598 guides · page 13/29

Boat rental guides

Real prices, licenses, skippers, platforms, itineraries: concrete answers before you book.

• How Many Marinas Are There in France? The 2026 Count1,320 named marinas in France on OpenStreetMap, out of 3,349 recorded across 8 countries. What the 2026 count reveals: coastlines, capacities, and why a ranking by département is impossible.
• Scandola Nature Reserve by Boat: Anchoring, Quotas and a QR Code from Summer 2026Corsica's only UNESCO World Heritage site, the Scandola reserve can only be visited by boat. Anchoring rules, the no-anchor integral zone, and the new quota system trialled this summer.
• Renting a Boat in Amsterdam: No-License Boating on the Electric CanalsAmsterdam lets you rent small boats without a licence on its canals, but since 2025 has enforced a zero-emission zone downtown. Rules, speed limits, bridges and budget for the grachten.
• AIS Aboard: A Useful Piece of Kit for a Rental Boat?Not mandatory for pleasure craft, AIS lets you see and be seen by other boats. What this equipment actually delivers, and where it makes the biggest difference.
• Bilge Water and Oil: What a Renter Should Know About Discharging ItDischarging oil-polluted bilge water is strictly regulated under MARPOL and French law. What that actually means for a rented motorboat.
• Swimming After a Storm: Why It's Worth Waiting Before Jumping InA heavy summer storm can temporarily degrade coastal bathing water quality. What health authorities recommend, and the right move to make at anchor.
• Sailing Regattas and Big Gatherings: How to Sail Without Getting in the WayLes Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the French Olympic Sailing Week in Hyères: crossing paths with a racing fleet isn't rare in summer. The right moves to stay clear of a race.
• Organized, Paid Mooring (ZMEL): What Changes for a Rental BoatMore and more collective mooring buoys, sometimes paid, are replacing free anchoring at protected sites in France. How these organized mooring zones work, and what to budget.
• The Blue Flag Label: What It Actually Guarantees for a Marina or BeachSince 1985, the Blue Flag has rewarded marinas and beaches on precise environmental and safety criteria. What the label actually means for a boat renter.
• Sunscreen and Coral Reefs: What's Restricted in Certain DestinationsSeychelles, the Caribbean, French Polynesia: some destinations restrict chemical sunscreens to protect their corals. What to know before packing.
• The Travel Authorization Document Not to Forget for a MinorGrandparents, uncles, sailing instructors: whenever a minor travels abroad without both parents, a French exit authorization is mandatory. What to know before booking.
• The Boat License's New Secure Card Format: What ChangedThe old salmon-pink paper has given way to a plastic, credit-card-sized licence: what this new format changes for renting a boat, in France and abroad.
• Alcohol at Sea: What France's 2 June 2026 Decree Changes for RentersObvious intoxication and loss of control of a powerboat: two new offences under French law since June 2026, their penalties, and what it actually means for a renter.
• Renting a Boat for a Wedding: Ceremony, Photos and LogisticsA symbolic ceremony aboard, capacity by guest count, mandatory professional crew, weather backup: everything to know before booking a boat for a wedding.
• Le Marin, Martinique: Inside the Caribbean’s Biggest Charter BaseWhy the bay of Le Marin holds more rental boats than any other Caribbean port, what its mangroves really do, and day trips to Sainte-Anne and Les Salines.
• Cabrera: the National Park South of Mallorca — Permit, Quota and BuoysSailing to the Cabrera archipelago from Mallorca: mandatory permit, a 50-boat daily quota, mooring buoys only, and the best time to book a slot.
• Renting or Buying a Boat: What to Actually ComparePurchase price, upkeep, mooring fees, real days on the water: the numbers behind owning a boat versus renting one each time, to decide with a clear head.
• Villefranche-sur-Mer: the Deepest Natural Bay on the French RivieraRenting a boat at Villefranche-sur-Mer: the deepest natural bay on the French Riviera, Cap Ferrat by sea, and why the water stays so clear close to shore.
• Deposit Not Refunded or Partly Withheld: How to RespondThe operator won't refund the deposit, or only part of it: how to dispute it with evidence in hand, before escalating further.
• Included Engine Hours, Diesel or Petrol: Understanding the Rented Boat’s EngineHow many engine hours are actually included in the price, and diesel or petrol at the pump? What the contract says, and how it varies by boat type.
• Paper Chart or GPS Alone: Why a Backup Still MattersDead battery, lost signal offshore: why a paper chart or a basic backup navigation method still matters, even with a good weather app installed.