BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Boat Rental for a Group of 12: Getting It Right

Legal capacity, day catamaran versus two RIBs, skipper or not: how to organise a day at sea for twelve people without picking the wrong boat or budget.

A birthday, a stag or hen do, a family reunion: with 12 people, a day at sea becomes a genuine organisational project. The first surprise for many groups: most rental boats simply cannot carry that many. Here is how to build the day without getting it wrong.

Legal capacity: a hard ceiling

Every boat has a maximum capacity set by its design category and shown on the builder’s plate — and the rental company has zero flexibility on it: 12 people on a boat certified for 10 means a trip cancelled at the pontoon, or insurance that no longer covers anything. A baby counts as one person. Before choosing anything, read our guide on how many people a boat can carry, then filter listings for at least 12 passengers. When in doubt, ask the operator to confirm the certified capacity in writing.

Option 1: a day catamaran

For a group of 12, the catamaran is the comfort option: a stable platform, trampolines for sunbathing, a large saloon and plenty of shade — space changes everything when you spend eight hours on board together. Expect €800 to €1,500 for the day, often with a skipper, which simplifies everything: nobody worries about the navigation and everyone enjoys the day. It is ideal for a mixed group with children or grandparents, as covered in our catamaran day charter guide.

Option 2: two RIBs in a mini flotilla

The energetic alternative: rent two six-seat RIBs and cruise as a flotilla. At €200 to €600 per boat per day, the total budget stays comparable to a catamaran, for a very different experience: faster, more playful, with swim stops where both crews raft up at anchor. The major constraint: you need two licence holders, one per boat, and good coordination — a VHF channel or phones, and meeting points agreed in advance. Agree the rules before leaving the pontoon: speed, spacing, and who decides when to head home.

Skipper, food, music: the details that make the day

With 12 on board, hiring a skipper (€150 to €350 per day) is rarely a luxury: he handles the anchoring while you handle the group. Size the cool box accordingly, check whether the boat has speakers, and appoint a “logistics captain” to centralise timings, bags and payments. Many operators ask for a passenger list: have it ready. A shared playlist and a waterproof speaker often do more for the atmosphere than any extra horsepower.

Booking a big boat at the best price

Large boats are the rarest: on your dates there will be few perfect candidates, and they go fast in summer. Compare systematically: the same catamaran often appears on several platforms with a 10 to 25% price gap. Boat-Comparator queries Boataround, SamBoat, Click&Boat and GlobeSailor in real time to find the best current offer — and with 12 people, every percentage saved shows up in the shared kitty.

Compare the platforms now →

Also worth reading

• How much does it cost to rent a boat in 2026? Real prices
• License-Free Boat Rental in France: Rules, Prices & Where to Book
• Renting with or without a skipper: how to choose