience

For a Near Coastal route, ideally, all of your time will be on Near-Coastal waters; however, you are allowed to substitute up to half of the 720 days required minimum with Inland route service. For the purposes of documenting sea time for a Near Coastal route, any time served beyond the 3-mile limit counts for that purpose. So if you charter in the Caribbean or crew on an offshore fishing trip, that time counts.

Just to be clear, sea time is not counted unless you are a working member of the crew of the vessel named on the sea service form. That is to say, just being a passenger is not sufficient.

To keep things on the up and up, the applicant is required to get the signature of the owner, manager, or master of the vessel on the sea service form. If the applicant owns the identified vessel, proof of ownership must accompany the form. Proof might be a Bill of Sale, vessel document, or a state registration.

Sea time is not counted unless you spend at least 4 hours of a given day underway . Being onboard the boat at the dock swabbing the decks does not count. Time underway is counted whether it is in route or adrift. Being anchored or moored also does not count. It can be tedious to collect and collate all of your sea service forms, especially after the fact. My best advice is even if you are only thinking about getting a license, keep blank sea service forms with you for the vessel operator to sign at the end of a trip. Note that the forms are not per trip but per vessel. There is room to document up to 5 years of sea time on any given vessel. There is room for five years of data because your license will be up for renewal every 5 years .

Technically, vessels over 200 gross tons now require a Service Letter from the employer or vessel manager. However at the time I applied for my original license, I submitted my time on the Chesapeake Lightship on a Sea Service form (CG-719S). That form was accepted for that as well as again when I renewed and requested an upgrade to 200 Tons. I may have been grandfathered so new applicants should verify their individual situations with the National Maritime Center .

Health and Medical

To be a Captain, one must be in good health and of reasonable physical ability. The Medical form ( CG-719K ) is the most extensive form one will need to complete. It also requires the signature of a licensed physician. Unlike an FAA pilot’s license, the physician need not be approved by the US Coast Guard. Your family doctor is acceptable.

For my part, I completed as much of the form as was reasonable. I then FAXed the form ahead of my annual physical so that the doctor could review what was needed and to be prepared to sign off on it. The only extra thing the doctor had to do was conduct color vision and standard wall chart vision test. Your vision need not be perfect without glasses but if that is the case, you should expect a requirement to be written on your license requiring corrective lenses to be used and a spare pair to be available when on duty. If your medical form is accepted, you will be issued a separate medical form which is to be kept with your Merchant Mariner Credential. There is a pocket on the back cover to hold it and the required Transport Worker’s Identification Card ( TWIC ). The TWIC will be addressed below.

Another form to be completed, this time by an authorized physician, is the DOT five-panel drug test . An applicant must submit proof of drug testing with no findings as determined by an authorized physician. Also be aware that to work aboard any vessel in any compensated capacity, you must have proof of participation in a drug test program, whether it be one in which you elect to participate as an individual or one required by your marine employer. Such proof is to be carried with you at all times just as your license and medical certificate must be. It is generally in the form of a letter attesting to your compliance and passing a test within 12 months of the date of the letter.

Criminal and National Security Background

One has always been required to agree to a criminal background and driving record check . As you can well imagine, adverse findings in either of these areas will negatively affect one’s application.

With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a requirement was added that licensed mariners have a TWIC card . In fact, anyone working in the transportation sector (air, rail, marine, trucking, etc.) is required to have a TWIC card. You will be investigated for any evidence of threat potential to national security. This is because as a licensed Captain, you may have access to vital and strategic marine facilities.

The TWIC card is issued by DHS through a federal contractor. There is an application to complete and a fee to pay. Furthermore, you must appear in person so that your photo and fingerprints can be taken. This bio-metric data is stored on the TWIC card and protected by a pass code. You must submit a copy of your TWIC with your license application; therefore, one must start the TWIC process at least four to six weeks or more before submitting one’s license application.

Separately, a photograph of the applicant must accompany the application. This can be a driver’s license or passport photo . It should be a state or federal government issued document. Others may be accepted but the applicant should verify this with the NMC before submitting the application to avoid processing delays.

• Coastal Navigation
• Deck General Knowledge
• Rules of the Road

Deck General includes a wide variety of topics including fire and safety, terminology, and laws and procedures. Rules of the Road covers exactly what it says. Bear in mind that even if you are applying for an Inland or Near Coastal license, the Rules of the Road test will include elements of International Rules. So when you are studying, do not neglect to familiarize yourself with those details. There are some variations in vessel precedence, sound signals, and lights and shapes displayed by vessels.

If you are applying for a Master’s license, there are additional areas of test. The same is true if you are additionally requesting an endorsement for Sail, Auxiliary Sail, or Commercial Assistance Towing. The net effect is more questions overall.

You must score at least 70% in all areas except Rules of the Road for which you must have a minimum score of 90% to pass . Generally, that means you may miss no more than 3 questions to pass with a 90% grade. The Navigation questions will require you to work with a chart to plot position, routes, and so forth.

You may either pay an examination fee to take the exams administered by the Coast Guard or you may enroll in any number of approved Captains’ courses. You will receive a certificate of completion from the school to submit with your application in lieu of the Coast Guard exams; however, you will still take exams which include questions from the same list of questions that the Coast Guard uses. In the latter case, you will not need to pay an examination fee but obviously, you will have to pay a tuition for the course.

Completing your Application

The license application is not unlike many others. It is actually shorter than the medical form discussed earlier. There are two things to note on the application:

• Item 1 of Section IV describes how one may be asked to serve on behalf of the country in times of national emergency. An example of this was the massive sealift conducted in support of the first Gulf war in the 1980’s, Operation Desert Storm. This is a voluntary action. However it should be noted that during the call up for Desert Storm, more mariners were needed than responded. It is a possibility, particularly in these times, that another such national emergency could arise.
• Secondly, Item 5 of Section IV contains an oath to which an applicant must swear. If you present yourself in person you will be sworn in by Coast Guard personnel. If you choose to submit your application by mail or electronic means, you must provide proof that you appropriately took the oath as written. This generally means being sworn by a Notary or a local government official such as a county clerk.

Payment of all required application and examination fees is made online prior to submitting the application. You will receive a receipt which you should include with your application package. Pay close attention to the various fees and be sure you select all that apply but ONLY those that apply. An error either way will delay processing of your application.

Submitting your Application

When you apply for an original license and especially if you plan to take the Coast Guard exams , you will need to present yourself in person with your complete application package at a USCG Regional Examination Center (REC). Photo ID will be necessary as well.

One thing that happens if you appear in person is that you will raise your right hand and take the oath on the application. That was a very moving moment for me. Delivering your application package in person also allows you to interact with the personnel directly which could be very valuable if there are errors or omissions in your application package.

If you are not taking the Coast Guard exams and if you have been sworn by an authorized official, you may wish to submit your application by mail or electronically. Be aware that electronic submission has a limit on the size of the email attachment. My applications have always been larger than what is accepted by the Coast Guard mail servers.

Waiting for Your License

The Coast Guard has implemented a very good system of tracking your application and providing feedback at every step of the way. You will receive emails as the application moves through the system. It may take up to a week for the REC to review and forward your application to the National Maritime Center (NMC) in West Virginia. That was my experience with the New York City REC. It may be less in smaller, less congested venues.

By the way, you are not required to use the REC nearest to you. If you wanted to fly to Hawaii or Alaska instead of driving into Baltimore, you may do so. A good friend of mine drove from New Jersey to Boston to submit his application there because he heard the processing times were less than for New York.

Once the NMC has your package, the process usually will not take long at all. It is very likely you will receive 2 or 3 emails a day, often within minutes, as the application moves through the various approvals. Nothing beats the feeling you will have when you get the final email saying that you have been approved and your credential is being printed!

My original license took slightly more than two weeks from dropping off my application at Battery Park in New York to finding my MMC in my mailbox.

Once you get your license, look it over thoroughly. You may not necessarily have been granted the scope and rating you requested. Sometimes that reduction will be legitimate. Other times, it may be due to an honest mistake. Both my original and renewals had honest omissions. I was only granted a 50 ton rating on my original license when I had applied for 100 tons. I submitted the sea service form supporting the request for 100 tons after the fact and I received an endorsement sticker for the 100 ton rating a week later. Similarly with my renewal, I asked for an upgrade to 200 tons. My renewal was approved at 100 tons. When I contacted the NMC, they amended the approval and showed that I was then approved to take the required test for the 200 ton upgrade. So my message here is to not necessarily accept the delivered MMC as if it were carved in stone.

More Resources from Captain Rob

Being a licensed Captain is a great source of pride to me. I have enjoyed working with my clients as well as pursuing other commercial opportunities like relief captain jobs on various schooners, water taxi and tow boat jobs, and tour boat and ferry captain work. I look forward to many years of working on and enjoying the water.

If you would like a one-on-one consultation to have your specific questions answered on this topic or others related to boating, please sign up for 30 minute video consultation with me!

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Capt. Rob Chichester

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24 Comments

Hi, I am hoping you can help me out. I am a USCG vet that was stationed at a small boat station in NJ from 1983-1989. I am trying to get my sea time documented but I am having a very hard time finding out how to do that since the station records were not computerized at that time. I have contacted the NMC and they told me to call the station to get an Abstract of Operations report. They just laughed at me when I called the station. I have requested info from vetrecs.archives.gov but I am sure that will take some time just to get an answer as to wether they can do that or not. I was wondering if you knew how to go about getting the information that I need. I am sure I am not the only person with this issue and I can’t seem to find anyone that knows exactly how to go about documenting that time.

Thanks Jeff

Thanks for your question. I don’t have a lot of advice for you regarding USCG internal procedures. Perhaps you can contact the Office of Personnel and try to get a copy of your service record. Alternatively, is there anyone at that small boat station who knew you? Would the OIC be willing to write a letter? The last and least likely option would be to fill out your own sea service form and see if anyone there would sign off on it for you. Now the regulations speak of a Certificate of Discharge being acceptable. See for example 46 CFR 10.232 ( https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/46/10.232 ). If you already have that, you might be good to go!

So…start with your Certificate of Discharge and if you don’t have that, then contact the Office of Personnel to see if you can get the requisite documents. Let me know how you make out!

Hi Captain Rob, My name is Elton the 66 year old owner of a small 35 ft. Kingscraft houseboat. I spend a lot of time on one large lake. It is an older wonderful all aluminum vessel but weighs only about 8000 lbs. In the chart the lowest weight rating is 17 tons. I would love to educate myself and become a Captain. Is that possible at some level? I would also have to document my own time as pilot.

Sir, you have open to you both options that I describe in my article. You could pursue either a Master’s license OR an Operator of an Uninspected Vessels license. From what you have written, I see no inherent obstacles. You must be able to document your seatime, get a medical evaluation, and pass the 4 or the 3 parts of the written exam depending on which license you choose to pursue. In any event, you would qualify for an Inland license. Your tonnage rating would also depend on which license you pursue. Solely based on what you have said above, you would qualify for a 50 ton Master’s license. If you pursue an OUPV, that comes with a tonnage rating of 100 tons. For most people, the biggest challenge is acceptably documenting seatime. (It needs all be as captain. You can include time served as master, mate, or crew but NOT as a paying passenger.) If your concern is your age, I know a few captain’s in the 60s and 70s. I am one of the former myself. Good luck!

Capt.Rob I am US Army Veteran And I was wondering if their was a school i could attend to obtain a licence, I ask this because i have to decide what i want to go to school for and this job would be a top pick for me. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated thanks

There are MANY captain schools that can help you with the written tests but there are NO schools that can help you with the sea time requirements unless you are considering enrolling in a maritime college like Kings Point or Fort Schuyler in the New York State university system. I used Mariners Learning System for my written tests only because it was more convenient than going to the USCG REC to take the exams.

Where would I get sea service forms . I have owned and operated my own boats for over 30 years and am now being asked to get a captains liscence

There is a link in the article for the National Maritime Center. All the forms you needs can be found on their website. Alternatively, you can search for USCG National Maritime Center with your favorite search engine.

Couple questions. Would working as a divemaster on a dive boat in the Gulf of Mexico count for near coastal sea time? And if you were to have 8 hours of sea time in one day, could you potentially count that as two days at sea? Or would it still be just one day? Thanks for all the info this has been a huge help!

Any time spent aboard a vessel underway counts as long as the owner, manager, or master of the vessel will attest to that. When submitting Sea Service forms, your option for your role aboard the vessel are things like crew, mate, master, engineer, etc. You will need to determine what your position was. Divemaster is not recognized and does not speak to maritime skills necessarily. (For example, you can dive from shore never having been in a boat.) Regarding the near coastal time, you just need to verify that the vessel upon which you served was indeed in near-coastal or ocean waters. The form has spaces for days spent within the specified boundaries and outside those boundaries. I once saw an interactive chart online for finding the boundary lines in a given area. For your purposes, you cannot count 8 hours as two days underway. You need a MINIMUM of 4 hours underway to count that day. Being at anchor or otherwise moored or secured does not count. Good luck!

Capt. Lots of good and helpful info. I boated the Chesapeake for 10+yrs, from the Delaware bay to Virginia in a 27′ cruiser. i’ve not been on the water since 2012. So to be clear, I need to acquire some time on a charter vessel to even attempt the basic “6-pack”. I have my CG boating skills and seamanship certificates,and will work on the CG719S. Living in Florida, lots of opportunity, should have done this sooner !! Thanks

Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you found the article helpful. Apart from documenting your sea time, I found the most labor intensive aspect was verifying that a) I had all the documents that I needed and b) I had correctly completely all of the USCG forms. A lesser challenge may be in determining what correct application fees are. If you are not sure, contact USCG NMC by phone, email, or online chat to get clarification on what fees you have to pay. Good luck!

This is great info..

I am starting out (hopefully) as a plan is due to new lifestyle i desire to get an two oceans open ocean 800 expedition catamaran (again very expensive so fingers crossed) but the plan is while the vessel is being built, i can take several classes and get a few certifications prior to launch, then as life you see everywhere on youtube for example have the vessel at dock, then day trips, then a week trip and just push it a little further until you are ready for the maiden voyage, really looking to live off anchorage in around the philippines / guam area mostly philippines or south pacific area, mostly friends and family but my question is any licence for that type of boat, and also if you have heard of any schools in the philippines? I know they have a few courses that are completely certified like any american school but a fraction of the cost, just curious if any particular licence i need to get or have?

You did not say whether you intended to take passengers for hire. Generally, one only needs to be licensed if you are getting paid to carry passengers OR if you working in more advanced maritime fields like tug boats and large cargo vessels. If you are only operating your private vessel for your own personal or recreational purposes, you usually do not need any kind of license other than possibly taking a multiple choice test on local safety rules and rules of the road. I am not familiar with the licensing requirements in foreign venues like the Philippines. Each nation has its own requirements. I was able to find information at this link: http://www.marina.gov.ph/policies/MCs/mc170.pdf . You may find some useful information in that document.

Good luck! And safe sailing…

Your information was helpful, thank you. I have decided to pursue getting my License but I am starting from scratch. Should I take classes before looking to get sea time? And how does one go about getting sea time with no experience?

Any course work you take will typically culminate in a certificate of completion. However that certificate will only be valid for 1 year. Therefore, do NOT take any exams more than about 6 months prior to submitting your original license application. As for sea time, you can look for marine work that does not require a license like deck crew on water taxis or excursion boats. Time spent on a friend’s boat counts. Have that friend complete and sign a sea service form. Sea time never expires and can be counted from the age of 15. Learn your rules of the road and learn to feel your vessel. Driving a boat is a lot different from driving a car. As a licensed captain, you are expected to step up to the helm and handle the ship with relatively little training time. Good luck!

Great article, thanks for writing it! Does time spent aboard a recreational boat that I own, when I am the only person aboard, count towards sea time? If so how do I document that – there’s no one to sign for the time. Thanks again.

Time spent on your own boat absolutely counts. You would sign the CG-719S Sea Service form yourself where it says Applicant AND where it says Person Attesting to Experience. However, you will have to provide proof of ownership for the vessel. The Bill of Sale is usually what is used but the vessel’s CG document or state registration card should also be sufficient. Remember that seatime is counted only from the age of 15 and it is underway time of at least 4 hours per day. Time on the anchor or alongside do NOT count. The presence of others is irrelevant.

Hi Shane. Sea time is defined as time working aboard in any capacity relevant to the rating you are pursuing. For instance, if you are a bos’n or deck crew, that time it unlikely to count towards a engineer’s license and conversely, time in the engine department or work on mechanical systems would be difficult to apply towards a deck officer’s license. The highest rating one can get on an original (i.e., first) license is 100 Ton Master. It is likely that your Navy time would count; however, your challenge is getting an appropriate service letter from the Navy. You cannot submit a CG-719S for your Navy service as that form is for SMALL VESSEL service. Consult the USCG site at http://www.uscg.mil/nmc for more information. Also note that you may use any valid sea time accrued from the age of 15. Good luck!

Hi Capt. Rob, I have one question rather just some clarification regarding the time at sea, for the tonnage rating. Does “time at sea” mean just that or does it mean operating the vessel. I was in the Navy for several years as an operations specialist and I am not sure what level I would qualify for if I were to pursue getting a Captains license. Also I was wondering how much the entire process would cost.

Hey Rob, Thanks so much for taking the time to write this, it was really very useful to read. This has been on my mind for some considerable time, but I am now finally starting on the road to getting my licence and taking a nautical shift in my career. I have been a sailor all my life, was sailing single handed as soon as I could walk and now own a 38 foot Irwin racer/crusier.

My one big question is online study vs going somewhere to do the required course? I wonder how you gained your licence and what you might recommend?

My issue was primarily NOT wanting to have to take the tests at the NYC REC and to NOT attend intense 8-10 hour weekend classes. I was comfortable with the Rules of the Road and chart navigation issues as well the Deck General material. Since I got a Master’s license (versus the OUPV), there was more legal stuff to know in the category they call Ship’s Business. I did an online course through Mariner’s School in Princeton, NJ. The price was good and the location was convenient for when I did go to take the test.

The bottom line is do what works best for you given what you need to learn or refresh, how much time you have to do it, and where you will need to go to take the final tests.

(Please note that you can submit your application and/or take your tests at ANY REC anywhere. It is not a function of where you live or where you will sail.)

Great article Rob. Thanks for sharing your experience

Thank you for the feedback. Do please let me know if you have any further questions or if I may be of service in some other regard!

Comments are closed.

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Stay away. We got stranded in a wavy area with a broken boat! The "owner" gave us a broken boat and blamed seaweed. Owner in caps because he was offering us every boat on the marina and the registration which he only showed a picture of and did not provide was in another name. There was absolutely no safety training and only one life jacket on the boat and we were two. We did not realize this until after we left and there was no safety initiation. Also there was a broken sound warning system and the floating mat fell off as it was not attached properly. Was very dangerous for us to be stranded in wavy waters and there was no documentation given and we only had problems with this transaction. GETMYBOAT is a complete joke of a company and would not help us at all in this case. Their website took our money and does not have direct phone support. They are completely unable and not willing to help you when you need them. They would not help at all and their customer relations is a joke! Stay away.

Hi Erich2020! Our records indicate that you were provided with a refund for this trip and you have booked several others since then. It would be great if you could revise your review to reflect the more recent, fantastic experiences you have had with GetMyBoat. We are pleased to see that you have continued to be a part of our community with much success on other trips. Thank you for your feedback and for helping to make GetMyBoat better. As always if there is anything that we can to assist you please do not hesitate to contact our support team at [email protected]

Scam on site - no help from customer service

Was caught by scammer on site lying about availability. While customer service was kind on the phone, was told someone would call me back to resolve my issue in 24 hours. That was a week ago - have received no callback. Beware of scams on the site, customer service won’t help you. Backstory: I was looking for a boat to celebrate my fathers 60th birthday on Saturday. Boat owner responded to one of my requests by changing the the date to Friday. I booked the boat Thursday night without realizing the change had been made (the thought didn’t cross my mind that someone would change the date like that). We were “no shows”. Boat owner made no attempt to call me, he was just messaging on the website and I obviously was not frequently checking my email. I called boat owner after the fact on Friday to see what could be done and he said there was no availability for Saturday. My sister and I keep searching on the website for another boat as we still wanted to celebrate my fathers birthday on Saturday. Boat owner responded to one of my sister’s many inquiries and offered her the ability to book the same time slot I had requested on Saturday. We obviously didn’t go with him, went with another boat owner. Seems like the date swapping is a common ploy of this boat owner to defraud people and GetMyBoat isn’t doing anything to stop it.

I'm so sorry to hear about this experience. Please get in touch with us to investigate this further: [email protected]

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A Beginner’s Guide to Chartering a Yacht

With the pandemic driving a boom in superyacht charters , more and more people are taking to the water for their first yachting experience. But while some superyachts can cost more than a million a week to charter, you don’t need to outlay seven figures for your own yachting vacation.

Wondering what else you need to know before stepping on board for the very first time? We’ve turned to experts in the yachting industry for their insider intel on how to charter a yacht like a pro—from how much it will run you, to where to go, and well beyond. Read on.

Do I need a charter broker, and how do I find one?

It’s a charter broker’s job to match you with the right yacht and crew—and then take the lead in planning the entire experience. Professional bodies such as MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association act as a database of industry-recognized professionals. But the best source for finding a charter broker is often your own network. “Building up a relationship with a charter broker is very important,” says Jacqui Lockhart, a Monaco-based broker at Camper & Nicholsons International . “If possible, look for a recommendation from a friend.”

Once you’ve found the right broker, communication with them will be key. “Take the time to be as detailed with your preferences, such as dietary requirements, likes and dislikes, and preferred activities, as possible,” says London-based broker Charles Crane of Edmiston . “This will give us and the crew the best information to make the charter a success and tailored to perfection.”

How much should I be prepared to spend?

“The entry point is around $40,000 for a week on a yacht 82-feet upwards that can sleep six people," says Lockhart. What can take first time charterers by surprise is that this isn’t an all-inclusive figure. “The charter fee covers the hire, the crew, the insurance—everything that’s linked to the yacht,” Lockhart continues. Anything specifically for the client is extra—including food and beverages, fuel, and dockage. As a rule of thumb, budget for an extra 30 percent on top of the baseline charter figure for these extras, which goes into a fund known as the Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA). At the end of the charter, it is also customary to tip the crew; between 10 and 20 percent of the charter fee is a guideline figure. There may also be Value Added Tax (VAT) to pay on the charter rate, depending on the country of embarkation.

At the smaller end of the charter fleet, more opportunity exists for single-cabin bookings rather than whole yacht charters. This year in the Caribbean , Sheila Ruffin of Soca Yacht Charters has launched a “Stranger on the Seas” package. Prices start at around $6,000 per person—all-inclusive—on catamarans between 48 and 60 feet. “This allows couples the opportunity to mix and mingle with other couples for an adventurous and social yacht charter on the Caribbean Sea,” says Ruffin.

What destinations are best suited to first-time charterers?

“For first-timers, I wouldn’t recommend a remote destination,” says Captain Kelly Gordon of Freddy , a 106-foot charter yacht based out of the Bahamas . “When it’s hard to get to, that eats up some of your valuable time and can also take some of the fun out of it.”

While yachts are heading towards unchartered waters such as Antarctica with increasing frequency, cruising grounds in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean are classic destinations for a reason. “For the first-time charterer in these locations, there will be more yacht options to choose from, proven cruising grounds with known and safe anchorages, well-connected and easy access hubs to ensure smooth passage to embark and disembark the vessel as well as the ability to source most provisions that guests may want,” says Crane.

The key ingredient? The crew.

Although much of the focus is on securing the right yacht, the secret to the success of a charter is its crew. “Put simply, the crew make the difference between a good charter yacht and a bad one,” says Crane. Today’s crew are increasingly versatile. “They may also be a diving or yoga instructor, personal trainer, fisherman, or sommelier,” he continues.

The crew also knows your cruising area better than anyone else. “Be sure to pick their brain on fun things to do. They often love the opportunity to come up with fun activities and games, whether for kids or adults,” says Lotte Barker-Hahlo, a London-based charter broker at Burgess .

The level of hospitality from crew on most yachts often convert first-time charters into repeat customers. “The attention to detail from the crew is unsurpassed by any other luxury holiday,” says Barker-Hahlo. “From the unpacking of your suitcase to being offered a drink before you’ve even realized you’re thirsty, it’s 24-hour care and service.”

Gordon says that much of the feedback she receives at the end of a first-time charter is why didn’t we do this earlier? “People are always surprised at how we take the time to get to know their needs before they have even arrived. We really do study those preference sheets!”

Think carefully about who else you want on board

Another important factor to a successful yacht vacation? Your fellow travelers. This is a specific type of vacation, which should narrow your list of invitees. “Strongly consider who you vacation with when chartering a yacht,” urges Ruffin. “Unlike other vacation options, yachts are very intimate and exclusive. Choose to share your water adventure with those you like and will enjoy on the water for a week or more.” Maybe, even for veteran yachties, that's the sagest advice of all.

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Owner's advice: Top tips for buying your first yacht

Buying your first yacht isn’t something anyone should enter into lightly. Without knowledge or experience, it is easy to find yourself led astray by the  inspiring yacht concepts  of boundary-pushing designers or talked into building a  super-fast yacht  with technical capabilities you’ll never use.

With this in mind, BOAT spoke to a number of experienced serial yacht owners who know a thing or two about the buying and building process. Here are their top tips on what to look out for, what to avoid and how to make sure you get the yacht you really want.

Consider all of your options

When Steve Sidwell , owner of 34 metre Ascente , began looking for his perfect yacht he had his dream vessel in mind - but couldn't find her anywhere. “I went to the Monaco Yacht Show and I came to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show maybe three years in a row. I looked at all the different boats and none of them fit,” he says. “It’s a million-dollar-a-year operating budget. I don’t want to spend that. It means one or two engineers on board as well and I don’t want that. A big crew, I don’t want that. I want my kids and me to be able to operate the boat."

Having done the rounds of all the turnkey yachts on the market it was time to consider a different route to life on the waves. “I wasn’t intent on doing a refit , but I never really found anything that was a good fit for me in my price range, and then I found this boat and within 20 minutes I thought, ‘That’s it.’” A lot of, admittedly, hard work and determination later, Sidwell now has the family-friendly yacht he'd always wanted and the memories of round-the-world adventures to go with it.

Aesthetics aren't everything

When a fire on their yacht Camarina Royale put Jack and Mary McClurg in the market for a new superyacht there were some big aesthetic obstacles Mary had to get past when Jack suggested Marcato (now Friendly Confines) . “We’d been running around looking at boats all day and our broker said we could get on Marcato that afternoon, but Mary refused to go,” Jack explains. And, while he immediately fell in love, Mary couldn't stand her but, as she explains, “I knew he loved it. If the price was right, then so be it. I couldn’t be the reason he didn’t have it.”

Don't be afraid of impulse buys

When Elizabeth and Rory Brooks came to make their first yacht purchase, it was an impulse buy that led them to classic Feadship Heavenly Daze . “We were in the South of France chartering a motor yacht, and it broke down,” says Elizabeth. “And so we were stuck in the marina at Port Cogolin. There was this boat moored next to us, which was a very pretty classic yacht, and my husband persuaded the captain to talk to their captain and we had a look around.” That yacht, of course, was Heavenly Daze and, as Elizabeth explains, "The first thing you fall in love with is very often the right thing.”

Buy the right yacht for the trip you plan to take

When Tara Getty bought the classic yacht Blue Bird it was with one thing in mind: an epic round-the-world adventure including a search for buried treasure on the remote Cocos Islands. And how better to get there than in a boat built by Sir Malcolm Campbell specifically for the journey - albeit 67 years earlier? "We did it – we finished the journey Campbell started,” Getty says. “The vision for the trip was my children. My eldest son finished school in South Africa in December 2014 and was starting in England the following September. So we had that December to September period. It was the most amazing opportunity to do something with the children.” Of course, Getty and his family did enjoy a few modern upgrades on board Blue Bird - including zero speed stabilisers for that often rocky Pacific crossing. “I wanted two of everything," Getty explains. "Watermakers, washing machines, dryers, so if something breaks we can continue. At one point our hydraulic pack broke but we had enough redundancies to carry on.”

Think about the purpose of your yacht before design begins

Serial sailing yacht owner Mike Slade faced the issue of creating regatta-ready charter yachts with every one of his new builds. His advice – know what you want before the design process has even begun. "The question is, how do you mix the chartering and the racing?,” he told Boat International of the build of Leopard 3 . “You are going to be heavy, so it's up to the designer to offset that heaviness and reduce the disadvantage - so upwind we'll pull out [distance on the opposition]."

Even if you have a distinct dream or vision for your yacht, chances are the designers and builders you employ may not quite understand it – as Patti Seery discovered when she set about building her traditional Indonesian phinisi Silolona . "I wanted to do a phinisi because I knew they could be better and safer if purpose-built for chartering; plus I love the element of history and the sheer joy of sailing on a wooden ship,” Seery explains. The only problem was finding a Western designer who could work the traditional Indonesian craftsmen – an issue which would take a lot of patience on Seery’s part.

"I went through four naval architects trying to find someone who understood my vision before meeting Michael Kasten . I [had also] befriended a group of traditional Konjo boat builders from the tiny village of Ara who build the majority of large wooden cargo boats in Indonesia. There was one small problem. They had never built a boat to plans before Silolona .” The answer, she says, was a hands-on approach, “I knew the only way I'd be successful was if I put the full-on Western approach aside. So I went out to the boat graveyard and saw the problems for myself."

Know your limits

When sailing yacht and charter business owner Barry Houghton ordered Salperton II – the biggest yacht ever built by Alloy Yachts at the time – for racing, he thought she was his dream vessel. The truth, however, was that she was just too much for him. “I sold her as she was too big for me,” he explains. “The flybridge was too far from the water and you don’t get the real feeling of sailing. I sold her well and decided to go for something in the 40 to 45 metre range.” The result was the 44 metre Dubois -designed Salperton III (now Mes Amis ), which was built at Fitzroy Yachts in New Zealand but she too proved to be a costly learning curve for Houghton. “Immediately before I took delivery, I ordered another as I could see things that I could improve,” he says. “Unfortunately I lost money but it was the right decision.”

Determination and passion are everything

When Sir Charles Dunstone chose to undertake the huge restoration project that was classic yacht Shemara , many of his fellow owners thought he was crazy. Shemara was in a state after languishing in a derelict dockyard for years but Dunstone's passion for the project kept him going.

“I see Shemara and I think how amazing it could be,” he explains. “My mind has a very bad habit of just disregarding everything that’s going to be awful and thinking, ‘Come on, we can do this, we’ll find a way, it’ll be OK.’ In a funny way, the bigger the project is, the more enthusiastic I am.”

“We rented the shed ourselves, we hired the naval architects and then tendered each job,” he says of his unique approach to the restoration. “You don’t know what you’re going to find with a project like Shemara - there’s no way anyone could give a quote for this boat. And once your boat is in pieces in their yard, you’re just going to be completely held to ransom.”

Charter first to find out what you like

When fashion designer Giorgio Armani set about building his first boat he was helped a great deal by previous yachting experiences. “Sometimes they’d belong to people I knew, sometimes they were just chartered. Invariably they were not my style – too white, too much lighting, too much marble, crystal and mahogany,” he explains.

Armani’s yacht, the 65 metre Codecasa Main , was far from your average gleaming white hull. “Painting Maìn green was a choice made to camouflage her at sea, so it doesn’t appear too flashy,” he says. “I designed Main entirely, taking inspiration from particular military vessels that looked very practical, and from the optimisation of space that is a characteristic of old ships. Notably, I set out to rid the decks of all superstructures that might break up the purity of line.”

Find a designer who understands your vision

Aside from the builder there is perhaps no other party that has quite such a large impact on your yacht than the designer. Whether you're building from scratch for the first time or the fifth, it's important you find a designer who understands your vision, lifestyle and what your hopes are for your new superyacht. Pier Luigi Loro Piana , a serial sailing yacht owner, explains this eloquently in his relationship with famed yacht designer Mario Pedol , “He is a boat designer who has an engineering company. He works with more specialist architects, like Bruce Farr, like Vrolijk. He is the number one in Italy in my opinion."

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Chartering Your Own Yacht - The Complete Guide

Thinking about whether you should charter your yacht here's everything you should know about it..

Buying a yacht for private use is a great investment - in your future adventures, in your new lifestyle, in your mental and physical well-being. You get to explore the unexplored, spend quality time with your friends and family, or party like a celebrity. It's an experience of a lifetime and a dream come true for many.

However, even though you try your best to maximize your time on board, there are still weeks or even months when the boat’s unused and the crew ‘underutilized’. When your boat is just sitting in the marina, it’s just costing you money. 

That’s why you should consider putting your yacht in a charter fleet. It can not only offset your expenses but even generate profit. Most importantly, it guarantees that your yacht is fully maintenanced and in top shape for when you decide to set sail on another vacation.

Chartering your own yacht is a great way to earn money off your investment. (Image source: Shutterstock)

The benefits of chartering your yacht

Chartering your yacht is a great strategy for making some money off your yacht when you’re not using it. But there are also a number of other advantages - here are the main ones:

Reduced operational costs & additional income

A busy charter yacht can cover a significant portion of your operating expenses such as dockage, maintenance, insurance, and other incidentals. Additionally, charter yacht ownership produces an income that you otherwise as a private owner wouldn’t have, providing a faster return on the investment.

Increased yacht reputation and value

A yacht that is marketed for charter has a better market profile. On top of that, If the yacht is active and has a proven success record of providing high quality experience to its clients, it will attract both charter guests and potential buyers in the future. In the long run, chartering is a sound strategy for increasing your boat’s value which would otherwise depreciate with time.​

The yacht stays in top-notch condition 

It may sound counterintuitive but yachts that are part of the charter fleet are usually more regularly and better maintained. Frequent cosmetic and mechanical maintenance that chartering requires can extend the life of your yacht and preserve its resale value.

More experienced boat crew

Charter yachts attract the best caliber of crew that will maintain their service at the highest industry standard. That also means you can enjoy the same quality of service whenever you decide to use it for personal plans.

Charter yachts require frequent maintenance. An experienced yacht crew will keep the yacht in top-notch condition. (Image source: Shutterstock)

Earnings and expenses

As a yacht owner, you can definitely earn a profit by chartering your yacht and offset your costs. Here’s the breakdown:

The price of the charter depends on the market, the size, model, condition of your boat, the number of cabins, etc. The expenses which you must take into account as the boat owner include: 

• registration
• ship maintenance
• crew salaries
• charter equipment (water toys, bed linen, towels, shampoos, etc.)
• professional photography 

Charter yachts which provide a wide selection of water toys are often booked better.   (Image source: Shutterstock)

Even though there are many factors that influence the boat price, we at Magnum always try to set a competitive price that’ll make you stand out on the yacht charter market.  See the prices for the luxury yachts in our fleet here.

How many weeks can I charter my yacht?

For luxury yachts, you can expect your yacht to be booked for a minimum of 6-12 weeks a year, depending on the season.

The average number of weeks is higher for chartering sailboats and catamarans, usually about 14-20 weeks.

What to expect of a yacht charter management company? 

With the right agency for yacht charter management , you can reap all the benefits of chartering your own yacht - offset operational costs, keep your crew sharp and your boat in top shape, as well as build a brand reputation. 

The role of such a company is to provide consulting, support and help you achieve maximum booking through thoughtful promotion. 

Here’s how that works in the example of Magnum:

Once a yacht owner decides to partner with our agency, we both sign the Central Booking Agreement. It states the rights and obligations of the owner, as well as the rights and obligations of us as a central agency. In it we also define the price list according to which the charter service for a particular vessel will be charged. 

The agreement can be signed for a definite period (1 year) or for an indefinite period and can be terminated via written notice (from either party).

Bookings, promotion & payments

Once we sign the Central Booking Agreement with the boat owner, we focus all our efforts on promotion and positioning the boat on the market. It takes some time for the yacht to become "recognized" on the market but since we have access to a large global booking system through which we receive inquiries (YACHTFOLIO), this process doesn’t take too long.

A central agency for yacht charter management will help you to achieve more bookings through top yacht promotion. (Image source: Shutterstock) 

After receiving an inquiry from a potential client, we send them a detailed offer with the price and presentation materials (brochure, crew profile, etc.), to give them a complete and better impression of the yacht. If the client confirms the booking, we sign the MYBA contract. The contract is signed by all the parties involved in the booking process - the client (charterer), broker, stakeholder and the yacht owner. 

Payment to the yacht owner is made in such a way that half of the amount to be paid to the owner is paid on the day of the boarding, and the remaining amount on the day of unloading (or the first working day, if unloading day is during the weekend).

The responsibilities of the yacht owner 

If you decide to charter your yacht, here’s what’s expected of you as the owner:

• During the term of the Central Booking Agreement, the yacht owner is not allowed to enter a business partnership with another yacht charter agency and is obliged to refer all agents who may contact him to his central agent.   
• The yacht owner mustn’t promote his yacht independently or without the consent of his central agent.  
• The owner must deliver professional photographs of the boat to the agency.   
• The owner is obliged to invoice his charters in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Croatia.  
• The yacht owner is obliged to ensure the registration of the vessel and to have valid insurance policies.  
• The yacht owner must provide other documentation and take actions that precede the provision of accommodation services on board.  
• The yacht owner is obliged to provide an adequate crew in accordance with the size of the boat and the uniforms for all crew members.  
• The yacht owner is obliged to sign the charter agreements on time and report any problems or delays to the agency as soon as possible.  
• The boat must be adequately prepared for chartering - that includes cleaning, equipment procurement, as well as accommodation, uniforms & training for the crew members.  
• The yacht owner must have a registered company and be able to issue invoices.  

Why choose Magnum as your yacht charter management company?

Since we were founded in 2004, we’ve been recognized as one of the most highly qualified yacht charter companies in Croatia, with the fastest-growing fleet in the country. As members of the Mediterranean Yacht Broker Association, we maintain our business at the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. 

We are well established in the yachting community: our agency is a YACHTFOLIO subscriber and collaborates with a large number of both global and local clients, as well as partner agencies.

Our team of experts have the know-how and the experience to ensure that your yacht reaches its full charter potential - that means maximizing the number of bookings and subsequently, revenue. We fully devote ourselves to each yacht owner and have an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to supporting you.

If you would like to charter your yacht through our agency, feel free to contact us here . 

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1. what are the basic requirements you need to be eligible to work in the yachting industry, 2. what is the stcw and why do i need it, 3. what is the eng1 medical certificate, 4. what land based experience will help me find a super yacht job, 5. what are the different departments onboard, 6. what crew training is required for me to work as a junior deckhand.

• Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper Theory
• Yachtmaster/Coastal Practical
• Specialist Super Yacht Training Course (Deck Hand Training Course)
• RYA Power Boat Level II
• RYA Personal Watercraft Course
• RYA Competent Crew Certificate
• RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical Certificates
• VHF Radio Operator’s License

7. What crew training is required for me to work as a junior stewardess?

• Stewardess Course
• Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
• MCA Food Safety Level 2
• RYA Powerboat Level 2

8. How do I book my training courses?

9. how do i get my first job on a yacht, 10. are these courses worth it, or am i just wasting my money, 11. will i get hired for my first job from south africa, 12. what is daywork, 13. what are the best locations to get a yacht job, 14. how much can a motor yacht stewardess or deckhand earn, 15. what are the negatives of working on a yacht, 16. what are the positives of working on a yacht, 17. is working on a super yacht for everyone, 18. what is the minimum age to work on a yacht, 19. is accommodation provided when i am completing my yacht training in cape town.

How to Rent Out Your Boat? (How Much Can You Actually Make?)

Table of Contents

Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

If you are a boat owner , you probably know that your boat is an incredibly fun thing to have but the maintenance and storage costs can also get pretty expensive, especially if you live in a place where you can’t use your boat for long periods of the year. There are also those times when you are simply too busy with work or life to get your boat out on the water. During times like these, have you ever thought to yourself, “I wonder if there is a place I can list my boat for rent?”

Well, with the sharing economy developing even more than ever in 2019, there absolutely is a place. Boatsetter is a peer-to-peer (P2P) boat rental marketplace that connects boat owners to people interested in having a boat day or on-water experience. Boatsetter offers a safe and easy way to make money off your boat  when you’re not using it!

Comprehensive boat insurance

In general, although most states require you to have car insurance, most of those same states don’t require you to have boat insurance . This may be true, but it is never a good idea to let such a valuable asset sit around uninsured. There are so many reasons that you need good boat insurance including protecting yourself from unwanted litigation and protecting your investment from damage.

Your boat is an important asset and you want to be sure that it will be safe if you decide to rent out your boat. At Boatsetter, we are proud to offer peer-to-peer boat insurance , which is provided through Geico. This Peer-to-Peer Boat Rental Policy is the primary policy that covers you during the Boatsetter rental period and it doesn’t require you to change anything that you have with your regular boat policy. Each Boatsetter rental covered under this policy comes with significant liability coverage: $300,000 per person and $300,000 total liability per accident. This type of insurance is excellent for boat owners who are on a budget because the insurance costs are so minimal.

Listing your boat

Having the right type of insurance can really give you the peace of mind you need when you are starting to list your boat as a potential rental. Here are some really easy ways that you can make your boat more attractive to potential renters. If that list of tips isn’t enough, how about this list ? In general, when you are trying to rent out your boat, you should always keep your listing current by updating your pictures constantly. Always respond as quickly as possible to any kind of queries about your boat rental and certainly request as many reviews as possible from previous satisfied customers. Finally, it is vital to make sure your price is competitive and comparable to the cost of other similar boats for rent. Many potential renters use cost as the only consideration when they are thinking of renting a boat , so your price has to be in line with what other boat owners are charging to rent similar models.

Heres a short video about he lisitng process:

If you follow all of the suggestions we’ve given you above, we’re sure that you’ll find so many ways to rent out your boat in no time. Once you’ve signed up your boat on Boatsetter and successfully rented it out a few times, you will find that you have complete confidence in our platform. We encourage you to read some previous reviews of Boatsetter and hear what our renters, owners, and captains have said about their boat rental experiences.

Here are a few posts to help you make your boat listing standout:

• How to Take the Best Boat Listing Pictures  
• How to List Add-ons and Make More Money  
• Boat Hosting 101: 3 Best Practices for Boatsetter Owners
• How to Write the Best Headline for Your Boatsetter Rental Listing

Reacting to the changing market conditions

As a boat owner, the maintenance and storage costs are just the beginning when it comes to expensive ownership fees. If you include the initial purchase price of the boat, the fluctuating costs of boat insurance and registration, and the various different types of safety and navigational equipment that you might need for your boat, the numbers can quickly add up. Here is a breakdown of some of the ownership costs you are usually looking at for your boat.

Luckily, in 2019, the sharing economy is alive and well. Think about the massive ascendancy of companies like Airbnb and Uber. Boatsetter is based on a similar business model , except that we are a peer-to-peer boat rental company that connects boat owners and potential renters. Owners are able to rent out their boats and renters are able to try lots of boating options before they commit to actually buying a boat of their own. Now is the time to start taking advantage of the platform we have built by renting out your boat.

At Boatsetter, we help regular people get access to boats and yachts that they would never be able to afford on their own. There are two main ways to list your boat for rent. An all-inclusive option is like an all-inclusive resort because it includes the price of the boat, fees for a captain and crew , as well as on-board meals, beverages, harbor fees, and fuel. A plus-expenses boat only includes the cost of the yacht, captain, and crew. It is up to you to decide which model you would like to offer when listing your boat for rent.

For example, think about listing your large boat for rent as a plus-expenses boat at $5,000 for a week. If you have ten people booking the trip, the cost will only be $500 per person, which is a good deal for the renters and a great deal for you. If you only rent out your boat for one week per month, the income you generate can easily cover all of your monthly costs and even leave you some extra spending cash.

Developing a plan for renting out your boat

Your boat is probably one of the biggest assets you have, and it is probably also one of your most cherished possessions. Keeping it safe should be a high priority for you as a responsible boat owner. Of course, you want to enjoy your boat as much as possible when you get the chance to get out on the water. Sadly, life often interferes and you might find that you are not using your boat as much as you planned.

For most people, getting a boat rental is far more cost-efficient due to the lower costs of sharing the rental with their friends and the length of time they can spend on the boat. On a per-hour basis, it makes far more sense for them to arrange a boat rental and it helps you leverage your assets by taking advantage of Boatsetter’s peer-to-peer boat rental services. Take a few pictures, fill in a few forms , and you’ll be well on your way toward offsetting your boat ownership costs by joining the sharing economy. You’ll be safely making a little bit of money on the side, and you’ll also be helping other boaters follow their dreams.

Boatsetter is the go-to app for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Whatever the adventure, we’ve got a boat for that—Set sail , start the party , go yachting , make your trophy catch , and hone your watersports skills! Download the Boatsetter app ( App Store | Google Play ). Make sure to follow @boatsetter on Instagram, and tag us in all your boat day pictures for the chance to be featured.

Rent. List. Share—Only at Boatsetter

Editor’s Note: This article read originally published in July 2020 and updated in March 2022

Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent  a boat,  list  your boat, or become a  Boatsetter captain  today.

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The Best Boat Rentals in Jamaica

Browse, book, and get out onto the water with local captains and boat owners., our favorite boat rentals in jamaica.

5 (418 reviews)

• Boat Rentals

46 feet luxury yacht in Montego Bay with round trip transportation!

Sail away in Montego Bay! 39ft Leopard Catamaran

Hatteras 55’ Sportfish Motor Yacht in Ocho Rios!

Enjoy cruising Montego Bay Coastline on a 30' SeaRay Yacht w/unlimited Rum Punch

Enjoy cruising the Montego Bay coastline In a 46 feet Searay yacht

Perfect center console for fishing and beach trips

4 Hours/ Private 37' Searay Sundancer with Lunch and Open Bar

3 hour catamaran tour in Jamaica - unlimited rum punch, snorkeling, onboard dj!

Custom Corvette Jet Car Boat for Montego Bay coastline Tour!!

47' Private Catamaran Cruise with Dj, Mixologist and Open Bar - Montego Bay

Ultra Luxurious Sea Ray Sedan 55ft Yacht in Montego Bay Jamaica! Private Tours!

Sail Away In Negril With 39ft Leopard Catamaran

Suggested searches, types of boats popular in jamaica.

From mid-size to mega yachts, these luxury boats are great for groups and celebrations

₽8,820-₽143,930

Explore local waters with a boat rental dedicated to sightseeing and exploration

₽3,710-₽142,540

Set sail with these traditional wind-powered boats

₽12,540-₽162,040

• Fishing Charters

Let a captain do the driving while you do the fishing

₽5,110-₽60,820

Who says you need a motor to have fun on the water?

₽3,710-₽114,210

Fishing Boats

Boats outfitted for fishing, from small inshore angling boats to deep-sea yachts

₽5,110-₽61,290

Get off the boat and into the water with offshore snorkeling trips

₽4,180-₽92,860

Fast, fun, and easy to operate, these are a guaranteed good time on the water

₽21,360-₽52,460

Explore the ocean depths with trained boat operators

₽5,570-₽26,000

Wakeboarding Boats

A high-octane powerboat designed and outfitted for wakeboard towing

₽15,320-₽35,750

Perfect for casual cruising, sandbar stops, swimming, and parties

Top Boat Rental Locations Near Jamaica

Montego Bay , St. James Parish

55 listings

Ocho Rios , St. Ann Parish

15 listings

Negril , Westmoreland Parish

12 listings

West End , Westmoreland Parish

Most Popular Yacht Rentals in Jamaica

Private Sailing Catamaran for 4-hour Luxurious Tour in Ocho Rios

47ft Siete Seas Motor Yacht Rental in Montego Bay, Jamaica!!

Private Yacht Luxury Turquoise Adventure Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Private Luxury Catamaran Sail Charter for Up to 120 Guests in Kingston, Jamaica

Most popular boat tours in jamaica.

Reggae Catamaran Negril Sail Snorkel and Sunset Tour

Scuba Lessons in Falmouth Discover Scuba

Private 65ft Catamaran for Charter Trips in Montego Bay

Luminous Lagoon Tour in Falmouth

Most popular sailboat rentals in jamaica.

Catamaran Boat Rental for Snorkeling Trip in Montego Bay

The celebrities choice! Unlimited sparkling wine, finger foods and dj!

Ultra luxe Full Day Yacht Charter to Negril!

Private Group Catamaran Sail Snorkeling Adventure in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Recent reviews in jamaica.

I had an amazing time! Everyone was so nice! Tamara was so kind and caring, snoop never left us hanging and made sure we were good a s Bobby was the best captain. The food was great and even my vegan guest had options.

This was such a great experience! From the captain Stephen to the host Tamara and the life guard Shane, everyone was awesome and providing a 5 star treatment! This was the best part of the our trip and they offered a car-jet ski experience as well which was really fun

We had an amazing time! This was by far one of my best yachting experiences. Everything was top tier and exceeded my expectations. The food, drinks and staff were amazing! The hostess truly looked out for us and made sure my 30th birthday celebration was one to remember. She even had a cake! Deidrick and his staffed lived up to the company’s name, Knot Stressin. The process was truly seamless and stress free. I needed to adjust the time and date a few times due to other activities going off schedule…. They very accommodating and responsive. They will always have my business when I am visiting MoBay. If you are in doubt, I 1000% recommend booking!

My friends and I absolutely enjoyed ourselves ! We had a time exploring the beautiful waters of Mobay and had a chance to lay out on a floaty and swim at the beach! They surprised my girlfriend with decoration and a birthday cake which was special ! The team is amazing including, Desmond and captain Bobby ! Thank you all so much for a wonderful day!

Vaughn and his crew were amazing. The attention to detail and constant communication made this bachelorette excursion one for the books. Our location stops and activities left everyone feeling not only satisfied but helped us create unforgettable memories. Thank you again to the crew, our driver and photographer!!!

Deidrick made sure my best friend’s bachelorette yacht ride was perfect! We were a group of 12, and we had a great time. We listened to great music while cruising the ocean and had an excellent time on the water. The snacks and drinks were delicious as well.

Top Boat Rental Locations in Jamaica

Falmouth , Trelawny Parish

Port Royal , Kingston Parish

How To Book on Getmyboat

Find the right listing for you and your crew, with options for boat types, group size, captained or self-charter, and lots more.

Inquire & Book

Found one you like? Send a rental inquiry with your preferred trip details, and you’ll receive an offer from your captain to book.

Coordinate a pick-up place and time, meet your boat captain, and get out onto the water!

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How to Rent a Boat with Getmyboat

Frequently asked questions.

Boat rentals in Jamaica can range from very affordable to luxurious and expensive, depending on your desired experience. On average, boat rental prices start around $99/person for a group boat tour , while luxury yacht rentals can cost from $500 to over $1000 per hour. On Getmyboat, you can browse dozens of boat rental options and filter by price to see boats in your budget in Jamaica.

Booking a party boat is essential to any Jamaica vacation. On Getmyboat, you can browse amazing yacht options or book a ticket on a boat party for a fun day of cruising in the Caribbean. Boat party rentals in Jamaica will start at around $100/person for a ticket but can range up to $600/hour or more for the boat rental if you book a private group.

Montego Bay is a great starting point for a boat tour around Jamaica. You can book speed boat tours, jet ski tours , yacht charters, fishing charters , and more, in Montego Bay. It’s super easy to browse and book boating experiences in Montego Bay with Getmyboat. Download the app and search your options for your vacation in Jamaica.

To book a fishing boat rental or a fishing charter, you can search options and filter by price and number of passengers you wish to take onboard. Make sure you select the number of hours you want to go out on the water, and see the available offerings for your area of Jamaica. Getmyboat has over a dozen options for fishing charters to choose from, so pick the best fishing trip for your desired experience.

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