BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
What Can You Do With a Licence-Free Boat? A Realistic Guide
A 2 to 5 mile radius at about 5 knots: what a day on a licence-free boat really offers — swimming at anchor, picnics, snorkelling and quiet coves done well.
Renting a licence-free boat means accepting a simple deal: you will not go fast or far, but you will have the sea to yourself. Many first rentals disappoint because expectations were set by a 200 hp RIB. Properly planned, a day at 5 knots is actually one of the loveliest ways to discover a coastline. Here is what it allows, in very concrete terms.
The rules of the game: 6 hp, daytime, a defined zone
In France, licence-free boating is limited to a 6 hp engine (4.5 kW), daytime navigation and a zone defined by the rental company — all for €100 to €250 a day. At around 5 knots, your realistic range is 2 to 5 nautical miles from the port. Much of the day happens close to shore anyway, where the 300-metre band limited to 5 knots applies to everyone, licence or not.
The heart of the day: time at anchor
The real programme of a licence-free outing is not the passage — it is the stop. Pick one or two coves inside your zone, drop anchor over sand, and the day organises itself: swimming straight off the boat, a picnic on board under the bimini, a nap in the sun. Bring a cool box, plenty of water and a dry bag; most rental companies provide the safety equipment.
Snorkelling, coves and small explorations
A mask and snorkel transform the trip. The shallow rocky edges of most coves shelter surprising marine life, usually invisible from the beach. A small boat also lets you reach inlets inaccessible on foot, drift slowly along a stretch of coast for photographs, or troll a fishing line. In Hyères or anywhere else, ask the rental company for its two or three favourite spots within the authorised area — it is almost always the best advice you will get all day.
What not to plan
Let us be honest: no towed water sports (the engine is far too small), no distant island, no sunset return since navigation is daytime only, and no packed schedule — two anchorages in a day already make a fine outing. If the wind picks up, head back early: at 5 knots, chop is felt quickly.
Choosing your boat and your slot
Leave in the morning, when the sea is flat and the light is soft, and keep the afternoon for swimming at anchor. When booking, compare before you pay: licence-free rentals appear on several platforms with gaps of 10 to 25% for the same boat. Boat-Comparator queries Boataround, SamBoat, Click&Boat and GlobeSailor live so you do not have to do it tab by tab. And if the forecast looks doubtful on the day, ask the operator about moving your slot rather than cancelling outright: outside the busiest weeks, most are happy to oblige, because a delighted first-timer is a returning customer.
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