If you’re thinking of taking to the ocean for your next trip away from home (and we really recommend that you do!), then you’ll be wondering how to book a yacht charter or boat. This guide takes you through how to rent a boat step-by-step, so you can start planning your sailing adventure.
We’ll cover choosing the type of boat that would suit you, as well as how to use the website, making your booking, ensuring you’re fully covered, and the check-in process.
This is all any beginner needs to know about how to hire a boat.
Step 1 – Planning
There are three main things to think about before booking a boat: the type of boat, the size you need, and any must-have amenities.
Also important is where you’ll be taking your vessel, and what the sailing conditions will be like there. Plus, you’ll of course need to pick a boat that fits with your budget.
Here are the eight main types of boat you can rent with Borrow a Boat, along with their pros and cons.
Types of boat
Sailboat
- Traditional style
- Powered by wind via a sail or sails
- Requires wind navigation and sail adjustment skills
| Pros | Cons |
| – Develops sailing skills | – Not as stable as other types |
| – Eco-friendly as it uses wind power | – Regular sail adjustment required |
| – Ideal for peace-seekers, nature lovers, and adventurers | – Wind navigation can be tricky for beginners |
Catamaran
- Modern vessels
- Powered or unpowered
- Twin hulls connected by a deck
- Stable, spacious, fast, and very versatile
| Pros | Cons |
| – Lots of storage space | – Higher rental costs |
| – Two hulls improves stability | – Harder to manoeuvre |
| – Large deck for socialising and sunbathing | – Can be jerky in rough seas |
| – Shallow draft allows access to more shoreline |
Motorboat
- Engine-powered
- Modern amenities
- A wide range of sizes
| Pros | Cons |
| – Quick and efficient | – Can be noisy |
| – Easy to use, even for beginners | – Not the most eco-conscious choice |
| – Suitable for sailing, fishing, and water sports | – Requires refuelling and fuel storage |
Speedboat
- Compact in size
- Specially built for speed
- Slick, streamlined vessels
| Pros | Cons |
| – User-friendly | – Not the most spacious vessels |
| – Exciting to ride in | – Only for short trips and small groups |
| – Easily manoeuvrable | – Can be less stable than bigger boats |
| – Powerful engines for fast speeds |
RIB
- Powerful engine
- Solid, V-shaped hull
- Buoyant, inflatable ribs
| Pros | Cons |
| – Good stability and safety | – Limited space |
| – Capable of high speed travel | – No inside cabin |
| – Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre | – Inflatable section could be damaged |
| – Ideal for coastal access and water sports |
Houseboat
- Many modern amenities
- Designed for living on board
- Indoor and outdoor accommodation
| Pros | Cons |
| – Relaxed pace | – Not the fastest vessels |
| – Lots of outdoor space | – Can be difficult to manoeuvre |
| – Perfect for longer periods of time | – More maintenance tasks may be required |
| – Creature comforts, from utilities to entertainment |
Gulet
- Specific to Turkey
- Traditional, handcrafted design
- Spacious inside cabin and outdoor deck
| Pros | Cons |
| – Built for comfort | – Only generally available in specific areas |
| – Packed with character | |
| – Authentic experience | |
| – Ideal for exploring the coastline |
Yachts and superyachts
- Synonymous with luxury
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Often supplied with staff
| Pros | Cons |
| – Bucket list experience | – High prices |
| – Deluxe amenities at your disposal | – Not for those seeking an authentic, local experience |
| – Professional crew means you can relax |
Find out more in our guide to the different boat types.
Step 2 – Exploring options on Borrow A Boat
Once you have some idea of your budget, where you might be going, and the sort of boat you want to rent, it’s time to start looking around at the options.
Here’s how to book a charter yacht on the Borrow a Boat website.
Navigating the website
The Borrow a Boat homepage allows you to search in a number of ways. You can use the quick search boxes at the top to find a boat in moments by destination and date. Alternatively, scroll down to look at destinations, or vessel types.
Once you’ve used the quick search function, you can specify the following:
- Boat type
- Number of guests
- Price range
Using filters
Additionally, you can add extra filters to narrow down your search. The options are:
- Length – use the sliding bars to specify a range
- Year – use the sliding bars to specify a range
- Crew – Captain optional or provided, or crew included
- Brands – 40 options
- Equipment – 246 options
Understanding boat listings
Once you’ve seen a boat you like the look of, you can click on it to find out more. At the top of the listing is the type of vessel. Underneath this you can see:
- Maximum number of guests
- Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and cabins
You can then scroll down to find out what is and isn’t included, such as a crew, linen, insurance, food and drinks, and more. Beneath that, there are tech specs and a list of useful onboard amenities.
Requesting a quote
The next step is to request a quote. To do this, navigate to the box to the right of the boat title and description. Add your dates and number of guests, then click Get a Quote. Or if you’re on mobile, tap ‘Select dates’ to enter your dates and get a price.
This sends your enquiry to the boat company or owner, who will then get back to you with a price.
Step 3 – Booking the boat
If you have a quote you’re happy with and want to go ahead with booking the boat, the next step is to ensure you have the information you’ll need:
- Crew list – all passengers who will be on board
- Personal information for crew members – requirements vary by country
- Skipper licence – needed if you’ll be skippering the boat yourself
- Estimated time of arrival at the marina – can help to minimise check-in time
Once you have all the necessary documentation, you can upload this to the platform. Access your profile, go to My Trips, then upload the documents to the sections as specified.
Step 4 – Rental agreements, cancellation policies, insurance, and licences
Rental agreement
Make sure you read your rental agreement carefully before going ahead with your booking, as it’s legally binding.
Cancellation policy
The cancellation policy depends upon when you cancel your charter. Conditions range from a full refund when cancelling before confirmation, to no refunds when cancelling 45 days or less before departure.
Here’s a brief rundown of the main conditions.
- Before confirmation – no charge, cancel via customer support
- After confirmation – request via customer support, the charter decides their own policy
- Within 5 days of booking – 12% admin fee will apply
- Up to 45 days before departure – 50% of the total cost applies
- 45 days or less before departure – No refunds
Find out more by reading the Borrow a Boat Cancellation Policy.
Travel insurance
To cover your costs if you need to cancel, as well as your trip in general, it’s your responsibility to ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place.
It’s best to take this out when booking, so you’re covered from the start. Make sure your policy does fully cover you for boat hire.
Read all about why you need insurance here.
Licences
You must have the right licences before you can set sail. The requirements depend on the country, the size of the boat, and whether there’s a radio station on board.
When you’re renting a boat, the owner has the final say on whether or not your licence is acceptable. Here are some examples of what might be required.
- International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
- Bareboat Charter Licence (BBCL)
- Yachtmaster Licence (YML)
- Skipper’s or Sailing Resume (SR)
- Marine Radio Licence (SRC)
Your home country may have its own equivalents, and these may be acceptable. Having an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is recommended for everyone, as it gives you the best chance of being recognised all over the world.
Find out more in this guide to boat licence requirements.
Step 5 – Confirmation and the Dashboard
Once you’ve paid for your boat rental and received booking confirmation, you can manage everything via the user-friendly dashboard.
This dashboard can be used to view the following.
- A bookings summary
- Date, time and location
- Boat information
- Charter company contact details
- Any extras booked
- Your payment plan
Once you’ve made a booking, you’ll be able to login using the details you gave when registering. If you can’t remember your password, you can use the Forgot My Password link. You can see this after clicking on Login.
To access the Login screen, click on the person icon at the top right of the page on the Borrow a Boat website.
Step 6 – Checking-in
The final step before taking to the ocean is to check in and collect your boat.
ETA
Usually you will have supplied your estimated arrival time at the point of booking the boat (see step 3, above). If this wasn’t specified then, you can add it via your user dashboard.
Where possible, do try to arrive at the marina on time, allowing a little extra time for unexpected delays if you can. Especially if you’re arriving at an unfamiliar destination.
Early check-in
When you prefer a particularly early check-in, you may be able to pay an extra fee for this service.
If you do arrive early, then you may find that the charter company has the boat ready for you. However, they are not obliged to provide the vessel until the agreed check-in time.
Late check-in
Ideally, it’s best to arrive at the marina for check-in on time. But of course this may not be possible if you experience any transport delays.
In case this happens, make sure you have the charter company’s contact details to hand. Then you can get in touch to rearrange pick-up if you need to. You can find this information on your dashboard.