BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Renting a motorboat or day-cruiser: comfort by the day
Sun pad, cabin, bathing ladder: who the motorboat suits best, what it costs, and the points to check before booking.
Between the sporty RIB and the contemplative sailboat, the motorboat (open, bow-rider or small-cabin day-cruiser) is the comfort pick: a day at sea as a floating living room, ideal for families or two couples.
What you are really buying
Seating comfort (benches, sun pad), shade (bimini), a proper bathing ladder, often a small toilet or cabin for the children's nap — and a soft ride that shakes nobody. The trade-off: less chop-tolerant than an equal-sized RIB, and more wind-sensitive at anchor.
The right questions before booking
The real capacity (8 advertised seats = 6 comfortable adults), the presence of a bimini (essential in July-August), the depth of the bathing ladder (two submerged steps minimum to climb back without acrobatics), and the fuel arrangement — motorboats burn less than you think at sensible speed, far more when pushed.
Budget
€250-900 per day depending on length (6-11 m) and season. A license is required; otherwise the skipper option turns the outing into a guided tour. Cabin day-cruisers (Leader, Antares, Flyer) offer the best family comfort-per-euro.
The comparison reflex
The 'motorboat' category is the deepest on every platform: it is where comparing pays most, at strictly identical model. Check the fuel policy too — honest 'full-to-full' versus sometimes-inflated flat fees.