boat hosting best practices

Boat Hosting 101: 3 Best Practices for Boatsetter Owners

Written by Boatsetter Team
October 27, 2022

When boat owners list their vessels on the Boatsetter platform, their ownership journey takes a turn in a positive direction. Owners can make money to offset their own ownership costs while connecting with new people and enabling incredible on-water memories and experiences for others. Similar to home sharing platforms, our Boatsetter owners become ‘hosts’ to their renters.

In this post, we’ll prep you with a few of the best boat hosting practices. Here we’ll cover: 

  1. Communication 
  2. Tidy up!
  3. Got Add-ons?

Keep up with the latest tips and advice from our experts by reading other Boatsetter Owner Tips

Communication is key (Really!)

We’ve all heard the saying, “Communication is key to good relationships.” Yep, that’s true here, too. As we mentioned, you’ll be meeting new people and renters looking to go boating for the very first time. Naturally, most people feel nervous. We suggest sparking up a conversation through Boatsetter’s in-app messenger. You already have something in common to talk about: the upcoming boating trip. 

Pro Tip: You can request a sea trial with the renter. Meeting before the upcoming trip is a good way for you and them to get comfortable with each other and build confidence. 

Go over booking details and any other helpful information like the meet-up location and the best time to reach you. Remember, first-timers might not know how marinas work or their general layout. Going over how to locate your boat within the marina is a small thing that’ll make a world of difference. 

Read more: How to Create a Great Day on the Water for Your Renters

Tidy up!

tidy up your boat

Your boat’s appearance doesn’t only matter for your boat’s listing photos; it also matters for your renter’s trip. Similar to the appeal of a tidy house, a clean and unencumbered space on a boat is very satisfying to renters. Renters embarking on their voyage will appreciate this. Plus, we’re sure your boat will also appreciate this type of care. 

Offering renters basic amenities, like a couple of towels, will offset you from the other boat rentals and make you a pro boat host—no need to go over the top with this. Simply ask yourself, what do they need for a comfortable boat trip? 

Along those same lines, be sure to read How to Get More Boatsetter Bookings to additional tips.

Got Add-ons?

To start, Add-ons are not the same as basic amenities. They’re an upgrade of the idea itself. While included amenities can be the onboard Bluetooth speaker and stereo system or gels for showers aboard, Add-ons are things like kayaks, snorkeling or fishing gear, coolers and ice, and even photography! They are irresistible items that renters add on, for an additional charge, at checkout. 

Simply having Add-ons makes your listing that must more attractive to potential renters and sends a message: You’re an amazing boat host who wants to provide the best experience possible. 

 


Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone — whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat, book a boat, or make money as a captain.

Haven’t Listed Your Boat for Rent on Boatsetter Yet? Get Started in Less Than 15 Minutes

Also, make sure to download the Boatsetter Owners App on iOS and Android.


Browse by experience


Explore articles